Getting an apostille for official UK identity cards is straightforward.
We need to receive the original photo identity card
The solicitor or notary takes a photocopy and certifies the copy before getting the apostille.
Official UK photo ID document examples are:
How to order:
Step one:
Check your photo ID card can be legalised in the UK. The ID must be valid and undamaged and have been issued by an official UK authority.
Step two:
Check requirements from the requesting authorities on how your ID document must be legalised.
Solicitor certification, notarisation, embassy attestation, etc.
Step three:
Contact us to place an order.
When emailing, please provide the following information:
- What country will the formal ID cards be used in?
- Do you need a translation?
- How soon do you need the apostille?
- How will you get your ID to us? (In person, by mail etc.)
- How will the legalised ID cards be returned? (collection, courier, etc.).
Once we have all the information, the team will assess your enquiry and give you a personalised and detailed quotation.
If you accept the quotation, we will send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille for your documents starts.
We will take care of the entire apostille legalisation process for you.
Final step:
Regardless of what return delivery method is chosen (in-person delivery and pickup, self-addressed envelope, DHL, etc.), we will inform you immediately as soon as the documents are ready to be collected or they are on their way back to you.
We also email you a scanned copy of your legalised ID documents.
How much does it cost?
- 3-4 day apostille service from £120
- 1 day (next business day) from £135
- 5-48 hours e-Apostille from £97
Our comprehensive fee cover:
- Solicitor certification
- FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) Fees
- Administration
- VAT
There could be additional costs, depending on your chosen service and how many documents you wish to apostille. Additional cost examples are:
- Translations start from £30
- Notarisation by notary public (+ £96)
- Return delivery costs (+ £12)
- Embassy legalisation (from + £75)
We will always provide a full breakdown to see precisely what you’re paying for.
How long does it take to get an apostille?
There are three options for getting an apostille.
Option one: 1 day (next business day)
- Documents must arrive before 9:30 am for the next-day service.
- Documents can be collected around 3:30 pm the next day.
Option two: 3 to 4 days:
- If documents arrive after 9:30 am, it will take 3-4 days
Option three: e-Apostille 5 to 48 hours
If the document qualifies for an e-apostille, it is usually completed within 24 hours but can take two working days, depending on the FCDO’s workload.
Why can’t the original photo ID be used for legalisation?
Original photo ID must be kept intact and unaltered. Any alterations or damage to the original ID document will render it invalid [1].
In order to preserve the original ID card or passport intact, a certified copy must be made and submitted to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the apostille.
The apostille is affixed to the certified copy [2].
Certification of the copy must be done by a solicitor or notary public [3].
All UK passports remain the property of the UK government (His Majesty’s Government – HMG) [4].
HMG does not permit an apostille to be affixed to an original passport.
Similarly, photo ID cards (such as driving licences) must be kept unaltered and undamaged. Apostilles must not be attached directly to a driving licence or other photo ID card.
The FCDO therefore accepts only certified copies of identity documents and cards for legalisation.
My UK photo ID has been certified by a person of good standing but not a UK solicitor, can I still use it for legalisation?
Certification by a ‘person of good standing’ who is not a UK solicitor or notary public is not accepted by the FCDO.
Only copies of photo IDs that have been certified by a UK solicitor or notary public are accepted by the FCDO. In exceptional circumstances, a public official acting in an official capacity (e.g. HMRC) can certify documents with an official stamp and signature.
Other documents used for other purposes may sometimes be accepted by the government and other organisations if they are certified by a ‘person of good standing’ (e.g. a Justice of the Peace, Member of Parliament, members of certain professions, etc.) [5].
The FCDO does not accept such certification of ID copies used for legalisation.
Can notarised photo IDs be used for embassy attestation?
Most embassies accept photo IDs that have been notarised.
Some embassies do not accept notarised ID documents alone and have additional requirements.
These requirements vary from one country’s embassy to another.
A list of embassies and High Commissions together with their requirements and fees can be found on our web page entitled embassy requirements.
We can advise on particular requirements and ensure that all the necessary conditions are met
Legalising UK ID cards with an embassy in London
Suppose the requesting country is not part of the Hague apostille convention. In that case, you may need further to legalise your apostilled photo ID with a consulate general, embassy or High Commission (for Commonwealth countries) in London.
We can also do this for you.
Do I need to come to your office?
It is not necessary to come to our office in person. Your documents can be sent by courier or by post. If you send your documents by post, we recommend using a tracked service. We return your documents in the same way.
If it is more convenient for you to come in person, we would be happy to see you. Please let us know when you are coming.
