India

Documents for India  are legalised by apostille at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (“FCO”)

The FCO has two offices. The one open to the public is at Milton Keynes, which is accessible by train from London. It is 55 miles/ 85 kilometres away. They charge £30.00 per document. Documents need normally to be signed by a notary before going to either FCO office.

The other FCO office is at Centre Point in London and is open to notaries and some other businesses. They charge £75 per document. The general public cannot go there, but notaries can take documents there on behalf of clients needing a swifter service.

Some argue that documents for India should be legalised at the India High Commission. This is incorrect. India has joined the Hague Convention abolishing the requirements for legalisation at its own consulate and such stamping at the Indian High Commission is no longer necessary for documents bearing the apostille.