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Quickly, an apostille is a certificate issued by the UK’s Legalisation Office that proves a public document is genuine and can be recognised in other countries that are part of the Apostille Convention.
If you need to use this public document in a country where English is not the official language, you’ll also need a certified translation of the document and sometimes the apostille itself.
Now, let’s break this down in more detail.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate that verifies the origin of a public document — such as a birth certificate, marriage licence, degree certificate or court order — so it can be used in another country.
The system was created by the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, which simplified how documents are recognised abroad.
Instead of having to go through embassies and consulates for legalisation, a single apostille certificate is enough for participating countries, more includes 127 nations worldwide
How do you get an apostille in the UK?
In the UK, the process is managed by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Once you submit a document, the office checks it has been issued by a recognised UK authority (for example, a registry office, court or university). If it’s valid, the apostille is attached and stamped, confirming it is genuine.
Common examples of documents requiring an apostille include:
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Birth, marriage and death certificates
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Academic qualifications
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Court and notary documents
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Business contracts
Once the apostille is issued, the document can be used in any other Apostille Convention country without further authentication.
When does translation come into play?
Getting the apostille is only half the story. If you plan to use the document in a country where English is not the official language, you’ll usually need a certified translation of the document and sometimes of the apostille certificate itself.
For example:
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A UK birth certificate with an apostille for use in Spain will need a Spanish translation.
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A degree certificate being submitted to French authorities may need both the certificate and the apostille translated into French.
This ensures that local officials can understand and verify the document without ambiguity.
Apostille first, translation second
A common mistake is to translate a document first, then try to get the apostille applied.
The correct order we recommend is:
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Obtain the apostille on the original document.
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Commission a certified translation of both the apostilled document and, if necessary, the apostille certificate.
This guarantees that the translation reflects the final, legally recognised document.
What makes a certified translation valid in the UK?
For documents carrying an apostille, the translation must meet UK certified translation standards, which require:
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A signed statement of accuracy
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The translator’s name, credentials and contact details
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The date of translation
This format ensures the translation can be trusted by foreign authorities, universities, courts and government agencies.
Apostille and translation go hand in hand
To put it simply: an apostille confirms a UK document is genuine for overseas use. But for many destinations, that’s not enough. A certified translation ensures the document can be read, trusted, and legally accepted abroad.
Professional support makes the process seamless, whether you’re an exporter signing contracts, a student studying overseas, or an individual registering a marriage abroad.
Contact us today to discuss your apostille translation needs.
Or explore our tailored translation services to ensure your documents are recognised worldwide.
𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 2021 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.
