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Search the legalisation guidelines per country
Legalisation Guide
Start typing the name of the country below for the legalisation guidelines.
The processing times, fees and notes are provided only as reference and may change without prior notice. Contact us for up-to-date information.
Legalisation is the process by which the signature and seal of the Notary Public or government officer/department are authenticated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and/or by a foreign embassy or consulate for the country where the document is going to be submitted. A number of countries, primarily in the Middle East, still require this process of further consular legalisation after the Apostille is affixed to the document.
The legalisation requirements are determined only by the authorities in the country to which the document is going to be submitted, not by the UK government, notary public or solicitor.
Documents going to countries which are, or have been, part of the British Commonwealth seldom do not usually need legalisation nor, at present, do documents going to many parts of the United States. The legalisation requirements need to be checked with the local requesting party in the country the document will be submitted.
After the Apostille is affixed to the document by the UK FCDO, if the country where the document is going to be submitted is not a Signatory to The Hague Convention 1961, the document must be forwarded to the relevant foreign embassy, consulate or High Commission for that respective country in the United Kingdom for further legalisation/attestation. For certain Arab countries, commercial documents may also require further attestation by the London and Arab-British Chambers of Commerce before submitting to the relevant embassy, consulate or High Commission for further legalisation.
Legalisation can be a lengthy and complicated process, very specific to the particular country, and must be strictly complied with from the beginning of the process when a notary public or solicitor is certifying the document otherwise even with the Apostille and consular legalisation stamp affixed to the document, it can still be rejected when submitting to the local requesting authorities overseas.
We are registered with the UK FCDO to provide Apostille legalisation and have daily trips to the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes to offer the Apostille next-day and same-day services as well as the e-Apostille, which is usually issued electronically within 5-48 hours.
We subsequently submit your Apostilled documentation to the relevant Embassy, Consulate or High Commission in the UK for further legalisation/attestation.
Learn more about our Apostille Legalisation Service.
Frequently asked Consular Legalisation questions?
Consular legalisation is a process done by a diplomatic body (Consulate/Embassy/High Commission) that authenticates the signature and seal on documents Apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It is required for documents to be recognised and legally valid in countries that are not part of The Hague Convention 1961.
The process involves certifying your document by a UK solicitor or Notary Public first, then Apostille by the UK FCDO, and then having the document legalised by the relevant embassy or consulate in the UK for the country of destination. Each consulate may have specific requirements and you can contact our team to find out more about the requirements for the country you are submitting your documents.
We provide a comprehensive service that includes the solicitor certification or notary public certification (if applicable) including any verification with the issuing authority if required, the FCDO Apostille legalisation, and submit the documents to any consulate/embassy based in the UK which country is not yet Signatory to the Hague Convention 1961. The turnaround time and requirements vary from each consulate/embassy.
Yes, Westminster Legalisation Services LTD allows you to drop off and collect your documents at their conveniently located central London office.
Westminster Legalisation Services LTD offer legalisation services for all countries which are not Signatory to the Hague Convention 1961 and with consulates based in the UK. We provide a legalisation guide for specific country requirements available on our website.
The Apostille legalisation is a form of document certification recognised by countries Signatory to The Hague Convention 1961 abolishing the requirement of further legalisation by diplomatic body in the country of origin. The Consular legalisation is required for countries that are not Signatory to this Hague Convention, after the Apostille is obtained.
The turnaround time varies depending on the consulate/embassy your document will be submitted to. It may vary between 1 working day to 15 working days. You can see the Legalisation Guide and check this information by country.
You can pay online by card or by bank transfer upon receipt of an invoice from Westminster Legalisation Services LTD. Alternatively, if attending our office in person, you can pay by card or in cash. We do not accept personal cheques.
Yes, upon completion we will send you a scanned copy of the legalised document as PDF file via email along with any tracking details as applicable. If you are collecting the documents personally from our office, we send you the scanned copy of the legalised document as PDF file with the opening hours confirmation.
Use our worldwide ‘Legalisation Guide’ to get the legalisation requirements for each country by searching the country’s name in the list of countries available. This will give you an indication of the updated legalisation requirements for that specific country.
In most cases, requirements are clear for each country. However, they can vary depending on which region in certain countries where the document is to be submitted. If in doubt, you should contact your local lawyer/representative or the local authorities for confirmation on how to prepare the documentation accordingly to avoid extra costs and delays in case of rejection.
Here is the list of requirements for each country:
Notarial acts are recognised in most jurisdictions, but acceptance depends on additional formalities.
Many countries demand an Apostille (under the 1961 Hague Convention) or embassy/legalisation stamp.
Always check the specific requirements of the foreign authority before you proceed.
Check the legalisation guidelines per country.
