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Degree Certificate Legalisation: Everything You Need to Know

  • Posted: October 16th, 2025

Degree Certificate Legalisation: Everything You Need to Know

When it comes to using your degree certificate abroad, legalisation is an essential step that ensures your document is recognised as genuine by foreign authorities. Whether you are moving overseas for employment, education, or immigration purposes, the degree certificate legalisation process confirms that your qualification is valid and has been officially issued by an accredited UK institution.

In this comprehensive guide, we at Prime Apostille explain the complete legalisation process for degree certificates, including requirements, steps, and professional services available to make the procedure seamless and efficient.

What Is Degree Certificate Legalisation?

Degree certificate legalisation is the process of validating your academic document so that it is accepted by foreign governments and institutions. This process involves obtaining an Apostille stamp from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or going through embassy legalisation if the destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Once legalised, your degree certificate can be officially used for purposes such as:

  • Applying for international employment or work visas

  • University admissions or academic recognition abroad

  • Professional licensing or registration in another country

  • Immigration, settlement, or visa applications

Why Is Degree Certificate Legalisation Important?

When you present your degree certificate in another country, authorities must be assured of its authenticity. Legalisation prevents fraud by confirming that the document was genuinely issued by a UK educational institution and verified by a competent authority.

Without legalisation, your document may be rejected by foreign entities such as universities, employers, or government departments, delaying your visa or career application process.

How to Legalise a Degree Certificate in the UK

The degree certificate legalisation process depends on where your document will be used. Below are the key steps:

Step 1: Verify Your Document

Ensure your degree certificate is genuine and correctly signed by your university or college. If it’s an original issued by a UK institution, it can usually be legalised directly. However, in some cases, a solicitor certification may be required if the document is a copy.

Step 2: Solicitor Certification (If Required)

A solicitor or notary public may need to certify the document as a true copy of the original before submitting it for legalisation. This confirms that the copy is authentic and unaltered.

Step 3: Apostille Legalisation by the FCDO

The FCDO affixes an Apostille stamp to your degree certificate. This step verifies that the signature or seal on the document is legitimate and issued by a recognised authority.

  • Countries part of the Hague Convention only require this step.

  • The Apostille stamp is recognised in over 120 countries worldwide.

Step 4: Embassy Legalisation (For Non-Hague Countries)

If your document is intended for a non-Hague Convention country such as the UAE, Qatar, China, or Vietnam, it must be further legalised by the respective embassy or consulate.
This involves submitting the Apostilled document to the embassy, where they validate it for use within their jurisdiction.

Step 5: Translation (If Required)

Some countries require your document to be translated into the local language by a certified translator before or after legalisation. Professional translation and notarisation services ensure accuracy and compliance with official standards.

Documents Required for Degree Certificate Legalisation

You may need to prepare the following documents:

  • Original or certified degree certificate

  • Copy of your passport or ID

  • Application form (depending on embassy or FCDO)

  • Payment receipt or legalisation service invoice

  • Supporting documents such as transcripts (if requested)

Having all required paperwork ready helps speed up the process and avoid unnecessary delays.

Processing Time for Legalisation

The timeframe for degree certificate legalisation varies depending on the steps involved:

  • FCDO Apostille: 1 to 3 working days (standard service)

  • Embassy Legalisation: 3 to 10 working days depending on the country

  • Full Process (Apostille + Embassy): Approximately 1 to 2 weeks

For urgent cases, Prime Apostille offers expedited services to ensure your degree certificate is processed quickly and securely.

How Prime Apostille Can Help

At Prime Apostille, we specialise in degree certificate legalisation and document authentication for both individuals and organisations. Our experienced team handles the entire process from solicitor certification to Apostille and embassy legalisation, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

We provide:

  • Fast-track services for urgent submissions

  • Door-to-door document collection and delivery

  • Comprehensive support for Apostille, embassy, and translation requirements

  • Secure handling of your academic credentials

With us, you can rest assured that your documents are in professional hands — handled with accuracy, confidentiality, and efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I legalise a copy of my degree certificate instead of the original?
Yes, a certified copy can be legalised as long as it has been signed and stamped by a UK solicitor confirming it is a true copy of the original.

2. How much does degree certificate legalisation cost?
The cost depends on whether you need only an Apostille or both Apostille and embassy legalisation. Prices typically start from £75, excluding courier or embassy fees.

3. Do I need to legalise both my degree and transcript?
Some countries may require both documents to be legalised, especially for academic equivalency or professional licensing. Always confirm the requirements with your destination country.

4. Can Prime Apostille legalise documents for any country?
Yes, we provide Apostille and embassy legalisation services for all countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, Kuwait, and Qatar.

5. How can I track my document’s progress?
Our clients receive regular updates and tracking details at each stage of the process — from certification to Apostille and embassy submission.

Contact Prime Apostille

If you need reliable and professional degree certificate legalisation services, contact Prime Apostille today.

📞 +44 (0) 207 183 8043
📧 info@primeapostille.com
🌐 www.primeapostille.com

Let our experts handle the entire process quickly and securely, ensuring your degree certificate is fully legalised and accepted worldwide.

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The Qualifications Office of the Consulate General of Italy in London only issues "Dichiarazioni di Valore" (Declarations of Value, DV) of British qualifications - issued by recognised educational institutions (schools, colleges and universities) or professional bodies - that fall under the British education/university system.

Scotland and Northern Ireland fall within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Edinburgh.

The "DV" is neither an equivalent of an Italian qualification nor a comparability certificate. It will be up to the relevant Italian institutions (Ministry of Education, Uffici Scolastici Provinciali, Universities, etc.) to subsequently declare if a foreign qualification has a similar Italian equivalent: this is called "equipollenza" (equivalence/certificate of comparability). Please note that the "Declaration of Value" can only be requested for already-completed study cycles (e.g., A-level, Bachelor, Master, etc.).

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