apostille service coronavirus covid-19 update

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Updates

Updated: 07/04/2020 - APOSTILLE SERVICE OPEN!

We are issuing the apostille on all UK documents!

Following a brief period of suspended services the Hague Apostille Service resumed apostille services on Tuesday 7 April.

Hague Apostille is a recognised UK Apostille Service with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Gov.uk) for the legalisation of documents. We have priority access to the FCO as a registered business service.This enables us to provide a quick 1-2 day processing (subject to the FCO limits at this time)

Delays Expected With China Shipments

Due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak in China we are expecting clients receiving and sending documents in the area to experience delays with the arrival of shipments. As some areas have been placed into quarantine and with travel restrictions widely in place this is affecting all forms of transport from air cargo to road transport and sea freight.

apostille power of attorney

Notarising a Power of Attorney

When signing a power of attorney, you normally need to have the document witnessed by an independent person. This is typically witnessed by a solicitor or notary public.

When a power of attorney is ‘witnessed’ the solicitor or notary will check a person’s identity and then watch them sign the document. The solicitor or notary will then add their own signature. If the document does not already contain a ‘witnessing statement’ they may add their own certification

Chinese Legalisation

Changes to Chinese Legalisation - November 2019

As of the 8th of November 2019, the process for legalising UK documents for use in China will be changing. Applications will now be submitted to the Chinese embassy via a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in either London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

The visa centres have been introduced to reduce the administrative burden on the embassy by handling submitted applications. The embassy will still ultimately be issuing the attestation stamps to documents and will still be in charge of decision-making with respect to the eligibility of documents for legalisation.

Who can certify documents?

Who Can Certify Documents For The Apostille?

To ensure your documents can be legalised with the apostille they must be certified correctly by a recognised legal official under the Hague apostille convention. With overseas authorities requesting the apostille for different types of documents it can be confusing to know who is able to provide certification. The following is a list of the most common officials and the types of documents they can certify for the apostille process.

Doctors

Proof of Single Status with Apostille

When getting married abroad you may be asked to provide legalised documents to an authority overseas. This often includes a birth certificate as proof of identity and documentation that proves you are single and not already married.

In addition, if you have been previously married you may need to provide evidence you are now divorced. This is normally the decree absolute from a UK court. Any name changes by deed poll may also need to be legalised.

Legalising Documents for The Philippines

The Philippines Join Hague Apostille Convention

The Apostille convention will enter into force in the Philippines from 14th May 2019. This means the Philippines are the 117th party to agree to the convention which shows the increasing endorsement for the apostille legalisation process.

It is likely to take a number of months before the authorities in the Philippines will stop requesting embassy attestation as they adjust and alter their regulations. To accommodate this adjustment period the embassy should still provide attestation of documents before the service is stopped completely.

What is the Difference Between the Apostille and Legalisation?

What is the Difference Between the Apostille and Legalisation?

There are various terms used to refer to the process of legalising a document from one country in order to be recognised in another country. You may have been asked for your document to be notarised, authenticated, legalised, attested or issued with the apostille.

This can be confusing as different authorities use different terms that, more often than not, refer to the same process. We are frequently asked what the difference is between legalisation and the apostille.

5 Documents Commonly Legalised For Selling and Buying Property Overseas

Many people dream of owning their own overseas holiday home and do not consider which documents are required for the process. When purchasing a property overseas you will need to provide proof of identity, proof of earnings and you may need to appoint someone to act on your behalf if you cannot be present to sign all documents. You will also need to consider what will happen after you have purchased the property if the worst should happen. Who will be left to deal with your estate and what will happen to the property?

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