UK Business Document Authentication for Taiwan: TRO London Requirements for Company Documents, Solicitor Certification and Authorisation Letter

When a UK business document needs to be used in Taiwan, the Taipei Representative Office in the UK may ask for a clear set of company documents, identity documents and notarised signatures.

This process often applies to UK company documents, business letters, corporate declarations, certificates of incorporation and other commercial documents required by Taiwan authorities.

For company documents, the applicant does not always need to be a director. Any employee of the company may act as the applicant. However, the application must be complete, and the supporting documents must match the people who sign the forms and business documents.

Company Application Form

The company should complete the TRO authentication application form clearly and in full.

Any employee of the company can act as the applicant.

The applicant must add:

• a wet signature
• the date of application

The TRO may reject the application if the form is incomplete.

Also, the applicant’s signature on the form must match the signature shown on the applicant’s passport.

This helps TRO London identify the person who submits the company document authentication application.

Applicant Identification and Company Documents

The application should include a clear, high-quality and unobstructed photocopy of the applicant’s valid passport.

The application should also include a photocopy of the company’s certificate of incorporation.

In some cases, different people from the company may sign different documents. For example, one person may sign the TRO application form, while another person may sign the business letter or company document.

If this happens, you should include passport copies for all named signatories.

This helps TRO London check the applicant, the company and the people linked to the business document.

Signature on the Business Document

The applicant’s signature on the business letter or business document must be notarised as genuine by a UK-based Notary Public or solicitor.

In addition, if the FCDO requires notarisation first, the UK Notary Public or solicitor must confirm the authenticity of the document.

TRO does not accept certification that fails to confirm authenticity where authenticity confirmation is required.

Therefore, the wording matters. A basic signature certification may not be enough if the Taiwan authority needs a clear document chain.

For Taiwan use, the document chain may look like this:

company document signed → signature notarised as genuine → authenticity confirmed where required → FCDO apostille → TRO London authentication

This chain helps Taiwan authorities understand how the UK business document was checked, certified, apostilled and authenticated.

Authorisation Letter for Company Applications

If an authorisation letter is required, the applicant must sign the original authorisation letter.

The application should include:

• the original Letter of Authorisation
• one photocopy of the Letter of Authorisation

The applicant’s signature on the authorisation letter must be notarised as genuine by a Notary Public, solicitor or R.O.C. overseas office.

TRO does not accept alternative formats. Therefore, you should use the correct TRO authorisation letter format.

If different people from the company sign the application form and the authorisation letter, you should include passport copies for all named persons.

This helps avoid confusion when TRO London checks the company applicant, the authorised person and the person signing the business document.

How Ginkgo Advisory Can Help

Ginkgo Advisory assists clients who need to use UK business documents in Taiwan.

We can help with the UK-side process before and after TRO London submission, including:

• checking whether your UK business document needs solicitor or notary certification before apostille
• checking the signing structure for the application form, business document and authorisation letter
• checking whether passport copies are needed for one or more company signatories
• preparing solicitor certification wording that confirms authenticity where required
• arranging our 2 working days UK FCDO apostille service
• preparing the document for TRO London legalisation
• assisting with the TRO authentication application form
• assisting with the TRO authorisation letter where an agent submits for the company
• arranging TRO London postal submission
• helping coordinate return courier delivery to Taiwan or another overseas address

This helps keep the process clear from the beginning, especially if your company, directors, employees or authorised agents are based outside the UK and need UK-side handling.