What Is an Apostille? The Complete UK Guide (2026)
An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that confirms a document is genuine and can be accepted in another country.
If you are sending UK documents abroad, an apostille is often requested by an organisation or public office in that country to check the document is official.
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The Simple Definition
An apostille is a government-issued certificate that verifies the signature or seal on a UK document. It confirms:
- The signature on a document is genuine
- The person who signed it had authority to do so
- The seal on a document is from a recognised authority
- The document is authentic for international use
In simple terms:
An apostille allows a UK document to be recognised abroad.
Without it, many foreign authorities will reject your UK document.
What Does The Apostille Actually Do?
An apostille does not validate the content of your document. It confirms the authenticity of the signature or seal on it.
For example:
- A birth certificate → confirms the registrar’s signature
- A degree certificate → confirms the solicitor who certified it
- An ACRO certificate → confirms the signature of the issuing ACRO Officer
- A divorce document → confirms the seal of the issuing court
This is a key distinction many people misunderstand.
The apostille verifies who signed or sealed the document, not what the document says.
History: The Hague Convention Explained
The apostille certificate comes from the 1961 Hague Convention, an international agreement designed to simplify document legalisation.
Before this:
- Documents had to be legalised by multiple embassies
- Law firms were required to verify documents
- The process was slow, expensive, and inconsistent
The Hague Convention introduced the apostille as a standardised certificate accepted across member countries.
Today:
- Over 120 countries accept apostilles
- The UK is a full member
- Apostilles are recognised worldwide for legal and official use
What Documents Can Be Apostilled in the UK?
Most UK documents can be apostilled, provided they meet FCDO requirements.
Common document types
Apostille only (no solicitor required):
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- ACRO and NPCC police certificates
- Court documents
- HMRC letters with a wet ink signature
Solicitor certification + apostille required:
- Degree certificates
- DBS checks
- Passports (copies only)
- Driving licences (copies only)
- Employment letters
If a document does not have a recognised signature, it must be certified before the apostille can be issued.
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E-Apostille vs Paper Apostille
Digital or Paper Apostille?
There are two types of apostille in the UK:
Paper Apostille?
- Physical apostille attached to your document
- Universally accepted
- Required for most applications
In most cases, a paper apostille is still required.
Electronic Apostille?
- Issued as a PDF file
- Only valid for certain document types
- Not accepted by all authorities
