Can a notary apostille a document in the UK?
A notary cannot issue an apostille in the UK. Only the FCDO can do that. Learn when notarisation is needed before apostille legalisation and how to prepare documents for overseas use.
Can a notary apostille a document in the UK?
A common question when preparing documents for use abroad is whether a notary public can issue an apostille.
The short answer is no. A notary can notarise a document, but only the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can issue an apostille in the UK.
However, notaries often play an important role in the apostille process, especially when private, legal or commercial documents need to be authenticated before they can be legalised.
What is the difference between notarisation and apostille?
Notarisation and apostille are separate steps.
A notary public verifies matters such as identity, signatures, capacity and proper execution of a document.
An apostille confirms that the signature, stamp or seal of a UK public official, solicitor or notary is genuine.
In simple terms:
- A notary prepares or authenticates the document.
- The FCDO issues the apostille.
Who can issue an apostille in the UK?
In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The FCDO apostille confirms that a document can be recognised in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
A notary public, solicitor or private company cannot issue an apostille themselves.
When is a notary needed before an apostille?
A notary may be required before apostille legalisation for documents such as:
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits
- Statutory declarations
- Certified passport copies
- Company documents
- Contracts for overseas use
- Translations
- Property documents for foreign transactions
Once notarised, the document can be submitted to the FCDO for apostille certification.
Can some documents be apostilled without a notary?
Yes. Some UK public documents can usually be apostilled directly, including:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Death certificates
- ACRO Police Certificates
- Court documents
- Certain Companies House documents
Other documents may need solicitor certification or notarisation first.
What happens after the apostille?
For countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille is usually sufficient.
For countries outside the Hague Convention, embassy attestation or consular legalisation may also be required.
This means the process may involve:
- Notarisation or certification
- FCDO apostille
- Embassy legalisation, if required
Fast apostille and notarisation services
At Orcap, we assist clients throughout the UK with:
- Notarial services
- Solicitor certification
- Same day apostille services
- FCDO apostille UK processing
- Embassy attestation
- Fast apostille and legalisation services
- Hague apostille services
Our team can advise whether your document needs notarisation before apostille legalisation.
Need a document notarised and apostilled?
If you are unsure whether your document requires a notary, solicitor certification or direct apostille, Orcap can help.
Contact our team today for fast, reliable apostille and legalisation services for documents intended for use abroad.
