What Is An Apostille? A Practical Guide [ Updated 2023]

An apostille refers to a stamp or sticker that’s usually attached to a UK document to show that the signatures attached to the document are genuine.

This makes a document issued by a UK public official usable in another country under the Hague Convention.

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What does an apostille mean?

When answering ‘what does apostille mean,’ we have to go to France.

Apostille is a French term that means marginal annotation. It refers to a means by which foreign public documents are legalised, making them suitable and trustworthy enough for use in a new country that is part of the Convention.

Different terms and meanings for an apostille

There are different terms and meanings for an apostille. This is because different member countries and organisations refer to the process of acquiring an apostille using different terms.

Additionally, most people from other countries refer to it according to the physical representation they are familiar with. The many terms are purely based on what people associate the apostille certificate with.

For some, it’s where they get it, how it appears, and the form it comes in.

Here are some of these terms:

Apostille

A UK apostille is a certificate proving the authentication of a document to be used in another country. The UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office issues it.

This certification is provided for in the Hague Conference on Private International Law: 1961 Convention or the Apostille Convention, which abolished the compulsory legalisation of foreign papers.

FCDO apostille

FCDO refers to the official body with the mandate to issue an apostille. In the UK, it is the only office and government department with the capacity and authority to legalise documents. An FCDO apostille is simply the process of document legalisation through the FCDO.

Apostille certificates

An apostille certificate is a proof for verification by the FCDO. The certificate is attached to your document to authenticate the person signing such documents. This is done at the FCDO legalisation office.

The simplified certification is issued by the country from which the public document originates for the country that will use them.

If an apostille certificate is attached to a document, countries within the apostille convention consider it authentic.

Apostille stamp

An apostille stamp is embossed on an apostille certificate to show that the document signed by a government official is authentic. This also means that the stamps, seals, or signatures are genuine.

Foreign embassies of countries within the apostille convention recognise the stamp and allow one to use the documents in their country.

The apostille signature

The FCDO issues an apostille signature as a show of confirmation that the signatures on a document are authentic.

Apostille legalisation

The apostille legalisation refers to verifying and confirming the authenticity of documents to be used in any country that recognises an apostille.

Apostille legalisation makes it easy for one to use documents from countries within the apostille convention territory without going through verification processes.

Read our detailed guide about apostille and legalisation terms commonly used.

What does an apostille look like?

An apostille is a certificate attached to your public document after legalisation.

It is a 15-centimetre square piece of paper with a seal.

The stamp is the government crest embossed onto the certificate.

The apostille issued must contain the seal and signature from the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). This is the only body authorised to issue apostilles.

Can I have any documents apostilled?

Yes. You can have any documents apostilled, from marriage certificates to academic certificates. Contact our apostille office for more information.

Do I need a notary public for my apostille?

Not really; a notary public can be used to verify any photocopies of documents you may have.

The certificate is glued to the back of the document or the front page of a double-sided document with all its details; the stamp or seal and signature.

The capacity in which the person signed the document is also authenticated. You can contact the FCDO office in Central London for this and other services.

What is the Hague apostille convention?

The convention covers a total of 115 countries all over the world, where the apostille laws and agreements apply. In these countries, the apostille is accepted without requiring further verification.

The Hague apostille convention of 5 October 1961 abolished the requirement for an apostille service for foreign and public documents. This convention facilitated the use of such documents abroad without an apostille certificate number.

The electronic apostille service was launched in 2006 to support the verification and electronic issuance of apostilles in signatory countries.

The Hauge Convention features more than 120 contracting parties, and the following countries are part of this list.

List of all Hague Member Countries

The UK has been a member of the Hague Convention since 15 July 1955.

Enquire about an UK apostille