Apostille for British Overseas Territory documents
If you need an apostille for a document issued in a British Overseas Territory, it’s important to follow the correct legalisation process. Submitting these documents incorrectly can lead to delays or rejection.
Can the UK FCDO apostille these documents?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will not apostille documents issued in British Overseas Territories if they are submitted directly.
What is the correct process?
Documents from these jurisdictions must go through a two-step process:
-
Local legalisation
The document must first be legalised by the relevant authority in the territory where it was issued. -
FCDO apostille (if required)
Only after this step can the document be considered for further legalisation in the UK, where applicable.
Important note
If a document has already been issued with an apostille by the relevant Overseas Territory, and it is intended for use in a country that is part of the Apostille Convention, no further legalisation by the UK FCDO is typically required. If additional legalisation is needed, the original apostilled document (not a copy) can then be submitted to the UK FCDO.
List of British Overseas Territories
This process applies to documents issued in the following territories:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Saint Helena
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Key takeaway
Documents issued in British Overseas Territories cannot be apostilled directly by the FCDO. Ensuring the correct legalisation steps are followed will help avoid unnecessary delays.