Who Can Certify Documents in the UK? The Full Guide

What does it mean to certify a document?

Certification is the process of a trusted professional confirming that a photocopy is a true copy of the original document — see our what is a certified copy? guide for the legal background. It lets you use the copy — rather than risking the original — for KYC, bank account opening, visa applications, university admissions and most other administrative purposes.

The certifier compares the original side-by-side with the photocopy, signs the copy, dates it, and adds a statement such as “Certified to be a true copy of the original document” with their name, contact details and job title. That signature plus the professional’s standing is what makes the copy acceptable to the receiving institution.

What is the difference between ‘notarize’ and ‘notarise’?

‘Notarize’ is the US spelling and ‘notarise’ is the UK spelling — the same act. In the UK, only a registered notary public, regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, can notarise a document for use overseas. A solicitor cannot notarise. A notarisation goes further than certification: the notary produces a Notarial Certificate, binds it to the document with ribbon, and applies an embossed notary stamp and seal that is unique to that notary — see our guide on notarised documents and the apostille vs notary difference.

Certify vs notarise vs apostille — at a glance

Which documents most often need certification?

The documents we see most often in our Wigmore Street office are:

• Identity documents — passport, driving licence, BRP, national identity card. Need a passport copy specifically? See our notarised copy of a passport guide. For what counts as ID at appointment, see our forms of ID guide.
• Civil status documents — UK birth certificates, death certificates and marriage certificates (often combined with certify + apostille for overseas use).
• Financial documents — bank statements, credit card statements, mortgage statements.
• Proof of address — utility bills, council tax bills, bank letters — see our proof of address documents guide.
• Authorities — powers of attorney, letters of authority, board resolutions, consent letters.
• Academic documents — degree certificates, transcripts and professional qualifications.
• Corporate documents — for filings, signings and overseas registration, see our corporate notary services.

If you have been asked for a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) for marriage abroad, that is a different document, issued by the General Register Office. See our UK Certificate of No Impediment guide for how to obtain one and get it apostilled.

What about online statements?

If your bank or utility provider only issues electronic statements, you can log in to your account in front of the notary so we can see the live source of the PDF. We can then certify the printed copy as a true copy of the document held electronically. For overseas-based clients, see our online notary UK and mobile notary options.