Myanmar Embassy in London Legalisation

UK documents intended for official use in Myanmar (Burma) generally require both UK and Myanmar authentication.

The usual process starts with an FCDO Apostille. Once apostilled, the document is submitted to the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in London for further consular legalisation. Current operational guidance continues to confirm this two-stage route.

Myanmar does not currently appear among the Contracting Parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. An FCDO Apostille alone should therefore not normally be treated as sufficient for use in Myanmar.

Ginkgo Advisory can assist with the complete process or with Myanmar Embassy legalisation only where the document already carries an acceptable FCDO Apostille.

Myanmar Embassy legalisation service at a glance

Stage	What may be required
Document assessment	Check eligibility and country of issue
Certification or notarisation	Where required before FCDO legalisation
FCDO Apostille	Authenticate the UK signature, seal or stamp
Myanmar Embassy legalisation	Consular authentication in London
Collection	Collect after release by the Embassy
Return delivery	UK or international delivery

Different rules apply to documents issued outside the UK.

The Myanmar Embassy in London operates a particularly restrictive policy on the foreign jurisdictions whose documents it will accept.

What is Myanmar Embassy legalisation?

Myanmar Embassy legalisation is the authentication of a document by the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in London.

For a typical UK document, the process is:

UK document → certification or notarisation where required → FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

Some official UK documents can proceed directly to the FCDO.

Private documents, copies and certain corporate documents may first require certification by a UK practising solicitor or Notary Public.

Is an FCDO Apostille enough for Myanmar?

Normally, no.

The FCDO explains that documents intended for countries outside the Apostille Convention may require three stages: UK legalisation, authentication by the destination country’s Embassy in London and, where required, further approval in the destination country.

Myanmar does not appear in the HCCH’s current list of Apostille Convention Contracting Parties.

Accordingly, the standard UK route remains:

FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

The authority receiving the document in Myanmar may subsequently impose its own local authentication requirements.

Already have an FCDO Apostille?

Documents that already carry a suitable FCDO Apostille do not normally need that stage repeated.

Ginkgo Advisory can assess the document for Myanmar Embassy legalisation only.

Before posting the original, send us:

1. A clear scan of the document
2. A scan of the FCDO Apostille
3. The country where the document was issued
4. The intended use in Myanmar
5. Details of the receiving authority or organisation
6. Your required completion date

Country of origin is particularly important because the London Embassy does not accept documents from every jurisdiction.

Which documents can require Myanmar Embassy legalisation?

A wide range of UK personal and corporate documents may require legalisation.

Personal documents

Examples can include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce documents
• Death certificates
• ACRO Police Certificates
• DBS certificates
• Medical certificates
• Educational documents
• Degree certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Professional qualifications
• Affidavits
• Statutory declarations
• Consent letters
• Powers of Attorney
• Passport copies
• Change-of-name documents

The preliminary UK requirements depend on the document.

A public certificate may be directly eligible for an Apostille, while a private document may first need solicitor certification or notarisation.

Company and commercial documents

Business documents can include:

• Certificates of Incorporation
• Companies House documents
• Articles of Association
• Board resolutions
• Shareholder resolutions
• Powers of Attorney
• Agency agreements
• Distribution agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Company declarations
• Bank documents
• Certificates of Free Sale
• Trademark documents
• Letters of authorisation

The company’s jurisdiction of incorporation is especially important for Myanmar legalisation.

A document relating to a foreign company cannot necessarily be converted into a UK document merely by having somebody sign it in Britain.

Myanmar Embassy legalisation fee

Current operational guidance lists the Myanmar consular legalisation fee as:

£50 per document

The charge applies per document presented for Embassy legalisation.

The £50 fee does not include:

• FCDO Apostille charges
• Solicitor certification
• Notarial fees
• Ginkgo Advisory professional fees
• Courier or postal charges

Payment is currently reported as cash only for the consular legalisation stage.

Fees and payment procedures should be reconfirmed before the appointment.

Myanmar Embassy legalisation processing time

Current operational guidance recommends allowing approximately:

2–3 weeks

for the consular legalisation stage after the Embassy appointment.

This is considerably longer than the processing time at many other London diplomatic missions.

Applicants with a deadline should therefore begin the legalisation process early.

FCDO processing, preliminary notarisation and courier time are additional.

Appointment required for legalisation

Current specialist guidance states that Myanmar Embassy document legalisation is handled by appointment only.

Applicants should not assume that arriving during the published Consular Section opening hours guarantees acceptance of a document.

The appointment should be arranged before originals are taken or sent to the Embassy.

UK documents for use in Myanmar

For documents genuinely issued in the United Kingdom, the normal route is relatively straightforward.

The process is generally:

UK document → FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

Where the underlying document cannot be Apostilled directly, an earlier certification stage may be required.

For example:

Private UK document → solicitor/notary certification → FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

The FCDO itself advises applicants to check whether certification is needed before applying for legalisation.

Current FCDO Apostille fees

The current official FCDO fees are:

Apostille service	FCDO fee per document
Standard paper Apostille	£45
Next-Day paper Apostille for registered businesses	£40
e-Apostille	£35
Restricted Urgent paper Apostille	£100

Return courier or postage charges are additional for the Standard paper service.

Not every service is available for every document or applicant.

Current FCDO Apostille processing times

The FCDO currently publishes the following indicative times:

• Standard paper Apostille: usually up to 25 working days
• Next-Day: next working day for registered businesses
• e-Apostille: up to 2 working days
• Restricted Urgent: same day following prior FCDO approval

The FCDO can take longer where a signature, seal or stamp requires additional verification.

Because Myanmar requires a further Embassy stage, the overall legalisation timeframe should include both FCDO and Myanmar processing.

Documents from British Overseas Territories

The Myanmar Embassy in London also accepts certain documents issued in British Overseas Territories.

Current operational Myanmar guidance states that these documents must complete the appropriate authentication in their territory of origin before the further UK and Myanmar stages are considered.

British Overseas Territory documents require particular care because their Apostille arrangements differ from ordinary UK-issued documents.

The FCDO can deal with certain Overseas Territory documents only after the relevant local authentication has been completed.

Examples of British Overseas Territories include:

• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Bermuda
• Gibraltar
• Anguilla
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Montserrat
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

A scan should be reviewed before arranging either a local or UK Apostille.

Documents from Crown Dependencies

The Crown Dependencies are:

• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man

They are not part of the United Kingdom and have their own legalisation systems.

Current Myanmar operational guidance reports that Crown Dependency documents can be accepted by the London Embassy following the required preliminary authentication.

The precise FCDO stage should be checked for the individual document.

This is important because the FCDO’s general UK legalisation service and Crown Dependency authentication systems are not interchangeable.

Documents issued in Denmark

The Myanmar Embassy in London acts as a non-resident mission in relation to Denmark. The Embassy’s current website expressly identifies Denmark among the countries covered from London.

Current legalisation guidance states that Danish documents presented to the Myanmar Embassy in London must first receive the appropriate authentication from the relevant Danish authority.

They should not simply be sent to the UK FCDO as if they were UK documents.

Denmark’s own authorities should complete the required country-of-origin legalisation first.

Documents issued in Sweden

Documents issued in Sweden can also fall within the Myanmar Embassy in London’s accepted jurisdiction.

Operational guidance states that Swedish documents must first be authenticated by the competent authority in Sweden before they are presented for Myanmar legalisation in London.

The Myanmar Embassy’s own website identifies Sweden among the countries for which the London mission has non-resident responsibility.

The Swedish authentication should therefore be completed before the Embassy appointment is arranged.

Documents issued in the Republic of Ireland

The London Embassy also identifies Ireland among the countries covered by the mission.

Current operational legalisation guidance specifically includes the Republic of Ireland among the jurisdictions whose documents may be submitted in London after the appropriate country-of-origin authentication.

An Irish document should therefore complete the Irish authentication route first.

It should not be submitted to the UK FCDO as though it were a UK-issued document.

Documents issued in Norway

Current specialist Myanmar legalisation guidance also identifies Norway among the limited foreign jurisdictions whose documents may be accepted by the London Consular Section.

Norwegian documents must first receive the appropriate authentication from the competent authority in Norway.

Unlike Denmark, Ireland and Sweden, Norway is not presently listed on the Myanmar Embassy’s website as one of its named non-resident countries.

For that reason, acceptance of a Norwegian document should be reconfirmed with the Consular Section before the original is dispatched.

Which foreign documents are accepted?

Current operational guidance indicates that the London Embassy accepts documents originating from:

• United Kingdom
• British Overseas Territories
• Crown Dependencies
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Norway
• Republic of Ireland

subject to the appropriate country-of-origin authentication.

This list should be treated as restrictive rather than illustrative.

A document issued elsewhere should not automatically be sent to London for Myanmar legalisation.

Foreign documents from other countries

Other foreign-issued documents are generally not accepted by the Myanmar Embassy in London under the current operational procedure.

The correct route is normally through the competent authorities in the country where the document originated.

The FCDO similarly states that documents issued outside the UK cannot ordinarily be legalised through its standard UK document service.

Residence in the UK does not change the country of origin of a document.

Foreign company documents signed in the UK

A particularly important restriction applies to corporate documents.

A document relating to a company incorporated overseas does not become a UK commercial document merely because a director, solicitor or legal representative signs it in London.

Current Myanmar operational guidance states that where the underlying company is incorporated in another country, the document should be legalised through the jurisdiction where the company is incorporated rather than through the Myanmar Embassy in London.

This issue commonly arises with:

• Powers of Attorney
• Board resolutions
• Agency appointments
• Commercial agreements
• Corporate declarations
• Authorisations
• Shareholder documents

The company’s country of incorporation should therefore be disclosed at the beginning of the legalisation process.

Example: UK company Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney genuinely issued by a UK-incorporated company can normally follow the UK route.

Depending on its execution, the sequence may be:

UK company POA → solicitor or Notary Public → FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

Evidence of the signatory’s company authority may be required during the solicitor or notarial stage.

The final wording should ideally be approved by the receiving lawyer or organisation in Myanmar before signature.

Example: overseas company Power of Attorney signed in London

Suppose a company is incorporated in another country but its director happens to be in London.

Signing its Power of Attorney before a UK solicitor does not necessarily make that instrument eligible for Myanmar Embassy legalisation in London.

Under the current Myanmar jurisdiction rule, the Embassy may regard the document as belonging to the company’s jurisdiction of incorporation.

The correct authentication process may therefore need to take place in that country.

Checking jurisdiction before notarisation avoids paying for a UK Apostille that cannot be used.

Myanmar legalisation for degree certificates

UK academic documents may require Myanmar Embassy legalisation for matters such as:

• Employment
• Professional registration
• Teaching positions
• University applications
• Work permits
• Immigration processes
• Government appointments

The preparation required before the Apostille depends on the qualification.

Some academic documents may require solicitor or notarial certification before FCDO legalisation.

Once the correct FCDO Apostille has been obtained, the document can proceed to the Myanmar Embassy where consular legalisation is required.

ACRO Police Certificate legalisation for Myanmar

A UK ACRO Police Certificate can be required for employment, immigration or residence-related purposes in Myanmar.

The normal authentication route is:

ACRO Police Certificate → FCDO Apostille → Myanmar Embassy legalisation

The FCDO does not currently permit ACRO Police Certificates for England and Wales to use the e-Apostille service.

A paper Apostille is therefore required for this document type.

Birth and marriage certificates

UK civil-status certificates can generally proceed directly to FCDO legalisation where they meet the Legalisation Office’s requirements.

Examples include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Death certificates
• Civil partnership certificates

The FCDO specifically recognises documents from public registries as documents that may be eligible for legalisation.

After the paper Apostille is attached, the document can proceed to the Myanmar Embassy.

Can I use an e-Apostille for Myanmar Embassy legalisation?

Caution is advisable.

The UK FCDO offers an e-Apostille for eligible electronically signed documents. However, the document still has to satisfy the Myanmar Embassy’s own consular submission procedure.

The FCDO itself tells applicants to confirm whether the receiving party accepts an e-Apostille or requires a paper Apostille.

Where physical presentation to the Myanmar Embassy is required, the Embassy’s acceptance of the electronic format should therefore be confirmed before choosing an e-Apostille.

Myanmar Embassy submission hours

The Embassy’s current official website lists Consular, Passport and Visa submission hours as:

10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Monday to Friday

except Embassy holidays.

Legalisation applications are currently reported as being accepted by appointment, so these hours should not be treated as a walk-in service.

Myanmar Embassy collection hours

The Embassy’s own current website contains slightly inconsistent information.

Its main Contact Us table gives collection as:

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

while another section on the same page states:

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

For that reason, the collection time should be reconfirmed when the Embassy releases the document.

Do not rely on 4:30 pm without checking the current appointment or collection instruction.

Myanmar Embassy general office hours

The Embassy currently lists its general office hours as:

9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Monday to Friday

with a lunch period from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

These general hours are different from the dedicated Consular submission and collection periods.

Myanmar Embassy address in London

The Consular Section is located at:

Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
19A Charles Street
London W1J 5DX

The Embassy’s current website confirms this address.

The Embassy is in Mayfair.

Myanmar Embassy contact details

The current official website lists:

Telephone: 020 7148 0740 / 020 7499 4340

The Embassy provides separate contact details for general administration and consular matters on its website.

Applicants should use the Consular contact channel when checking legalisation appointments.

Common reasons Myanmar legalisation is delayed

Applications can encounter problems where:

• An FCDO Apostille is missing
• The wrong signature has been Apostilled
• Solicitor certification is unsuitable
• Notarisation was required but not obtained
• The document was issued in an unsupported country
• The company is incorporated outside the UK
• A foreign company document has merely been signed in Britain
• Country-of-origin authentication is incomplete
• A Crown Dependency document has followed the wrong route
• A British Overseas Territory document lacks preliminary authentication
• No Embassy appointment has been arranged
• Cash payment has not been prepared
• The applicant assumes the consular stage takes only a few days
• An e-Apostille is obtained without first confirming Embassy acceptance

A document review before legalisation can prevent unnecessary expense.

Can several documents be bundled?

Bundling should not be assumed to reduce Myanmar consular charges.

Current specialist guidance reports that the Embassy charges per underlying document, even where several items have been placed under one notarial certificate or Apostille.

For example, three separate documents placed under a single notarial cover may still attract three Myanmar consular fees.

The recipient should also confirm that bundled presentation is acceptable before documents are combined.

Can I submit directly to the Myanmar Embassy?

Direct submission may be possible, but the current legalisation process is reported as appointment only.

The document must already meet the Embassy’s preliminary authentication requirements.

A rejected application can be costly because the consular processing period itself may be two to three weeks.

Checking eligibility before attendance is therefore particularly important.

Myanmar Embassy legalisation only

Clients with an existing FCDO Apostille can instruct Ginkgo Advisory for the remaining Embassy stage where the document is eligible.

We can review:

• Document type
• Apostille
• Country of issue
• Company jurisdiction
• Embassy eligibility
• Appointment requirements
• Consular fee
• Collection arrangements

Where the document comes from an unsupported foreign jurisdiction, we will identify that issue before the original is submitted.

Full Myanmar document legalisation service

Where the document has not yet been authenticated, the complete service can include:

• Document assessment
• Solicitor certification
• Notarial certification
• Company-document review
• FCDO Apostille
• Myanmar Embassy appointment
• Consular submission
• Consular fee handling
• Collection
• Completion scan
• UK return delivery
• DHL international delivery

Foreign company and overseas-issued documents should always be assessed before UK legalisation work begins.

Frequently asked questions

Is Myanmar in the Hague Apostille Convention?

Myanmar does not currently appear in the HCCH’s list of Contracting Parties to the 1961 Apostille Convention.

A UK Apostille alone should therefore not normally be treated as the complete authentication process.

Does a UK document need an FCDO Apostille for Myanmar?

Yes, under the standard UK legalisation route.

The Apostille is normally followed by Myanmar Embassy legalisation in London.

How much is Myanmar Embassy legalisation?

Current operational guidance lists:

£50 per document.

Other UK legalisation and professional charges are additional.

How long does Myanmar Embassy legalisation take?

Allow approximately:

2–3 weeks

for the Embassy stage after submission.

Do I need an appointment?

Current operational guidance states that legalisation applications are accepted by appointment only.

What payment method is accepted?

Current specialist guidance states that the legalisation fee is payable by cash only.

Can the Myanmar Embassy legalise documents from Ireland?

Current guidance says yes, provided the document has first completed the appropriate authentication in the Republic of Ireland.

The Embassy also identifies Ireland among the countries covered by its London mission.

Can it legalise documents from Denmark or Sweden?

Yes, subject to the appropriate authentication by the competent authority in the country of origin.

Both countries are expressly listed within the London Embassy’s non-resident responsibilities.

Can it legalise Norwegian documents?

Current specialist guidance reports that Norwegian documents can be accepted after the appropriate Norwegian authentication.

Because Norway is not currently named among the London Embassy’s non-resident countries on its own website, acceptance should be reconfirmed before dispatch.

Can it legalise documents from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man?

Current operational guidance reports that Crown Dependency documents can be accepted, subject to the correct authentication route.

Send a scan before arranging the Apostille because these jurisdictions have separate legalisation systems.

Can an overseas company’s document be legalised in London if it is signed in the UK?

Not necessarily.

Current Myanmar guidance states that an overseas company’s document may have to be legalised in the jurisdiction where the company is incorporated, even if a representative signs the document in Britain.

What are the Myanmar Embassy submission hours?

The Embassy currently lists:

10:00 am–12:00 noon, Monday to Friday.

An appointment should still be arranged for legalisation.

What time can documents be collected?

The Embassy website currently gives conflicting information: its main table states 3:00–4:00 pm, while another section states 3:00–4:30 pm.

Check the collection instruction issued for your application.

Where is the Myanmar Embassy in London?

The Embassy is at:

19A Charles Street, London W1J 5DX.

Can you provide Myanmar Embassy legalisation only?

Yes.

If the document already carries the correct FCDO Apostille, we can assess it for the Embassy stage without repeating the earlier legalisation.

Arrange Myanmar Embassy legalisation in London

Send Ginkgo Advisory a clear scan of the document before posting the original.

Please provide:

1. The complete document
2. Existing FCDO Apostille, if available
3. Country where the document was issued
4. For company documents, the company’s country of incorporation
5. Intended use in Myanmar
6. Details of the Myanmar recipient
7. Any legalisation instructions received from Myanmar
8. Required completion date

We can then identify the correct authentication route and determine whether the document is eligible for Myanmar Embassy legalisation in London.

Myanmar Embassy procedures, fees, appointment arrangements and processing times can change without notice. The Embassy’s own website currently displays inconsistent collection closing times, so the applicable appointment and collection instructions should be reconfirmed for each submission. Final acceptance remains subject to the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the receiving authority in Myanmar.