When you need to use a UK document abroad, timing matters. Whether you are applying for a visa, starting a job overseas, getting married abroad, buying property, registering a company or submitting documents to a foreign authority, delays with apostille legalisation can quickly become stressful.
The time it takes to get an apostille in the UK depends on the service you choose, the type of document, whether certification is needed, and whether any extra steps are required after the apostille, such as embassy attestation or translation.
At The Apostille Office, we offer fast and reliable apostille services to help you meet your deadline, including a Premium service for urgent cases and an Express service for standard document legalisation.
How long does an apostille take with The Apostille Office?
The Apostille Office offers two main apostille turnaround options:
- Premium Apostille Service — 1 working day
- Express Apostille Service — 5 working days
The Premium Apostille Service is designed for urgent cases where timing is critical. It is suitable if you need your document legalised quickly for a visa appointment, overseas employment deadline, travel date, property transaction or legal matter.
The Express Apostille Service is a reliable option when your document is important but not extremely urgent. This service is suitable for many standard apostille requests where you have a little more time before your document is needed abroad.
Please note that turnaround times usually refer to the apostille processing stage. You should also allow time for document checks, solicitor or notary certification if required, postage, courier delivery, translation or embassy attestation where applicable.
What can affect apostille processing time?
Some documents are ready to be submitted for apostille straight away, while others need preparation first.
The overall timeline may depend on:
- The type of document
- Whether the document is an original, certified copy or printout
- Whether solicitor or notary certification is required
- Whether the document has a recognised signature, stamp or seal
- Whether the document is damaged, laminated or unclear
- Whether you need a paper apostille or e-Apostille
- Whether the destination country also requires embassy attestation
- Whether a certified or sworn translation is needed
- Delivery times within the UK or overseas
A simple official UK certificate may be quicker to process than a private document that first needs solicitor certification. For example, a birth certificate may be submitted in its official format, while a bank statement, employment letter or passport copy usually needs certification before apostille legalisation.
Which documents are usually quicker to apostille?
Documents that already meet apostille requirements are usually faster to process.
These may include:
- UK birth certificates
- UK marriage certificates
- UK death certificates
- Civil partnership certificates
- Some court documents
- Some government-issued documents
- Official GRO-certified copies
These documents often already contain a recognised official signature or seal. However, they still need to be original or officially issued copies and must be clear, complete and in good condition.
If your certificate is laminated, damaged, altered or difficult to read, you may need to order a replacement before it can be legalised.
Which documents may take longer?
Private, academic, business or personal documents often take longer because they usually need certification before they can be submitted.
This may apply to:
- Degree certificates
- Academic transcripts
- DBS certificates
- ACRO police certificates
- Employment contracts
- Employer letters
- Bank statements
- Passport copies
- Medical letters
- Powers of attorney
- Company documents
- Affidavits and statutory declarations
These documents may need to be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before the apostille can be issued. This additional step can affect the total turnaround time, especially if the document needs to be reviewed, signed, notarised or prepared in a specific format.
Do translations add extra time?
Yes. If the receiving authority requires a certified or sworn translation, this should be factored into your timeline.
Translation may be required when using UK documents in countries where English is not the official language. This is common for matters involving:
- Marriage abroad
- Residency applications
- Court or legal procedures
- Education recognition
- Employment registration
- Property transactions
- Family documents
Some authorities require the original document to be apostilled first, then translated. Others may ask for both the document and the translation to be legalised. Because requirements vary by country, it is always best to confirm the exact format before starting the process.
Does embassy attestation add more time?
Yes. If your document is being used in a country outside the Hague Apostille Convention, apostille legalisation may not be the final step.
Some countries require embassy or consular attestation after the apostille has been issued. This is a separate process and can add extra time depending on the embassy, the document type and the purpose of use.
Embassy attestation is commonly required for destinations such as:
- UAE
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Some other non-Hague countries
If you are working to a deadline, you should check at the beginning whether the destination country requires apostille only or apostille plus embassy attestation.
Should you choose Premium or Express service?
The right option depends on how soon you need the document.
Choose Premium Apostille Service if:
- You have an urgent visa appointment
- You are travelling soon
- A foreign employer has given you a deadline
- You are completing a property or legal transaction abroad
- You cannot risk postal or processing delays
- You need the fastest available route
Choose Express Apostille Service if:
- Your deadline is not immediate
- You want a reliable standard turnaround
- Your document is already correctly prepared
- You are planning ahead for a visa, marriage, study or work application
- You want a cost-effective option
If your document also needs certification, translation or embassy attestation, allow extra time even if you choose the Premium service.
How to avoid apostille delays
Most delays happen because a document is submitted in the wrong format or without the certification required.
Before sending your document, check:
- Is the document original or an acceptable certified copy?
- Is it clear, complete and undamaged?
- Has it been laminated or altered?
- Does it need solicitor or notary certification?
- Does the receiving authority want a paper apostille or e-Apostille?
- Does the destination country require embassy attestation?
- Is a certified or sworn translation needed?
- Do you need the document returned to the UK or sent overseas?
Getting these details right at the beginning can help avoid rejection, repeated fees and missed deadlines.
Need your apostille quickly?
If you are unsure how long your apostille will take, our team can check your document and confirm the right service for your deadline.
We can advise whether your document is ready for apostille, whether solicitor or notary certification is needed, and whether translation or embassy attestation may be required for the destination country.
Contact The Apostille Office on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 and we will guide you through the fastest and most reliable route for your document.
