Apostille and Legalisation Services in Manchester
KG Notary Public, apart from notarial services in Manchester, provides also a paper apostille service for individuals and businesses sending UK documents overseas.
Some documents must be notarised before they can receive an apostille. Other eligible UK public documents, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, can usually be submitted for an apostille without prior notarisation. We review your document, its destination and the receiving authority’s instructions, then explain the correct route, likely cost and timescale.
Our service is for paper apostilles only. We do not provide an electronic apostille or e-Apostille service.
Please send a clear scan or photograph of the complete document before booking or delivering any original document.
An apostille is an official certificate issued in the United Kingdom by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office. It confirms the authenticity of a recognised signature, seal or stamp on a UK document so that the document can be used overseas.
An apostille does not confirm that the contents of the document are true, and it does not replace any notarisation that the receiving authority requires. The person or organisation receiving the document should confirm whether it needs notarisation, an apostille and, in some cases, further embassy or consular legalisation.
What is an Apostille?
Does my document need to be notarised first?
The answer depends on the type of document and the instructions of the overseas recipient.
Documents that may be eligible for an apostille without notarisation
These commonly include eligible original UK public documents such as:
birth, marriage and death certificates;
certificates of no impediment;
ACRO police certificates;
court documents bearing the appropriate court seal;
certain documents issued by Companies House; and
some documents issued or signed by a UK government department or recognised official.
The document must meet the Legalisation Office’s requirements. A scan should be checked before the original is submitted.
Documents that commonly require notarisation first
These may include:
certified copies of passports or driving licences;
powers of attorney;
affidavits, declarations and consent documents;
qualification and professional documents;
company powers of attorney, board resolutions and commercial documents;
employment letters and private certificates; and
copies of documents that do not already bear a signature, seal or stamp recognised by the Legalisation Office.
Requirements can vary. The overseas recipient should confirm whether it wants the original or a certified copy and whether the document must be signed or certified by a UK notary.
Apostille service options and fees
Option 1: Apostille after notarisation by KG Notary Public: £120 including VAT per apostille
If KG Notary Public notarises your document, we can submit it through our consular agent for a paper apostille.
The £120 including VAT charge is for the apostille agent service and applies per apostille. The notarial fee is separate and will be quoted after the document has been reviewed.
The completed document can normally be:
delivered by DHL to a UK address within four working days of the notary appointment; or
collected from our Manchester office within five working days of the appointment.
International DHL delivery is available for an additional £75 including VAT and normally adds one to two working days. Timings are estimates and may be affected if the Legalisation Office needs to verify a signature or document.
This option is available only for documents notarised by KG Notary Public.
Option 2: Apostille-only service for an eligible UK public document: £175 including VAT per apostille
If your eligible UK document does not require notarisation, we can arrange a paper apostille for £175 including VAT per apostille.
This service may be suitable for an eligible original UK birth, marriage or death certificate, certificate of no impediment or ACRO police certificate. We must review a scan first to confirm whether the document appears suitable for submission.
The price covers the apostille service. Any international delivery or unusual third-party cost will be confirmed separately.
We cannot arrange an apostille for a document that has already been notarised or certified by another notary or solicitor. In that situation, you should ask the professional who completed the certification to arrange the apostille or apply directly to the Legalisation Office.
Option 3: Apply directly to the FCDO: £45 per document plus return delivery
You may apply directly to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office for a standard paper apostille. The current government fee is £45 per document, plus courier or postage charges.
The standard paper service usually takes up to 25 working days, plus return delivery time. The current timeframe is shown when you apply and may be longer if a signature or document needs additional verification.
If the document needs notarisation first, the notarial fee is separate. Once KG Notary Public has notarised the document, you may choose to make the FCDO application and send the document yourself instead of using our agent service.
How our Manchester apostille service works
1. Send a scan
Send a clear scan or photograph of every page, tell us the country where the document will be used and include any written instructions from the receiving authority.
2. We confirm the correct route
We assess whether the document appears eligible for a direct apostille or whether it must be notarised first. We then confirm the service option, fees, original documents required and likely timescale.
3. Notarisation, if required
If notarisation is needed, the relevant person attends our Manchester office with the original document and identification. Do not sign a power of attorney, affidavit or declaration before the appointment unless we have told you otherwise.
4. Paper apostille and return
The eligible original or notarised document is submitted for a paper apostille and returned by the agreed collection or delivery method.
Documents commonly requiring an apostille
We assist with paper apostilles for documents including:
powers of attorney;
birth, marriage and death certificates;
certificates of no impediment;
ACRO police certificates;
passports and other certified identity documents;
degrees, diplomas and professional qualifications;
company powers of attorney and board resolutions;
Companies House and other corporate documents;
affidavits, declarations and consent documents; and
employment and commercial documents.
Eligibility and the need for notarisation depend on the particular document. Please send a copy for review before making arrangements.
Apostille, notarisation and embassy legalisation: what is the difference?
Notarisation is carried out by a notary. Depending on the document, the notary may verify identity, witness a signature, certify a copy, confirm authority or complete a notarial certificate.
An apostille is issued by the UK Legalisation Office. It authenticates the recognised UK signature, seal or stamp on the document for use overseas.
Embassy or consular legalisation is a further authentication step required by some destination countries. It may take place after notarisation and an apostille.
Not every document requires all three stages. Check with the overseas recipient and send us their written instructions where possible.
Embassy and consular legalisation
Documents intended for some countries may need embassy or consular legalisation after the paper apostille. Requirements, fees and timescales vary by country and document type.
We can review the instructions and confirm whether we can assist with the relevant legalisation route. Embassy, consular, courier and agent charges are additional and will be quoted separately.
We can often offer an urgent or same-day notary appointment where the documents and identification checks are ready. However, the paper apostille is issued by the Legalisation Office, not by the notary, so a same-day notarisation does not mean the completed apostilled document will be available on the same day.
Our £120 agent option for documents notarised by KG Notary Public is usually the faster practical route described above. Please tell us your deadline, destination country and delivery address when requesting a quote. No completion date can be guaranteed until the document has been reviewed and the route confirmed.
Urgent apostille requests
KG Notary Public provides paper apostille services only and does not issue or arrange e-Apostilles.
A UK apostille can be issued only for an eligible UK document or recognised UK signature, seal or stamp. Documents issued outside the UK normally need to be legalised in their country of origin.
We cannot arrange an apostille for a document notarised or certified by another notary or solicitor.
The overseas recipient is responsible for confirming whether it needs an original, certified copy, notarisation, apostille or further consular legalisation.
Apostilles are issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Processing and delivery times can change and may be extended where additional verification is required.
Important limitations
Do you provide paper apostilles or e-Apostilles?
We arrange paper apostilles only. We do not provide an e-Apostille service.
Can you apostille a birth, marriage or death certificate without notarisation?
An eligible original UK certificate can usually be submitted directly for a paper apostille. Send us a scan first so that we can confirm the appropriate service route.
Can you apostille a document notarised by somebody else?
No. Our £120 agent service is limited to documents notarised by KG Notary Public. We also cannot take over an apostille application for a document already certified by another solicitor or notary.
Can you apostille a document issued outside the UK?
No. Documents issued outside the UK normally need to be legalised in the country where they were issued. A UK apostille service cannot legalise a foreign public document.
Do I need to attend an appointment?
If the document must be signed or notarised, the relevant person will normally need to attend in person with original identification. If the document is an eligible UK public document that does not require notarisation, an appointment may not be necessary. We will confirm after reviewing the scan.
Is the £120 fee the complete cost?
The £120 including VAT fee is per apostille for our agent service after KG Notary Public has notarised the document. The notarial fee is separate. International delivery and any additional legalisation costs are also separate.
Is the £175 fee for documents that do not need notarisation?
Yes. The £175 including VAT apostille-only service is for an eligible UK public document that can be apostilled without prior notarisation, subject to review.
Can one apostille cover several documents?
The receiving authority should confirm whether it will accept documents bound together under one notarial certificate or requires a separate apostille for each document. Each separate apostille attracts its own fee.
Will I need embassy legalisation as well?
Possibly. This depends on the destination country, document and receiving authority. Send us the instructions so that the full legalisation route can be checked.
Frequently asked questions
Request an apostille service quote
Send us:
a clear scan or photograph of the complete document;
the country where it will be used;
any instructions from the receiving authority;
your deadline; and
the required collection or delivery address.
We will confirm whether notarisation is required, which paper apostille option is suitable, the total fee and the likely timescale.
KG Notary Public is based at 10th Floor, 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF. Visits are by appointment.