Notarising documents for use abroad - the process
Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read
Getting a UK document accepted by an authority, bank, court or notary in another country usually follows the same three-stage route. How far along the route you need to go depends on the document and the destination.
The three stages
- Notarisation. A notary public verifies your identity and authority to sign, witnesses the signature, and attaches a signed and sealed certificate in an internationally recognised form. Official certificates already issued by a UK public body (birth, marriage, death) can sometimes skip this stage.
- Apostille. The FCDO attaches an apostille confirming the notary's (or official's) signature. This is all that is needed for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention.
- Embassy / consular legalisation. For countries outside the Convention, the destination country's embassy in the UK legalises the document after the apostille. Each embassy sets its own fees, requirements and processing times.
By document type
| Document | Typical route |
|---|---|
| Power of attorney for overseas property or business | Draft to the receiving country's requirements, notarise, apostille, embassy legalisation if required |
| Company documents (board resolutions, certificates, powers) | Notarise with verification of corporate authority, apostille, embassy legalisation if required |
| Educational certificates and transcripts | Notarise as certified copies, apostille; some countries also want Department for Education or embassy steps |
| Birth / marriage / death certificates | Order a certified copy, apostille directly; embassy legalisation if outside the Convention |
| Police (ACRO) certificates | Apostille the original wet-ink certificate; embassy legalisation if required |
| Declarations and affidavits | Notarise, apostille, embassy legalisation if required |
By destination country
- Hague Convention countries (most of Europe, the Americas, Australia, and many others): notarisation plus apostille is usually enough.
- Non-Convention countries (including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, China for some document types, and others): expect the extra embassy legalisation stage, which adds time and cost.
For several countries we have dedicated guidance on powers of attorney: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Practical tips
- Confirm the requirements first. Ask the receiving party exactly what they need, in what form, and whether they require a certified translation.
- Check names match. The name on your ID, the document and any supporting paperwork should be consistent.
- Allow time. Standard FCDO service plus embassy legalisation can take one to several weeks; premium and courier options are faster at higher cost.
- Keep originals safe. Some processes need the original wet-ink document, not a scan.
Let us manage it
National Notaries arranges the whole chain - notarisation, apostille, embassy legalisation and secure courier - so you deal with one point of contact.
Request a quote or call 0800 058 1180. Related: what is an apostille? and how much does a notary cost?