1 February 2022

What is an apostille? Here is your guide

Knowing why and when you need an apostille is important if you have business or personal interests in a foreign country. Here is how we can help.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Please note: this blog was updated on 11 February 2026.

Apostilles, whilst very useful, are not widely known about, with many people asking ‘what is an apostille?’ Most people will only learn about them for the first time when they need to take their important documents abroad, which they usually cannot do without having them legalised with an apostille.

When they are needed, they can confuse people as they may not know how to get one, nor what their actual purpose is. People may also not know what requirements need to be met before their documents can be issued with an apostille.

Another point of confusion is that apostilles are not the only way for documents to be legalised.

If you are unsure about apostilles, then keep reading to learn more about them, such as when you will need them and the ways in which we can help you.

What is an apostille?

To begin, if you are reading this, you are likely wondering ‘what is an apostille?’ In principle, an apostille is a form of legal certification that makes a document from one country valid in another. They are a widely recognised method for validating legal documents in a different country.

They were introduced by the Hague Apostille Convention in 1967, with more countries adopting them over time.

Several legal documents may need an apostille in different circumstances. The type of documents that may require one include:

Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Educational certificates
Driving licences
Bank statements
Tax returns
Passports

The apostille itself is a single-page document attached to the document in question. It shows the viewer that the document has been notarised. In the UK, they are issued the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Wondering if you need an apostille?

There are several reasons why you might need an apostille document. They are necessary to use an official document in a foreign country. Some examples of when you would need an apostille are:

International marriages
Moving to a different country
Applications for studying abroad
Applications for residency/citizenship abroad
Doing business abroad

For an apostille to be valid, both of the countries concerned need to be part of the 1961 Hague Convention. The full list of the countries that are part of the agreement can be found here.

How do you get something notarised?

If you want a document notarised, you need to get it seen by a specialist solicitor known as a Notary Public. This is the only way to notarise a document.

You need to present your document in good condition. Doing this allows the notarisation process to be done without the need for correction. Below is a list of things we recommend you do before bringing your document to be notarised:

Make sure the document is 100% complete
Provide official ID (passport/driving license)
Make sure the name on your document matches your ID

To notarise your document, the Notary Public will provide their stamp, seal and signature. These all prove that the document is legitimate and that it has been checked.

How long does it take?

The number of days it takes for your documents to be apostilled by the FCDO and returned can vary depending on which service option you choose: standard or fast-track.

Please be aware that processing times do not include postage and packing.

It should also be noted that the length of time it takes for your documents to be issued with an apostille can vary, and we will aim to keep you updated of any changes.

Our apostille and notary services

Our expertise as a registered Notary Public allows us to easily answer the question ‘what is an apostille?’, as we offer expert notary and apostille services.

Our notaries can deal with the notarisation of your documents, so that they can then get an apostille to use them overseas.

We can also manage the whole process of getting an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for you, as we work closely with them. Please visit our apostille packages page to learn more about what options are available to you, as well as current processing times.

Please note, for countries that do not accept apostilles, you will need to go through the process of embassy legalisation instead. This is a much more complex and lengthy process to understand. Luckily, we can also manage embassy legalisation for you.

Contact us for our expertise

Hopefully we have answered ‘what is an apostille?’ for you. Now, you can consider using our services to get one.

At our firm, we have two excellent notaries who have assisted thousands of clients. They can notarise your documents and have them sent off for an apostille with the support of our team.

First, we have our founder and Notary Public of England and Wales, Nathan Woodcock, who operates from our offices in Manchester and Sheffield. He also carries our our mobile notary services, which allows you to book an appointment at a time and place that suits you, such as your home, a café, your office, or somewhere else suitable.

Meanwhile, located in our Canary Wharf office is Notary Public of England and Wales, Papia Kabir. She offers services to people in and around London and is eager to assist you.

To book an appointment and meet either of our notaries, simply contact us by phone, email or through our website chatbox, so that you can discuss your needs with a member of our team.

Once your documents have been notarised, you can then use our apostille service, where we will get your documents issued with an apostille from the FCDO.

Get in touch with us today if you need our notary and apostille services.