E-Apostille UK — Get a Digital FCDO Apostille
Faster than paper, tamper-proof, and delivered by email. Our FCDO-registered London notary practice handles the entire e-apostille process — request a fixed-fee quote.
How much does a UK e-apostille cost?
Our e-apostille fees are fixed and quoted in advance — no hidden charges, no percentage markups. The fee depends on your document type and turnaround requirements. Priority and same-day options are available.
The FCDO government fee applies per document. Discounts are available for multiple documents.
Request an E-Apostille Quote
Tell us what you need apostilled and we’ll get back to you within the hour. No obligation.
How does the e-apostille process work?
Three steps — we handle the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office application for you.
Send Us Your Document
Email or upload your digital documents. We review eligibility across all document types and advise on the best route — e-apostille, paper-based apostille, or consular legalisation.
We Notarise & Apply
Our Notary Public signs with a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) registered with the FCDO Legalisation Office. This digital solicitor certification is submitted electronically — no paper changes hands.
You Receive Your E-Apostille Certificate
The FCDO issues a tamper-proof e-Apostille certificate in PDF format. We email it to you — ready to forward to your recipient for international use anywhere in the world.
E-apostille and online notarisation — the full digital chain
An e-apostille (electronic apostille) is the digital version of a UK FCDO apostille — a PDF certificate cryptographically linked to the underlying document. When combined with our online notarisation service (witnessing by secure video call), the entire chain — notarisation, apostille, delivery — can happen without a single physical document moving.
This is particularly useful if you are based outside London or overseas. You attend a video call with our notary, sign using an electronic signature under their supervision, and we handle the FCDO e-apostille application from there. The finished document is emailed to you and your recipient.
What is a Qualified Electronic Signature?
The FCDO requires the Notary Public to use an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) or Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) — simple electronic signatures are not accepted. This electronic certification standard, equivalent to a digital solicitor certification, ensures the signature is uniquely linked to the signatory and capable of identifying them. Our QES is provided by a provider registered under the eIDAS framework and has been lodged with the FCDO Legalisation Office. When the FCDO inspects our QES, it applies the e-apostille certificate to the document.
See our online notary UK page for full details on the video-call notarisation process.
Which countries accept UK e-apostilles?
E-apostille acceptance is uneven across Hague Convention member states. Not every country or territory has adopted the electronic format, and some that have adopted it only accept it for certain document types. We always check acceptance with you before issuing an e-apostille so you do not pay for something the receiver will not take.
Confirmed accepting jurisdictions as of April 2026 include most Nordic countries, several US states, North Macedonia, and an increasing number of EU members. The UAE accepts e-apostilles for many document types. India, which acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 January 2025, accepts e-apostilles for some categories — confirm with the receiving authority before proceeding.
Where the receiving country does not accept e-apostilles, we can arrange a traditional paper apostille or consular legalisation instead. Check our legalisation hub for the full range of options by country.
Which document types can get an e-apostille?
Any UK documents signed by a Notary Public using a Qualified Electronic Signature or AES are eligible for e-apostille. The FCDO currently excludes certain personal documents issued by the General Register Office — these require a traditional paper-based apostille instead.
✓ Business Documents Eligible for E-Apostille
✓ Personal & Academic Documents Eligible
✗ Currently Excluded by FCDO
The following personal documents issued by the General Register Office or government bodies cannot currently receive an e-apostille. These must go through the traditional paper apostille route.
All excluded documents can still receive a traditional paper-based apostille. We advise on the best route for your apostilled documents.
What is the difference between e-apostille and paper-based apostille?
A paper-based apostille is a physical certificate attached to your original document by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It has been the standard method for apostille documents since the United Kingdom joined the Hague Apostille Convention. A traditional paper apostille requires you to post your original documents to the FCDO and wait for them to be returned — typically 5–10 working days for the standard service.
An e-apostille replaces this entire paper chain with digital documents. The Notary Public signs using a Qualified Electronic Signature, and the FCDO issues the apostille as a PDF document — a digitally sealed file that can be verified by the recipient instantly. No originals leave your hands, and the apostilled documents can be emailed worldwide within minutes of being issued.
For UK documents that qualify, the e-apostille is faster, cheaper to deliver, and carries the same legal weight. Where the receiving country still requires a paper-based apostille, we arrange that instead — and for documents the FCDO excludes from the electronic route (birth certificates, death certificates, police certificates), the traditional paper apostille remains the only option. We always advise which route suits your specific UK apostille needs.
How do you verify an e-apostille?
The e-Apostille certificate is delivered as a secure PDF document that can be opened in Adobe Reader or any standard PDF viewer. The verification process is straightforward: the PDF files contain a cryptographic digital signature and a QR code that links to the FCDO’s verification register. Your recipient scans the QR code or visits the register directly to confirm the e-apostille is genuine.
This verification process is one of the key advantages over a traditional paper apostille — there is no need to inspect physical stamps or holograms. The QR code confirms authenticity in seconds, which is why an increasing number of countries now prefer apostilled documents in digital format. The PDF format also means the e-Apostille certificate cannot be altered after issue without breaking the cryptographic seal.
Can you print an e-apostille?
No. An e-apostille is an electronic document — it exists only as a digitally signed PDF file and cannot be printed onto paper. If you print the PDF, the printed copy loses its cryptographic seal and QR code verification link, meaning it is no longer a valid apostille. The recipient must receive the original PDF file electronically (typically by email) to verify it against the FCDO register.
This is an important distinction from a traditional paper-based apostille, which is a physical certificate attached to the original document. If your receiving authority requires a paper document with a physical apostille stamp, the e-apostille route is not suitable — you will need a traditional paper apostille instead. We always confirm the correct format with you before processing.
⚠ Important: Never print an e-apostille. The printed version has no legal validity. Always forward the original PDF file to your recipient by email or secure file transfer.
Why choose Edward Young for your e-apostille?
What our clients say
“Incredibly efficient service. Documents notarised and e-apostilled within 48 hours. Clear communication throughout.”
“Used the online notarisation service from overseas. The whole process was seamless and much quicker than I expected.”
“Fixed fee, no surprises. They checked whether my recipient country accepted e-apostille before charging me. Very professional.”
“Handled a complex set of company documents with e-apostille. The team knew exactly what was needed for the UAE.”
E-Apostille FAQ
About Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers is a London notary practice at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH. We are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and registered with the FCDO for both paper and electronic apostille. Our notaries are members of the Notaries Society and STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). We are also ACSP registered.
Phone: +44 20 7499 2605 | Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Hours: Monday–Friday 09:00–17:30
Ready to get your e-apostille?
Fixed fees, FCDO-registered, delivered by email. Get a quote in minutes.