Getting an Apostille on an ACRO – The Complete Guide (2026)
ACRO Police Certificates are commonly requested for UK citizens applying for visas, residency applications and working or teaching overseas. When this is requested it is usual for an apostille to be added to the document by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) who ‘legalises’ the ACRO for use in another country.
The ACRO will then be accepted outside of the UK.
How to Get an Apostille on an ACRO Police Certificate Whilst Overseas
If you are living outside the UK and need an apostille on an ACRO Police Certificate, the process is often much easier than people expect.
In many cases, there is no need for the ACRO certificate to be posted to you overseas first before being legalised. Instead, the certificate can usually be sent directly from ACRO to our office in the UK, allowing us to add the apostille quickly and then dispatch the completed document directly to you anywhere in the world.
This can save considerable time, reduce international postage delays, and avoid your documents being shipped backwards and forwards unnecessarily.
What is an ACRO Police Certificate?
An ACRO Police Certificate is an official UK criminal record certificate issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office.
It is commonly required for:
- Visa applications
- Residency applications
- Employment abroad
- Teaching positions overseas
- Immigration processes
- Overseas marriage applications
Many overseas authorities require the certificate to be legalised with an apostille before it will be accepted.
Can You Get an Apostille on an ACRO Police Certificate From Overseas?
Even if you are currently living abroad, you can still obtain an apostille on your ACRO Police Certificate using our UK apostille service.
The key point to understand is that only the applicant themselves can order the ACRO Police Certificate directly from ACRO. Third parties, including apostille services (like Hague Apostille), cannot apply for the certificate on your behalf.
However, once you submit the ACRO application yourself, you can ask ACRO to send the completed certificate directly to our office in the UK for apostille processing.
How the Process Works
How This Helps Overseas Customers!
For customers living overseas, sending the ACRO certificate directly to our office is often the fastest and simplest approach.
Benefits include:
Faster Overall Processing
The document avoids an unnecessary international delivery stage before legalisation can even begin.
Fewer Shipping Stages
Instead of:
UK → Overseas → UK → Overseas
the process becomes:
UK → Our Office → Overseas
Reduced Risk of Delays or Loss
Fewer international shipments generally means fewer opportunities for customs delays, postal issues, or lost documents.
Simpler Administration
You do not need to organise multiple courier shipments between countries.
Countries Where Apostilled ACRO Certificates Are Commonly Required
Countries Requesting ACROs
We frequently legalise ACRO Police Certificates for use in the following countries (this list is not exhaustive) –
- Spain
- Portugal
- Greece
- Cyprus
- China
- South Korea
- Thailand (extra attestation required)
- UAE (extra attestation required)
Need Help With an ACRO Apostille?
We can help streamline the process by receiving your ACRO Police Certificate directly from ACRO, obtaining the apostille quickly, and dispatching the completed document worldwide.
This is often the simplest option for customers already living overseas who need their UK police certificate legalised quickly and efficiently.
Fast Apostille for ACROs
We add the apostille to ACRO certificates in just 1-2 working days. Most ACRO certificates are legalised the next working day and dispatched.
