The short answer: for a simple document going to a Hague Convention country, around two weeks. For a document that needs solicitor certification beforehand, around three weeks. For a non-Hague destination requiring embassy attestation as well, four to six weeks. The long answer depends on the document type, the preparation it needs, and the destination.

Stage one: solicitor or notary certification

Not every document needs this step. GRO birth, marriage and death certificates go directly to the FCDO. So do ACRO certificates with a wet-ink signature. But degrees, professional qualifications, employer letters, passport copies, commercial documents and any original that lacks a wet-ink signature from a registered authority all need solicitor or Notary Public certification before FCDO submission. This stage typically takes one to three working days depending on appointment availability and whether the solicitor needs to verify the document with the issuing body first.

Stage two: FCDO apostille

Standard FCDO postal processing takes approximately ten working days at £45 per document. During peak periods - particularly summer - this can extend. The FCDO authenticates the wet-ink signature, seal or stamp on the document and attaches the apostille, a physical paper certificate, to the back of the original. For documents eligible for e-Apostille, processing is typically faster.

Stage three: embassy attestation

This stage only applies to countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE Embassy in London takes approximately eight to ten working days with no expedited service. Other embassies vary. This is the stage that catches people out - it cannot be skipped for non-Hague destinations, and it adds significant time to the overall process.

What slows things down

The most common causes of delay are submitting a document in the wrong format and having it returned by the FCDO, not realising solicitor certification is required until after the FCDO rejects the application, ordering a replacement document when the original is lost or damaged, and not factoring in embassy attestation for non-Hague countries. Every one of these adds at least a week.

The fastest possible route

For the fastest turnaround, confirm the exact requirements before starting, have the document certified the same day where possible, and use a professional apostille service that can submit directly to the FCDO. Express and next-day apostille services are available for urgent timelines, and our team can assist with every stage of the process - from solicitor certification through to FCDO submission and embassy attestation where required. If you have an urgent deadline, contact our team on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 and we will take care of everything.