FCDO Apostille
Authentication of UK documents for use abroad.
FCDO Apostille
The apostille is an official certification issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that authenticates a UK public document for use in the 124 signatory countries of the 1961 Hague Convention.
It guarantees to foreign authorities that the signature, seal or stamp on your document is authentic. Without it, most administrative, legal or academic procedures abroad will be blocked.
FrancoLegal handles the entire process for you: document verification, submission, tracking, secure delivery — in plain language and with deep knowledge of the destination country's requirements.
FCDO Apostille : 2 options pour vous.
Choose the option that fits your situation. Click any card for details.
Why it's complex without us
Three pitfalls individuals face when attempting these procedures alone.
The FCDO regularly rejects submissions for procedural reasons: ineligible document, unrecognised signature, incorrect format. These rejections cost time and sometimes non-refundable fees.
Some destination countries require specific formats (original folding, prior certified translation) that individuals are often unaware of.
The official FCDO turnaround does not always reflect reality, and an unprepared submission can drag on.
Frequently asked questions
UK public documents are (civil status, criminal record, university diplomas, notarised documents). Private documents (contracts, powers of attorney) must first be notarised in the UK before they can be apostilled. We verify your specific case during the quote process.
The 124 signatories of the 1961 Hague Convention, including France, Morocco, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United States. For non-signatory countries (Cameroon, DRC, Chad, Madagascar...), additional consular legalisation is required — see our non-Hague Pack Afrique.
We notify you immediately, identify the cause of rejection and correct it. Our coordination work remains included. Only fees already incurred (FCDO, courier) may be non-refundable depending on the situation.
Yes. The apostille is affixed directly to the original or to a certified copy. You receive everything by tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK, or DHL International for foreign destinations.
If your document is only used within the UK (apostille is unnecessary), if the destination country isn't a Hague signatory (use the non-Hague Pack Afrique), or if your document is private and requires prior notarisation. We'll guide you honestly.