18 May 2026

The importance of a notarised bank statement in 2026

There are a few situations where you may need to take a notarised bank statement abroad with you, which means you will need the help of a Notary Public like us. We will take you through the notarisation of bank statements and tell you what we can do for you.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

When you are dealing with large sums of money or business in another country, you will need to get any relevant documents ready; this includes notarised bank statements.

In fact, almost all types of documents will need to be notarised if you want to use them abroad, except for those issued by the General Registry Office.

However, here, we are focussing solely on notarised bank statements, as they are important but could be overlooked, as you may be more worried about other documents that you are taking as well.

Below, we will take you through the important details about bank statements, some of the reasons you may need to take a bank statement abroad, ways of getting your bank statements, our process of notarisation, as well as other important information.

Reasons to get a notarised bank statement

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Generally, you will be told if the activity you are undertaking overseas requires a bank statement or not. However, it is a good idea to check even if you are not asked to provide one but you are dealing with money in some way, as they may just not have told you.

One of the main reasons that you may need to take a bank statement abroad is if you are dealing with large sums of money, such as making a large purchase for either personal or business reasons. Buying property in another country is one such example.

A notarised bank statement can also be used as part of tax returns, particularly if you are paying tax abroad for business purposes.

The following is a list of situations where you may need a bank statement:

Alongside Powers of Attorney for finances or other documents
Buying property abroad
Loan applications from foreign banks
Tax returns in other countries
Transferring large sums of money abroad
With Statutory Declarations for HM Land Registry

Proof of address

As well as being notarised as a main document themselves, you can use bank statements as your proof of address when you attend your notary appointment, which will also require them to be notarised.

Providing proof of address is an important part of the notarisation process, as it helps to prove who you are. Without proof of address and proof of identification, we cannot proceed with your appointment.

Please note that bank statements are not the only documents that can be used as proof of address; for example, an electricity or water bill can also be used, as well as other similar documents.

How to get a bank statement

Bank statements can be issued in two forms, both of which are easy to get.

Paper bank statements

Many people are still sent paper bank statements in the post, though banks have been phasing these out in recent years. If you have continued to opt in to paper statements, then you will already have them available to you.

Online bank statements

If you get your statements online, you will be able to download them as a PDF from either your bank’s website, or their app. You may also be able to request a copy be emailed to you as well.

The notarisation process

Regardless of whether you have an electronic bank statement or a physical one, the notarisation process is largely the same, as both require a physical copy to be made.

What a notary does, is essentially provide your documents with their seal, stamp and signature to prove it is a legitimate document.

At our firm, our notaries can have your documents notarised in a matter of minutes, through our services that we tailor to your needs.

Once your bank statement has been notarised, it will need to be legalised for you to be able to use it abroad.

Legalisation

Without legalisation, your bank statement will not be recognised as a legal document in another country. It is essentially a process where the notary’s information is proven to be real.

There are different forms of legalisation that are used by different countries, though the majority use apostilles. Embassy legalisation is another form that some destinations use, which is longer and more complex than getting an apostille.

As we work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, we can help you figure out which type of legalisation you need, as well as manage the whole process of legalisation with you.

For apostilles, we offer several packages that are designed to fit different timescales. Visit our apostille packages page to learn more.

Meanwhile, since the process of embassy legalisation can vary depending on the country you want to go to, we tailor our services to you and your destination. Get in touch to find out what will need to be done to get you on your way.

Get in touch with us for your notary needs

Talk to a member of our helpful team today to discuss your needs, find out what we can do for you, and to book an appointment with one of our expert notaries. You can do this by calling us, emailing us, or messaging us through our website chatbox.

When you book your appointment, you have the choice of coming to one of our conveniently placed offices in London, Manchester or Sheffield, or we can come to you with our mobile notary service.

Our mobile service is perfect for those who cannot make it to one of our offices; you can choose to have your appointment at home, or another suitable place, like your office or a café.

Get in touch with us today for our notary expertise.