When crossing international borders for travel, you’re probably only going to need a passport and visa. But what if you want to apply for citizenship, get married, study, or do business internationally? Documents issued back home such as your birth or educational certificates may not carry the same weight or be recognized in a foreign country.
Solution? Apostilling your documents.
What Is an Apostille?
In simple terms, an apostille (also referred to as a Hague Apostille) is an official certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the UK. The certificate is used to verify the authenticity of a document so it’s accepted or recognized in countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Convention.
When apostilled, therefore, a document’s origin, its seal/signature’s authenticity, and the capacity in which the signer acted won’t be questioned.
Options for Getting an Apostille
If you’re wondering, Yes, you can Apostille documents yourself by sending them to the FCDO via postal service. As you may expect, however, that’s a slow and low-guarantee process. The better option would be to use a top-rated Apostille London service provider like London Apostille who takes the documents to the legalisation office near them on your behalf.
That way, your documents get to the FCDO faster and an apostille is issued within 1-12 days, depending on the service package that you choose and the speed of service at the legalisation office. In addition to sending your document to the FCDO for apostilling, an apostille service provider will also check your documents to avoid rejection and visit solicitors or notaries, if necessary.
Common Service Packages by Apostille Providers
Though service packages may differ from one provider to the next, they will typically fall into the following categories:
Standard Package
This package is the most commonly used by persons seeking apostille services and it takes 2-12 working days, depending on the company/service provider.
Express/Next-Day Apostille Package
This package makes it possible to have your request processed within one business day and is ideal whenever you have urgent apostille needs. Needless to say, it’s usually quite expensive, though necessary in different situations.
Emergency/Same-Day Package
This one is even faster than the next-day package, typically making it possible to have your request processed within 5-6 hours the same day you send in your documents for apostilling.
Keep in mind, however, that the FCDO limits this to eligible documents. Here’s a list of the documents that qualify for emergency apostilling:
- Documents that have evidence linked to a child’s welfare
- Commercially-urgent documents like insolvency searches
- Time-sensitive documents for transporting animals
- Repatriation-linked documents that are time-sensitive
- Evidence-based documents linked to the welfare of a vulnerable adult
- Private documents submitted at short notice (FCDO decides after examining evidence for urgency request)
E-Apostille
This is simply a digital version of the apostille that is used for electronic documents, offering great convenience and speed.
It can take anywhere from 5 to 48 hours, depending on the service provider and the FCDO workload.
Exploring Apostille Services Packages in the UK
If you’re thinking or planning to move abroad, whether to study, work, or even live there, you’re probably wondering what it will take to have your official documents accepted in a foreign country. Different legalisation processes exist based on the country of interest, but if you’re moving to a country that is part of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, you’ll only need to apostille your documents.
Types of Apostille Services
Apostilling your documents authenticates them for use in a foreign country so they are recognized for official use. It’s often best to engage a reliable Apostille London service provider like London Apostille Services (LAS Ltd.) if you want to have your documents ‘legalised’. With their input, you will get the support and guidance that is necessary to navigate the entire process and satisfy all requirements to avoid rejection.
When apostilling your documents, you can choose from two main types of apostille services:
Paper-based Services
This is the more traditional method that involves sending physical documents by post or submitting them in person. When using an apostille service provider, you only have to submit the original documents issued by an authorised office, either through post or hand deliveries.
The service provider will then check the documents to ensure they meet the requirements before delivering them to The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); the only office in the UK that issues apostilles.
Paper-based apostille services can be categorised into the following types:
1. Standard Services
If you’re not in a rush, the standard package may be the best option. Costs at London Apostille Services start from £79 and higher, depending on additional services that you may need during the process. Keep in mind that this service can require up to 15 working days or more (accounting for postage time) for the apostilled document to get to you.
2. 3-4 Days Service
This is a slightly more expedited service that is ideal for those who don’t want to wait for more than a week to get their apostilled documents. As you may expect, this service is a tad costlier, with fees starting at £87 and going higher depending on your provider and the entire collection of services received.
If you require additional services such as attestation, notarization, or translation, the fee will ultimately be higher.
3. Next-Day Service for Registered Businesses
This should be the service package you choose if you want your documents apostilled urgently. It’s less costly than the limited emergency service while still guaranteeing receipt of the certified documents in good time. The documents are processed in one business day which is quite efficient if you’re looking for speedy deliveries.
As a highly expedited service, you will have to part with not less than £97 at London Apostille Services Limited. Like with the other packages, you may have to pay more if you need additional services.
4. ‘Restricted Urgent’ Service
For extremely urgent needs such as documents linked to a child or vulnerable adult’s welfare, you can ask for emergency apostille services. This service is quicker than the next-day package, with documents processed in about 6 hours of the same day you submit them.
However, you will rarely be eligible for this service, unless the document you want apostilled meets the basic requirements.
You can always check with your apostille service provider to find out whether your case qualifies, but it’s not worth the effort unless necessary.
e-Apostille Services
This is the most convenient option when apostilling your documents, but it’s not always applicable so you’ll have to confirm that you can use it before submitting your application. In cases where the foreign authorities allow it, you can have your documents apostilled electronically in just about two days, with fees starting from £97.
Additional Services You May Need
When apostilling your documents, you can also get the following services from your provider depending on your situation:
Solicitor Certification
There are situations when a solicitor has to confirm that a document is genuine. This is quite common especially when working with copies of the original document. LAS Ltd. offers quick solicitor certification services with fees starting at £30. All documents can be certified using this process, but if you aren’t sure, you can always confirm with the service provider.
Notarisation Services
Foreign authorities may require that your document be notarised in addition to being apostilled. Notarisation is usually necessary if they want to confirm the authenticity of your documents.
The service fees start at £96 at LAS Ltd., with the option for swift turnarounds and short-notice appointments.
Embassy Attestation
In cases where further authentication is required beyond the apostille, authorities in the destination country may ask for an embassy attestation instead. It’s, however, not common to have this process as part of the Apostilling process since it’s typically used with countries that are not part of the Hague Convention of 1961.
If your destination country requires it, nevertheless, you can get this service from LAS Ltd. with prices starting at £75.
Translation Services
You may also need translation services to ensure that your document is usable internationally. LAS Ltd. offers accurate and certified translation services with prices starting from £30 per page.
Get Quick Apostille Services from a Reliable Provider
Apostilling your documents for foreign use can be a troublesome process, but not if you’re working with a reliable apostille services provider. At LAS Ltd., every hour counts, thus the officials there do their absolute best to ensure you get timely services without compromising on quality.
Visit apostillelondon.com to learn more, access high-quality services, or get clarifications on any questions you may have.