What Is a Hague Apostille?
A Globally Recognised Legal Certificate
A Hague Apostille is a certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that authenticates a UK document for international use. It confirms that a document is genuine and is accepted in over 120 countries under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.
You May Need a UK Apostille If You Are:
- Getting married abroad
- Applying for a visa or citizenship
- Studying or working in another country
- Opening a business overseas
- Registering a UK company internationally
- Buying property outside the UK
Not sure if your document needs an Apostille? Speak to our team today: Contact Us.
Why Choose Ace Apostille?
Trusted by Professionals, Built on Experience
At Ace Apostille, we understand that time and accuracy matter. Our clients choose us because:
- Our expert team has over 20 years’ experience in legalisation and Apostille services
- Our team has handled over 100,000 Apostilles for clients in the UK and abroad
- We conduct a document check before submission to the FCDO
- We provide a quick next-day apostiller service
- We are fully transparent – no hidden fees, ever!
How it works
Simple. Secure. Online.
At Ace Apostille, we offer a fast, online Apostille service that simplifies the whole process.
Place your order
Use our secure portal to place your order
Send your documents
Send your documents to our office.
We Review & Process
Our experts will check for compliance and prepare your Apostille application.
Document Submitted to the FCDO
We submit your documents directly to the UK FCDO for Apostille legalisation.
Delivery to You Anywhere in the World
Once completed, your document is delivered securely via tracked post or courier. Alternatively, you can also collect in person in London.
Start your Apostille process in just 2 minutes:
Notary Public Certification
Apostille with Notarisation
We also offer Notary Public services, which are often required for countries outside the Hague Convention or for sensitive legal documents. Unlike other providers, we do not rely solely on solicitor certification—we provide full notarisation where required.
The best value Apostille Service in the UK
Apostille from just £79
✅ Price Guarantee – Apostille services from just £79, the most reliable in the UK.
🏆 Top-Tier Quality – All documents are reviewed by experienced legal professionals in London.
🚀 Fast Turnaround – Your documents are ready to be collected on the next-day*
What Is a UK Apostille Certificate and Why You May Need One
A UK Apostille certificate is an official government-issued certificate attached to your document by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It confirms that the signature, stamp, or seal on your document is genuine and that it can be legally recognised in any country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
If you’re travelling, working, studying, getting married, or expanding your business abroad, chances are you’ll be asked to legalise your documents with an Apostille. Without this certificate, your documents may not be accepted by foreign authorities.
At Ace Apostille, we offer a fast, online Apostille service that simplifies the process. Whether you need an Apostille for a birth certificate, degree, power of attorney, or company document, we ensure your paperwork is processed correctly, efficiently, and legally.
How to Get an Apostille in the UK
Getting an Apostille in the UK doesn’t have to be difficult. With Ace Apostille, the process is fast and fully digital:
- Upload your documents through our secure website
- Our team checks everything for accuracy
- We submit your documents to the FCDO
- You receive your Apostilled documents via tracked delivery
We handle everything – including pre-checking your files, avoiding errors, and offering notarisation when required. That’s why we’re trusted by individuals, professionals, and businesses who need a reliable Apostille service.
Why Choose a Registered UK Apostille Service?
There are many providers out there, but very few combine speed, security, and expertise like Ace Apostille. Unlike other Apostille services, we don’t cut corners. Our team has over 20 years of experience and has legalised over 100,000 documents.
We offer:
- Next-day Apostille services in the UK
- Online Apostille order form for fast processing
- FCDO document legalisation with pre-checks to prevent rejection
- Affordable pricing starting at £79 – lower than most competitors
- Document notarisation and solicitor certification, depending on your needs
- Safe and secure delivery to any address worldwide
Trusted Apostille Services for International Use
Whether you’re searching for:
- How to apostille a document in the UK
- Get an Apostille certificate online UK
- Apostille for marriage documents UK
- UK company document Apostille service
- Apostille for birth or academic certificate
- Notarisation and Apostille services UK
You’ll find a trusted partner in Ace Apostille. We’re a UK-based Apostille specialist offering reliable, efficient, and fully transparent services.
Don’t leave your international plans to chance. Legalise your documents correctly, the first time.
You would need a notary public instead of a solicitor when preparing documents for international use, such as powers of attorney, affidavits, property transactions abroad, or other legal documents required overseas. A notary’s signature and seal are internationally recognised, making their authentication essential for legal acceptance in other countries.
The main difference between a Notary and Solicitor is that a solicitor provides general legal advice and services within UK law, while a notary public specialises in authenticating documents for use internationally. A notary’s certification is internationally recognised, whereas a solicitor’s certification is primarily for domestic use within the UK.
For residency, work permits, or long-term visa applications in Spain, you typically need a medical certificate issued by a registered doctor confirming you do not suffer from contagious diseases or conditions defined by the International Health Regulations of 2005. This certificate should be issued no more than three months before submission, translated into Spanish, and sometimes requires Apostille legalisation.
An ACRO certificate, also known as an ACRO Police Certificate, is an official document issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office, detailing an individual’s criminal record history in the UK. It is commonly required for visa applications, employment abroad, or immigration processes to prove whether you have any previous convictions.
Embassy attestation refers to the process of certifying documents at the relevant embassy or consulate in the UK, confirming their authenticity and validity for legal use overseas. Ace Apostille manages the entire embassy attestation process, providing complete peace of mind that your documents will be fully compliant in the destination country.
Consular legalisation, also called embassy attestation, involves authenticating a document at the embassy or consulate of the country where you intend to use it. This step typically follows Apostille certification and ensures your document meets specific legal requirements of countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Certain UK documents must be notarised or certified by a solicitor before Apostille legalisation by the FCDO. Examples include powers of attorney or some corporate documents. Ace Apostille provides a comprehensive notarisation service alongside the Apostille process, ensuring compliance at every step.
You can apostille your documents by first verifying they are originals or certified copies, then submitting them to the FCDO for Apostille certification. Ace Apostille simplifies this process by handling all stages – including manual verification of documents – notarisation if needed and ensures your documents are quickly and efficiently apostilled for use overseas.
To get an Apostille certificate in the UK, you need to submit your documents to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which issues the Apostille. You can either do this directly through a postal application or use Ace Apostille’s expert service, which provides faster turnaround times and ensures your documents are correctly prepared and accepted.
The FCDO does not accept walk-ins. Applications are by post or appointment only. Ace Apostille offers same-day drop-off at our London and Milton Keynes offices or deliver by post with a courier of your choice.
No. Only the FCDO can issue an Apostille. However, some documents require prior certification by a solicitor or notary public before FCDO legalisation. Ace Apostille handles both steps for you.
Using Ace Apostille:
- Reduces risk of application rejection due to manual checks and preparation error correction.
- Cuts total turnaround from up to 25 working days to 1–2 working days.
- Provides full tracking and customer support
In short: Using a agent might be slightly more expensive but offer more reassurance, quicker service, and a higher and success rate.
The FCDO fee is £45 per document and it takes 10-15 days with a higher rejection rate. Ace Apostille charges £79 and delivers the document on the next-day and offer a high success rate.
We can only process UK-issued or notarised documents. For foreign-issued documents, you should contact the issuing country’s authority or embassy.
All countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 accept Apostilled documents. These include:
- Spain
- France
- Italy
- USA
- Australia
- South Africa
- UAE (with additional steps)
- And many more
If your destination country isn’t part of the convention, we can advise on alternative document legalisation routes.
Because we conduct pre-submission checks, rejections are extremely rare with Ace Apostille. However, if an issue does arise, our expert team will work directly with you to resolve the matter promptly and efficiently.
We can legalise a wide range of UK-issued documents, including:
- Birth, death, and marriage certificates
- Academic transcripts and diplomas
- Criminal record checks (ACRO, DBS)
- Powers of attorney
- Company incorporation documents
- Notarised or solicitor-certified documents
If you’re unsure whether your document qualifies, just contact our team.
An Apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. You may need an Apostille to:
- Get married abroad
- Study or work in another country
- Submit legal or corporate documents internationally
- Prove identity or residency overseas