Certified Apostilled Document Translation in the UK

What is a certified apostilled document translation in the UK?

A certified apostilled document translation is a UK certified translation of a document paired with an FCDO apostille certificate, so both the underlying signature and the translation are legally recognised across the 125+ Hague Apostille Convention countries that accept UK public documents.

Can I get an apostille translation in the UK?

Yes — an apostille translation is available across the UK, combining an ISO 17100 certified translation, notarisation by a UK notary public and an official UK apostille issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office, delivered as one end-to-end service from £25 per document.

When do I need a certified apostilled translation?

A certified apostilled translation is needed when a UK-issued document (or its translation) has to be accepted by an authority in a Hague Convention country — typically for overseas marriages, foreign university enrolment, non-UK court proceedings, overseas property purchases, international company registration and immigration to countries that require legalisation.

Should I translate my document before or after getting an apostille?

The correct order depends on what the receiving authority requires: for most Hague Convention destinations, the UK source document is apostilled first in its original language, the certified translation is then produced and attached, and — where the destination country asks — the translation is notarised and that notary signature is also apostilled.

Who can certify a translation in the UK for apostille purposes?

In the UK a translation can be certified by a professional translator qualified through the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), or by a translation company registered with the Association of Translation Companies (ATC); for apostille the certified translation is then witnessed by a UK notary public before the FCDO issues the apostille.

What is the process for getting a certified apostilled translation?

The process runs in four sequential steps under one fixed-fee quote: (1) the source document is translated by an ISO 17100 qualified translator, (2) a second linguist checks the translation and a signed certificate of accuracy is issued, (3) a UK notary public witnesses the translator's signature, and (4) the FCDO Legalisation Office attaches the apostille certificate.

Buyers who send UK documents abroad — or bring foreign documents into UK-recognised chains — need one provider to handle translation, notarisation and the FCDO apostille in the correct order. This page prices that chain, times it, and sets out the sequencing decisions that decide whether a document is accepted in a Hague Convention country.

How does certified apostilled document translation work in the UK?

A certified apostilled document translation is a UK certified translation paired with an FCDO apostille certificate, so both the underlying signature and the translation are legally recognised across the 125+ Hague Apostille Convention countries that accept UK public documents. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the sole UK issuer of apostille certificates, operating through its Legalisation Office — no other body in the UK can attach a valid apostille to a document destined for a Hague Convention signatory state.

Four moving parts sit under one fixed-fee quote:

• Certified translation — produced by a translator qualified in the relevant subject matter, checked by a second linguist under an ISO 17100 workflow, and issued with a signed certificate of accuracy.
• Notarisation — a UK notary public witnesses the translator's signature before the document proceeds to the FCDO; this step is required by the apostille chain and cannot be skipped.
• FCDO apostille — the UK Legalisation Office attaches the apostille certificate, authenticating the notary's seal for international acceptance.
• Return dispatch — the fully apostilled bundle is couriered back to you for onward submission abroad.

The service covers 150+ languages and starts from £25 per document, with per-word rates of £0.10–£0.20 depending on the language pair and subject matter. The translation leg runs on a 2–3 working day window, while the complete apostilled bundle is typically returned within 5–10 working days end-to-end — encompassing translation, notarisation, FCDO processing, and return dispatch. It is worth noting that the FCDO's standard postal apostille route can run to significantly longer processing times, which is why a managed, registered service that handles the submission on your behalf delivers a predictable, faster result. For the full apostille product description, see our Apostille page.

Can I get an apostille translation in the UK?

Yes — an apostille translation is available across the UK as one end-to-end service from £25 per document, combining an ISO 17100 certified translation, notarisation by a UK notary public and an official UK apostille issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office.

The bundle is used to translate document for use abroad in 125+ Hague Convention destinations, with 150+ languages covered by our translation company.

Is the certified translation service available outside London?

The service covers documents from anywhere in the UK. Clients courier or upload originals to the London office at 71-75 Shelton Street, WC2H 9JQ, and the certified translation, notarisation and FCDO apostille steps run centrally. Copies of your documents can be sent by email for the initial quote; physical originals travel only when the destination authority requires the apostille attached to the paper original.

When do I need a certified apostilled translation of documents?

A certified apostilled translation is needed when a UK-issued document (or its translation) has to be accepted by an authority in a Hague Convention country — typically for overseas marriages, foreign university enrolment, non-UK court proceedings, overseas property purchases, international company registration and immigration to countries that require legalisation.

Seven cross-border scenarios drive most demand:

1. Marriage or civil partnership abroad.
2. Enrolling at a foreign university or applying for an overseas teaching licence.
3. Enforcing a UK court judgment in a Hague Convention country.
4. Buying property or opening a bank account outside of the UK.
5. Registering a foreign subsidiary or opening a corporate account.
6. Cross-border probate and pension release.
7. Residency, spousal visa and name-change applications.

Which documents most often need certified translations of documents plus apostille?

The documents most often apostilled and translated are civil-status certificates, academic records, court and probate papers, and company documents. Each one has a typical cross-border use.

Document	Typical cross-border use
Birth certificate	Most commonly apostilled UK personal document for overseas marriage or citizenship.
Marriage certificate	Foreign residency, name-change and spousal visa cases.
Death certificate	Cross-border probate and pension release.
Degree certificate and transcript	Foreign university enrolment and overseas teaching licences.
Court judgment	Enforcement in a Hague Convention country.
Adoption Paper Translation	Cross-border adoption recognition.
Probate Document Translation	Apostilled grants of probate for cross-border inheritance.
Company Incorporation Document Translation	Opening foreign subsidiaries and bank accounts.
Power of attorney	Property, banking and healthcare authority abroad.

Which destination countries require an apostille certificate on the translation?

The apostille is required by the 125+ signatories of the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries outside the convention require full consular legalisation via the destination embassy instead, in which case the apostille or legalisation route is dictated by the receiving embassy rather than the FCDO. Foreign academic qualifications sent into the UK are often paired with a UK ENIC statement of comparability alongside the certified translation.

Should I translate my document before or after getting an apostille?

The correct order depends on what the receiving authority requires. For most Hague Convention destinations, the UK source document is apostilled first in its original language, the certified translation is then produced and attached, and — where the destination country asks — the translation is notarised and that notary signature is also apostilled.

The sequencing decision matrix below maps document type and destination to the correct chain:

Document type	Destination requirement	Correct sequence
Birth / marriage / death certificate	Destination needs proof the UK registrar signature is genuine	Apostille source → certified translation attached
Degree certificate / transcript	University wants authenticated original + translation	Apostille source → certified translation attached
Court judgment	Foreign court needs authenticated translator signature	Certified translation → notarised → apostille on notary signature
Company incorporation documents	Foreign registrar needs both original and translation legalised	Apostille source → certified translation → notarised → apostille on notary signature
Power of attorney drafted in UK	Foreign notary needs authenticated translator signature	Certified translation → notarised → apostille on notary signature

When is the source document apostilled first?

The source is apostilled first when a UK public document is going abroad and the destination authority needs proof that the original UK signature is genuine before the translation is attached. This route applies to birth certificates, degree certificates and court orders where the authenticity of a document rests on the issuing registrar or examining body.

When is the translation itself apostilled?

The translation is apostilled when the destination country requires the translator's or notary's signature to be authenticated. The certified translation is notarised by a UK notary public first, then the notary's signature is apostilled by the FCDO. This route is common for court, corporate and power-of-attorney work bound for civil-law jurisdictions.

What happens if the order is reversed?

Reversing the order causes rejection. The apostille cannot be re-attached to the correct underlying document, and the UK Legalisation Office will not apostille a document that has already been altered by attaching an unnotarised translation. The quote itemises the four steps so nothing is out of order. For the notarisation leg specifically, see Notarised.

Who can certify a translation in the UK for apostille service purposes?

In the UK a translation can be certified by a professional translator qualified through the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), or by a translation agency registered with the Association of Translation Companies (ATC). For apostille the certified translation is then witnessed by a UK notary public before the FCDO issues the apostille certificate.

A qualified professional translator gives the translation the standing needed to be certified by a notary. For a full walkthrough of the different tiers, read How To Certify A Translation.

Can I certify my own translation?

No — a self-certified translation is not accepted for apostille. The FCDO requires a notary public to witness the translator's signature, and a notary will only witness a qualified third-party translator. This safeguards the formal translation system used for official purposes across the UK and international authorities.

Can any solicitor issue an apostille certificate?

No — only the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office can issue a UK apostille certificate. A solicitor or notary public can witness the translator's signature but cannot apostille a document themselves. The apostille certificate is issued centrally by the FCDO, which is the sole UK apostille authority.

How do I submit documents and originals for translation?

Clear scans or photographs of the original document are emailed for quotation. Where the destination authority requires the apostille attached to the physical original, the original is couriered to the London office and returned with the apostilled bundle. This works for both UK document sources and foreign-issued papers being brought into a UK-adjacent chain.

How is the certified translation prepared and checked?

Each translation is produced by a translator qualified in the subject, checked by a second linguist under the ISO 17100 workflow, and issued with a signed certificate of accuracy confirming the translated document is a true and accurate translation of the original. The certificate confirms the representation of the original document in the target language.

How is the FCDO apostille attached to the notarised translation?

The notarised certified translation is submitted to the UK Legalisation Office. The office verifies the notary's signature against its register and attaches the official apostille certificate to the bundle. The apostilled documents are then returned for onward dispatch to the client.

How much does a certified translation cost in the UK, and how much does an apostille cost in the UK?

A UK certified translation starts from £25 per document for short personal certificates and £0.10–£0.20 per source word for longer documents, depending on language pair and subject. The apostille adds the notary fee plus the FCDO fee on top, quoted per document once the notary route is confirmed. We do not publish a flat apostille figure because the FCDO's own fee and premium options change, and the notary fee varies by document.

What are the four UK certification tiers and their prices?

UK buyers choose between four tiers: certified, notarised, apostilled and sworn — each is accepted by different authorities. The comparison below prices and times all four.

Tier	Price (GBP)	Standard turnaround	Accepted by
Certified translation	From £25 per document	2–3 working days	Home Office, UKVI, HMPO, HMCTS, GRO, universities
Notarised translation	£75–£120 + notary fee	2–3 working days	Foreign consulates, overseas courts, non-UK banks
Apostilled translation	Notarised fee + FCDO fee	5–10 working days end-to-end	125+ Hague Convention countries
Sworn translation	£90–£180 per document	3–5 working days	Civil-law jurisdictions requiring a sworn translator

Some civil-law destinations demand a sworn output rather than certified + apostille — see Sworn Translation. The full decision tree across every tier lives on Document Translation UK: Certified Services for Visas, Legal, Academic and Business Documents.

What drives the price of an apostilled translation service?

Four factors drive price:

Get a quote

How fast can I get FCDO apostille translation delivered?

Standard turnaround for the certified translation is 2–3 working days for every document type, whether single-page or multi-page, with a 24-hour option available for documents under 1,000 words. The FCDO apostille adds the Legalisation Office's own processing window on top of that, and the full apostilled bundle — covering a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or similarly common document — is typically returned within 5–10 working days end-to-end. That window encompasses translation, the notary public's witnessing step, FCDO submission and processing, and return courier dispatch.

It is important to understand why end-to-end times vary: the FCDO's own standard postal apostille service currently operates on a substantially longer processing schedule, making it essential to use a registered service that submits documents directly through an expedited route. Using a managed, FCDO-registered submission channel is the most reliable way to keep the overall bundle turnaround within the 5–10 working day window.

Is a same-day or weekend apostille service available?

Same-day and weekend delivery are available for the certified translation leg at a 30–50% urgency surcharge. The FCDO also offers a premium apostille track for buyers who need documents processed as quickly as possible, and both urgency uplifts are quoted separately so you see the precise cost of each accelerated step. Electing weekend translation delivery shortens the translation leg only — it does not alter the FCDO's own processing window. If your deadline is tight, requesting both the rush translation and the expedited FCDO submission track at the outset gives the shortest possible end-to-end time.

Will my certified apostilled translation be accepted by UK authorities and overseas?

A certified apostilled translation prepared under ISO 17100 with a signed certificate of accuracy and an FCDO apostille is accepted by UK authorities (Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, HMCTS, GRO, universities) and by the receiving authorities in the 125+ Hague Convention countries that recognise UK apostilles. It meets the specific translation requirements of most consulates and foreign registries.

Why do certified translations of documents get rejected at the apostille stage?

Rejections cluster around five preventable errors:

1. Wrong sequencing of apostille and translation.
2. Translation attached to the wrong copy of the original document.
3. Unnotarised translator signature.
4. Out-of-date FCDO cover letter.
5. Destination country requires sworn rather than certified format.

The fixed-fee quote itemises each step to prevent all five, which is why authorities that require certified translations of documents rarely refuse a bundle produced on this chain.

How long is an apostille certificate valid on a certified translation?

A certified apostilled translation does not expire. Some receiving authorities — foreign consulates, universities, land registries — require the underlying document, and therefore the apostille, to have been issued within the last 3 to 6 months. A fresh apostille certificate is often requested for that reason, even when the translation itself remains accurate.

How do I request a certified translation services UK quote for apostille legalisation?

Email clear scans of the source document — along with the destination country and the name of the receiving authority — to the London office, or call +44 20 7459 4983 during opening hours (Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00). A fixed-fee quote covering translation, notarisation, and FCDO apostille is returned the same working day. Pricing starts from £25 per document, with per-word rates of £0.10–£0.20 depending on language pair and subject complexity; notarised translation bundles typically fall in the £75–£120 range plus the notary fee, with a 2–3 working day turnaround on the translation leg.

The service spans 150+ languages and covers the full range of document types — birth and marriage certificates, academic diplomas, driving licences, passports, court documents, medical reports, and corporate or legal instruments. Where a destination country — such as Spain or Italy — requires a sworn translation rather than a standard certified translation, we will advise you at the quote stage so the correct tier is selected from the outset.

Include the following on your enquiry to receive an accurate, all-in quote:

• The destination country and the authority or institution that will receive the apostilled bundle.
• The target language (chosen from our 150+ language range) and source language.
• Whether you require standard 2–3 working day delivery or same-day / weekend urgency on the translation leg.
• Whether the physical original document must travel with the bundle for FCDO apostille processing.
• Whether any additional steps — such as notarisation or sworn translation — have been specified by the receiving authority.

Certified Translation Services UK, 71–75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ. Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00. Telephone +44 20 7459 4983.