Your qualification, prepared for use abroad.
Prepare a UK degree, transcript or qualification for overseas use. Check certification, recipient instructions and electronic-route eligibility.
Birth certificates for overseas applications.
Check the paper apostille route for UK birth certificates, official replacements and the recipient’s document requirements.
Marriage records, prepared with care.
Understand the paper apostille route for a UK marriage certificate and check overseas requirements before arranging legalisation.
Use the police record your recipient requests.
Check the UK paper apostille route for ACRO, DBS and disclosure certificates, and identify the precise police record requested overseas.
Company documents for cross-border business.
Plan legalisation for company certificates, director resolutions and corporate documents. Check signatures, copies and recipient instructions.
A power of attorney starts with the right wording.
Prepare a power of attorney for overseas use. Check wording, identity, execution formalities, notarisation and the appropriate apostille route.
Certify the copy your recipient needs.
Understand certified passport-copy legalisation, identity checks and overseas recipient requirements before arranging an apostille.
Check through the official verification service.
Find the official GOV.UK apostille verification service and the issue date and number you need to check a UK paper or electronic apostille.
Personal and civil registration records
Birth and marriage certificates have their own guide because official registration documents need careful identification. The UK e-Apostille exclusion applies to General Register Office documents. Ordering an official replacement may be more useful than certifying a personal photocopy.
Education and professional records
A degree certificate, transcript and letter from a university may serve different purposes. Ask whether your recipient wants the award, the transcript or both, and whether it specifically requires notarial certification.
Company and business documents
A registry-issued certificate, an online register download and a director-signed resolution are different documents. Establish who must sign and whether the business needs separate apostilles or a permitted bundle.
Powers of attorney and identity copies
For a power of attorney, check the final wording and signing formalities before attending an appointment. For identity documents, the task is usually certification of a copy rather than legalisation of the original passport itself.
- Birth and marriage certificates.
- Degrees and qualification certificates.
- ACRO and DBS records.
- Company documents and resolutions.
- Powers of attorney and passport copies.
Common questions
Can you legalise a document issued outside the UK?
The UK FCDO service does not legalise foreign-issued documents through the UK route. Ask about the correct issuing-country process; do not assume UK certification replaces it.
Can several documents share one apostille?
Ask the recipient and the professional preparing the papers. A single bundle is not suitable for every transaction, and separate apostilles may be required.
Sources & review
- www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
- www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/specialised-sections/apostille
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Requirements can change. Check current official guidance and the receiving authority’s instructions before proceeding.