For an e-Apostille to be issued the document must be digitally notarised or digitally certified by a solicitor before the apostille can be added. The solicitor or notary will need to add an advanced or enhanced digital signature to a PDF document. It can then be submitted to the FCDO for an e-Apostille. For details on what documents can be processed with an e-apostille please read our document page.
Government and public documents cannot have an e-apostille and need the paper apostille. There are legalised with no additional notarisation or solicitor certification. When a document contains a recognised official signature, stamp or seal, further notarisation/certification is not required and should not be added.
Common documents that require a paper apostille and DO NOT need notarising/certifying include –
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Death certificates
Adoption Certificates
Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
Decree Absolute or Decree Nisi with ‘wet ink’ court stamps
Court documents & Probates with ‘wet ink’ court stamps
Certificates of Good Standing
Companies House Registrar signed documents
HM Revenue and Customs letters signed by HMRC officer
Certificate of Residence documents signed by HMRC officer
ACPO, ACRO, NPCC, Police letters
This list is not exhaustive!
For free advice do not hesitate to contact us.
