UK apostille explained

An apostille is a certificate that confirms the signature, stamp or seal on a UK public document is genuine, so the document can be used officially in another country. In the UK it is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office. This page explains where the apostille comes from, what it does and does not prove, and which countries accept it.

Where the apostille comes from

The apostille was created by the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, usually called the Apostille Convention or the Hague Apostille Convention. It is run by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).

Before the Convention, using a document abroad could mean a long chain of signatures: a local official, then a foreign ministry, then the destination country's embassy. The HCCH describes the purpose of the Convention as replacing that “often long and costly legalisation process” with a single apostille certificate, issued by a Competent Authority in the country where the document originates. In the UK, that Competent Authority is the FCDO Legalisation Office.

The HCCH says the Convention now has 130 Contracting Parties and that several million apostilles are issued each year, making it one of the most widely applied treaties in its field.

What an apostille proves, and what it does not

Article 5 of the Convention says a properly completed apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signer acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp. When you apply, the Legalisation Office checks whether the signature, stamp or seal on your document matches its own records. If it does, the office attaches the apostille. The apostille therefore confirms:

• that the signature is genuine,
• the capacity in which the person signed (for example, as a registrar, solicitor or notary), and
• where relevant, the identity of the seal or stamp.

It does not confirm that the content of the document is correct, and it is not a translation. If a degree certificate contains a mistake, an apostille will not fix it. If the receiving country needs the document in its own language, a translation is a separate step.

Paper apostille and e-Apostille

The UK offers two kinds of apostille. A paper apostille is a stamped certificate physically attached to your document, which is sent back to you by courier or post. An e-Apostille is a digitally signed PDF certificate attached to your electronically signed document, which you download and can share by email. Both are applied for online. Some documents, including General Register Office certificates and DBS certificates, can only get a paper apostille. More on the e-Apostille.

The HCCH is clear that an e-Apostille is just as valid as a paper one and cannot be refused simply because it is electronic. In practice, the person or organisation asking for your document may still have a preference, so check with them first.

Which countries accept a UK apostille?

A UK apostille is accepted, in principle, by every country that is a Contracting Party to the Convention and for which the Convention is in force. That includes the United States, Australia, India, Brazil, the Philippines, most of Europe and many others. The authoritative list is the HCCH status table.

Recent joiners

The membership has grown quickly in recent years, which means some older advice online is now out of date. According to the HCCH status table (last updated 30 June 2026), the Convention entered into force for:

Until the Convention is in force for a country, the old embassy route still applies there.

Objections between members

When a country joins by accession, existing members can object. The HCCH status table marks such accessions, and where an objection stands the Convention does not operate between those two countries. Several of the recent joiners above are marked this way. If your document is going to one of them, check the HCCH table or ask the receiving authority before relying on the apostille alone.

Countries that are not members

Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Nigeria do not appear on the HCCH list. For these, a UK apostille is usually still needed as the first step, but it must then be legalised by the country's embassy or consulate in the UK. For Qatar, for example, GOV.UK describes three steps: the UK Legalisation Office, then the Qatar Embassy in London, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar. See embassy legalisation.

How to get a UK apostille

1. Confirm with the receiving organisation exactly what they need (original or certified copy, paper or e-Apostille, one apostille or one per document).
2. Make sure the document is signed by a UK public official the Legalisation Office can verify, or have it certified by a UK solicitor or notary.
3. Apply online, choose paper or e-Apostille, and pay the fee per document (£45 standard paper, £35 e-Apostille).
4. Send the paper documents as instructed, or upload the signed PDFs.

If you would prefer someone to handle the certification and application for you, Apostille Online offers a managed UK apostille service.

Checking an apostille

An overseas authority can check any UK apostille, paper or electronic, by entering its reference on the GOV.UK Verify an Apostille page. The HCCH itself does not issue or verify apostilles; only each country's Competent Authority can.

Related guides

• Document legalisation in the UK
• FCDO legalisation: how the Legalisation Office works
• Which documents can be legalised?
• Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries
• The UK e-Apostille
• Apostille costs and timescales

Document Legalisation is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the UK government. Fees and timescales are taken from GOV.UK and the HCCH and were checked in October 2026; always confirm the current position on GOV.UK before applying.