What is an Apostille?

If you are asked to produce legal document outside the UK you are required, under the Hague Convention, to produce an Apostille. An Apostille certificate authenticates the signature of the public official who has signed an official document in your home country. The Apostille certificate confirms the person who has signed the document has the authority to do so and that the document should therefore be recognised as legal in another member state. A member state is any country which has joined the Hague Convention. Whilst the Apostille is a recognised certificate for member states of the Hague Convention, many countries that are not members do recognise the authentication of the Apostille.

Why have an Apostille certificate?

The 1961 Hague Convention reduces all of the formalities of legalisation of documents to the simple delivery of a certificate in a prescribed form, entitled "Apostille" by the authorities of the State where the document originates. This certificate, placed on the document, is dated, numbered and registered. The verification of its registration can be carried out easily by means of a request for information addressed to the authority which delivered the certificate.

Which countries recognise Apostille certificates? The introduction of the Hague Convention in 1961 abolished the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. The Convention reduces all of the formalities of legalisation to the simple delivery of a certificate in a prescribed form entitled "Apostille". This certificate, placed on the document, is dated, numbered and registered. The verification of its registration can be carried out without difficulty by means of a simple request for information addressed to the authority which delivered the certificate.

Which countries recognise Apostille certificates?

There are currently over 60 member states of the Hague convention and many other countries will also recognise an Apostille certificate.

Member Countries.

A Albania, Andora, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan (from 02/03/2005)
B Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria
C Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D Dominica
E El Salvador
F Fiji, Finland, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
G Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana
H Honuras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary
I Ireland, Israel, Italy
J Japan
K Kazakhstan, Kiribati
L Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
N Netherlands (including Aruba; Netherlands Antilles), New Zealand, Niue, Norway
P Panama, Portugal (including Madeira)
R Romania, Russian Federation
S Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sri Lanka, Surinam, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland
T Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu
U Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (including Puerto Rico)
V Vanuatu, Venezuela
Y Yugoslavia

The following countries have also adopted the Apostille Certificate as proof of legalisation and in most situations the certificate will be accepted. We recommend you check with the legal entity you intend to present the Apostille certificate to as to whether the Apostille certificate will be acceptable.

Other Countries

A Affars and the Issas, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Aruba
B Bermuda, Brazil, British Antarctic Territory, British Virgin Islands
C Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Comoros Islands
D Denmark, Djibouti
E Egypt, Estonia
F Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia
G Georgia, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guernsey (Bailiwick of), Guyana
I Iceland
J Jersey, Jordan
M Malaysia, Martinique, Montserrat , Morocco, Mozambique
N New Caledonia
S Sri Lanka, St. Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon,
T Turks and Caicos
V Virgin Islands
W Wallis and Futuna

What information is contained on the Apostille?

The certificate contains the following information:

• Country of origin
• Name of signatory on the document
• The capacity in which that signatory has acted
• If the document has been sealed/stamped instead of signed then the details of the authority
• Place of certification
• Date of certification
• Issuing authorities details
• Certificate number
• Stamp of issuing authority
• Authorised signature of authority

What type of document can be certified by an Apostille?

There is a wide range of company documents that can legalised either individually or as a set. The following list is an example of some of the many documents that we legalise for existing UK and overseas clients operating UK businesses.

• Certificates of Incorporation
• Certificates of Good Standing
• Certificates of Name Change
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• Company Registers
• Share Certificates
• Share Transfer Forms
• Power of Attorneys
• Meeting Minutes
• Resolutions
• Milk

How do I place an order for an Apostille Certificate?

Please contact us by phone, email or post to place an order. One of our advisers will discuss the service you require based on the type of document.

How long does it take?

We aim to have your Apostille certificate issued within 8 working days from receipt of your documents and payment. We send the documents once notarized by a notary to The Legalisation Office at Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. We also have an express service. Please click here to see our prices.