The introduction of the e-apostille, or electronic apostille, has been discussed for many years. In September 2022 the UK FCDO (Legalisation office) went live with the option for customers ordering an apostille to request an ‘e-apostille’.

Before we all cheer loudly at the simplification of the apostille service, it is not as easy as just uploading a document to the government office. The document must be signed with a specific type of digital signature as recognised by the FCDO. This must be prepared correctly, contain the correct certification and include the appropriate level of digital signature.

From launch of the e-apostille, the existing physical apostille certificate will continue to be issued for most documents. Physical documents will still be submitted for the apostille. In the short term, posting a document to us will continue to be the quickest way to get an apostille on a UK document.

Digital Signatures and Digital Documents

Digital documents need to be prepared with a specific digital signature and this must be registered with the FCDO in advance. In time, this will increase in use as more signatories adopt the new service. We expect many solicitors and notaries to adapt to the new procedure as it becomes the new ‘standard’ way of signing and legalising documents.

The government holds the signatures for tens of thousands of people that can sign documents that need apostilles for use overseas. All of these signatories will need to have their FCDO records updated with a new digital signature before they a document they prepare can be issued with an e-apostille.

Getting an apostille quickly

Most documents will still be processed as original documents and the e-apostille will not be possible at all for some certificates. In short, the only documents that can have an e-apostille, are those that are digitally signed by a solicitor or notary that has added the correct type of digital signature and provided this digital signature to the FCDO.

For the majority of documents, the existing paper apostille certificate will be added to a printed document or physical certificate. At present, this will be the quickest way of legalising a document.

Documents that cannot be Submitted for an e-apostille

The government has advised that the following documents cannot be issued with an e-apostille.

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Civil ceremony certificates
• Death certificates
• ACRO, NPCC – Police checks
• DBS or other disclosures

Until lawyers get used to the new electronic apostille documents signed in ink by a solicitor or notary will still be issued with the printed apostille certificate. We will continue to offer the paper apostille service which will be unaffected. You can find more information on our electronic apostille service here.