HOW TO GET AN APOSTILLE
You can, of course, carry out legalisation/apostilles on your own.
DO IT YOURSELF
Here are just a few reasons why you'll benefit from using
THE APOSTILLES GROUP
step 1
DOCUMENTS
Prepare your documents, make sure you have the correct versions and be sure whether or not originals or photocopies are acceptable or need solicitor certification. Order replacements if necessary.
POTENTIAL COST
Between £10 and £50 (roughly)
POTENTIAL TIME
Days or even weeks
Answer a few questions about your documents to see what's needed, including solicitor certification and ordering replacements if necessary.
COST
All advice is provided for FREE.
Replacements are chargeable
TIME
A few minutes
STEP 2
SOLICITOR
Some documents need to be certified by a UK Registered/Practicing Solicitor before a UK apostille can be applied for. Arrange a meeting/visit with a solicitor local to you to potentially have your documents certified.
Find a solicitor here.
POTENTIAL COST
Between £5 & possibly even £50
POTENTIAL TIME
Days, possibly a week
Any documents that are to be presented to a solicitor will be certified on the day they are received and valid to do so.
COST
£10
TIME
Same/next day
STEP 3
APOSTILLE
If your documents don't need solicitor certification, you can cut straight to this part. If not, be sure this has been done correctly and make your application using the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office service found here.
POTENTIAL COST
£30
POTENTIAL TIME
up to 10 working days
Upon receipt of your documents and any certification that might be necessary, they will be presented for UK apostille using secure couriers and postal methods.
COST
from £65
TIME
from same/next day to up to 6/8 working days
STEP 4
EMBASSY
Once your documents have been returned, you may need a further legalisation from an Embassy whose country is not in the Hague Convention such as the UAE, Qatar or China. Some Embassies don't allow postal applications.
POTENTIAL COST
Between £15 and £00's (roughly) + P&P
POTENTIAL TIME
Days or even weeks
Further legalisation from an Embassy whose country is not in the Hague Convention once your documents have received their UK FCDO apostille.
POTENTIAL COST
POTENTIAL TIME
Days, up to 1-2 weeks
STEP 5
TRANSLATION
Your documents may need to be translated before they can be presented to the requesting authority. Indeed, the translations themselves may need to be apostilled as well. Usually, only certified translators are acceptable.
Once apostilled, legalised or even before these procedures, The Apostilles Group can present your documents for translation and receive certified translations within days.
POTENTIAL COST
Between £50 and £00's
COST
from £100
POTENTIAL TIME
Days, possibly a week
TIME
2-3 days
* Where this page mentions "+ P&P", this is purely in the context of getting the documents to the office that has to apply the apostille, legalisation or service.
It does not, under any circumstance, refer to return postage to the customer.
For more information on shipping options, please visit our Shipping and Postage page.
GET YOUR APOSTILLE STARTED
Find how out how The Apostilles Group can help you
TODAY
EMAIL: info@theapostillesgroup.uk
CALL (UK): 0800 9788 966
CALL (WORLD): 0044 1822 600160
WHATSAPP: 0044 1822 600160
