An apostille in the UK is issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with fees ranging from £35 for a digital e-Apostille to £100 for same-day urgent service. The apostille is a certificate attached to your document confirming that the signature or seal on it is genuine, so authorities abroad will accept it. What you pay and how long you wait depend on the document type and the service tier you choose.
Apostille or Full Legalisation?
An apostille only works if the country receiving your document is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Over 120 countries participate, including most of Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan, and India.
If the destination country is not a Convention member, an apostille alone won’t be enough. You’ll still get the document apostilled by the FCDO, but you’ll then need to take it to that country’s embassy or consulate in the UK for a further legalisation stamp. Confirm what the receiving authority actually requires before you begin.
Which Documents Qualify
The FCDO can apostille any document that already carries an official UK signature or seal it can verify against its records. That covers:
- Public registry certificates — birth, marriage, death, civil partnership, adoption, and Companies House certificates
- Court documents bearing a wet ink court seal
- Government department letters signed by an official, such as HMRC tax confirmations
- Medical certificates signed by a registered doctor
Anything else — powers of attorney, contracts, academic qualifications, or copies of passports and driving licences — can still be apostilled, but only after a UK solicitor or notary public has certified it. The solicitor or notary adds their own signature and seal, which the FCDO then authenticates. A solicitor’s certification is usually cheaper, though some overseas authorities insist on a notary.
For the digital e-Apostille route, the document must be uploaded as a PDF that has been electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. A scan of a physically signed document won’t do.
Fees and Processing Times
The FCDO runs four service tiers. Two are open to anyone; two are limited to registered businesses.
- Standard paper service: £45 per document, plus courier or postage. Up to 15 working days, not counting delivery. This is the main option for individuals.
- e-Apostille (digital): £35 per document. Up to 2 working days. Documents are uploaded and returned electronically, so there are no postage costs.
- Next-Day paper service: £40 per document. Registered businesses only. Returned the next working day.
- Restricted Urgent paper service: £100 per document. Registered businesses only, and every application must be pre-approved by emailing UrgentLegalisation@fcdo.gov.uk before submission. Same-day processing.
The e-Apostille is the fastest and cheapest choice for individuals, but not every document qualifies for it and not every country accepts digital apostilles. Ask the authority requesting your document which format they’ll take before you pay.
Documents That Cannot Use the e-Apostille
Several common documents are excluded from the digital service and have to go through the standard paper route:
- Civil registration certificates from the General Register Office — birth, death, marriage, civil partnership, and adoption
- Criminal record checks — ACRO police certificates and DBS certificates for England and Wales, and disclosure certificates for Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Fingerprint certificates
- ACCA membership certificates
This catches many people out. If you need a birth certificate or a police check apostilled, the £45 standard service is your only individual option, and you should plan for up to 15 working days plus delivery time.
Return Delivery Costs
For paper-based apostilles, the FCDO charges courier fees on top of the per-document price:
- United Kingdom (including British Forces Post Office): £5.50 per 1.5kg
- Most European countries: £25.50 per 1.5kg
- Rest of the world: £29.50 per 1.5kg
For a UK return, you can enclose a self-addressed A4 envelope with sufficient postage instead. The FCDO currently cannot return legalised documents directly to Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus; you’d need them sent elsewhere first, or use the e-Apostille where possible.
How Long an Apostille Stays Valid
Apostilles don’t carry an expiration date. One issued ten years ago is technically still valid under the Hague Convention. In practice, some overseas authorities refuse older apostilles, particularly on documents like police checks or medical certificates where the underlying information dates quickly. Before relying on an existing apostille, send a scan to the requesting authority and ask whether they’ll accept it. A fresh apostille is far cheaper than a rejected application abroad.