Legalisation - Apostille

- Authentications and Apostilles
- Apostille - Certificate of Authentication
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Hague Convention
- Legalisation
- Power of Attorney

What is Legalisation?
Legalisation simply means confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine.

Why documents need to be legalised?
The signatures or seals of British public officials (such as solicitors, notaries public, registrars) on certain documents like Powers of Attorney and Certificates of Good Standing from the United Kingdom have to be confirmed before those documents can be accepted overseas.

Important information

Photocopies of any documents must be true copies of the original and signed by a British practising solicitor or notary public. Make sure the solicitor signs his or her own name, and not the company's name.

Notes
If they attach an apostille or legalisation certificate to a document, it only confirms that the signature, seal or stamp on the document is genuine. It does not mean that the contents of the document are correct or that the Foreign & Commonwealth Office approves of the contents. However, in certain cases, UK courts may need to confirm the signatures on documents presented to them.

The Legalisation Office
Foreign & Commonwealth Office