An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that verifies the authenticity of a document’s signature, stamp or seal. It enables documents issued in the UK to be recognised abroad for international use.

You may require an apostille when submitting UK-issued documents (e.g., birth/marriage certificates, educational diplomas, company documents) for purposes such as immigration, overseas education, business operations or international marriage. The apostille confirms validity for use in countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

1. Place your order online via 12 Apostilles.

2. Send in your UK-issued original or officially certified copy of the document.

3. Select whether you need the standard or expedited service.

4. Pay securely online.

5. Receive your apostilled document ready for international use.

Common examples include: birth, marriage and death certificates; court documents; diplomas and other educational certificates; documents from Companies House; powers of attorney; DBS/ACRO criminal record checks; and other official or notarised documents.

If the document was not issued directly by a recognized UK authority (for example, a private contract or certificate) then it may need to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before applying for the apostille. Public documents such as issued birth or marriage certificates generally do not require this extra step.

No — the FCDO can only issue an apostille for documents that were originally issued in the UK. If your document is from another country, you must go through that country’s legalisation or apostille process.

An apostille is the simplified form of document authentication recognised by Hague Convention member countries. Full “legalisation” involves an additional embassy or consulate verification and is required when the destination country does not participate in the Hague Convention.

Turnaround depends on the service selected. For many documents you can avail next-day or 24-hour priority processing (once documents are received). Standard services take longer. Time for postage or courier transit is additional.

Costs vary depending on the document type, urgency and whether prior certification is required. (Exact pricing should be listed on the 12 Apostilles pricing page.)

You can verify the apostille via the UK government’s online verification service, using the unique number printed on the apostille certificate.

The apostille itself has no expiry, but the underlying document may have limitations or may be treated as outdated depending on the receiving authority’s requirements. Always check with the organisation or country where the document will be used.

Rejections typically occur if the document has no recognisable signature or stamp, is laminated, is a photocopy rather than an original or certified copy, or is a type not eligible for an apostille (e.g., a religious certificate). If this happens, you may need to obtain a corrected document or follow an alternative process.

Yes — many UK documents are eligible for an electronic apostille which is issued and verifiable online. However, some document types may still require a physical paper-based apostille.

Place your order online and follow the instructions for international posting. Use a tracked courier service, include your order number clearly, and ensure you comply with any pre-certification requirements. Once processed, 12 Apostilles returns your documents via a courier option.