Nigeria High Commission in London Legalisation

UK documents intended for official use in Nigeria generally require both UK and Nigerian authentication.

For most documents, the process begins with an FCDO Apostille. Once apostilled, the document can be submitted to the Nigeria High Commission in London for further legalisation or attestation.

Current specialist legalisation guidance continues to describe the usual process as:

UK document → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation.

Nigeria does not currently appear among the Contracting Parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. An FCDO Apostille alone should therefore not automatically be treated as the final authentication stage for use in Nigeria.

Ginkgo Advisory can assist with the complete process or with Nigeria High Commission legalisation only where the document already carries an appropriate Apostille.

Nigeria High Commission legalisation at a glance

Stage	What may be required
Document assessment	Check the document and its intended use in Nigeria
Solicitor certification or notarisation	Required for certain private, copied or company documents
FCDO Apostille	UK authentication of the signature, stamp or seal
Nigeria High Commission legalisation	Further authentication in London
Consular payment	Current operational guidance uses a Postal Order
Return delivery	Prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope

The exact preparation depends on the document type.

What is Nigeria High Commission legalisation?

Nigeria High Commission legalisation is the further authentication of a UK document by the Nigeria High Commission in London.

For a typical UK public document, the route is:

UK document → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

Some private or corporate documents require an earlier stage:

Private document → solicitor/notary → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

The Apostille verifies the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

The Nigerian High Commission stage then authenticates the document for presentation in Nigeria.

Is an FCDO Apostille enough for Nigeria?

Normally, further Nigerian authentication should be considered.

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

Current London operational guidance continues to specify:

FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation.

The authority receiving the document in Nigeria should nevertheless be asked what authentication it requires.

Requirements can differ between:

• Government departments
• Banks
• Courts
• Employers
• Universities
• Professional regulators
• Corporate Affairs Commission matters
• Property transactions

Already have an FCDO Apostille?

There is normally no need to repeat the Apostille stage if the existing Apostille and underlying document are suitable.

Ginkgo Advisory can assess the document for Nigeria High Commission legalisation only.

Please provide:

1. A clear scan of the complete document
2. The FCDO Apostille
3. Intended use in Nigeria
4. Name of the receiving authority or organisation
5. Any written instructions received from Nigeria
6. Your required completion date

We can then check the remaining Nigerian authentication requirements before the original is dispatched.

Which documents can require Nigeria High Commission legalisation?

Legalisation may be required for personal, educational and commercial documents.

Personal documents

Typical examples include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce documents
• Death certificates
• ACRO Police Certificates
• DBS certificates
• Medical certificates
• Affidavits
• Statutory declarations
• Powers of Attorney
• Consent letters
• Passport copies
• Driving licence copies
• Deed polls
• Change-of-name documents
• Court documents
• Probate documents

The appropriate UK preparation depends on the document.

Educational documents

Academic documents can include:

• Bachelor’s degree certificates
• Master’s degree certificates
• PhD certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Diplomas
• Professional qualifications
• Training certificates
• School certificates
• Teaching qualifications

A qualification certificate can require certification by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before it becomes eligible for an FCDO Apostille.

Corporate and commercial documents

Business applications may involve:

• Certificates of Incorporation
• Companies House documents
• Certificates of Good Standing
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Board resolutions
• Shareholder resolutions
• Commercial Powers of Attorney
• Agency agreements
• Distribution agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Company declarations
• Bank documents
• Certificates of Free Sale
• Appointment letters
• Other corporate certificates

Private company documents often require certification or notarisation before the FCDO stage.

Nigeria High Commission legalisation fee

Current published operational guidance updated in October 2025 lists a:

£60 consular legalisation fee per document

paid by Postal Order.

A £60 Postal Order currently attracts a Post Office purchase fee of:

£7.50

because Postal Orders between £10 and £99.99 carry a fee of 12.5% of their face value.

The resulting planning figure is therefore:

£67.50 per document including the Postal Order purchase fee

before return postage.

Important fee note

Current public sources are not completely consistent.

Another specialist London source currently lists £45 per document and a shorter processing period, while the Nigeria High Commission’s own public Consular page does not presently display a specific tariff for UK-issued documents being legalised for use in Nigeria.

For that reason, the Nigeria High Commission fee should be reconfirmed before purchasing the Postal Order.

Do not buy a non-refundable payment instrument too early.

Nigeria High Commission administrative charges

The Nigeria High Commission’s official Consular page currently states that Consular services can attract a separate £20 administrative charge and still refers to Postal Order payments for numerous services.

At the same time, the High Commission launched an official digital administrative-payment portal in 2026.

The exact payment structure for foreign UK-document legalisation should therefore be checked for the individual submission.

We would not automatically add the £20 administrative charge to the £60 operational legalisation figure unless the High Commission confirms that it applies.

Postal Order fee

Where a £60 Postal Order is required, the current Post Office fee calculation is straightforward:

£60 × 12.5% = £7.50

Total paid at the Post Office:

£67.50

The £7.50 is a Post Office purchase fee, not money received by the Nigeria High Commission.

Postal Orders must be purchased in accordance with the current Post Office rules.

Postal Order payee

Current operational guidance states that the Postal Order should be payable to:

Nigeria High Commission.

The payee wording should be confirmed before purchase.

A Postal Order should not be altered after issue.

Royal Mail Special Delivery return

A prepaid return envelope should be provided where the Nigeria High Commission returns completed documents by post.

The older fixed figure of £10.25 should no longer be published as a universal current postage cost.

Royal Mail’s current Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm branch prices include:

• Up to 100g: £9.95
• Up to 500g: £10.95
• Up to 1kg: £11.95

Online prices are slightly lower.

The actual return cost therefore depends on the weight of the completed legalisation package.

Why Special Delivery is recommended

Original apostilled documents can be difficult and expensive to replace.

Royal Mail Special Delivery provides:

• End-to-end tracking
• Signature on delivery
• Delivery confirmation
• Compensation cover
• Next-working-day delivery within applicable UK areas

A correctly addressed prepaid envelope should therefore accompany the Consular submission where required.

Nigeria High Commission processing time

Current operational guidance recommends allowing approximately:

5 working days

for the Nigerian High Commission legalisation stage.

Other recent specialist information reports shorter periods of around 2–3 working days.

For client planning, approximately five working days is the safer working assumption unless the High Commission confirms a faster current turnaround.

This does not include:

• Solicitor certification
• Notarisation
• FCDO Apostille
• Postal transit
• Return delivery
• Additional Consular checks

Current FCDO Apostille fees

The UK Legalisation Office currently charges:

FCDO service	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 apply separately to the Standard paper service.

Current FCDO processing times

Current indicative FCDO times are:

• 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 after prior FCDO approval

Any service may take longer if the FCDO needs to verify a signature, seal or stamp.

Does the document require solicitor certification?

It depends on the document.

Certain official UK documents can be legalised directly by the FCDO.

These include qualifying documents issued by:

• Courts
• Public registries
• Government departments
• Registered doctors
• Companies House

Other documents need an eligible UK public official’s signature first.

Examples include:

• Powers of Attorney
• Contracts
• Qualification certificates
• Passport copies
• Driving licence copies
• Private company documents

The correct certification should be established before ordering the Apostille.

Birth certificate legalisation for Nigeria

A UK birth certificate commonly follows:

UK Birth Certificate → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

The receiving Nigerian authority may also require:

• Passport copies
• Parents’ documents
• Affidavits
• Name evidence
• Other civil-status documents

The legalisation itself does not replace the requirements of the underlying Nigerian application.

Marriage certificate legalisation for Nigeria

A UK marriage certificate can require:

UK Marriage Certificate → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

Typical uses include:

• Family matters
• Immigration
• Name changes
• Banking
• Property
• Probate
• Registration matters

Supporting documents should be confirmed with the Nigerian recipient.

Divorce document legalisation

A UK divorce order may need authentication for:

• Remarriage
• Family proceedings
• Property matters
• Probate
• Immigration
• Change of marital status

Court-issued documents should be reviewed to determine whether they can proceed directly to the FCDO.

Once apostilled, the document can be assessed for Nigeria High Commission legalisation.

ACRO Police Certificate legalisation for Nigeria

An ACRO Police Certificate can be required for:

• Employment
• Immigration
• Professional registration
• Residence-related applications
• Government procedures

The usual route is:

ACRO Police Certificate → FCDO paper Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

ACRO Police Certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for the FCDO e-Apostille service.

The Nigerian recipient should also confirm any certificate validity period.

DBS certificate legalisation

A UK DBS certificate may follow:

DBS Certificate → FCDO paper Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

DBS certificates for England and Wales are also excluded from the current e-Apostille service.

The employer or authority should specify whether a Basic, Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate is required.

UK degree legalisation for Nigeria

Educational documents may be required for:

• Employment
• University admission
• Professional registration
• Government appointments
• Teaching positions
• Healthcare roles
• Engineering work
• Other regulated professions

Depending on the document, a typical route is:

UK degree → solicitor/notarial certification where required → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

The Nigerian employer or professional regulator can separately require direct verification from the university.

Verification and legalisation are different processes.

Academic transcripts

A transcript may require different preparation from a degree parchment.

Where the FCDO cannot directly authenticate the issuing institution’s signature, a practising solicitor or Notary Public may need to certify the document first.

The Nigerian recipient may also require:

• Sealed university transcript
• Direct university delivery
• Verification email
• Qualification-checking service

Those requirements should be established before legalisation begins.

Power of Attorney legalisation for Nigeria

A UK Power of Attorney can commonly require:

Execution/notarisation → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

The substantive wording should ideally be approved by the Nigerian:

• Lawyer
• Bank
• Property professional
• Court
• Company
• Government authority

before signature.

Changing the document after notarisation usually requires the legalisation process to be repeated.

Property Power of Attorney

Property transactions are a common reason for preparing Powers of Attorney for Nigeria.

The POA should clearly identify:

• Principal
• Attorney
• Property
• Scope of authority
• Power to sell or transfer
• Power to execute registration documents
• Any banking authority

The Nigerian lawyer handling the transaction should approve the wording before the UK notarisation.

Company documents for Nigeria

Corporate documents can require legalisation for:

• Establishing a Nigerian subsidiary
• Corporate Affairs Commission matters
• Opening a bank account
• Appointing an agent
• Commercial transactions
• Tendering
• Investment
• Due diligence

The route may be:

UK company document → solicitor/notarial certification where required → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

The exact preparation depends on whether the document is a public Companies House record or a privately executed corporate instrument.

Certificate of Incorporation

A UK Certificate of Incorporation may be required for Nigerian commercial or regulatory matters.

The receiving party should specify whether it needs:

• Original Companies House certificate
• Certified copy
• Notarial copy
• FCDO Apostille
• Nigeria High Commission legalisation

A downloaded company record should not automatically be treated in the same way as an eligible official Companies House document.

Board resolutions

A board resolution is usually a privately executed company document.

It can therefore require:

Board resolution → solicitor/notarial certification → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

Supporting corporate evidence may include:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Companies House officer records
• Articles of Association
• Director’s passport
• Evidence of corporate authority

The Nigerian recipient should approve the wording before execution.

Commercial Powers of Attorney

A corporate Power of Attorney should clearly identify:

• UK company name
• Company number
• Registered address
• Signatory
• Signatory’s corporate capacity
• Nigerian attorney or agent
• Scope of authority

The Notary Public may require evidence that the signatory has authority to bind the company.

The document can then complete the FCDO and Nigerian authentication stages.

Does Nigeria require document translation?

English is the official language of Nigeria.

An English-language UK document therefore does not normally require translation simply because it is being used in Nigeria.

Translation may still be required where:

• The original is in another language
• A Nigerian authority asks for a particular translation
• Supporting foreign documents are involved

The receiving organisation should confirm any language requirement.

Paper Apostille or e-Apostille for Nigeria?

The UK offers both paper and electronic Apostilles for eligible documents.

However, where a document needs to proceed physically to the Nigeria High Commission for further legalisation, a paper Apostille is generally the more practical option unless electronic acceptance has been confirmed.

Certain document types cannot receive an e-Apostille in any event.

These include:

• GRO birth certificates
• GRO marriage certificates
• GRO death certificates
• ACRO Police Certificates
• DBS certificates

Documents issued in Nigeria for use abroad

A different procedure applies to documents issued in Nigeria.

The Nigeria High Commission’s current official website states that Nigerian birth, marriage and death certificates should first undergo authentication by the:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja

before being submitted to the Nigeria High Commission in London for final authentication.

The High Commission currently lists:

• £20 per item
• £20 processing fee

for that Nigerian-document authentication service.

This reverse process should not be confused with legalising a UK document for use in Nigeria.

Foreign documents issued outside the UK

The UK FCDO does not ordinarily legalise documents issued outside the United Kingdom.

GOV.UK states that foreign-issued documents should be legalised in their country of issue.

For example, an American, Indian, French or Canadian public document does not become a UK document merely because the holder lives in Britain.

The appropriate process may instead be:

Country-of-origin authentication → Nigerian Embassy / High Commission responsible for that jurisdiction

The issuing country should therefore be identified before UK certification work begins.

Foreign company documents

The same principle can apply to corporate instruments.

A document relating to a company incorporated outside the UK does not automatically become a British commercial document because a director signs it before a UK solicitor.

Relevant factors include:

• Country of incorporation
• Source of corporate authority
• Signatory location
• Type of document
• Nigerian recipient’s requirements

Send the document and company details for assessment before obtaining an FCDO Apostille.

Can several documents share one Apostille?

The FCDO advises applicants to ask the recipient whether it requires:

• One Apostille covering a group of appropriately certified documents, or
• A separate Apostille for each document.

Nigeria High Commission treatment of bundles should also be confirmed.

Bundling documents solely to reduce costs can create problems if the Nigerian recipient requires individual authentication.

Nigeria High Commission address

The official current address is:

Nigeria High Commission
Nigeria House
9 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5BX

The Nigeria High Commission’s own current website confirms this address.

General enquiries: 020 7839 1244

The High Commission’s official Consular page also lists:

Consular customer services: 020 7556 8110
Email: consular@nigeriahc.org.uk

Nigeria High Commission opening hours

Current specialist legalisation guidance lists the document legalisation window as:

9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Monday to Friday.

The High Commission’s own pages publish different hours for particular services, including 9:30 am–1:00 pm for some passport-related counter services.

For that reason, the document-authentication counter hours should be reconfirmed before attendance.

Nigeria High Commission online services

The Nigeria High Commission now operates a digital Consular portal which includes Document Authentication as an available service category.

It also launched an official online payment platform for administrative payments during 2026.

These changes suggest that older entirely paper-based instructions may continue to evolve.

Applicants should therefore check whether online registration or payment is required before sending an original.

Common reasons Nigeria legalisation is delayed

Applications can encounter problems where:

• The FCDO Apostille is missing
• The wrong signature has been Apostilled
• Solicitor certification was required first
• Notarisation is unsuitable
• A company document lacks evidence of authority
• The wrong Postal Order amount has been purchased
• An outdated return-postage amount has been used
• The prepaid Special Delivery envelope is missing
• A foreign-issued document has incorrectly followed the UK route
• The Nigerian recipient requires individual rather than bundled documents
• Current online Consular registration has not been completed
• High Commission payment arrangements have changed

Checking the complete process before dispatch can prevent unnecessary repeat work.

Can I submit directly to the Nigeria High Commission?

Yes, where the current High Commission procedure permits direct submission.

The document should already carry the required FCDO Apostille.

Applicants should prepare:

• Original apostilled document
• Any required copies
• Correct Consular payment
• Prepaid return envelope
• Applicant details
• Any online registration or reference required by the High Commission

Current submission requirements should be checked before attendance.

Nigeria High Commission legalisation only

Clients who already have the appropriate FCDO Apostille can instruct Ginkgo Advisory for the remaining Nigerian stage.

We can review:

• Document
• FCDO Apostille
• Intended use
• Consular fee
• Postal Order requirement
• Return envelope
• Current online process
• Submission arrangements

This avoids repeating earlier UK authentication.

Full Nigeria document legalisation service

Where the document has not yet been prepared, we can assess the complete authentication route.

Depending on the case, this can include:

• Document review
• Solicitor certification
• Notarial certification
• FCDO Apostille
• Nigeria High Commission legalisation
• Consular submission
• Postal Order handling where required
• Return-envelope preparation
• Collection or postal return
• Completion scan
• UK delivery
• DHL international return

The exact route should be established from the actual document before processing begins.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nigeria in the Hague Apostille Convention?

Nigeria does not currently appear among the Contracting Parties in the HCCH Apostille Convention status table.

Is an FCDO Apostille enough for Nigeria?

Normally, further Nigeria High Commission legalisation should be considered.

Current London operational guidance continues to specify the FCDO-plus-High-Commission route.

How much is Nigeria High Commission legalisation?

Current operational guidance lists a £60 Consular fee.

A £60 Postal Order currently costs an additional £7.50, producing a planning total of £67.50 before return postage.

The High Commission does not currently publish the equivalent UK-issued-document tariff clearly on its public Consular page, so the fee should be confirmed before purchasing the Postal Order.

Is the Royal Mail return fee still £10.25?

No fixed £10.25 return fee should now be quoted.

Current Royal Mail Special Delivery by 1pm branch prices include £9.95 up to 100g and £10.95 up to 500g.

The actual return charge depends on weight.

How long does Nigeria High Commission legalisation take?

Current operational guidance recommends approximately:

5 working days.

Other sources quote shorter periods, so the current turnaround should be checked where a deadline applies.

Is payment by Postal Order only?

Current operational legalisation guidance says Postal Order payable to Nigeria High Commission.

However, the High Commission introduced an official online administrative-payment portal in 2026.

The payment method for the specific document-authentication service should therefore be reconfirmed before submission.

Do I need a prepaid return envelope?

Current operational guidance says yes.

A prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope should be supplied for return of completed documents.

Can you legalise an ACRO Police Certificate for Nigeria?

Yes.

The usual route is:

ACRO Police Certificate → FCDO paper Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

Can you legalise a UK degree for Nigeria?

Yes.

Depending on its format, the degree may first require solicitor or notarial certification before the FCDO Apostille and High Commission stage.

Can you legalise a Power of Attorney for Nigeria?

Yes.

The document should normally be appropriately executed or notarised before obtaining the FCDO Apostille.

Can you legalise UK company documents?

Yes.

Companies House documents, board resolutions, commercial Powers of Attorney and other corporate instruments can be assessed for the correct certification and legalisation route.

Where is the Nigeria High Commission in London?

The official address is:

9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX.

What are the legalisation opening hours?

Current operational guidance lists:

9:00 am–1:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Check the High Commission before attendance because individual Consular services can operate different counter hours.

How are Nigerian-issued documents authenticated?

For Nigerian birth, marriage and death certificates being authenticated through London, the Nigeria High Commission states that the document should first be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

This is a different process from legalising UK-issued documents for use in Nigeria.

Can you provide Nigeria High Commission legalisation only?

Yes.

Where the document already carries the correct FCDO Apostille, we can assess it for the remaining High Commission stage.

Arrange Nigeria High Commission legalisation in London

Send Ginkgo Advisory a clear scan before posting the original.

Please provide:

1. The complete document
2. Existing FCDO Apostille, if available
3. Country where the document was issued
4. Intended use in Nigeria
5. Name of the Nigerian receiving authority or organisation
6. Any written instructions received from Nigeria
7. Required completion date

For company documents, also provide the company’s country of incorporation and relevant company information.

For a Power of Attorney, provide the final wording approved by the Nigerian lawyer or recipient where available.

We can then identify whether the correct route is:

UK document → certification where required → FCDO Apostille → Nigeria High Commission legalisation

Nigeria High Commission fees, payment arrangements, online procedures, opening hours and processing times can change without notice. Current public sources are not fully consistent on the UK-issued-document legalisation tariff, and the High Commission introduced new digital administrative-payment facilities during 2026. The applicable payment and submission procedure should therefore be reconfirmed before the original document is dispatched.