Iran Embassy in London Legalisation

UK documents intended for official use in Iran commonly require legalisation before they can be presented to Iranian authorities.

For most private documents, the usual route involves obtaining an FCDO Apostille first. The apostilled document is then submitted to the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London for further legalisation. Current operational guidance continues to describe this process.

Commercial documents can follow a different route. Depending on the document, it may be possible to use either the FCDO or the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) before Embassy legalisation.

Ginkgo Advisory can assist with the full UK legalisation process or with the Iran Embassy legalisation stage only where the preliminary authentication has already been completed.

Iran Embassy legalisation service at a glance

Document type	Typical route
Private UK documents	FCDO Apostille → Iran Embassy legalisation
Commercial documents	FCDO Apostille or LCCI certification → Iran Embassy legalisation
Commercial invoices	Fee and route depend on invoice value and document type
Certificates of Origin	LCCI certification may apply before Embassy legalisation
Private Powers of Attorney	Personal attendance at the Consular Section required
Documents relating to Iranian citizens	Personal attendance requirements may apply

The correct route should be established before the document is notarised, apostilled or submitted.

What is Iran Embassy legalisation?

Iran Embassy legalisation is the consular authentication of a document by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London.

For a typical UK private document, the process is:

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

The FCDO Apostille is therefore normally an intermediate step rather than the final authentication for use in Iran.

Is an FCDO Apostille enough for Iran?

Usually, no.

Current London legalisation guidance states that documents intended for Iran should normally obtain an FCDO Apostille before being presented to the Iranian Consular Section for further attestation.

Commercial documents are an important exception because a Chamber of Commerce route may be used instead.

Before paying for an Apostille, businesses should therefore check whether the receiving organisation requires the FCDO route or the Chamber route.

Already have an FCDO Apostille?

Documents that already carry an acceptable FCDO Apostille do not normally need that stage repeated.

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

Please send us:

1. A clear scan of the complete document
2. A scan of the FCDO Apostille
3. The intended use in Iran
4. Details of the Iranian recipient
5. Any instructions received from Iran
6. Your required completion date

We can check the submission requirements before the original is sent.

Which documents can require Iran Embassy legalisation?

Different personal and commercial documents may require Iranian consular authentication.

Personal documents

Examples can include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce documents
• Death certificates
• ACRO Police Certificates
• DBS certificates
• Medical documents
• Statutory declarations
• Affidavits
• Consent documents
• Private Powers of Attorney
• Change-of-name documents
• Other personal certificates

Certification or notarisation may be necessary before the FCDO Apostille where the document is not directly eligible for legalisation.

Commercial documents

Business matters may involve:

• Certificates of incorporation
• Companies House documents
• Memorandum and articles of association
• Board resolutions
• Commercial Powers of Attorney
• Agency agreements
• Distribution agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Certificates of Free Sale
• Health certificates
• Trademark documents
• Commercial invoices
• Certificates of Origin

LCCI confirms that it can certify commercial documents including Powers of Attorney, distributor agreements, Certificates of Free Sale, commercial contracts, articles of association and certificates of incorporation.

Commercial document legalisation for Iran

Commercial documents do not always need to follow the same FCDO route as personal certificates.

The Iranian Embassy’s published guidance states that commercial documents should be certified by the relevant local Chamber of Commerce and that documents following this Chamber route do not require separate Foreign Office certification. It also notes that certain other documents may be authenticated either by a Chamber or through the Foreign Office.

Current operational legalisation guidance similarly states that commercial documents can be either:

FCDO Apostille → Iran Embassy legalisation

or

London Chamber of Commerce certification → Iran Embassy legalisation.

Which option is appropriate depends on the document and the requirements of the Iranian recipient.

Certificates of Origin for Iran

Iran uses the UK Certificate of Origin rather than the Arab-British Certificate of Origin.

LCCI specifically confirms that UK Certificates of Origin are used for exports to Iran.

A commercial invoice must accompany an application for a UK Certificate of Origin.

Supporting evidence can also include:

• Packing list
• Delivery note
• Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
• Evidence of origin
• Manufacturer’s invoice or declaration
• Letter of Authority where an agent applies

LCCI currently lists these among the supporting requirements for UK Certificates of Origin.

Iran Embassy legalisation fees

Current operational guidance updated in August 2026 lists indicative consular fees of:

• Private documents: £35 per document
• Commercial documents: from £66 per document

Some commercial documents can attract a higher charge depending on their content or value. The exact amount may only be confirmed when the document is assessed or submitted.

Important fee note

The Iranian Embassy’s own publicly accessible commercial legalisation page currently displays an older fee notice dated 1 December 2021.

That page lists £63 for commercial Powers of Attorney and other commercial documents, while invoices, Certificates of Origin and health certificates are charged according to the underlying invoice value.

Because the Embassy page and more recent operational guidance do not currently show identical figures, the consular fee should be reconfirmed before payment or submission.

Commercial invoice fees

Commercial invoices can attract value-based consular charges rather than a simple flat document fee.

The Embassy’s published commercial legalisation page uses different fee bands according to the invoice value.

Businesses should therefore provide the complete invoice when requesting a quotation.

The amount payable cannot safely be calculated from the document title alone.

Iran Embassy legalisation processing time

Current operational guidance indicates approximately:

3 working days

for the ordinary legalisation process.

The Embassy’s published commercial guidance states that commercial documents sent by post may be processed and returned within up to five days after receipt.

Processing times should therefore be treated as indicative.

Public holidays, document queries, postal delivery and unusually complex commercial documents can increase the overall timeframe.

Private Powers of Attorney for Iran

Strict personal-attendance requirements apply to private Powers of Attorney.

The document holder must attend the Iranian Consular Section in person and present their original passport for identification.

Agents are no longer accepted as substitutes for the executant when completing this stage. Current London legalisation guidance specifically confirms this requirement.

An agent can still assist with the stages that do not require the document holder’s personal presence.

For example, we can review the document, arrange any required UK certification and Apostille, advise on the Embassy submission and assist with the completed document where permitted.

Private documents involving Iranian citizens

Additional attendance requirements can apply where a private document relates to an Iranian citizen.

Current August 2026 operational guidance states that private Powers of Attorney and private documents concerning Iranian citizens are not accepted for legalisation through an agent. The document holder is required to attend with the original passport.

These cases should be identified before the original document is sent to an agent.

Where personal attendance is mandatory, we can still assist with preparation and earlier UK legalisation stages.

Can an agent submit an Iranian Power of Attorney?

Not for the final consular stage where the Embassy requires the private executant to appear personally.

The document holder must attend with their original passport.

Corporate or commercial Powers of Attorney can follow different procedures.

A company POA should therefore be distinguished from a private POA at the beginning of the application.

Iran Embassy payment method

Payment for legalisation is made by bank transfer.

The Embassy’s published legalisation guidance provides bank-transfer details and requires evidence of payment to accompany commercial submissions.

Cash should not be assumed to be acceptable.

Payment instructions should always be reconfirmed before transferring funds.

Copies required for commercial legalisation

The Embassy’s commercial legalisation guidance requires a copy of each document to accompany the submission.

A payment receipt and appropriate return envelope are also specified for postal applications.

Where LCCI is handling a document for subsequent Embassy legalisation, additional copies may be required.

LCCI currently requires three copies of a commercial document where Embassy legalisation is requested.

Preparing the required copies before submission can prevent unnecessary delay.

Submission of commercial documents

The Embassy’s published procedure gives preference to postal submission for commercial legalisation.

Its guidance states that commercial documents will generally be accepted by post and that in-person submission may not be available except in time-sensitive circumstances. Completed documents are returned by post under that procedure.

For an urgent commercial case, the current submission method should therefore be confirmed before travelling to Kensington.

Iran Embassy legalisation opening hours

Current operational legalisation guidance lists counter hours as:

9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

The Consular Section’s broader public-service hours can differ from the dedicated legalisation arrangements.

Always check the relevant service before attending.

Iran Consular Section address in London

The document legalisation service is handled at:

Consular Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
50 Kensington Court
London W8 5DD

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists this address for its London Consular Section.

The main Embassy itself is separately listed at Princes Gate, so documents intended for consular legalisation should be directed to the correct Consular Section.

Commercial documents through the London Chamber

Businesses can use LCCI for commercial-document certification where the Chamber route is appropriate.

LCCI currently processes:

• Certificates of Origin
• Commercial invoices
• Packing lists
• Powers of Attorney
• Distributor agreements
• Health certificates
• Certificates of Free Sale
• Trademark certificates
• Commercial contracts
• Articles of association
• Certificates of incorporation

Iran is expressly included among the destinations using UK Certificates of Origin.

Common reasons Iran Embassy legalisation is delayed

Applications can encounter problems where:

• The wrong preliminary legalisation route was used
• The FCDO Apostille is missing
• Chamber certification is required instead
• A commercial invoice fee has been calculated incorrectly
• The document holder needs to attend personally
• An original passport is not available
• An agent attempts to submit a private Iranian citizen document
• Required photocopies are missing
• Payment evidence has not been enclosed
• Commercial supporting documents are incomplete
• The Certificate of Origin lacks supporting evidence
• The submission is made outside the legalisation counter hours

Checking the document before beginning the process can avoid repeating earlier stages.

Can I submit directly to the Iran Embassy?

Direct submission is possible where the Embassy’s procedure permits it.

Private Powers of Attorney involving mandatory personal attendance must be handled directly by the document holder at the Consular Section.

Commercial submissions can be different. The Embassy’s own guidance currently favours postal processing for commercial documents.

Applicants should therefore confirm the correct submission method for their document type.

Iran Embassy legalisation only

If your document already carries the required FCDO Apostille or Chamber certification, Ginkgo Advisory can assess whether we can assist with the Iran Embassy legalisation stage only.

Personal-attendance restrictions still apply.

Where an agent is permitted, we can arrange the relevant submission and collection process.

Where attendance is mandatory, we can prepare the earlier stages and explain what the document holder needs to take to the Consular Section.

Full Iran document legalisation service

Documents that have not yet been prepared can be assessed for the complete UK route.

Depending on the case, this may involve:

• Document assessment
• Solicitor certification
• Notarial certification
• FCDO Apostille
• London Chamber certification
• Certificate of Origin preparation
• Iran Embassy legalisation
• Consular submission
• Collection
• Scan after completion
• UK return delivery
• International courier delivery

Commercial and private documents should be assessed separately because their authentication routes can differ.

Frequently asked questions

Does a UK document need an FCDO Apostille for Iran?

Usually, yes, for private UK documents.

Current London legalisation guidance states that the normal route is FCDO Apostille followed by Iranian consular legalisation.

Commercial documents may use the London Chamber route instead.

Is an Apostille enough for Iran?

Normally, no.

The apostilled document generally requires further authentication by the Iranian Consular Section before use in Iran.

How much is Iran Embassy legalisation?

Current August 2026 operational guidance lists £35 for private documents and from £66 for commercial documents.

However, the Embassy’s own publicly available commercial fee page still displays an older tariff. Fees should therefore be confirmed before payment.

How long does Iran Embassy legalisation take?

The current indicative processing period is approximately 3 working days.

Commercial postal applications may take up to five days after receipt under the Embassy’s published procedure.

Do commercial documents need an FCDO Apostille?

Not necessarily.

Commercial documents may be either Apostilled by the FCDO or certified through the appropriate Chamber of Commerce route before Iranian legalisation.

Does a private Power of Attorney require personal attendance?

Yes, under current operational guidance.

The executant must attend the Consular Section with their original passport. Agent submission is not accepted for this stage.

Can an agent legalise documents for an Iranian citizen?

Not where the current personal-attendance rule applies.

Published August 2026 guidance states that private documents relating to Iranian citizens may require the holder to appear personally at the Consular Section.

Does Iran use an Arab Certificate of Origin?

No. LCCI states that Iran uses the UK Certificate of Origin.

What payment method does the Iran Embassy accept?

Legalisation payments are made by bank transfer under the published Embassy procedure.

What are the Iran Embassy legalisation opening hours?

Current operational guidance lists 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Where is the Iranian Consular Section in London?

The Consular Section is located at:

50 Kensington Court, London W8 5DD.

Arrange Iran Embassy legalisation in London

Send us a clear scan of the document before posting the original.

Please provide:

1. The document requiring legalisation
2. Existing FCDO Apostille, if available
3. Details of the document holder
4. Whether the holder is an Iranian citizen
5. Intended use in Iran
6. Iranian recipient’s requirements
7. Required completion date

We can then determine whether the document should follow the FCDO Apostille route, London Chamber route or a personal-attendance procedure.

Iranian Embassy requirements, consular fees, payment arrangements, submission methods and processing times can change without notice. Current publicly available fee sources are not completely consistent, so the applicable fee should be reconfirmed before submission. Final acceptance remains subject to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the receiving authority in Iran.