If your document has been certified by a solicitor or notary public, please ensure it meets all of the following requirements:

• The solicitor/notary holds a valid practising certificate in the UK.
  
• The certification was signed within the United Kingdom.
  
• The signature is a personal handwritten signature, not a firm’s stamp or logo.
  
• The name, address, and professional title of the signatory are clearly stated.
  
• The seal (if embossed) must be visible from both sides of the page.
  
• The certification includes a date.
  
• The wording clearly describes the action taken.

Important:

If the solicitor’s or notary’s signature is not registered with the FCDO, the apostille may be rejected.

If you are unsure, please check with your solicitor or contact us - we can assist in verifying or registering signatures.

Some documents must be submitted as original physical documents and cannot be accepted as copies, even if they have been notarised.

Examples include:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
  
• Police or disclosure certificates (ACRO, DBS, etc.)
  
• Civil partnership certificates
  

If your envelope contains both copies and originals, please ensure the originals are clearly marked or separated.

Incomplete, scanned, or copied versions of these documents cannot be processed.

If your document is signed by a doctor or other medical professional:

• Include contact details of the practitioner (name, address, clinic, email).
• Ensure the signature is registered with the FCDO.

If it is not, our team can assist with the registration process

Educational documents such as degrees, diplomas, or certificates must be:

• Certified by a UK solicitor or notary, or
  
• Authenticated by the British Council.
  

Please note:

• British Council certification must be done on the original document, not a copy.
  
• The certification wording must clearly indicate authenticity

If your certificate is signed by a minister, registrar, or authorised official, include one of the following:

• The contact details of the signatory, or
  
• The name and location of the church, registry office, or venue where the marriage took place.
  

This may be required for verification.

❌ Do not send laminated or mounted documents.

The apostille certificate must be physically attached to the paper surface, which is impossible through plastic lamination or rigid backing.

If your document is laminated, you must:

• Obtain a new original copy, or
  
• Carefully remove the lamination before submission.

All pages of the document must be submitted.

If a certification refers to specific attached pages or annexes, these must also be included.

The FCDO will not legalise incomplete or missing-page documents.