Frequently Asked Questions
We share our most frequently asked questions to provide some guidance with your document:
Q. Does my document need to be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor?
A. If your document is not an original issued by a government body, it will require to be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor. The FCDO will only issue an apostille against an original signature recorded on their database or an official seal/stamp.
Q. Can my passport copy be in black & white?
A. When submitting a passport copy for apostille, it can be in colour or black & white. The copy will need to be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor and must show the details page + picture & signature page or it will not be accepted at the FCDO.
Q. Will a photocopy of my birth/death/marriage certificate be accepted for apostille?
A. The FCDO will only issue an apostille to an original birth/death/marriage certificate where the signing GRO official is on the FCDO database. If you are unsure you can apply for a certified copy from https://app.expressdocument.co.uk/
Q. Do you need my original DBS (Disclosure Basic Scotland) certificate?
A. You must submit your original DBS certificate, if it has the original signature, it can apostilled directly. Otherwise, the original certificate must be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.
Q. What must I do to prepare my court issued documents for Apostille?
A. Court documents can be accepted as they are as long as they bear an original red ink stamp, signature from a court official or a hologram from the courts. Otherwise, a copy can be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.
Q. Can I send the Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House that I have downloaded?
A. The FCDO accept originally issued Companies House documents bearing a signature from the Companies Registrar or a copy can be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.
Q. Will a copy of my HMRC Tax document be accepted for apostille?
A. Only original HMRC documents with an official signature can be apostilled directly, otherwise a copy can be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.
Q. Do we have to have an original RPA (Rural Payments Agency) certificate for apostille?
A. Only certificates issued by the RPA bearing an original signature or an original RPA stamp.
Q. Are all Doctor’s signatures registered with the FCDO for apostille?
A. Not all Doctors are registered at the FCDO, you will need to check a Doctor has approached the FCDO and registered their signature along with their GMC number and an acknowledgment that these can be stored on the FCDO database. A Doctor’s letter can be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor (in the case of documents for use in Spain we advise checking with the end user).
Q. How do I prepare my certificate of naturalisation?
A. Certificate of naturalisation can be an original or copy but must be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.
Q. Does the FCDO accept educational certificates / degree certificates as they are issued?
A. An original or copy can be submitted but it must be certified by a Notary Public or Solicitor.