What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certification attached to a document to make it valid for use outside the country in which it was issued. It verifies that the document is authentic and meets international standards for use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961.
How Does the Apostille Process Work?
- Verification: The apostille is issued by the relevant government authority, in the UK’s case, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The authority verifies the document’s authenticity by checking whether the signature or seal matches their records of authorized institutions or individuals.
- Attachment: The apostille certificate is physically affixed to the back of the document. A raised seal is then embossed, ensuring the apostille and the document are securely linked.
What Information is Included on the Apostille?
The apostille certificate contains the following details, as required by the Hague Convention:
- Country of issue
- Who signed the document (if applicable)
- The capacity in which the person signed the document (if applicable)
- Details of any seal on the document (if applicable)
- Place of issue
- Date of issue
- Issuing authority (in the UK, this is the FCDO)
- Apostille certificate serial number
- Stamp of issuing authority (raised seal)
- Signature of representative of the issuing authority
Note: The apostille will either reference the person who signed the document or the seal on the document, depending on the context.
How is the Apostille Attached to the Document?
- The apostille is stuck on the reverse side of the document.
- A raised seal is then embossed through both the original document and the apostille certificate to authenticate the document as officially verified.
Which Countries Accept an Apostille?
An apostille is accepted in all Hague Convention signatory countries, without requiring further legalisation or attestation by the country’s embassy. Here’s a list of countries that accept an apostille
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Albania Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burundi Cape Verde Colombia Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Estonia Fiji Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Grenada Honduras Hong Kong* Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kazakhstan Korea, Republic of (South) Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao* Macedonia, FYR of Malawi Malta Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niue Norway Oman Panama Paraguay Peru Poland Portugal Romania Russian Federation Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sao Tome and Principe Samoa San Marino Serbia Seychelles Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Uruguay USA Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela
What If the Country Is Not on the List?
If the country where you need to present the document is not on the list of apostille-accepting countries, you will need further legalisation through that country’s embassy before it can be accepted. We can assist you in arranging this additional step.
Summary
An apostille is a valuable certificate that ensures your document is recognised internationally. For documents to be used in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, the apostille is often all that’s needed. However, if your destination country is not a signatory, embassy legalisation may be required.
If you need help obtaining an apostille or legalising a document, get in touch, and we can guide you through the process.