The UK has been in the Apostille Convention from the start. U.S. documents most often go there for legal and commercial reasons: powers of attorney for property sales, documents for UK court proceedings, and company paperwork for Companies House or a bank.
UK visa applications themselves rarely ask for apostilles. If a solicitor or bank has asked for one, it is usually for a notarized power of attorney or a company document.
At a glance
Why U.S. documents go to the United Kingdom
| Purpose | Documents usually apostilled |
|---|---|
| Property sale or purchase | Power of attorney, notarized and apostilled |
| Court proceedings | Court records, affidavits |
| Company matters | Good standing certificate, resolutions, formation documents |
| Marriage in the UK | Birth certificate, divorce decree if applicable |
Translation
None needed for English-language U.S. documents. Translate after the apostille, so it is translated too. See translation requirements.
Things worth knowing
- A UK solicitor’s wording for a power of attorney should be used as given; sign it before a U.S. notary, then apostille.
- State or federal? A document issued by a state or county, or notarized, is apostilled by that state. One issued by a federal agency, such as an FBI check, by the U.S. Department of State.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the documents
And what they are for in the United Kingdom.
Step 2
We check each one
Certified, notarized where needed, and recent enough.
Step 3
State and federal apostilles
Together, in one order.
Step 4
Back to you
Ready to translate and submit in the United Kingdom.
Apostille for the United Kingdom: common questions
Does the United Kingdom accept apostilles?
Yes. The United Kingdom has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 24 January 1965, so a U.S. apostille is all the certification it needs. No embassy step is involved.
Do I need a translation for the United Kingdom?
None needed for English-language U.S. documents.
Who apostilles my document?
The state that issued it, or where it was notarized. Federal documents such as an FBI check go to the U.S. Department of State. See apostille by state.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
HCCH Apostille Convention status table
Ready to get started?
Tell us what is going to the United Kingdom, and we will price every document in one order.
Related: Power of attorney · Business abroad · Country checker