Certificate of Residence Notarisation & Apostille
Get your HMRC certificate of residence notarised and apostilled for Greece, the EU, and worldwide — same day, fixed fee, central London.
Get a Fixed-Fee Quote
Tell us which country your certificate is needed for and we’ll confirm the fee and turnaround. No obligation.
Why Does Your Certificate of Residence Need Notarisation?
If you are a UK tax resident with income or assets abroad, you will almost certainly need an HMRC certificate of residence to claim relief under a double taxation agreement. As a notary service, we see this requirement daily. Without one, you risk being taxed twice on the same income — once in the UK and once in the overseas country.
The problem many people discover too late is that modern HMRC certificates are issued electronically, without a wet ink signature from an HMRC official. Foreign tax authorities — particularly in Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Cyprus — will not accept an unauthenticated document. They require either an apostille or full consular legalisation before they will process your claim.
Because there is no original signature for the FCDO to verify, the certificate must first be notarised by a UK notary public. The notary certifies the document, the FCDO then issues an apostille on the notary’s signature, and the certificate is ready for use overseas. This is especially common for Greek nationals living in the UK, who are required to submit an apostilled certificate of residence to the Greek tax authorities every year.
How Does the Certificate of Residence Process Work?
Three simple steps from HMRC letter to apostilled document.
You Get Your Certificate from HMRC
Apply to HMRC online or by post using their RES1 service. Once you receive the certificate, send it to us or bring it to our Wigmore Street office.
We Notarise the Document
Our notary public certifies your HMRC certificate with a notarial act. This is done the same day — often within the hour. We prepare it in the format your overseas authority requires.
We Arrange the Apostille
We submit the notarised certificate to the FCDO for an apostille. The apostilled document is returned to you ready for submission to the overseas tax authority.
Do You Need a Certificate of Residence for Greece?
Greece is one of the most common destinations for HMRC certificates of residence. If you are a Greek national living and working in the UK, or a UK resident with property, pensions, or investments in Greece, the Greek tax authorities (AADE) will require proof of your UK tax residency each year to apply the UK–Greece Double Taxation Convention.
Greece is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means an FCDO apostille is sufficient — you do not need additional embassy legalisation. However, Greek authorities are known for rejecting certificates that are submitted without an apostille. The annual cycle catches many people off guard: you need a fresh certificate each tax year, and it must be properly authenticated before the Greek filing deadline.
Because HMRC now issues most certificates electronically, the standard route is: HMRC issues the certificate → notary public certifies it → FCDO issues the apostille → you submit to AADE. We handle steps two and three as a single fixed-fee service, with a typical turnaround of 2–3 working days from receipt of your HMRC letter.
What if Your HMRC Certificate Has a Wet Ink Signature?
In some cases — particularly with older correspondence or certain types of requests — HMRC may issue a certificate bearing an original wet ink signature from an official. If your certificate has a genuine wet ink signature, it may be possible to obtain an apostille directly from the FCDO without notarisation. This is increasingly rare, but if you are unsure, send us a scan and we will let you know which route applies to your document. There is no charge for checking.
Which Countries Require an Apostille on a Certificate of Residence?
Any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention will accept an FCDO apostille. Countries outside the Convention require full embassy or consular legalisation instead. We handle both routes. The most common countries we process certificates of residence for include:
Greece
Spain
Italy
Portugal
Cyprus
France
Germany
UAE
Saudi Arabia
India
Pakistan
NetherlandsDon’t see your country? Get in touch — we cover virtually every jurisdiction.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers?
- Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
- Member of The Notaries Society
- STEP qualified — Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
- Same-day notarisation in central London
- Fixed fees with no hidden costs or hourly billing
- We arrange the FCDO apostille for you — no extra trips
- Postal service available for clients outside London
- 5-star Google reviews from hundreds of clients
- 19 Wigmore Street — two minutes from Bond Street station
- ACSP registered for anti-money laundering compliance
What Our Clients Say
“I needed my HMRC certificate notarised and apostilled for the Greek tax office. Edward Young handled the whole thing in two days — couldn’t have been easier.”
“Very professional and efficient. They explained exactly what I needed for my certificate of residence and the fixed fee meant no surprises. Highly recommended.”
“Sent my documents by post and had the notarised and apostilled certificate back within the week. The whole process was straightforward from start to finish.”
“Excellent service for getting my tax documents ready for Spain. Same-day notarisation and they took care of the apostille too. Fixed price, no fuss.”
What Do You Need to Bring?
To notarise your certificate of residence, please have the following ready:
- Your HMRC certificate of residence (original letter or printed PDF)
- Valid photo ID — passport or UK driving licence
- Details of the country and authority requiring the certificate
- Any specific wording or format required by the overseas authority
Not sure if you have the right document? Send us a scan and we’ll confirm before you visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
An HMRC certificate of residence is an official document confirming that a person or company is a UK tax resident. It is used to claim tax relief under a double taxation agreement with another country, preventing you from being taxed twice on the same income. You apply for it directly from HMRC — a notary cannot issue the certificate itself, but we certify it for overseas use.
The FCDO issues apostilles by verifying the signature on a document against its register of authorised signatories. Most HMRC certificates are now produced electronically without a wet ink signature, so there is no signature for the FCDO to verify. A notary public certifies the document with their own signature and seal, which the FCDO can then apostille.
Yes. The Greek tax authorities (AADE) require an apostille on HMRC certificates of residence. Greece is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an FCDO apostille is accepted — no embassy legalisation needed. Submitting without an apostille can result in your tax relief claim being rejected.
Notarisation is done the same day, usually within the hour. The FCDO apostille typically takes 1–2 working days on the standard service. For urgent cases, a premium same-day apostille service is available. From start to finish, most clients have their apostilled certificate within 2–3 working days.
If your HMRC certificate carries a genuine wet ink signature from an official, it may be eligible for an apostille directly from the FCDO — potentially bypassing the notarisation step. This is uncommon with current HMRC correspondence, but send us a scan and we will advise on the best route at no charge.
Absolutely. Many of our clients outside London send their HMRC certificate by Royal Mail Special Delivery. We notarise it, arrange the apostille, and return the completed paperwork by tracked post. Contact us for postal instructions and current turnaround times.
All member states of the Hague Apostille Convention accept an FCDO apostille. This includes Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, the UAE, India, and over 120 other countries. For countries outside the Convention, we arrange full embassy or consular legalisation instead.
Individuals and sole traders can apply through HMRC’s online service or by emailing a completed form to HMRC’s PAYE and Self Assessment team. Companies use the RES1 online service. You will need to state which double taxation agreement applies and the type of income involved. Processing times vary but are typically 2–4 weeks.
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
+44 20 7499 2605 · notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Member of The Notaries Society · STEP Qualified · ACSP Registered
Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:30
Need Your Certificate of Residence Notarised?
Get in touch today for a fixed-fee quote. Same-day notarisation, apostille arranged, central London.