UK e-Apostille Service | FCDO Digital Apostille

UK e-Apostille Services

Solicitor-led certification and FCDO digital legalisation

Start your e-Apostille today

Our Solicitor Certifies Your Documents for FCDO e-Apostille

Eligible UK documents digitally signed and prepared for fast electronic legalisation

Our solicitor is registered with the FCDO

1–2 working days

FCDO e-Apostille option

From £128 per document
Email: apostille@ginkgoadvisory.com

KH is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England and Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

He is registered with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for apostille purposes. KH personally oversees Ginkgo Advisory’s document certification and apostille work to help ensure careful, accurate and consistent handling of each matter.

KH Lam, LLB, LLM
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory

How our UK e-Apostille service works

Document Review

We review your document and confirm whether it is suitable for FCDO e-Apostille.

Solicitor Certification

Our solicitor certifies the document with appropriate wording for FCDO e-Apostille.

FCDO e-Apostille

We arrange submission to the UK FCDO and return the e-apostilled document to you.

Clear, professional and reliable service

I had a very positive experience with Ginkgo Advisory and would happily recommend them.

They were professional, responsive, and very easy to work with. What really stood out was that even at an early stage—before I had formally engaged the firm—they were already willing to join discussions, help us think through the process, and clarify requirements with the overseas party. This was extremely helpful, as the other side was not very clear about what documents were needed or in what format.

They helped bring structure and clarity to what could otherwise have been a confusing situation. Once everything was confirmed, the notarisation and Apostille work was handled efficiently and without unnecessary back-and-forth. Communication throughout was clear and timely, which made the whole process much less stressful.

Overall, a reliable, well-organised, and trustworthy service. I would definitely work with Ginkgo Advisory again.

Valen M.

Super friendly and helpful

Ginkgo were so helpful with me. They took what was a stressful situation and made everything so easy for me. They were really helpful through every step and were prompt with communication. 1000% would recommend them. I owe them so much!!

Rob B.

Documents we commonly assist with for e-Apostille

We assist with UK documents that require FCDO e-Apostille, including:

Degree certificates and transcripts · Divorce documents
Companies House documents · Commercial documents

UK e-Apostille Service FAQs

What is a UK e-Apostille?

A UK e-Apostille is an electronic apostille issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, also known as the FCDO. It is the digital version of a traditional paper apostille and is used to legalise eligible UK documents for use overseas. Instead of receiving a paper certificate attached to the document, you receive a digitally legalised PDF that can usually be shared by email or uploaded to an overseas authority, university, employer, immigration body or professional regulator.

How does your e-Apostille service work?

Our e-Apostille service usually involves three steps: first, we review the document and confirm whether it is suitable for e-Apostille; second, where required, we carry out solicitor verification and certification as a practising solicitor in England and Wales; third, we submit the electronically signed PDF for FCDO e-Apostille legalisation. Once completed, the legalised digital document can be downloaded and shared electronically.

Which UK documents can be e-Apostilled?

Many UK documents may be suitable for e-Apostille if they can be properly certified and electronically signed by a UK solicitor or notary. Common examples include UK degree certificates, academic transcripts, letters of enrolment, letters of student status, passport copies, company documents, powers of attorney, declarations and other documents that require solicitor certification before FCDO legalisation. Eligibility always depends on the document type and the receiving authority’s requirements.

Which documents cannot usually receive a UK e-Apostille?

Some documents are not eligible for the UK e-Apostille route. GOV.UK currently lists several excluded categories, including General Register Office certificates such as birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates, ACRO police certificates, DBS certificates, certain disclosure certificates, fingerprint certificates and ACCA membership certificates. These documents may still require a traditional paper apostille instead.

Is an e-Apostille accepted overseas?

A UK e-Apostille may be accepted overseas if the receiving country, authority or institution accepts electronic apostilles. However, some authorities still insist on a paper apostille attached to the original document or to a certified paper copy. Before proceeding, you should check whether the recipient will accept a UK e-Apostille, or whether they specifically require a traditional paper-based apostille.

What is the difference between an e-Apostille and a paper apostille?

A paper apostille is a physical certificate attached to a paper document. An e-Apostille is issued electronically and forms part of a digital legalised PDF. The e-Apostille route is often faster and more convenient where the receiving authority accepts digital documents. A paper apostille may still be needed where the recipient requires an original hard-copy document, a wet-ink signature, or a physical apostille certificate.

Do I need a solicitor for a UK e-Apostille?

For many documents, yes. GOV.UK states that an e-Apostille requires documents to be uploaded as PDF files that have been electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. This is why solicitor certification is often an important part of the e-Apostille process, especially for academic documents, passport copies, declarations, authorisation letters, company documents and other documents that are not already directly legalisable in their own right.

How can someone verify a UK e-Apostille?

A UK e-Apostille can be verified using the official GOV.UK apostille verification service. The recipient will usually need the apostille issue date and apostille number shown on the apostille certificate. This helps overseas authorities, employers, universities and immigration bodies check that the apostille was issued by the UK Legalisation Office.

How long does a UK e-Apostille take?

According to GOV.UK, the FCDO e-Apostille service can take up to 2 working days, although applications may take longer if a signature or document needs additional verification. Our overall timeframe also depends on whether solicitor verification is required before submission, how quickly the issuing institution responds, and whether the document is suitable for the electronic route.

Why choose Ginkgo Advisory for a UK e-Apostille?

Ginkgo Advisory provides a solicitor-led UK e-Apostille service for clients who need their documents legalised for overseas use. We review the receiving authority’s requirements, check whether an e-Apostille or paper apostille is more appropriate, prepare solicitor certification where required, and manage the FCDO legalisation process. Our service is particularly suitable for UK university documents, student status letters, professional documents, company documents, identity document copies and cross-border legalisation matters where accuracy, wording and verification are important.