What is an Apostille?

Posted on 27th May 2025

An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which verifies the signature, seal, and/or stamp of a UK Notary Public, Solicitor, or government official registered with the Foreign Office. This certificate ensures the document is legally valid for use in countries outside the UK that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. The apostille confirms both the origin of the document and the authority of the individual who signed it. This enables the document to be recognised abroad without the need for further legalisation. Documents that often require an Apostille include; ACRO certificates, ID1 forms, Affidavits, birth and marriage certificates, Powers of Attorney, Statutory Declarations, Wills and Testaments.