UK Document Apostille

Apostille for UK Documents — FCDO Legalisation Office

Updated: March 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

UK documents apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office for use in Spain, Latin America, or any Hague country. DBS checks, birth certificates, degrees — plus certified translation. 100% remote.

  • FCDO Legalisation Office submissions
  • £45 paper apostille; £35 e-Apostille when eligible
  • Prior notarial certification handled
  • Certified Spanish translation available
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What UK document do you need apostilled?

Step 1 of 4

What type of UK document do you need apostilled?

UK apostilles: FCDO Legalisation Office

The UK has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1965. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes is the sole UK apostille authority.

An important distinction: documents from government bodies (GRO birth and marriage certificates, ACRO police certificates, court orders) can go directly to the FCDO. Documents from private institutions (universities, employers) must first be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before the FCDO will apostille them.

We manage both routes and coordinate the full process on your behalf.

Government fee vs. optional private costs: the FCDO’s own apostille fees (paper £45; £35 e-Apostille for eligible documents only; Next-Day £40 and Restricted Urgent £100 for registered businesses) are government charges — see the official fee schedule below, checked in November 2026. Solicitor/notary certification, courier delivery and certified translation are charged separately by the respective providers and are not part of the FCDO fee; we quote them individually.

Who needs this service?

🇬🇧 UK nationals using documents abroad

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, DBS checks, and university degrees from the UK regularly need apostille for use in Spain, Latin America, and other countries. We handle the FCDO submission remotely.

🇪🇸 Spain visa applicants with UK documents

Spain requires apostilled UK documents for visa and residency applications. Post-Brexit UK documents are apostilled by the FCDO — the process is straightforward but requires knowing which documents need prior notarial certification.

🌍 Expats with UK credentials going to non-English-speaking countries

UK university degrees and professional certifications need apostille and certified translation for credential recognition in Spain, Latin America, and elsewhere. We provide both as a single service.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Original UK document (or certified copy) ACRO, GRO, UKVI, universities, courts, solicitors Varies by document type Must be original or a copy certified by a UK solicitor or notary. Documents issued by private institutions require prior notarial certification.
Apostille by FCDO Legalisation Office Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) — Legalisation Office £45 paper apostille — usually up to 25 working days plus delivery; £35 e-Apostille for eligible documents only The FCDO Legalisation Office is the UK's sole Hague Convention apostille authority. It handles all UK public documents — including DBS checks, birth certificates, and degrees. FCDO does not issue e-Apostilles for ACRO Police Certificates or General Register Office civil certificates — those use paper apostilles.
Certified translation (if required) Certified / sworn translator 1–3 business days Spain, most of Latin America, and non-English-speaking countries require certified translation of UK documents.

How the process works

1

We confirm whether your UK document is directly apostillable by the FCDO or requires prior notarial certification. Private institution documents (university degrees, employer letters) must be notarially certified first.

2

Documents from private institutions are certified by a UK notary or solicitor before submission to the FCDO. We coordinate this step using our UK partner network.

3

Documents are submitted to the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. The FCDO paper apostille costs £45 and usually takes up to 25 working days plus delivery; eligible documents can use the £35 e-Apostille (up to 2 working days), and the Next-Day (£40) and Restricted Urgent (£100) routes are for registered businesses only.

4

Translation (if needed) is coordinated in parallel. Final apostilled documents are returned by tracked international courier to your address worldwide.

Example scenarios

Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.

IE
Indian Expat, Hong Kong

from India to France

Apostille
The problem was…

An Indian expat living in Hong Kong had their Indian birth certificate notarized and apostilled by Hong Kong authorities, but France rejected it.

We solved it…

Documents can only be apostilled by the competent authority of the country that originally issued them. The applicant had to restart the process in India.

Result

In this example, the application was resubmitted with the correct apostille from India — the issuing country's competent authority.

CA
California Applicant

from USA to International

Apostille
The problem was…

A private affidavit notarized by a California notary was rejected for a state apostille because the notary stamped their seal on a blank white space instead of over the printed text of the affidavit.

We solved it…

The applicant had to reprint a fresh original of the private affidavit and ensure the notary followed state-specific seal placement guidelines perfectly before resubmitting.

Result

In this example, the document was resubmitted with the correct notary seal placement for the state office to review.

WS
Wrong State Apostille

from USA to Mexico

Apostille
The problem was…

A user paid a third-party service for a California birth certificate apostille, but received a Kansas apostille attached by a proxy notary, which was rejected in Mexico.

We solved it…

The applicant had to dispute the credit card charge and apply properly directly through the California Secretary of State.

Result

In this example, the fix is to dispute the third-party charge and apply directly through the California Secretary of State.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

FCDO Legalisation Office — Apostille The UK's sole Hague Convention apostille authority. Handles apostille for all UK public documents. Document eligibility and current apostille fees are published here. Fees checked November 2026. View source →
FCDO — Fees for consular services (official fee schedule) The UK government’s published fee schedule for FCDO consular and legalisation services, including apostille fees. Checked November 2026. View source →
ACRO Criminal Records Office Source for UK criminal record certificates (ACRO Police Certificate) for use abroad. View source →
Hague Conference — UK country profile Confirms the UK as a Hague Convention member and the FCDO as the apostille authority. View source →

Related guides

Guide
UK documents for Spain after Brexit: apostille guide 2026Laura Chen · February 2026
→

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Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

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Frequently asked questions

Who issues apostilles for UK documents?

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office is the UK's sole Hague Convention apostille authority. It issues apostilles for all UK public documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, DBS checks, court documents, and more.

Do UK university degrees need prior notarial certification before apostille?

Yes. University degrees, employer letters, and other documents from private institutions must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before the FCDO will apostille them. Documents issued by UK government bodies (GRO birth certificates, court orders, ACRO police certificates) can go directly to the FCDO.

Does Brexit affect UK apostilles?

No. The UK remains a member of the Hague Apostille Convention post-Brexit. FCDO apostilles remain valid and are recognised in destination countries where the Convention applies between the issuing and receiving States — including EU member states such as Spain (check exemptions under Regulation 2016/1191 for covered EU procedures).

How long does a UK FCDO apostille take?

FCDO paper apostilles cost £45 and usually take up to 25 working days plus delivery. Eligible documents can use the £35 e-Apostille (up to 2 working days), while the Next-Day (£40) and Restricted Urgent (£100) routes are reserved for registered businesses (the Restricted Urgent service requires advance approval). We always quote you the most current processing times before starting.

Does Spain require a certified translation of UK documents?

Yes. Spanish immigration authorities require a certified Spanish translation of UK documents for visa and residency applications. We provide certified translations prepared to the requirements of the Spanish office receiving your document; final acceptance is decided by that authority.

What is a DBS check and can it be apostilled?

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is the UK criminal background check used for employment and immigration purposes. Standard DBS certificates can be apostilled by the FCDO. For use abroad (e.g., for Spain visas), an ACRO Police Certificate — a specifically international criminal record certificate — may be more appropriate; it is apostillable via the FCDO paper apostille (not the e-Apostille).

Can I get a UK apostille if I live outside the UK?

Yes. We coordinate FCDO submissions and notarial certifications through our UK partner network. You do not need to be in the UK — we manage the process fully remotely and deliver your apostilled documents worldwide by tracked courier.

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Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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