A UK e-Apostille is an official electronic Apostille issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It legalises an eligible UK document for use abroad without requiring a paper Apostille certificate.
To qualify for an e-Apostille, the document must be provided as a PDF and electronically signed by a UK Solicitor or Notary Public using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or Advanced Electronic Signature (AES). A typed name, scanned signature or standard electronic signature is not accepted by the FCDO.
Westminster Legalisation Services provides a complete UK Apostille service. Our in-house solicitor can review your document, provide the required certification where appropriate and apply a compliant QES or AES digital signature before we submit the document to the FCDO.
e-Apostille Service:
- Complete electronic Apostille service
- Certified by a solicitor or notary public with QES and AES signing capability
- No need to arrange a separate certification by Solicitor or Notary.
- FCDO submission managed by our legalisation team
- Typical turnaround of 5 hours –2 working days
- Completed e-Apostille delivered securely by email
Request an e-Apostille Quote
What is an e-Apostille?
An e-Apostille, also called an electronic Apostille or digital Apostille, is an Apostille certificate issued in electronic format by the UK FCDO.
It confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal or official capacity shown on a UK public document. The completed e-Apostille is issued as a digitally signed PDF containing the Apostille certificate and the document to which it relates.
Unlike a paper Apostille, the entire process can be completed electronically. The document is digitally prepared, submitted to the FCDO online and returned by email. The e-Apostille cannot be printed, which considerably limits in which places/occasions it can be used.
An e-Apostille does not certify that the contents of the document are true. It authenticates the relevant signature, seal or official capacity so the document can be presented abroad.
Can WLS obtain an e-Apostille for me?
Yes. Westminster Legalisation Services can manage the complete e-Apostille process for eligible UK documents.
The important difference with our service is that we have an in-house solicitor who can apply the Qualified Electronic Signature or Advanced Electronic Signature required by the FCDO. You do not need to find a separate solicitor or arrange the digital certification yourself.
Our team can:
- Review your document for e-Apostille eligibility
- Check whether a paper or electronic Apostille is more suitable
- Identify whether additional document verification is required
- Arrange solicitor or notary certification where appropriate
- Apply a compliant QES or AES digital signature
- Submit the electronically signed PDF to the FCDO
- Monitor the application
- Email the completed e-Apostille to you
Before proceeding, we will also ask where the document will be used and whether the receiving organisation accepts an electronic Apostille.
Pro-Tip: Always check with the requesting party if they will accept the e-Apostille. So far, many countries and organisation DO NOT accept the e-Apostille and a paper-based Apostille might more appropriate.
How much does a UK e-Apostille cost?
The FCDO currently charges a government fee of £35 for each document submitted for an e-Apostille.
Do not assume that an e-Apostille will automatically be cheaper or faster. Eligible documents must first be digitally signed using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or Advanced Electronic Signature (AES), which may involve additional certification, verification and professional fees. A paper Apostille does not require these extra steps, making our Next-Day paper Apostille service both quicker and more cost-effective in most cases. If price or speed is your main concern, ask our team to compare both options before proceeding.
The Apostille fees depend on:
- The type and number of documents (We offer bulk discounts for higher volume of documents)
- Whether solicitor certification or notary public certification is chosen
- Whether a QES or AES must be applied
- Whether verification with an issuing organisation is needed
- The complexity of the document
- The required turnaround
We provide a clear written quote showing the applicable professional fees, FCDO fees, VAT and any additional verification costs before you proceed.
What documents can get a UK e-Apostille?
Documents that can be converted into an eligible, digitally signed PDF may qualify for a UK e-Apostille.
Examples of documents that may be suitable include:
- Digitally signed declarations
- Digitally signed powers of attorney
- Solicitor-certified copies of passports or driving licences
- Solicitor-certified company documents
- Contracts and commercial agreements
- Company resolutions
- Academic or professional documents, subject to any required verification with the institution
- Documents digitally signed or certified by a UK notary public
- Documents digitally certified by a UK solicitor
- Certain digitally issued corporate and government documents
Eligibility depends on the document, how it was issued, what must be certified and the requirements of the organisation receiving it.
A document does not automatically qualify simply because it has been saved or scanned as a PDF. It must contain an acceptable electronic signature from a UK solicitor or notary public.
Send us a copy of your document and tell us where it will be used. Our team will confirm whether the e-Apostille route is available.
Which documents cannot get an e-Apostille?
According to current GOV.UK Apostille guidance, the following documents cannot receive a UK e-Apostille:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Civil partnership certificates
- Adoption certificates
- Certificates of No Impediment
- Other documents issued by the General Register Office
- ACRO Police Certificates for England and Wales
- Disclosure and Barring Service certificates for England and Wales
- Disclosure certificates issued in Scotland
- Disclosure certificates issued in Northern Ireland
These documents normally require a paper Apostille.
If you are unsure which service you need, send us a copy of the document. We can check its eligibility before you proceed.
Why does an e-Apostille require a QES or AES digital signature?
The FCDO requires the PDF to be digitally signed using either a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES).
These signatures provide a higher level of security than an ordinary electronic signature. They help confirm the identity of the person who signed the document and show whether the PDF has been changed after signing.
The FCDO does not accept a Simple Electronic Signature for an e-Apostille application.
What is an Advanced Electronic Signature?
An Advanced Electronic Signature is a secure digital signature linked to an identifiable signer. It allows changes made to the document after signing to be detected.
What is a Qualified Electronic Signature?
A Qualified Electronic Signature provides a particularly high level of identity verification and digital security. It is created using an approved electronic-signature process and is linked to the verified identity of the signer.
Can WLS provide the required electronic signature?
Yes. Our in-house solicitor can provide a compliant QES or AES signature for suitable documents.
The solicitor must first review the document and confirm that it can be properly certified or signed. Depending on the document, we may need to inspect an original, verify information with the issuing organisation or request supporting evidence.
Once the required checks are complete, the solicitor can electronically sign the PDF before it is submitted to the FCDO.
Learn more about our solicitor certification service.
How does the UK e-Apostille process work?
1. Send us your document
Send us a PDF or preview of the document. You should also tell us:
- The country where the document will be used
- The organisation requesting it
- Whether that organisation has confirmed it accepts an e-Apostille
2. We check whether the document is eligible
Our legalisation team will review the document and confirm whether an electronic Apostille is available.
If the document cannot receive an e-Apostille, we can explain the available paper Apostille or consular legalisation options.
3. Our solicitor prepares and digitally signs the document
Where solicitor certification is required, our in-house solicitor will complete the necessary checks and apply a Qualified Electronic Signature or Advanced Electronic Signature.
This creates the digitally signed PDF needed for the FCDO application.
4. We submit the application to the FCDO
Our team submits the eligible PDF to the FCDO Legalisation Office and monitors the application.
The FCDO checks the document and electronic signature before issuing the Apostille.
This part of the process can take anything between 1 hour and 2 working days.
5. You receive the completed e-Apostille
Once issued, the completed electronic Apostille is sent to you by email as a digitally signed PDF.
You should forward the original electronic file to the receiving organisation without modifying it.
How long does a UK e-Apostille take?
The FCDO currently advises that an e-Apostille can take up to two working days after a compliant application has been submitted.
Our typical e-Apostille turnaround is 1–2 working days once the document has been checked, correctly prepared, digitally signed and submitted. The FCDO response can take anything between 1 hour and 2 working days.
The process may take longer if:
- The solicitor needs additional evidence
- The document must be verified with its issuing organisation
- The FCDO needs to verify a signature
- The document is incomplete or incorrectly prepared
- The FCDO requests further information
- There are unusually high application volumes
If you have a fixed deadline, tell us when requesting your quote.
Can a scanned document receive an e-Apostille?
Sometimes, but scanning a document does not automatically make it eligible.
A UK solicitor or notary public must be able to certify or sign the PDF and apply a compliant QES or AES. The receiving organisation must also be willing to accept the document in electronic or certified-copy format.
We may need to inspect the original document or complete additional verification before our solicitor can certify the PDF.
Documents specifically excluded by the FCDO, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, ACRO Police Certificates and DBS certificates, cannot receive an e-Apostille even if they photocopied.
Is an e-Apostille the same as a paper Apostille?
An electronic Apostille and a paper Apostille perform the same basic legalisation function, but their format and document requirements are different.
| UK e-Apostille | Paper Apostille |
|---|---|
| Issued as an electronic PDF | Issued as a physical paper certificate |
| Sent and shared electronically | Attached to the back of the physical document |
| Requires a compliant digitally signed PDF | Usually requires an original or certified document |
| Normally completed without postal delivery | Requires physical submission and return |
| Not available for certain documents | Available for a wider range of UK documents |
| Best for organisations accepting digital documents | Best where original paper documents are required |
The correct option depends on the document and the requirements of the person, authority or organisation receiving it.
Is a UK e-Apostille accepted in other countries?
An e-Apostille has the same legal status under the Hague Apostille Convention as a paper Apostille. The HCCH states that an e-Apostille should not be refused solely because it was issued electronically.
However, you should still confirm that the specific organisation receiving your document:
- Can receive documents electronically
- Accepts an e-Apostille
- Does not require the original paper document
- Does not require a paper Apostille for its internal process
- Does not require further consular legalisation
This check is particularly important for courts, immigration authorities, universities, banks, property transactions and overseas government departments.
The HCCH provides official information about electronic Apostilles, but the final acceptance requirements should be confirmed directly with the receiving organisation.
Can I print an e-Apostille?
You cannot print the e-Apostille page as the PDF is locked for security.
The digital signatures, electronic certificate and security features must be viewed and validated in the electronic PDF. A printed copy may therefore not be accepted by the receiving organisation.
You should send the original completed PDF electronically and keep an unmodified backup copy.
Can an e-Apostille be verified online?
Yes. A UK e-Apostille can be checked using the official GOV.UK Apostille verification service.
The person verifying it will need:
- The Apostille number
- The date on which the Apostille was issued
The digital signature within the PDF can also show whether the document has been altered after the e-Apostille was issued.
Can I edit the PDF after the e-Apostille is issued?
No. You should not edit, split, combine, compress, rename through document-conversion software or otherwise modify the contents of the completed PDF.
Changing the file may affect its digital signatures or cause a warning when the document is opened. Always share the original electronic file supplied after legalisation.
Renaming the file without processing or recreating the PDF will not usually change its contents, but keeping the original filename is the safest option.
Does a UK e-Apostille expire?
The e-Apostille certificate itself does not normally have a fixed expiry date. However, the underlying document may need to have been issued within a particular period.
For example, a foreign authority might require a certificate, declaration or company document issued within the previous three or six months.
Always check the receiving organisation’s rules before arranging the Apostille.
Can one e-Apostille cover several documents?
Sometimes documents can be presented as a connected bundle, but many authorities require a separate Apostille for each document.
Before combining documents, confirm whether the receiving organisation wants:
- One Apostille for a connected set of documents
- A separate Apostille for every document
- Individual solicitor certification for each document
- The original documents rather than certified copies
Our team can review the documents and recommend the appropriate structure, but the final requirement is determined by the receiving organisation.
Do I need an e-Apostille for a country outside the Hague Convention?
An Apostille is primarily used between countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.
If the destination country is not part of the Convention, the document may require a different process involving an embassy, consulate or other authority. In some cases, an Apostille may still form one stage of a longer legalisation procedure.
See our consular legalisation service or ask our team to check the requirements for your destination country.
Why use Westminster Legalisation Services?
Westminster Legalisation Services helps individuals, businesses, solicitors and notaries prepare UK documents for use abroad.
For e-Apostille applications, we offer:
- An in-house solicitor with QES and AES signing capability
- Document eligibility checks before submission
- Solicitor certification where appropriate
- Complete FCDO application management
- Clear advice on electronic and paper Apostille options
- Support with document verification
- Assistance with translation and consular legalisation
- Offices in London and Milton Keynes
- A clear written breakdown of costs and requirements
The Apostille is issued by the UK FCDO. WLS acts as your legalisation service provider, prepares the application and manages the process on your behalf.
Request a UK e-Apostille Quote
Send us a copy of your document and tell us where it will be used. We will check whether it qualifies for an electronic Apostille and provide a full breakdown of the process, costs and estimated turnaround.
Our in-house solicitor can provide the compliant Qualified Electronic Signature or Advanced Electronic Signature required for eligible e-Apostille applications.
About the Author: Emerson De Queiroz Barbosa
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