Many people mistakenly think they need legalisation and the apostille. In reality, for most countries, adding the apostille is the legalisation of a document. Once the apostille is attached, the document is recognised as legal for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. There’s no additional legalisation required unless it’s for a non-member country, where embassy attestation may be needed.

What is the Apostille?

• It’s a certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
• Confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp on the document.
• It’s attached to the document as proof of its legitimacy for international use.

Your document may need to be certified by a solicitor before the apostille is added, but not always. Here’s when it might be required:

Original documents:

Official government issued documents like birth certificates or marriage certificates do not need solicitor certification.
These can be submitted directly for the apostille.

Solicitor certification of documents:

If you want to apostille a copy of a document (e.g., a passport or a degree), a solicitor must certify that the copy is true to the original.
They can also certify original documents (e.g. DBS or original Academic certificates)

Company documents:

Company documents sometimes need solicitor certification, especially if they aren’t INK signed by Companies House (e.g. incorporation documents)

If you’re unsure, check with the apostille service you’re using. They’ll confirm if solicitor certification is necessary.

Once a document has been apostilled, it is accepted in any of the Hague Convention countries without any further authentication. This is crucial for individuals and businesses engaged in international activities, as it significantly reduces the bureaucratic hurdles.

Common Misconceptions

• “Do I need more legalisation after the apostille?”
  If the country requesting the document is a member of the Hague Convention, the apostille is the legalisation for Hague Convention countries.
• “Do I need extra embassy stamps?”
  Some countries require additional embassy attestation, if not members of the Hague Convention.

• “Is the apostille just a stamp?”
  No, it’s a certificate that verifies key details about your document. It is a paper certificate that is also signed by the FCDO and embossed with an embossing seal/stamp.

By understanding that the apostille is the legalisation, you can avoid unnecessary confusion and extra steps. Always check if your document needs solicitor certification before starting the process to save time and hassle.

For free advice on how to legalise (add the apostille to your document), do not hesitate to contact us for free advice.