What is the FCDO?
The FCDO stands for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It is the UK government department responsible for the United Kingdom's foreign policy, diplomatic relations, and — critically for document legalisation — the authentication of UK documents for use abroad.
When it comes to apostilles, the FCDO's role is straightforward: it verifies that the signature, seal, or stamp on a UK document is genuine. By attaching an apostille certificate, the FCDO confirms to foreign authorities that the document is authentic and was properly issued or certified in the United Kingdom.
💡 FCO vs FCDO
You may see references to the "FCO" (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) in older documents and websites. The FCO merged with the Department for International Development (DFID) in September 2020 to form the FCDO. Apostilles issued before 2020 may carry the FCO name, but they remain fully valid. The process and legal authority are unchanged.
🌍 The Hague Apostille Convention
The FCDO issues apostilles under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, formally known as the "Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents." The UK is one of 125+ member countries. An FCDO apostille is recognised by all other member countries without further authentication.
Before the Hague Convention, getting a document recognised abroad required a lengthy chain of authentication through multiple government departments and embassies. The apostille system replaced this with a single, standardised certificate — one stamp from the FCDO, accepted everywhere.
How the FCDO Apostille Process Works
The FCDO apostille process follows a clear sequence. Understanding each step helps you avoid delays and ensure your documents are processed correctly.
Document Eligibility Check
Before submission, the document must be verified as eligible. It must originate in the UK, bear an official signature or stamp, and — if it is a private document — have been certified by a UK solicitor or notary. This pre-check is where many DIY submissions fail.
Submission to the FCDO
The document is submitted to the FCDO Legalisation Office. This can be done by post (4–6 weeks processing) or in person by a registered agent (next working day processing). LegaliseNow submits all documents in person as an FCDO-registered agent.
FCDO Authentication
The FCDO checks the document against its records. For government documents, it verifies the issuing authority's signature or seal. For solicitor-certified documents, it checks that the solicitor is a genuine practising solicitor on the Law Society roll.
Apostille Certificate Attached
Once verified, the FCDO attaches the apostille certificate to the document. This is a standardised form that follows the Hague Convention format. The apostille confirms the document is genuine and carries a unique certificate number for verification.
✅ What the FCDO Does Not Do
The FCDO does not verify the content or accuracy of the document itself. It only confirms that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is genuine. An apostille on a birth certificate confirms that the GRO (General Register Office) issued it — it does not verify that the information on the certificate is correct.
Which Documents Does the FCDO Apostille?
The FCDO can apostille a wide range of UK documents. The key requirement is that the document must originate in the United Kingdom and bear an official signature, seal, or stamp that the FCDO can verify.
✅ Government-Issued Documents (£90)
Can be apostilled directly — no solicitor needed:
- • Birth certificates (GRO originals)
- • Marriage certificates (GRO originals)
- • Death certificates (GRO originals)
- • Decree absolute / decree nisi
- • ACRO police certificates
- • University degree certificates
- • Companies House certificates
- • Court orders (sealed copies)
- • Home Office documents
📝 Private Documents (£120)
Need solicitor certification first:
- • Powers of attorney
- • Employment reference letters
- • Bank statements and letters
- • Medical reports and letters
- • Commercial contracts
- • Statutory declarations
- • Certified translations
- • Photocopies of any document
- • Affidavits and sworn statements
Quick Rule: If a UK government body or public authority issued and signed the document, it can typically go straight to the FCDO. If it is a private document, a photocopy, or a translation, it needs a solicitor to certify it first so the FCDO has an official signature to authenticate.
Documents That Cannot Be Apostilled
Not every document can receive an FCDO apostille. Understanding what the FCDO will reject saves you time and prevents costly mistakes.
❌ Foreign Documents
The FCDO can only apostille documents that originate in the UK. A birth certificate issued in India, a degree from a French university, or a marriage certificate from the USA cannot be apostilled by the FCDO. Each country's own designated authority must apostille its own documents.
❌ Expired Documents
Some documents have validity periods. An expired CRB/DBS check, an outdated medical certificate, or a lapsed professional qualification may be rejected. While the FCDO checks the signature rather than the content, some issuing authorities will not confirm expired documents.
❌ Damaged or Illegible Documents
If a document is significantly damaged, torn, stained, or the signature and seal are no longer clearly visible, the FCDO may refuse to apostille it. You may need to obtain a replacement from the original issuing authority.
❌ Documents Without Proper Signatures
The FCDO must be able to verify the signature on the document. An unsigned document, a document with a printed (non-original) signature, or a document signed by someone whose signature is not on file with the relevant authority will be rejected.
❌ Uncertified Private Documents
A private document (employment letter, bank statement, power of attorney) that has not been certified by a UK solicitor or notary cannot be submitted to the FCDO. The solicitor's signature is what the FCDO verifies — without it, there is nothing to authenticate.
⚠️ Not Sure If Your Document Qualifies?
Send us a scan before posting your original document. We check every document for eligibility before submission, catching issues early. This is included in our service at no extra cost. Email info@legalisenow.com or call 0203 916 6250.
Postal vs In-Person Submission
There are two ways to get documents to the FCDO for apostille: postal submission (by you) or in-person submission (by a registered agent like LegaliseNow). The difference in speed and reliability is significant.
📮 Postal Submission (DIY)
⚡ In-Person via Registered Agent
💡 What is a Registered Agent?
An FCDO-registered agent is a company authorised by the FCDO to submit documents for apostille in person at the Legalisation Office. Registered agents have direct access to the FCDO counter service, which processes documents the next working day rather than the 4–6 week postal queue. LegaliseNow has been an FCDO-registered agent for over 15 years.
The Apostille Certificate Explained
An apostille certificate is a standardised document defined by the Hague Convention. Every apostille issued by every member country follows the same format, making it universally recognisable.
📄 What the Apostille Contains
A UK apostille certificate includes the following information, presented in a standard layout:
Country of Origin
States "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" — confirming where the document was issued.
Signatory Details
The name of the person who signed the document, their capacity (e.g., "Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales"), and the authority whose seal or stamp appears on the document.
Date and Place of Issue
When and where the apostille was issued (London, with the specific date).
Issuing Authority
Identifies the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) as the competent authority that issued the apostille.
Certificate Number
A unique number that can be used by the recipient country to verify the apostille's authenticity through the FCDO's online verification system.
🔍 How Recipient Countries Verify It
The FCDO maintains an online verification system where authorities in other countries can check that an apostille is genuine by entering the certificate number. This means even if a foreign official has never seen a UK apostille before, they can verify it instantly online.
After the Apostille — What Next?
Receiving your apostilled document is not always the final step. What happens next depends on the destination country and its specific requirements.
Hague Countries
The apostille is accepted directly by authorities in all 125+ Hague Convention member countries. No further authentication needed.
Examples: USA, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Australia, India, Japan, Canada
Non-Hague Countries
An additional embassy attestation step is required. The relevant embassy or consulate in London must stamp the document after the FCDO apostille.
Examples: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Angola, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
Translation Needed
Many non-English-speaking countries require a certified translation of the apostilled document. The translation is done after the apostille, not before.
Examples: Spain (sworn), France (sworn), Germany (certified), UAE (Arabic)
⚠️ Always Check with the Receiving Authority
Requirements can vary not just by country but by institution. A university in Germany may have different requirements than a municipal office in Germany. Always confirm exactly what the receiving authority needs before you start the process. We can help you check — call 0203 916 6250 or email info@legalisenow.com.
🏛️ Embassy Attestation
For non-Hague countries, LegaliseNow handles the full embassy attestation process. We submit your apostilled document to the relevant embassy in London, manage the processing, and return the fully legalised document to you. Embassy attestation starts from £150 per document and typically takes 5–15 working days depending on the embassy.
We currently support embassy attestation for: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Angola, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.