Which documents can be legalised?

Almost any UK document can be legalised if it carries a signature, stamp or seal that the FCDO Legalisation Office can verify. Some documents qualify exactly as they are. Others first need to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary. Knowing which group yours falls into is the single biggest thing that decides whether an application succeeds first time.

Documents that can usually be legalised as they are

GOV.UK lists four kinds of issuer whose documents can be legalised directly:

• Courts: documents issued by a court and sealed with a wet ink court seal.
• Public registries: for example birth, marriage or death certificates, or a company certificate issued by Companies House.
• Government departments: documents signed by an official, such as a letter confirming tax registration.
• Registered doctors: for example a medical certificate signed by a doctor.

In each case what matters is the original signature or seal. A photocopy of one of these documents is not the same thing and would normally need certifying.

Documents that need certifying first

Other documents can be legalised as long as they have been certified by a UK “public official” such as a UK notary or solicitor. The apostille then confirms the solicitor's or notary's signature. GOV.UK gives these examples:

• a power of attorney,
• a contract,
• a qualification certificate, such as a degree certificate,
• copies of documents such as a passport or a driving licence.

GOV.UK points out its list is not exhaustive. If in doubt, the receiving organisation is the best judge of what form they need, and a solicitor or notary can advise on the wording of the certification.

Common documents, one by one

Birth, marriage, death, civil partnership and adoption certificates

Certificates issued by the General Register Office or a local register office are public registry documents, so the original certificate can normally be legalised directly. They are not eligible for an e-Apostille, so they always get a paper apostille.

Degree certificates and transcripts

Universities are not on the list of issuers the office verifies directly, so degree certificates and transcripts normally need to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before they are legalised. Some recipients want the original certified, others accept a certified copy. Ask first.

DBS and police certificates

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates for England and Wales, disclosure certificates for Scotland and Northern Ireland, ACRO police certificates and fingerprint certificates are all on GOV.UK's list of documents that cannot get an e-Apostille, so they need the paper service. Whether the receiving authority wants the original or a certified copy is worth confirming before you apply.

Company documents

A company certificate issued by Companies House, such as a certificate of incorporation, is a public registry document. Other company documents, such as board resolutions, articles of association or commercial contracts, are usually certified by a solicitor or notary first. GOV.UK also explains how to order certified copies directly from Companies House.

Powers of attorney

A power of attorney is usually signed in front of, or certified by, a solicitor or notary, and it is that signature the apostille confirms. Countries often have their own rules on wording and witnessing, so it is sensible to get the receiving lawyer or bank to confirm the format before it is signed.

Passports, driving licences and ID

You cannot legalise your passport itself. What you can legalise is a copy certified as a true copy by a UK solicitor or notary.

Medical and tax documents

A medical certificate signed by a registered doctor, or a letter from a government department such as HMRC signed by an official, can usually be legalised as it is.

Documents the UK office cannot legalise

The UK Legalisation Office cannot legalise documents issued outside the UK. A foreign birth certificate, for example, must be legalised in the country that issued it, even if you now live in the UK.

Finding a solicitor or notary

GOV.UK points to official lists of notaries and solicitors for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ask the person requesting your documents whether they need a particular kind of signatory, as some countries specify a notary public rather than a solicitor.

Before you send anything

• Confirm with the recipient: original or certified copy, signed by whom, paper or e-Apostille, one apostille or several.
• Make sure the document was issued in the UK.
• Check the signature or seal is an original, not a photocopy, unless it has been properly certified.
• Remember there is no refund if a document cannot be legalised.

If you are not sure which group your document falls into, Apostille Online can check it and arrange certification before it goes to the FCDO.

Related guides

• Document legalisation in the UK
• UK apostille explained
• FCDO legalisation: how the Legalisation Office works
• 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.