A certified copy of a UK passport may need to be apostilled when you are using it abroad as proof of identity, nationality or personal details. This is common for overseas banking, property transactions, visa applications, company registration, legal matters, residency applications and business administration.
A UK passport itself is an identity document, but you should not normally send your original passport for apostille. Instead, a copy of the passport is usually certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public, and the apostille is then attached to that certification.
This guide explains when a certified passport copy may need an apostille, how it should be prepared and what to check before using it abroad.
When might you need a certified passport copy apostille?
You may need to apostille a certified copy of your UK passport if a foreign authority asks for legalised proof of identity.
Common reasons include:
- Opening a bank account abroad
- Buying or selling property overseas
- Applying for residency
- Applying for a visa
- Registering a company abroad
- Appointing a representative overseas
- Signing a power of attorney
- Completing inheritance or probate matters
- Registering with a foreign tax authority
- Proving identity to a foreign lawyer or notary
- Supporting business or compliance checks
- Updating personal records overseas
The exact requirement depends on the country, institution and purpose of use.
Can a UK passport itself be apostilled?
In most cases, you should not send your original passport for apostille.
A passport is an important travel and identity document. Instead of legalising the original passport, the usual approach is to make a copy of the passport photo page and have that copy certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public.
The apostille is then applied to the solicitor’s or notary’s certification, not directly to the original passport.
What does the apostille confirm?
For a certified passport copy, the apostille confirms that the signature, stamp or seal of the solicitor or Notary Public is genuine.
It does not confirm that the passport itself is valid, and it does not replace passport verification by the receiving authority. It confirms that the professional certification on the passport copy has been authenticated for international use.
This is why the certification wording must be clear and suitable for apostille.
What is a certified copy of a passport?
A certified copy is a photocopy or printed copy of your passport that has been checked against the original by a recognised professional.
The certifier usually confirms that the copy is a true copy of the original passport shown to them.
A certified passport copy will usually include:
- A copy of the passport photo page
- Certification wording
- Name of the solicitor or Notary Public
- Signature
- Stamp or seal
- Date of certification
- Firm or office details
Without proper certification, a passport copy usually cannot be apostilled.
Solicitor certification or notary certification?
Many certified passport copies can be certified by a UK solicitor. However, some foreign authorities specifically require a Notary Public.
Solicitor certification may be suitable for:
- General identity checks
- Overseas banking
- Some visa support documents
- Employer records
- Education or registration files
- General administrative use
Notary certification may be required for:
- Property transactions abroad
- Powers of attorney
- Court or legal matters
- Company registration overseas
- Embassy submissions
- High-value banking or compliance checks
- Countries with stricter notarial requirements
If the foreign authority asks for a “notarised passport copy”, solicitor certification may not be accepted.
What should the certification wording say?
The wording should clearly confirm what the solicitor or Notary Public has checked.
Common wording may include:
- “I certify this to be a true copy of the original passport produced to me”
- “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
- “Certified as a true copy of the original passport sighted”
The wording must match what the receiving authority requires. Some authorities may ask for additional wording confirming identity, nationality or the passport holder’s appearance.
If the wording is unclear or incomplete, the document may be delayed or rejected.
Which passport pages should be copied?
In most cases, the photo page is the key page because it contains the main identity details.
This usually includes:
- Full name
- Photograph
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Issue date
- Expiry date
- Issuing authority
However, some authorities may ask for additional pages, such as:
- Signature page
- Visa pages
- Residence permit page
- Endorsement page
- All stamped pages
- Full passport copy
Before certification, check exactly which pages the foreign authority wants.
Can a scan of a passport be apostilled?
A scan or digital copy of a passport is not usually enough by itself.
To be apostilled, the passport copy normally needs to be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public. The apostille is then attached to the certification.
If you only have a scan, you may need to provide the original passport to the solicitor or notary so they can confirm that the copy matches the original. Some authorities may also require in-person identity checks.
Can you apostille a passport copy if you are abroad?
If you are outside the UK, you may still be able to arrange an apostille for a certified passport copy, but the process must be handled carefully.
You may need to:
- Have the passport copy certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public
- Send the original passport or arrange a verified copy process
- Confirm whether the receiving authority accepts a UK-certified copy
- Check whether local notarisation abroad is acceptable instead
- Use secure courier delivery if documents are being sent internationally
If the document must carry a UK apostille, the certification normally needs to be suitable for UK apostille legalisation.
Paper apostille or e-Apostille?
A paper apostille is often the safer option for passport copies, especially when the document is being used for property, banking, immigration, legal or company matters abroad.
A paper apostille is attached to the certified copy and can be presented physically to the receiving authority.
An e-Apostille may be suitable if:
- The passport copy is digitally certified in an accepted format
- The receiving authority accepts e-Apostilles
- The document will be submitted online
- A physical certified copy is not required
Before choosing an e-Apostille, ask the foreign authority whether it accepts digitally legalised identity documents.
Does a certified passport copy need translation?
A passport copy usually contains internationally recognised information, but some authorities may still require translation of the certification or apostille.
Translation may be needed if the document is used for:
- Court proceedings
- Property transactions
- Company registration
- Immigration files
- Banking compliance
- Civil status registration
- Legal representation abroad
Depending on the country, the translation may need to be certified or sworn.
Do you need embassy attestation?
If the certified passport copy is being used in a country that accepts apostilles, the apostille is usually the main authentication step.
For countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, embassy or consular attestation may also be required after the apostille.
This can apply to countries such as:
- UAE
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Some other non-Hague countries
If embassy attestation is required, the document should not be sent overseas until that stage is complete.
Common reasons passport copy apostilles are rejected
A certified passport copy may be delayed or rejected if:
- The copy is not certified
- The certification wording is unclear
- The solicitor or notary signature cannot be verified
- The copy is poor quality or unreadable
- The wrong passport pages were copied
- The passport has expired and the authority requires a valid passport
- The certification is missing a stamp, date or firm details
- The authority requested notarisation but only solicitor certification was provided
- The document was submitted as a scan with no proper certification
Checking the requirements before certification can prevent most issues.
How long does a certified passport copy apostille take?
The timescale depends on whether the copy is already correctly certified and which service you choose.
At The Apostille Office, the main apostille service options are:
- Premium Apostille Service — 1 working day
- Express Apostille Service — 5 working days
You should allow extra time if the passport copy needs certification, translation, embassy attestation or international delivery.
Certified passport copy apostille checklist
Before submitting a certified passport copy for apostille, check:
- Does the foreign authority accept a certified copy?
- Do they require solicitor certification or notarisation?
- Which passport pages must be copied?
- Is the copy clear and complete?
- Is the certification wording correct?
- Does the certification include signature, stamp, date and firm details?
- Is a paper apostille required?
- Is translation needed?
- Is embassy attestation required?
- Is secure delivery needed?
Checking these details early can help avoid delays and rejection.
Need help apostilling a certified passport copy?
If you need a certified copy of a UK passport apostilled for use abroad, our team can help prepare it correctly.
We can advise whether solicitor or notary certification is required, arrange apostille legalisation, and help with translation, embassy attestation or secure delivery where needed.
Contact The Apostille Office on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 and we will guide you through the correct process for your destination country.
