What does an apostille mean?

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.

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).

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 An Apostille? [Updated Explanation for 2024]

A UK apostille certificate is a physical piece of paper, 16 cm in height and 15 cm in width (6.3 inches by 5.91 inches), issued only by the UK government’s legalisation office, the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office).

It’s partially glued to the back of an original UK public document or a certified copy, bearing a stamp, signature, and embossment to confirm the authenticity of the document’s signatures, seal, and stamps.

But why would you need this?

An apostille is essential if you plan to use your UK documents in another country that’s part of the Apostille Convention (currently 126 countries).

It serves as an international seal of approval, verifying that your document is genuine and issued by a recognised authority in the UK.

This verification is often required for various purposes, such as:

Studying or working abroad: Educational qualifications, professional certifications, and employment contracts might need to be apostilled for recognition in a foreign country.
Getting married or registering a birth overseas: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, or divorce decrees may need an apostille for legal validity in another country.
Conducting international business: Company documents, powers of attorney, or commercial contracts might require an apostille for cross-border transactions.
Legal proceedings in foreign courts: Court orders, affidavits, or other legal documents may need an apostille to be admissible in a foreign jurisdiction.

The apostille certificate contains key information, including the name and capacity of the person who signed the document, details of any seal, and a unique reference number verifiable on the UK government’s website.

Remember, while an apostille validates the origin and legitimacy of your document, it doesn’t confirm the accuracy of its content or automatically make it legally binding abroad.

What an apostille is not:

No substitute for legalisation: If the country you need your document for is NOT a member of the Apostille Convention, you’ll need a more complex process called “legalisation.” (also called ‘attestation’).
Not a universal guarantee: Even with an apostille, your document might not be automatically accepted. Some countries may require translations or additional certifications.
Not a content verification: An apostille confirms that your document is officially issued and that the signatures are real, but it doesn’t guarantee that the information inside is accurate or valid.
No legal enforcement: An apostille helps verify a document’s authenticity but doesn’t automatically make it legally binding or enforceable in every country.

Information included on a UK apostille certificate:

The UK apostille certificate is a standardised document with specific details about your original document and its authentication.

These fields are labelled in English, French, and Spanish to ensure international recognition:

1
Country of Issue: Confirms the document originates from the United Kingdom.
2
Name of Signatory: Identifies the person who signed the original document.
3
Capacity of Signatory: Specifies the role or title of the person who signed the document (e.g., public official, solicitor, notary).
4
Seal Details (if applicable): Describes any official seal or stamp on the original document.
5
Place of Issue: Indicates the city where the apostille was issued.
6
Date of Issue: The exact date the apostille was issued.
7
Issuing Authority: Identifies the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as the official issuer.
8
Apostille Certificate Number: A unique reference number for verification purposes.
9
Stamp of Issuing Authority: The official FCDO stamp.
10
Signature of FCDO Representative: The signature of the authorised FCDO official.

Different terms and meanings for an apostille

While “apostille” is the most common term, you may also hear it referred to as an “apostille certificate,” “apostille stamp,” “Hague apostille,” “FCDO apostille” or simply “legalisation” (in non-member countries).

Please read our detailed guide about the commonly used apostille and legalisation terms.

This is what a UK apostille looks like:

Next – How getting an apostille works

What is an apostille?.

But why would you need this?

What an apostille is not:

Information included on a UK apostille certificate:

Different terms and meanings for an apostille

Further readings