Please note that on our website we use cookies necessary for functioning of our website, cookies that optimise the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please click “Learn More”. If you are happy with the use of cookies, please click OK
Apostille FAQs
These are the most frequently asked question by our clients. If your questions are not addressed here please feel free to get in touch.
What is an Apostille?
When a document is to be used in another country lawfully, it is required to be attached with an apostille which is a certificate that confirms the validity of official signatures or seals on the document it is attached to. It is issued by the Competent Authority of the place where the document is originated. The Competent Authority in the UK is Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Does ACMA issue Apostille?
No, we lodge applications on behalf of our clients. In the UK, the only competent authority is Foreign, Commomenwealth and Development Office (FCDO). You may arrange your apostille application directly to FCDO, however, if you do it through IMEX, we make sure that your document meets the legal requirements for an apostille. We also have access to FCDO business counter which means your application is dealt with expeditely when you are in a hurry.
How can I get an apostille?
That depends on what types of documents you need for an apostille. For some documents, you can get them legalised if they have been issued in the following ways:
- court and sealed with a wet ink court seal
- public registry, such as a birth, marriage or death certificate, or a company certificate issued by Companies House
- government department and signed by an official, such as a letter of confirmation of tax registration
- registered doctor, such as a medical certificate signed by a doctor
Some other documents certified by a UK solicitor or notary can also be legalised. We are a group of legal professionals and competent to carry out the certification if your documents fall into this category.
If you are not sure whether you document needs to be certified before legalisation, please Contact Us.
Can you apostille multiple documents?
When you have multiple documents to be legalised, for example, when you submit your universty application you are asked to submit your educational documents altogether, we can make a bundle for you to avoid paying expensive rate for legalisation; or when an overseas authority requests Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association, Register of Directors, Certificate of Good Standing of a company under the same name, our normal practice is that we make a bundle of all these documents and then create a certification page listing what are included in the bundle before submitting for legalisation. However, this practice is not recognised by all foreign authorities, such as United Arabic of Emirates where the multiple documents are required to be legalised separately. Many other overseas authorities have rules in this respect differently. We strongly suggest that you may contact the person or unit that requests the legalisation to find out the exact requirements of the legalisation.
Does my document require embassy attestation / legalisation?
Apostille is recognised by all the contracting parties of the Hauge Convention (CCH 1961 Apostille Convention). Since it was first signed, over 120 contracting parties joined the Convention, one of the most recently joined member of states is China that joined on the 7th March 2023. If your document is going to be used in the place that is not a member of state, a further legalisation / attestation at that embassy is required. You may find more information about the Hague Convention Member States here.
Can I order apostille online?
Yes. You may find it quicker and easier to place your order online on our website which is designed to speed up the process of your request.
Can I apostille my passport?
Yes. Before sending the documents to us for apostille, please make sure the passport holder is duly signed on the relevant page.
Can you verify my university degree?
Yes. If you choose “Verify Student Qualifications” service, with a small charge we can carry out the verification process and certify it independently before put forward for an apostille of your qualification. This service is designed for employers or any other organisations that require to verify the qualifications of students and alumni of the UK universities or colleges. If you provide the details of your qualification correctly the verification can be done very quickly.
How can I delivery the document to you?
In some circumstances, we will require the original documents, such as Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate that were issued in the UK whereas for others, we can process them electronically. The delivery address is ACMA, 25 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LW and the email address is office@acmalegal.co.uk if you want to send it by email.
How do you process differently when the documents are delivery to you electronically comparing to when the documents are delivered to you by post or in person?
Sometimes, it may cause inconvenience to you if sending us the original documents for whatever the reasons. You may prefer to send the documents by email or to upload the documents when you place the order. Upon the completion of the whole process, you will receive an apostille certificate that is not different to the ones that you may receive in any other circumstances expect from the certification wording by adding "seen by me electronically".
How long does it take to get an apostille?
The standard turnaround time is 3-5 working days. However, we offer 1 day or next day service (depending on when your document(s) is delivered to us) when your requirement is extremely urgent.
For the Standard Service, we are one of the service providers that have access to Milton Keynes Drop Off Service on a daily basis which means that we can provide the service for you much faster but with a lower rate, whereas for the One Day Service we are one of the registered companies that have exclusive access to Urgent Service.
Do you offer Same Day service?
Yes, only in rare and exceptional cases, you you need to provide detailed explanation of your urgency. The document has to be delivered to us before 10.00am during a weekday, the collection is around 3:30pm on the same day.
Do you provide Certified Translation following the above legalisation service?
Yes, the Certified Translation is upon request. You will need to indicate that a translation is required during the ordering process. We will contact you to arrange this service during the process of your relevant required services. The Certified Translation serive is available for most major language pairs.
How do I receive my legalised documents?
Once your document is complete, we will dispatch the legalised documents via Royal Mail to any UK addresses or DHL Express for any addresses abroad. You will be given options to select when you place order online.
What is an E-Apostille?
Electronic apostille is a service produced by UK FCDO of which a document was digitally signed by an authorised person, a public signatory, solicitor or notary public to confirm the authenticity of the document.
What technology is adopted in E-Apostille?
The digitally signed document must bear the elements of either an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) or a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). The technological term could be very long. However, as far as legalisation service is concrened, these two types of the electronic signatures are required by UK FCDO for the purpose of obtaining an E-apostille for your document. We are fully equipped with the relevant facilities to perform the required task.
What are the main benefits of getting an e-Apostille?
Since the documents were sgined digitally by the authorised person, they are secure. If the documents are modified after it has been issued an e-apostille a warning would come up and the recipient will immediately know the validity of the legalised document.
A document with an e-apostille is delivered by email or by a link where it can be downloaded. It has a much greater accessibility.
There is no postage required, saving time and costs.
What types of documents can NOT be E-apostilled?
The documents include
- UK Birth Certificate
- UK Marriage Certifcate
- Any other documents issued by GRO
- ACRO police certificates for England and Wales
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificates for England and Wales
- Disclosure certificates for Scotland or Northern Ireland
What types of documents can be E-apostilled?
Any other documents not on the list above can be possibly legalised by an e-apostille. However, it is your responsibility to confirm that an E-apostille is acceptable by the relevant overseas authorities or organisations.
If you are not sure whether you document needs to be legalised in this way, please Contact Us.
How can I receive my legalised document with e-Apostille?
When we have successfully obtained an e-Apostille for your document, an email will be sent to you in PDF format containing legalised documents and e-Apostilles. You can then share digital copies with overseas authorities (e.g. by email).
How can I open / veiw my legalised document with e-Apostille?
When you receive your legalised e-Apostille document(s), you will need to open the file(s) in in Adobe Reader, then double-click the Paperclip icon (only visible in Adobe) for each file:
Document the Apostille certificate relates to
(public_document.pdf)
e-Apostille certificate, reference:
(apostille.pdf)
You can also select the Paperclip icon in the menu bar to view the attachments.
Can I verify a legalised document with an e-Apostille?
Yes. An aostille can be verified at: www.verifyapostille.service.gov.uk.