Apostille simply means “certificate” in French. This is a certificate attached by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office verifying the authenticity of that document so that it can be accepted when used in another country. Apostilles are typically required for personal, academic, and business documents.
When a document is required in an official capacity by a foreign authority or organisation, it is often very difficult for them to determine whether the document is genuine and legal. To overcome this issue, in 1961 a certificate of authenticity, called an ‘Apostille’, under the Hague Convention was introduced to legalise documents for use abroad.
Only the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office can issue an Apostille. Each Apostille is registered, dated and given a unique reference number.
The process can be confusing and complicated. At Prime Apostille we take care of this for you. Simply tell us what documents you need, send us your documents and let us worry about the rest.
Please note, you can not get documents issued outside the UK legalised using our service. These must be legalised in the country where they were issued.
The certificate of authenticity, called an ‘Apostille’, was introduced under the Hague Convention to legalise documents for use abroad in 1961. If the country you wish to present your official document(s) in is not part of the Hague Convention you are also required to get your documents attested by their UK based Embassy after getting an Apostille at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
If the country which you intend to use your legalised documents in is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 1961, then usually certification by a UK Notary, Solicitor or officially recognised body along with an Apostille will make the document legal in the destination country. Otherwise they will need an Embassy Attestation after getting an Apostille at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
There are 82 member states of the Hague Convention of 1961. Visit the Hague Convention Embassies part of our Embassy Attestation section of our website to see the list of signatory states to the Hague Convention.
Once you have determined the country you intend to use your legalised documents in is not part of the Hague Convention of 1961, simply select the Embassy when making your order with us.
Every Embassy has its own unique guidelines for what they require in order to get an Embassy Attestation. Our legal experts ensure everything is properly in order for the specific document you require legalised before one of our agents takes it to the relevant Embassy for Attestation.
Prior to a document being legalised with the Apostille certificate it must have the stamp of a recognised body or the signature of a public official or Solicitor. Without this, a document cannot be legalised. Most official documents such as marriage certificates are already officially certified and do not need to be attested by a Solicitor but other documents do.
Though all documents can be certified by a Solicitor, in most instances this is not required. If you are unsure whether your documents require a Solicitors Attestation we will help you make that determination.
Where you require a Solicitors Attestation our in-house Solicitors will add a statement why they are certifying the document then add their signature alongside their official stamp. The documents will be certified as being a true copy of the original. Where you are having your signature witnessed then our Solicitors will add ‘signed in my presence’ or ‘witnessed by’ to confirm they saw the document being signed.
Where you choose our Apostille Service or Embassy Attestation Service, you will be provided with a Solicitors Attestation where required at no additional cost.
Once you place an order, a file will be opened for you and it is assigned to one of our in house legal experts. They will take note of your requirements and be responsible for your matter up until its conclusion.
Upon receiving your documents they will check that the documents and your ID verification are in good order to proceed and then make a determination as to whether your documents require a Solicitors Attestation and / or Embassy Attestation.
Where your documents require a Solicitors Attestation they will arrange for one of our in house Solicitors to complete this. Where you document requires a Embassy Attestation, they will ensure everything is in order to meet the requirements for an Attestation at your specific Embassy and arrange for one of our agents to personally take the document to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to get the official Apostille Certificate issued and then subsequently to the relevant Embassy to get attested. This ensures that your documents will be processed securely and quickly without the need for any middle-men or courier services.
Once everything is completed. We assign the case to our Quality Control team to ensure that we have done everything properly and nothing is amiss. The documents are then couriered back to you securely.
If at any point throughout the process we require additional information or clarification a member of our team will be in touch with you to rectify the issue and get everything back on course.
Before we can process your application, you must send us copies of your photo ID and a proof of address.
• Your proof of identification (ID) can be colour copy of your passport photo page, driving license, residence permit or national ID. The copy must clearly show your photo and your full name.
• Your proof of address can be a copy of your household utility bill (but not a mobile phone bill), bank, building society or credit card statement, local authority tax bill or an electoral register. It must be no more than three months old and show your full name and current residential address.
You may send these documents to info@primeapostille.com
We require the above mentioned documentation to help prevent fraud and ensure that no one, except you, is able to use your personal information and / or documentation. We assure you we take our obligations under all data protection laws very seriously and work hard to ensure that we are holding personal data in a secure and compliant manner.
Yes you can. However before we proceed we need express written confirmation from the individual whose documents you intend to legalise – this will be in the form of a Letter of Authority signed by the person you are acting on behalf of. (If you want, we can provide you with a template of a Letter of Authority for your use – simply send us an email and we will get back to you with a template). This letter will need to be accompanied by a copy of their ID as well as proof of their address. We will also need to see a copy of your ID. These documents can be scanned in and sent to us by email if you prefer.
You may send these documents to info@primeapostille.com
• Your proof of identification (ID) can be colour copy of your passport photo page, driving license, residence permit or national ID. The copy must clearly show your photo and your full name.
• Your proof of address can be a copy of your household utility bill (but not a mobile phone bill), bank, building society or credit card statement, local authority tax bill or an electoral register. It must be no more than three months old and show your full name and current residential address.
We require the above mentioned documentation to help prevent fraud and ensure that no one, except you, is able to use your personal information and or documentation. We assure you we take our obligations under all data protection laws very seriously and work hard to ensure that we are holding personal data in a secure and compliant manner
Our online ordering portal will automatically apply a discount when you order more than three (3) documents.
If you are from a company or organisation which requires us to process documentation on behalf of a number of your personnel or members, please contact us and one of our senior partners will provide you with the most cost effective plan for your needs.
We strongly recommend you to courier your documents to us to ensure you can track your documents whereabouts. You can also share with us your tracking number by email for us to do the same and ensure you documents get to us safely.
Send your document to:
Prime Apostille
70 Seymour Road
London
E6 1PX
United Kingdom
Yes you can. We understand that in certain occasions you will need your document to be generated from somewhere else. You can typically give these organisations our correspondence address for your documents to be sent directly to us;
Prime Apostille
70 Seymour Road
London
E6 1PX
United Kingdom
Please make sure your full name is included and you email us on info@primeapostille.com to inform us of your intentions. Once we receive your documents we will notify you by email and process your application (subject to your order).
Certain documents can only be attested in their original format. However, most certified copies can obtain an Apostille and / or Embassy Attestation. Please note, these copies will need to be signed by a Solicitor or notary public certifying its authenticity, or even confirming the document as the true copy of the original. Otherwise you will need to also send us the original and one of our qualified Solicitors will be able to attest the copy.
Our Order Portal will guide you every step of the way and will let you know the document formats applicable.
If for any reason you are not in possession of the original copies please contact us so our agents are able to determine if we are nonetheless able to process your documents.
As soon as your documents arrive at our office we begin checking, certifying and processing your order. The timeframe to process your documents will depend on the service you need.
Where your documents require a Solicitors Attestation we can get this done in-house on the same day we receive your documents.
To obtain an Apostille for your documents we typically provide this within 15-20 working days.
Where your documents require a Embassy Attestation the timeframe will be dependent on the respective Embassy and their guidelines for getting an Attestation. We have provided guidelines as to our typical processing duration for various embassies.
Our agents will hand deliver your documents to the Embassy to get attested after taking them to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to get an Apostille.
We ensure your documents are processed as quickly and securely as possible. Once everything is in order we will return your processed documents back to you through the return delivery option you chose when originally placing your order.
If you have any specific time requirements for getting your documents processed, please email us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We will strive to keep you updated throughout the process.
We will keep you up to date so you do not feel the need to have to follow up on your order. Once we receive your documents we will email you an acknowledgement of receipt and will do the same once your documents are processed and couriered back to you.
However, if you do want to get in touch with us you can;
Email us: info@primeapostille.com
Call us: +44 (0) 207 183 8043
Our office hours are: 9:00AM – 6:00PM Monday to Friday.
Please make sure you tell us or specify your Order Number in all your correspondence.
We understand that sometimes you may need to amend your order or provide us updated information. In these circumstance simply email or call us.
Email us: info@primeapostille.com
Call us: +44 (0) 207 183 8043
Our office hours are: 9:00AM – 6:00PM Monday to Friday.
Please make sure you tell us or specify your Order Number in all your correspondence.
Please keep in mind that certain changes to the order may be subject to additional charges or otherwise your order may have already been processed leaving us unable to make any changes. But rest assured, we will do our best to help and accommodate you.
If you wish to cancel your order and get a refund, please contact us as soon as possible and we will try and accommodate your requirements.
In these circumstances simply email or call us.
Email us: info@primeapostille.com
Call us: +44 (0) 207 183 8043
Our office hours are: 9:00AM – 6:00PM Monday to Friday.
Please make sure you tell us or specify your Order Number in all your correspondence.
Please note that all refunds will be subject to a £15 admin charge which will be deducted from the total amount being refunded to you. Further, if we have already carried out work on your matter and have incurred costs as a result, any such costs shall be deducted from the total being refunded to you.
Where the information you provide is incomplete or upon receipt there is otherwise something we become aware of that prevents us from processing your documentation as required, we will email you to notify you of the issue.
In most circumstances our team will work with you to rectify the issue and get your documents processed without any additional delay.
In the event we conclude we are unable to process your documentation we will email you to provide you with a full explanation as to the reasons and return your original documentation to you immediately.
In our years providing this service we have rarely come across an issue we have not been able to resolve to ensure we deliver the best service available to our customers.
Please note that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is currently experiencing severe delays with issuing apostilles. It is currently taking around 20 - 25 working days to apostille a document through the FCDO and, as a result, our standard processing times are taking longer than usual.
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Have your document been certified in line with this guidance?
If your documents have not been certified by a Solicitor or Notary Public, please ensure that the documents you send to us are originals. Our in-house solicitors will create certified copies for you free of charge. Your original documents will subsequently be returned to you together with your legalised/attested documents.
Where was the event registered?
Unfortunately, we are only able to assist with documents registered in England and Wales.
Unfortunately, we are only able to assist with documents registered in England and Wales.
Do you know the General Register Officer (GRO) Index Reference?
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Do You have a copy of the Document?
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Please select the type of Adoption Certificate you would like to order
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Please Provide Details of your Photo ID
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Address Details
Past & Pending Convictions
Endorser Details
Your application must be endorsed by a suitable individual that meets the following criteria:
This individual can be of any nationality and can reside anywhere in the world.
Your endorser may be contacted to verify the authenticity of your application. As part of this validation we may need to send the photograph you submit to confirm that it is a true likeness of you.
Additional Information
Proof of Address
A list of suitable proofs of address can be found here.
*The date on these documents should be within the last three months and they must contain the name and address of the applicant.
Passport Photograph
You may find guidance on the format of passport style photographs by clicking here.
Passport Copy
Colour copies of passport(s) / travel documents must clearly show your photograph, personal information, expiry date, nationality, machine readable zone, extension pages and signature (if applicable). Copies of other official photographic identity documents should show as many of these features as possible. Black and white copies will not be accepted.
Letter of Authority
In order for us to make an application for an ACRO Certificate on your behalf, we require you to complete and upload a signed Letter of Authority which we can send to the ACRO Service as confirmation of the fact that we are authorised to act for you.
You may download a blank Letter of Authority by clicking here.
Please complete the relevant sections of the Letter of Authority and sign/date it where indicated at the bottom. Once you have done this, please email a copy of the completed Letter of Authority to us on info@primeapostille.com.
We will not be able to process your application until we have received this document from you.
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.).
If you wish for Prime Apostille to obtain a Declaration of Value on your behalf, please CLICK HERE.
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Once we have obtained all necessary information from you, we will be able to provide you with a quotation for our services and shall carry out your instructions swiftly.
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We will be able to provide you with a quotation for our services and shall carry out your instructions swiftly.
To get documents legalised for use outside of the UK, many countries ask that you get your documents attested by their UK based Embassy.
If you need your documents to be attested for use outside of the UK, please select the embassy from the list below.
Please note, the cost of our embassy attestation service is dependent on the specific embassy needing the attestation. Once you select the embassy our online ordering system will provide you with the total cost of service.
The cost of our embassy attestation service is dependent on the specific embassy needing the attestation. Once you select the embassy our online ordering system will provide you with the total cost of service.
Please note, countries that are a member of the Hague Convention of 1961 do not typically require Embassy Attestation, therefore these countries are not listed as search options. If the Embassy you need is not listed please contact us for further assistance.
Before your documents can be attested by an embassy they often require to obtain a certificate by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) verifying the authenticity of that document.
If your documents needs this certificate, we can obtain this for your selected documents at no additional cost using our Apostille service.
When a document is required in an official capacity, it is often required to obtain a certificate by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) verifying the authenticity of that document.
If your documents needs this certificate, we can obtain this for your selected documents using our Apostille service.
Please note, this is set fee per document that will be added to the total cost of our solicitor attestation service.
Please note, this is set fee per document that will be added to the total cost.
We do not compromise on the safe delivery of your documents, we therefore use a premier service for returning your documents back to you. The cost of delivery is a set fee per order and not dependent on the number of documents.
Please choose from the list below indicating how you would like for us to return your documents:
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