Certified and Apostilled Documents: Everything You Need to Know
What Does “Certified and Apostilled” Mean?
A Certified Document usually means that a copy of a document has been confirmed as a true copy of the original.
These apply to legal documents and official documents.
‘Apostilled’ means a document has had an Apostille applied to it.
It has been stamped by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under the terms of The Hague Convention for the recognition of foreign public documents.
Together, certified and apostille documents make UK documents legally acceptable in overseas countries.
You might need certified and apostilles documents to get a new job, to open a bank account overseas, to identify yourself, register a marriage, or apply for a visa.
If you need help, give us a call now on +442074992605 or email us on notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
What does ‘certified’ mean
Certified means that the UK notary has seen the original document produced a copy of it and certified that the certified copy is a true copy of the original document.
This is needed when the original document can’t be sent – here are a few examples:
- Notarised Copy passport
- Certified Degree
If you need notarisation in London, give us a call on +442074992605 or email us notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk.
What Does “Apostilled” Mean?
‘Apostilled’ means that an Apostille stamp has been put on the document.
You can visit our Apostille Meaning page for a full definition and explainer but put simply… sometimes you need a notary to notarise documents and then you need the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirming that the notary is genuine.
Countries signed up to the Hague Convention accept documents which have an Apostille stamp added to your certified or original document as proof that it is an authentic document.
For example, if you are buying a property in Spain and you grant a lawyer a power of attorney to sign the papers. The Spanish land registry will want an Apostilled document to show that the document has been witnessed by a UK Notary Public.
What Kind of documents might need an Apostille
Personal documents for private individuals
- Powers of attorney
- Property documents including purchase and sale of land deeds
- Statutory declarations & Affidavits and other legal documents
- Passport notarised copy
- Proof of address UK – such as bank statements and utility bills
- Certified Degree Certificate for visa purposes
- DBS and ACRO Police Certificates which must be original documents
- Decree Absolute
- Certificates of Naturalisation
- Death Certificates
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
Who Issues Apostilles in the UK?
The competent authority for issuing Apostilles is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) GOV.UK. Which is a government department authorised do legalise UK documents.
Pro tip – not all documents go to the FCDO for Apostille directly. Some have to be notarised first.
6. How to Get a Document Certified and Apostilled (Step-by-Step)
NLP KWs: legalisation process, authentication certificate, apostille documents, delivery address, email address, phone number
Step-by-Step:
- Identify the document and country of destination
- Confirm whether it needs to be certified (notarisation). If necessary, get notarisation
- Submit to FCDO for apostille
- Receive apostilled document
Need help getting an Apostille? Let us take the strain with our Premium next-day service or Standard service.
Where Are Apostilled Documents Accepted?
Apostilles are usually needed when you send documents a foreign country. So they are really for international use.
Apostilles are accepted by 120+ countries, namely those countries who have signed up to the Hague Convention.
If your destination country is not a member (e.g. UAE), additional steps may be needed this is usually consulate legalisation. A process whereby the Consulate verifies the authenticity of the Apostille and places a stamp on or near the Apostille. Visit our Legalisation Guide for further information on countries who are not part of The Hague Convention on Apostilles.
Why choose us?
Trust
Having helped thousands of clients through the years. Our clients range from global corporations and household names to families and individuals across various walks of life.
Experience
We have the experience. We notarise documents for both private and commercial clients and have been doing so since 2004.
Fast and Convenient
We can book you in on a same day notary appointment if we can. We turn around your documents on the day. We know it’s usually urgent and pride ourselves in getting the job done quickly.
We are just a 5 minute walk from Bond Street or Oxford Circus stations. If you’re too busy we can come to you see our mobile notary page for further details.
If you need help, give us a call now on +442074992605
Certified and Apostilled Case Studies
Getting a job overseas
You are applying for a visa for a foreign country. Part of the process is to provide them with a Certified Degree and Police Check.
Because they are unfamiliar with UK law, they will want an Apostille on both the certified degree the ACRO check to ensure it is a valid document.
You present to the notary the original degree certificate and the notary produces a certified copy and then you provide us with an ACRO police check.
We will apply to the FCDO for an Apostille, take it there, return pick it up and send it to you. Job done.
You are setting up a Company in Dubai
Part of the process is to prove the credentials of your UK company. You need to provide a Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association and sign board minutes about the setting up of a UAE subsidiary.
A notary makes a company search and certifies all the documentation is filed at Companies House and provides a certified copy.
It needs an Apostille first and then it can be lodged with the UAE Consulate legalisation section for a Consulate Stamp.
Opening a bank account overseas
Your bank has asked you to get Proof of Address and a Notarised Passport Copy as part of they KYC process.
A UK Notary inspects originals of both documents then produces a certified copy of them.
FAQs
How long does it take to get an Apostille
If you use the .GOV.UK service yourself, the turnaround times is up to two weeks, sometimes longer if the FCDO are experiencing busy periods. We have access to the business counter and can turnaround a document on a next day basis.
Is certification enough for use in the EU?
Not always, usually an Apostille is required. Best advice is to ask the person you are sending the documents to.
What’s the difference between Apostille and Embassy legalisation?
An Apostille verifies the signature and seal of a UK public administrator like a registrar or a notary public. Consulate Legalisation is usually the consulate of a foreign country verifying the authenticity of a UK Apostille.
Is notarisation the same as certification?
No, it’s similar but different. Certification is usually required for domestic purposes and can be done by a solicitor or commissioner for oaths in the UK. Notarisation is usually when a document needs to be sent to a foreign country.
Need Help? We Handle the Entire Process
If you need the services of a UK notary, give us a call on our phone number +442074992605, email us notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk or complete the form below and we will guide you through the process.
