• In order for us to submit a document for attestation purposes, we will require the whole document. This includes all pages and ensuring the page bears the signature/certification. If the document has page numbers, and some pages are missing, before rejecting the document as incomplete, check to see if the text/sections of the pages are continuous. If they are, it could be that the missing pages are blank or are just guidance notes etc. and are therefore not required.
• If the FCDO receives a document which bears an embossed or ink seal which is borderline illegible, the processing officer will use their individual judgement to determine if there is enough of the seal present for it to be verified against the image they hold. If the seal cannot be verified, the document will be rejected.
• If a document refers to annexed/attached/enclosed documents, then the referenced documents must be included.
• If the document received already has an apostille attached to it, which has previously been issued by this office, but you now require a more up to date apostille, they can attach another apostille to the document. The old apostille should not be removed.
• Documents that include photocopies of apostilles previously issued by the office can only be legalised, if the photocopy does not contain a reproduction of the signature or seal/stamp, and we can see no clear evidence of tampering or alterations. If the photocopied apostille has been issued overseas, the signature or seal/stamp can be reproduced as the FCDO has no knowledge of overseas copyright rules.
• If a document for legalisation has an overseas original apostille attached, they can only issue an apostille, if the date of the additional action carried out in the UK is after the date on the overseas apostille
• An apostille cannot be attached to a laminated document. However, the FCDO can however legalise a notarial/solicitor cover sheet securely attached to a laminated document.
• The majority of UK public documents will be signed by a government official. This may also include a seal or stamp from the relevant authorities.
• Documents must be signed by an official within their rightful capacity, e.g. A doctor should only be signing a medical report and not an educational document.
  • If a document has two or more certifications e.g. A solicitor and a notary public signature, the FCDO will use the highest authority signed and the most recent.
• Aspire Attestation provides service for all UK documents. Send your documents to us, and we will ensure the FCDO will recognise your document. The apostille is issued and is a form of legalisation. In order for another country privy to the Hague convention to recognise the apostille, it must be either the paper-based apostille or an e-apostille (digital apostille - only accepted in some countries)

• Original – A physical document generated by the issuing authority and handed or posted to an individual. This is because the document will include features that can only be produced by the issuing authority e.g. an embossed seal, an embedded hologram, or printed on watermarked paper. The document may also bear an original wet ink signature or seal.
• Photocopy (of an original)
• Scan (of an original – printed from an email)
• PDF/E Document – Received by the applicant via email directly from the issuing authority and printed, or downloaded by the applicant from the website of the issuing authority and printed. The document may contain an electronic/digital signature or seal. The source document is only held as an electronic image.
• All printouts of PDF and E-documents which do not contain an original wet ink signature and/or an original wet ink or embossed seal of the issuing authority/document originator must be signed by a Solicitor or UK Notary Public
• Some business documents can be certified by an official from the chamber of commerce.
  If the documents are presented under a cover sheet from a notary in England and Wales, the underlying documents must be securely bound to the cover sheet as follows:
  • Book bound
  • Metal rivets
  • Metal rivets with a legal corner
  • Metal rivets with ribbon/string
  • Ribbon/string with a notarial stamp or seal attached
  • Staple with the notarial seal over/under both sides of the staple
•  

The following are not acceptable:

• Staples with or without a legal corner
• Paper clips
• Ribbon/string through a hole punch