Legalisation by Apostille Service

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The Legalisation by Apostille is provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the UK. If you need to use official documents abroad, the Apostille service is a vital step to ensure their legal validity and recognition in foreign jurisdictions. As a Notary Public I arrange for Apostille legalisation for my clients daily. I work with a few legalisation agents in London and Milton Keynes, where FCDO offices are located, to provide this service to my clients promptly saving their time and effort in their international dealings. 

The Apostille is an internationally recognised certificate that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (5 October 1961 Hague Convention). Rather than undergoing multiple legalisation processes, the Apostille streamlines the verification, making it a straightforward and standardised procedure. 

1. Document Verification: Before obtaining an Apostille, it's essential to ensure that your document is an eligible type for the service. Common documents include UK issued birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic qualifications, ACRO, DBS certificates, notarised documents by a Notary Public for England and Wales, and more. If in doubt, please contact me on 07860 641 870 or send your documents by email to me on jnnotarypublic@gmail.com and I will guide you through the process.

2. Documents that cannot be legalised by an Apostille in the UK: You cannot get documents issued outside the UK legalised using this Apostille legalisation service - get them legalised in the country they were issued. In certain cases, a Notary Public may be able to certify a copy of your original documents which can subsequently be submitted for Apostille legalisation.

3. Notary Public Verification (if required): If your documents require notarisation and you instruct me to authenticate them, I will ensure that they are duly notarised by me, as a qualified Notary Public, before proceeding to the Apostille service. My Notary’s seal and signature have been registered with the FCDO on their database, which allows their staff to match and verify my signature and seal that I put on your documents with their records. As such, the FCDO attaches an apostille (0.5 page certificate) on the other side of the notarised document verifying the Notary’s signature as authentic.

4. Application Submission: As a Notary Public I can submit your documents to the Legalisation Office of the FCDO by posting them to the FCDO directly, or in urgent cases I can use authorised legalisation agents for your convenience.

5. There are two types of Legalisation by Apostille Services:

5.1 Premium Apostille Service: is designed for clients who need their documents processed urgently and requires same or next-day service. This service offers swift verification and issuance of the Apostille certificate, ensuring your documents are ready for international use promptly. Whether you have last-minute business transactions, academic deadlines, or time-sensitive personal matters, the Premium Apostille Service ensures you can proceed without delays. For the premium/fast Apostille legalisation service I use authorised agents by posting the documents (by special/recorded delivery or courier) to them in London or Milton Keynes, who then submit them for legalisation to the FCDO on the same or next day. The agents post securely the legalised documents back to me for your collection, or your chosen address in the UK. If the matter is urgent, the legalisation agent can ship the legalised documents by courier to majority of the countries around the world at an additional charge, which will be confirmed to you in advance.

Key Features of the Premium Apostille Service:

· Same or next-day Processing: Your documents are processed and verified on the same or next day of submission, offering the quickest turnaround time possible.

· Expedited Handling: The Premium service ensures that your documents receive priority attention, expediting the entire legalisation process.

· Ideal for Urgent Matters: If your documents are required urgently for time-sensitive purposes, the Premium Apostille Service is the optimal choice.

· Fees: £75.00 (VAT exempt) per Apostille for premium legalisation service, plus return postage by Royal mail special/recorded delivery to our agent in London or Milton Keynes at £12.00 including VAT (i.e. £87 incl. VAT). If you require the legalised documents to be shipped by courier directly abroad, our agent can arrange the shipment for a fee of £45 incl. VAT (per package of up to 500 grams) for delivery in Europe. For other countries, I will advise you of the fee on a case-by-case basis.

5.2 Standard Apostille Service: provides an efficient and reliable option for clients with non-urgent document legalisation needs. Although the processing time is longer than the Premium service, it remains a popular choice for clients who have more flexible timelines for their international transactions or applications.

Key Features of the Standard Apostille Service:

· Processing Time: The Standard service by FCDO currently takes approximately 30 working days with postage for document verification and issuance of the Apostille certificate.

· Cost-Effective: The Standard service offers a more budget-friendly option without compromising the authenticity and recognition of your documents.

· Suitable for Non-Urgent Matters: If you have sufficient time before your documents are required abroad, the Standard Apostille Service provides a reliable solution.

· Fees: £30 (VAT exempt) per Apostille for standard legalisation service, plus £24 incl. VAT my processing fee per Apostille, plus return postage by Royal mail special/recorded delivery to our agent in London or Milton Keynes at £12 including VAT (i.e. £66.00 incl. VAT for 1 Apostille). If you require your legalised documents to be shipped by courier directly abroad, FCDO can arrange the shipment for a fee of £25.20 incl. VAT (per package of up to 1.5 kg) for delivery in European countries (not including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey). For other countries, the cost is £30 incl. VAT.

6. Verification and Apostille Issuance: The FCDO will meticulously verify the authenticity of your document, including the Notary Public's seal and signature. Once confirmed, an Apostille certificate will be attached to your document, affirming its legal validity.

 The Apostille service expedites the legalisation process, saving you valuable time and effort when dealing with international transactions, education, immigration, or personal matters abroad. 

The Apostille is recognised by over 120 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. It ensures your document's acceptance in those countries and avoids the need for further legalisation in the destination country. 

The FCDO is a trusted governmental authority, ensuring the security and credibility of the Apostille certificate. 

I can guide you through the legalisation process and the requirements, making the journey smooth and stress-free. Where the matter is more complicated, I can seek advice from the experienced and knowledgeable legalisation agents I work with to ensure all your questions are answered.