FCDO Apostille — Standard
British authentication for your standard procedures.
Who it's for
Ideal for: degree recognition abroad, international marriage file, criminal record certificate for visa, certified UK birth certificate for Francophone procedure.
When it's NOT the right choice
- Documents bound for Cameroon, DRC, Chad, Gabon (use the non-Hague Pack Afrique)
- Private documents not notarised (contracts, handwritten powers of attorney — require prior notarisation)
- Urgency under 7 days (use FCDO Apostille Express)
What's included
- Document eligibility verification (FCDO requirements)
- Preparation and submission to FCDO
- Daily case tracking
- Actual FCDO fees billed at cost (£40-£45)
- Retrieval and secure Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK
- Bilingual EN/FR communication at every key step
Possible extras
- Prior notarisation if private document: £100-£200 (quoted before execution)
- DHL International shipping if foreign destination: £35-£60 by zone
- Certified translation: £85-£150 by length (quoted before execution)
How it works
Required documents
- The original document to be apostilled (sent securely by you)
- Applicant's ID (passport or UK driving licence)
- UK proof of address (< 3 months)
- Specification of the document's destination country
FAQ
UK public documents YES: civil status records, criminal record, accredited university diplomas, notarised documents, Companies House certificates. Private documents (contracts, handwritten powers of attorney, letters) must first be notarised in the UK. We verify your specific case during the quote.
For the 124 signatory countries of the Hague Convention: yes, no additional step. France, Spain, Italy, Germany, USA, Morocco, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tunisia are signatories. For NON-signatory countries (Cameroon, DRC, Chad, Gabon, Madagascar...), use the non-Hague Pack Afrique instead.
Yes. Volume discount: -£25 on the 2nd document, -£40 per additional document from the 3rd. Economical and logical when preparing a complete file (marriage, succession, visa application).
Yes, always. The apostille is affixed directly to the original (or to a certified copy if you prefer not to send the original). You receive everything by Royal Mail Special Delivery (UK) or DHL (international) on request.
I notify you immediately and identify the cause. If it's a documentary format issue I couldn't detect upstream (rare but possible), I correct and resubmit at no additional service fee. Only re-engaged FCDO fees (£40-£45) would fall on you depending on the cause.