LEGALISATION

Legalisation: Practice Areas

WHAT IS LEGALISATION?

Legalisation is the process by which the signature and seal of the Notary are authenticated by the Foreign Commonwealth Office and/or the Embassy or Consulate of the country in which the document is to be used.

Legalisation requirements are determined by the country receiving the document.

IS LEGALISATION ALWAYS REQUIRED?

Documents going to countries which are, or have been, part of the British Commonwealth rarely need legalisation nor, at present, do documents going to many areas of the United States.

WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?

Many countries require only one certificate from the Foreign Commonwealth Office called an Apostille.

Some countries require an Apostille from the Foreign Office and a further certificate from their own Embassy. Inevitably, such matters take longer.