Legalisation Requirements for different countries
A list of legalisation requirements for different countries in the world is set out below:
Explanatory notes:
Please note that the following list is only intended as a useful guide. In particular cases, the requirements may be different and one should check in each case. Usually you will have instructions from the person or authority that requires your document.
No further legalisation: You need do nothing further, since the notary’s seal and signature are enough.
Foreign Office plus consulate: The document is sealed and signed by the notary, then goes to the Foreign Office legalisation department, is stamped by them (at their fee of £30 or £75 per document) and then is taken to the consulate of the country in which the document is to be used. They also charge a fee, and stamp the document in their turn, and give it back to you. We can arrange for a fee to deal with this process for you – which can save you a lot of time. The consulate process can be very long and involve leaving the document their for some days and coming back and queueing again. Consulate fees vary from modest to very expensive indeed and are charged per document.
Apostille: The document is sealed and signed by the notary, then goes to the Foreign Office legalisation department and is stamped by them (at their fee of £30 or £75 per document). They then give it back to you. We can arrange to do this for you for a fee. The Foreign Office has two offices. One of them is in Milton Keynes, which is 55 miles/85 kilometres from London and charges £30 per document. It used to accept the public in person at the office, but now only deals by post. Their other office in London is open only to notaries and some other businesses and is a faster service – but charges £75 per apostille.