FCDO legalisation: how the Legalisation Office works
The Legalisation Office is the part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that legalises UK public documents by attaching an apostille. Everything goes through one online application, but the service you can use, and how fast it is, depends on whether you are a private individual or a registered business.
Need it done for you? Apostille Online checks your documents, arranges solicitor certification if needed and handles the FCDO application.
Get your documents legalisedWhat the Legalisation Office does
The office checks the signature, stamp or seal on your document against its own records. If they match, it attaches an apostille. If the signature cannot be matched, the document is not legalised and the fee is not refunded. The office only deals with documents issued in the UK.
The FCDO Legalisation Office is a government service. This website is independent and is not connected with the FCDO or any government body.
The services available
| Service | Who can use it | Fee per document | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (paper) | Anyone | £45 plus courier or postage | Usually up to 25 working days plus delivery; current time shown when you apply |
| e-Apostille | Anyone (eligible documents) | £35 | Up to 2 working days |
| Next-Day (paper) | Registered businesses only | £40 | Next working day |
| Restricted Urgent (paper) | Registered businesses only, pre-approved | £100 | Same day |
GOV.UK warns that any of these can take longer, for example if a signature needs to be verified. The office will tell you if that happens.
Standard service
This is the route most individuals use. You apply online, pay, print what you are given and post your documents. The legalised documents come back by courier, or by post if you have supplied a prepaid envelope. Because the standard timeframe can run to several weeks, it is worth applying as early as you can and checking the current estimate shown during the application.
Next-Day service for registered businesses
Registered businesses can hand documents in and get them back the next working day for £40 each. GOV.UK publishes a list of “next-day service providers”: businesses that may be able to help if you need a document legalised urgently and do not have time for the standard service. The FCDO accepts no liability for the businesses on that list.
Restricted Urgent service
For genuinely urgent cases, registered businesses can request a same-day service at £100 per document. Every application for this service must be pre-approved by emailing UrgentLegalisation@fcdo.gov.uk.
Step by step: the standard paper route
- Check the document. Make sure it is a UK document signed or sealed by someone the office can verify, or certified by a UK solicitor or notary. See which documents can be legalised.
- Check what the recipient needs. Original or certified copy, paper or electronic, one apostille for a batch or one per document.
- Gather what you need to apply. GOV.UK lists the documents you want legalised, a credit or debit card for the fees, the address the documents should be returned to, and access to a printer.
- Apply online. You will be told how to submit your documents. The postal address is given after you apply, so you do not need to contact the office to get it.
- Post the documents. Follow the instructions you receive.
- Receive them back. They are returned by courier or post to the address you gave. You then pass them to the recipient by post, courier or in person.
Courier and postage costs
For the standard paper service there is an extra charge to return your documents by courier:
| Return destination | Courier price |
|---|---|
| UK (including British Forces Post Office) | £6 per 1.5kg |
| Most European countries | £32 per 1.5kg |
| Rest of the world | £42 per 1.5kg |
The European rate does not cover Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or Turkey, which are charged at the rest-of-the-world rate.
If you want the documents returned to a UK address and would rather not pay for a courier, you can pay for postage instead by including an A4 envelope addressed to yourself and enough UK stamps to cover the postage.
Documents currently cannot be returned to Russia, Ukraine or Belarus. GOV.UK suggests having them sent somewhere else and forwarding them yourself, or using the e-Apostille instead.
When fees last changed
The FCDO introduced the current fees on 1 January 2024, the first increase since 2016. The standard UK service went from £30 to £45, the next-day service from £30 to £40, the e-Apostille from £30 to £35 and the urgent service from £75 to £100. The overseas service is now £40, plus any indirect costs.
Contacting the Legalisation Office
GOV.UK says to contact the Legalisation Office with questions about how the process works or about an application you are making. Its published email address is legalisation@fcdo.gov.uk, and current phone details and call charges are on the GOV.UK help page.
Getting help with the whole process
The FCDO only does the legalisation itself. It will not certify your copies, tell you what a foreign authority wants, or take documents to an embassy for you. If you need those steps handled, a specialist service such as Apostille Online can arrange solicitor certification, the apostille and embassy attestation together.
Ready to get your documents legalised? Hand the whole process to a UK apostille service.
Get your documents legalisedFrequently asked questions
How long does FCDO legalisation take?
The standard paper service usually takes up to 25 working days plus delivery time, and you will see the current estimate when you apply. An e-Apostille takes up to 2 working days. Registered businesses can use next-day and same-day services.
Can I visit the Legalisation Office in person?
Handing documents in is for registered businesses. Individuals apply online and send paper documents by post.
Can I get my documents back without paying for a courier?
Yes, for a UK return address. Include an A4 envelope addressed to yourself with enough UK stamps to cover postage.
What if my document is rejected?
If the office cannot legalise a document, the fee is not refunded. Common causes are uncertified copies and signatures the office cannot match to its records.
Is this website the FCDO?
No. Document Legalisation is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the FCDO or the UK government.
Related guides
- Document legalisation in the UK
- UK apostille explained
- 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.