A Companies House document may need to be apostilled when a UK company is using its corporate records abroad. This is common for opening a foreign branch, registering a company overseas, setting up a bank account, entering international contracts, appointing representatives, proving company status or completing regulatory checks.
Companies House documents are official UK company records, but the correct apostille route depends on the type of document, how it was issued and what the foreign authority requires. Some documents may be accepted in their official Companies House format, while others may need solicitor or notary certification before legalisation.
This guide explains when a Companies House document may need an apostille, which company documents are commonly legalised and how to prepare them correctly for overseas use.
When might you need a Companies House document apostille?
You may need to apostille a Companies House document if a foreign authority, bank, regulator, lawyer, notary or business partner asks for legalised proof of your UK company details.
Common reasons include:
- Opening a company abroad
- Registering a UK company overseas
- Setting up a foreign branch or subsidiary
- Opening an overseas bank account
- Proving company ownership or structure
- Appointing a legal representative abroad
- Signing international contracts
- Applying for licences or permits
- Submitting documents to a foreign regulator
- Taking part in overseas tenders
- Buying or selling property abroad through a company
- Completing compliance or due diligence checks
- Supporting visa or investor applications
- Dealing with foreign tax authorities
The exact requirement depends on the destination country, authority and purpose of use.
What Companies House documents can be apostilled?
A wide range of Companies House documents may be apostilled if they are prepared in the correct format.
Common examples include:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Certificate of good standing
- Current appointments report
- Company profile
- Confirmation statement
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Incorporation documents
- Shareholder information
- Director appointment documents
- Registered office records
- Company name change certificate
- Filed accounts
- PSC register information
- Company authentication documents
- Certified Companies House copies
Some authorities may ask for a specific document by name, while others may simply request “company registration documents” or “corporate documents”.
What does the apostille confirm?
An apostille confirms that the signature, stamp or seal on the Companies House document or its certification is genuine.
It does not confirm that the company is approved to trade abroad, and it does not replace local company registration or regulatory approval in the destination country.
The apostille simply authenticates the UK document or certification so it can be recognised by a foreign authority.
Official Companies House document or certified copy?
Whether you should apostille an official Companies House document or a certified copy depends on what the receiving authority requires.
An official Companies House document may be suitable if:
- It has been issued directly by Companies House
- It contains an accepted official signature or authentication
- The foreign authority asks for a Companies House certified document
- The document is recent and complete
- The document is being used as official company evidence
A solicitor-certified or notary-certified copy may be required if:
- You are using a downloaded PDF
- You are using a printed company record
- The authority asks for a certified copy
- The document has been prepared as part of a company bundle
- The foreign authority requires notarisation
- The document is being used for property, banking or legal matters
Before arranging apostille, confirm the exact format required by the receiving authority.
Downloaded Companies House documents
Many Companies House records can be downloaded online. However, a downloaded document is not always suitable for apostille in its plain printed form.
A downloaded PDF may need to be:
- Certified by a UK solicitor
- Certified by a Notary Public
- Printed clearly and completely
- Attached to a certification statement
- Prepared as part of a legalised company bundle
- Replaced with an official certified copy, if required
If the foreign authority asks for an official Companies House certified document, a basic download may not be accepted.
Certificate of incorporation apostille
A certificate of incorporation is one of the most commonly apostilled Companies House documents.
It confirms that a company has been incorporated in the UK and usually includes:
- Company name
- Company number
- Date of incorporation
- Company type
- Place of registration
Foreign authorities may request an apostilled certificate of incorporation when a UK company is registering abroad, opening a bank account, entering contracts or proving its legal existence.
Certificate of good standing apostille
A certificate of good standing may be requested where a foreign authority needs confirmation that a UK company exists and is in good standing.
It may be required for:
- Overseas company registration
- Banking checks
- Licensing applications
- Tenders
- Foreign regulator submissions
- International contracts
- Company due diligence
This document is often time-sensitive, so check whether the receiving authority requires it to be recently issued.
Memorandum and articles of association apostille
The memorandum and articles of association may be needed to prove the company’s constitution, rules and structure.
Foreign authorities may request apostilled memorandum and articles for:
- Company registration abroad
- Opening a branch
- Appointing representatives
- Banking matters
- Corporate transactions
- Legal proceedings
- Property purchases
- Regulatory approval
If the document is downloaded or printed from Companies House records, it may need solicitor or notary certification before apostille.
Current appointments report apostille
A current appointments report may be used to show the company’s current directors, secretary and registered office details.
It may be requested for:
- Banking checks
- Due diligence
- Overseas contracts
- Company registration abroad
- Legal representation
- Compliance checks
- Property or commercial matters
Foreign authorities often use this document to confirm who is authorised to act for the company.
Do Companies House documents need solicitor or notary certification?
Some Companies House documents can be legalised in official form, but many printed or downloaded company documents need certification first.
Certification may be needed if:
- The document is a download or printout
- The authority asks for a certified copy
- The document is part of a corporate bundle
- A notary must confirm company authority
- The document is being used for a legal, property or banking transaction
- The foreign authority specifically asks for notarisation
A solicitor may be suitable for routine certification. A Notary Public is often preferred or required for international corporate, banking, property or legal matters.
Solicitor certification or notary certification?
The correct route depends on the destination country and the purpose of use.
Solicitor certification may be suitable for:
- Routine company documents
- Certified copies
- Administrative filings
- Basic overseas checks
- Some bank or regulator requests
Notary certification may be required for:
- International contracts
- Property transactions abroad
- Company representation
- Foreign banking
- Embassy submissions
- Court or legal matters
- Countries with stricter notarial requirements
If the foreign authority asks for notarised company documents, solicitor certification may not be accepted.
Company bundles and multiple documents
In some cases, a foreign authority may ask for several Companies House documents together.
A company bundle may include:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Current appointments report
- Certificate of good standing
- Board resolution
- Director ID copy
- Power of attorney
- Shareholder information
- Company accounts
Each document may need its own apostille, unless the documents are bound and certified together in a format accepted by the receiving authority.
Before preparing a bundle, check whether the authority wants separate apostilles or one certified set.
How recent should Companies House documents be?
Some company documents are time-sensitive.
Foreign authorities may require company documents issued within:
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
This is especially common for certificates of good standing, company profiles, current appointments reports and banking documents.
An apostille does not make an old company document current. If the receiving authority needs recent company evidence, you may need to obtain a new Companies House document before legalisation.
Does the document need translation?
If the Companies House document is being used in a non-English-speaking country, translation may be required.
Translation may be needed for:
- Company registration abroad
- Bank account opening
- Court or legal matters
- Property transactions
- Licensing applications
- Regulatory submissions
- International contracts
- Tax registration
Depending on the country, the translation may need to be certified or sworn. Some authorities require the apostilled document to be translated, while others may require the translation itself to be legalised.
Paper apostille or e-Apostille?
A paper apostille is often the safest option for Companies House documents, especially where they will be physically submitted to a bank, notary, lawyer, regulator, embassy or foreign company registry.
A paper apostille may be preferred for:
- Company registration abroad
- Foreign banking
- Property transactions
- Legal matters
- Embassy submissions
- Corporate due diligence
- International contracts
An e-Apostille may be suitable only if:
- The document is eligible for digital legalisation
- The certification is completed digitally in an accepted format
- The receiving authority accepts e-Apostilles
- The document will be uploaded online
- A physical original is not required
Before choosing an e-Apostille, confirm that the foreign authority accepts digital apostilles.
Do you need embassy attestation?
If the Companies House document is being used in a country that accepts apostilles, the apostille is usually the main authentication step.
However, if the destination country is 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
- China
- Some other non-Hague countries
Embassy attestation is common for business documents used for company registration, banking, licensing and commercial matters in non-Hague countries.
Common reasons Companies House document apostilles are rejected
Companies House documents may be delayed or rejected if they are not prepared correctly.
Common issues include:
- A downloaded PDF was submitted without certification
- The foreign authority requested an official certified copy
- The document is too old
- The wrong company document was provided
- The document is incomplete or missing pages
- The authority requested notarisation
- A company bundle was prepared incorrectly
- Translation was required but not provided
- Embassy attestation was required but not completed
- The wrong apostille format was chosen
Checking the exact requirements before submission can help avoid delays and repeated costs.
How long does a Companies House document apostille take?
The timescale depends on the document type and whether certification is required.
At The Apostille Office, the main apostille service options are:
- Premium Apostille Service — 1 working day
- Express Apostille Service — 5 working days
You should also allow extra time if the document needs solicitor or notary certification, translation, embassy attestation or international delivery.
Companies House document apostille checklist
Before submitting Companies House documents for apostille, check:
- Which exact company document is required?
- Does the authority need an official Companies House document?
- Is a certified copy acceptable?
- Does the document need solicitor or notary certification?
- Has notarisation been specifically requested?
- Is the document recent enough?
- Are multiple company documents required?
- Does each document need a separate apostille?
- Is translation needed?
- Is embassy attestation required?
- Is there a banking, registration or legal deadline?
Checking these points early can help avoid rejection and delays.
Need help apostilling Companies House documents?
If you need Companies House documents apostilled for overseas business, banking, property, legal or company registration purposes, our team can help prepare them correctly.
We can advise which document format is suitable, whether solicitor or notary certification is needed, and whether translation or embassy attestation may also be required.
Contact The Apostille Office on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 and we will guide you through the correct process for your destination country.
