ACRO Premium Service Temporarily Suspended: Urgent Application and Apostille Help

Updated: 16 August 2026

ACRO has temporarily suspended its Premium Service until further notice.

ACRO Customer Services confirmed the suspension directly to Ginkgo Advisory on 6 August 2026. ACRO explained that a significant increase in applications had created a processing backlog.

At present, ACRO has not announced a date for the return of Premium Service.

Applicants who need an ACRO Police Certificate must therefore use the standard service. ACRO currently advises applicants to allow up to 30 working days for a correctly completed Police Certificate application. Applicants must also allow additional time for delivery.

The suspension may cause serious problems for people who face an urgent visa appointment, university start date, overseas employment deadline or residence application.

Ginkgo Advisory can review genuinely urgent cases. We may also explore whether any practical steps remain available.

However, we cannot guarantee faster ACRO processing, an upgrade or a particular issue date.

Why has ACRO temporarily suspended Premium Service?

ACRO told our office that a significant increase in application volumes had placed pressure on Customer Services.

The higher volume created a processing backlog. ACRO therefore suspended Premium Service while it addresses the demand.

ACRO has said that it aims to restore the service when operational conditions allow.

Until then, applicants should not assume that ACRO offers a faster application route.

The suspension remains temporary, but ACRO has not provided a confirmed reinstatement date.

What does the ACRO Premium Service suspension mean for applicants?

Applicants can still apply for an ACRO Police Certificate through the standard service.

However, ACRO currently does not offer its usual Premium Service.

This matters most to applicants who need a certificate within a short period.

For example:

• ACRO currently does not offer the normal Premium application route;
• applicants cannot assume that ACRO will upgrade an existing standard application;
• an urgent visa appointment does not automatically lead to priority processing;
• a solicitor or agent cannot create a Premium route while ACRO has suspended it; and
• the FCDO cannot start the apostille process until ACRO issues the original certificate.

Applicants should therefore submit a complete application as early as possible.

Can ACRO upgrade an existing standard application?

At present, applicants should not rely on an upgrade.

If ACRO restores Premium Service while an application remains pending, Ginkgo Advisory may contact ACRO and ask whether an upgrade remains possible.

ACRO will make that decision.

Several factors may affect the outcome. These may include:

• the stage of the existing application;
• whether ACRO has reopened Premium Service;
• whether ACRO needs further information;
• whether additional checks remain outstanding; and
• ACRO’s operational capacity at that time.

If ACRO allows an upgrade, the applicant may also need to pay the additional fee.

Submitting a standard application through our office does not guarantee a later upgrade.

Should I wait for ACRO Premium Service to return?

In most urgent cases, waiting may create more risk.

Nobody currently knows when ACRO will restore Premium Service. If you delay your standard application, you may lose valuable time before your deadline.

A better approach may be to submit a complete standard application without unnecessary delay.

Ginkgo Advisory can then monitor the position where appropriate.

If ACRO restores Premium Service while your application remains pending, we can consider asking whether ACRO will allow an upgrade.

ACRO will retain full discretion over that request.

Can Ginkgo Advisory fast-track an ACRO Police Certificate?

We cannot promise to fast-track an ACRO Police Certificate.

ACRO controls its own checks, processing and issue dates. No solicitor, agent or document service provider can guarantee that ACRO will process a particular application faster.

For a genuinely urgent case, however, we may be able to assist with the practical steps around the application.

Depending on the circumstances, we may:

1. review the application for missing or inconsistent information;
2. assist with a complete standard ACRO application;
3. review evidence of the applicant’s deadline;
4. act as the applicant’s legal representative where appropriate;
5. respond quickly if ACRO requests further information;
6. monitor any change to the Premium Service;
7. contact ACRO if circumstances justify an urgent approach; and
8. arrange the FCDO apostille as soon as the original certificate reaches us.

These steps can help avoid unnecessary administrative delay.

They do not guarantee that ACRO will accelerate the application.

Who should contact us about an urgent ACRO application?

We reserve our urgent review for applicants who face a real and documented upcoming deadline.

Please contact us if you already have a confirmed:

• visa appointment;
• consular appointment;
• immigration submission deadline;
• university registration date;
• university course start date;
• overseas employment start date;
• residence permit deadline;
• professional registration deadline; or
• written deadline from an embassy or government authority.

We understand that many applicants want their certificates quickly.

However, general concern about processing time does not amount to an urgent deadline.

Please contact us for urgent assistance only if you can provide evidence of a specific upcoming date.

What should I send with an urgent enquiry?

Clear information allows us to assess the case more quickly.

Please send:

• your full name;
• your ACRO application date;
• your ACRO reference number, if available;
• the exact deadline;
• the reason for the deadline;
• the country requesting the Police Certificate;
• evidence of the appointment or deadline;
• the current ACRO application status;
• confirmation of whether you need an apostille; and
• the destination for return delivery.

Useful evidence may include a visa appointment confirmation, consular email, university letter, employer letter or official document request.

Even strong evidence does not require ACRO to expedite an application.

ACRO processing and the FCDO apostille are separate stages

Applicants should treat the ACRO application and the FCDO apostille as two separate processes.

Stage 1: ACRO issues the Police Certificate

ACRO must first complete its checks and issue the original Police Certificate.

The FCDO cannot apostille a document that does not yet exist.

An express apostille service therefore cannot shorten the ACRO processing stage.

Stage 2: the FCDO adds the apostille

Once we receive the original ACRO Police Certificate, we can submit it to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

ACRO Police Certificates require a paper apostille rather than an e-Apostille.

Ginkgo Advisory offers an express FCDO apostille option.

We normally target approximately two working days after we receive the original ACRO Police Certificate.

Applicants should note that this timeframe covers the apostille stage only.

It does not include:

• ACRO processing time;
• delivery from ACRO to our office;
• weekends or public holidays;
• additional verification requested by the FCDO; or
• onward courier delivery.

The FCDO may take longer if it needs to carry out additional checks.

Can I obtain an e-Apostille for an ACRO Police Certificate?

No.

The UK Legalisation Office excludes ACRO Police Certificates from its e-Apostille service.

Applicants therefore need the original paper ACRO Police Certificate for the paper apostille process.

A scanned certificate does not replace the original for this purpose.

You should also check whether the overseas authority requires anything else.

Depending on the country and purpose, you may also need:

• a certified translation;
• embassy legalisation;
• consular legalisation;
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication; or
• another local procedure.

The overseas authority sets those requirements.

How quickly can Ginkgo Advisory arrange the apostille?

Our express option normally targets approximately two working days after the original ACRO Police Certificate reaches our office.

We can therefore move quickly once ACRO completes its part of the process.

However, the apostille service cannot compensate for a certificate that ACRO has not yet issued.

Applicants should also allow time for onward delivery.

If you face a fixed visa appointment or another deadline, please tell us the exact date when you first contact us.

What happens after the FCDO apostille?

After the FCDO completes the apostille, we can arrange return delivery in the UK or overseas.

International delivery normally adds further time.

Applicants with tight deadlines should check whether the receiving authority will accept:

• a scanned copy before the original arrives;
• submission through a representative;
• direct courier delivery; or
• only the physical original.

The relevant embassy, immigration authority, university, employer or professional body should confirm its own requirements.

What can Ginkgo Advisory not guarantee?

We cannot guarantee that ACRO will:

• restore Premium Service by a particular date;
• accept a Premium application;
• allow an upgrade;
• treat an application as urgent;
• complete its checks within a specific timeframe;
• issue a certificate before a visa appointment; or
• accept a request for faster processing.

We also cannot guarantee that the FCDO will complete every apostille without additional checks.

Similarly, we cannot promise that an embassy, university, employer or immigration authority will extend a deadline.

Our role is to identify practical options and act promptly where possible.

ACRO, the FCDO and the overseas authority will make their own decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ACRO Premium Service currently available?

No.

ACRO has temporarily suspended Premium Service until further notice.

As of 11 August 2026, ACRO has not announced a confirmed date for its return.

Why did ACRO suspend Premium Service?

ACRO told Ginkgo Advisory that a significant increase in application volumes had caused a Customer Services backlog.

ACRO suspended Premium Service while it works through that demand.

How long does the ACRO standard service take?

ACRO currently advises applicants to allow up to 30 working days for a correctly completed Police Certificate application.

Applicants should also allow additional time for delivery.

Can Ginkgo Advisory obtain Premium Service despite the suspension?

No provider can guarantee access to a service that ACRO currently does not offer.

We can review an urgent case and monitor the position.

If ACRO restores Premium Service while your application remains pending, we may ask ACRO whether it will allow an upgrade.

Can you ask ACRO to process my application urgently?

In a genuinely urgent case, we can assess whether an appropriate approach to ACRO may help.

You should provide evidence of the deadline.

ACRO will decide whether it takes any action.

We cannot guarantee a faster outcome.

My visa appointment is in less than two weeks. Can you help?

Please contact us immediately if you already have a confirmed appointment.

Send the appointment evidence, your ACRO application date and your reference number.

We can review the circumstances and see whether any practical options remain.

We cannot guarantee completion before the appointment.

Can you obtain the apostille while ACRO processes my application?

No.

ACRO must issue the original Police Certificate first.

We can start the FCDO apostille process once the original certificate reaches us.

How quickly can you obtain the FCDO apostille?

Our express service normally targets approximately two working days after receipt of the original certificate.

That estimate does not include ACRO processing or courier delivery.

Does an apostille make an ACRO Police Certificate valid indefinitely?

No.

An apostille authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

The overseas authority decides how recent the Police Certificate must be.

Applicants should therefore check the receiving authority’s validity requirements.

Urgent ACRO deadline? Contact us with evidence

If ACRO’s Premium Service suspension affects an upcoming deadline, Ginkgo Advisory may be able to review your case.

Please contact us only if you have an urgent visa appointment or another concrete upcoming deadline.

Send us:

• evidence of the deadline;
• your ACRO application date;
• your ACRO reference number;
• the destination country;
• the reason for the Police Certificate; and
• confirmation of whether you require an FCDO apostille.

We will assess the circumstances and consider whether there is anything practical we can do.

We cannot guarantee an ACRO upgrade, expedited processing, a certificate issue date, an apostille completion date or delivery before your deadline.

Ginkgo Advisory is an independent legal services provider. We are not part of ACRO, the FCDO, any embassy or any foreign immigration authority.