If you cannot visit one of our offices in person, using a postal apostille service is a simple and secure way to get your UK documents legalised.

Many customers choose to send their documents by post when they live outside one of our office locations, are based overseas, or need several documents processed at the same time. The key is to prepare everything correctly and use a secure postal method so your documents arrive safely.

At The Apostille Office, documents can be sent by post to our Milton Keynes office for apostille processing. Once legalised, they can be returned to you in the UK or sent overseas, depending on your requirements.

What is a postal apostille service?

A postal apostille service allows you to send your documents to us by post instead of visiting an office.

Once received, your documents are checked, prepared and submitted for apostille legalisation. If any additional steps are required, such as solicitor certification, notary certification, translation or embassy attestation, these can be arranged as part of the process.

This option is useful if you:

• Do not live near one of our offices
• Are based outside the UK
• Need to legalise several documents
• Prefer not to travel
• Need documents returned by secure delivery
• Want professional document checks before submission

Postal apostille is especially convenient for customers dealing with visa, employment, study, family, property or business matters abroad.

Which documents can you send by post?

Most UK documents can be sent by post for apostille, provided they are in the correct format.

Common documents include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Death certificates
• Civil partnership certificates
• Adoption certificates
• DBS certificates
• ACRO police certificates
• Degree certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Passport copies
• Bank statements
• Employment letters
• Powers of attorney
• Company documents
• Court documents
• Medical letters
• HMRC documents

Some documents can be submitted as originals or official certified copies. Others may need solicitor or notary certification before apostille. If you are unsure, it is best to check before posting your documents.

Where should you send your documents?

If you are using the postal service, send your documents to our Milton Keynes office only.

Although The Apostille Office has multiple UK office locations for in-person drop-off, postal applications should be sent to the designated Milton Keynes address to ensure they are received and processed correctly.

Before posting, make sure your package includes:

• The documents you want legalised
• Your full name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your return delivery address
• Any deadline or travel date
• The destination country
• Any instructions from the receiving authority

Including clear contact details helps us get in touch quickly if your document needs certification, replacement, translation or embassy attestation.

How to send documents safely

Because many documents are valuable or difficult to replace, it is important to use a secure postal method.

We recommend that you:

• Use tracked delivery
• Use signed-for delivery where possible
• Keep your tracking number
• Use a strong envelope or document wallet
• Avoid folding certificates if possible
• Do not send documents loosely without protection
• Include a cover note with your details
• Take photos or scans of your documents before posting
• Check that the delivery address is correct

For important originals, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, degree certificates or powers of attorney, tracked and signed delivery is strongly recommended.

Should you send originals or copies?

This depends on the document type and what the receiving authority requires.

You may need to send originals or official certified copies for:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Death certificates
• Civil partnership certificates
• Adoption certificates
• Court documents
• ACRO police certificates
• DBS certificates

You may be able to send solicitor-certified or notary-certified copies for:

• Passport copies
• Bank statements
• Utility bills
• Degree certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Employment letters
• Company documents
• Medical letters

Do not send a plain photocopy unless you have confirmed it is acceptable. A photocopy often needs to be certified before it can be apostilled.

What happens when your documents arrive?

Once your documents arrive at The Apostille Office, the process normally includes:

• Checking the document format
• Confirming whether certification is required
• Preparing the document for apostille
• Submitting it for legalisation
• Arranging any additional services required
• Returning the legalised document securely

If there is an issue with the document, our team will contact you before proceeding. This may happen if the document is damaged, laminated, missing pages, incorrectly certified or unsuitable for apostille in its current format.

How long does postal apostille take?

The total time depends on the service you choose and whether extra steps are required.

At The Apostille Office, the main apostille options are:

• Premium Apostille Service — 1 working day
• Express Apostille Service — 5 working days

You should also allow time for:

• Delivery to our office
• Return delivery
• Solicitor or notary certification, if required
• Translation, if required
• Embassy attestation, if required

If your deadline is urgent, use a tracked faster postal service and contact us before sending your documents so we can advise on the best route.

Can documents be returned overseas?

Yes, documents can usually be returned to you in the UK or sent overseas after apostille legalisation.

This is useful if you are already abroad or need the legalised document delivered directly to:

• A foreign authority
• An employer overseas
• A university
• A solicitor or lawyer abroad
• A family member
• A business partner
• Your overseas address

International delivery times vary depending on the destination country, courier service and customs processes. If timing is important, it is best to confirm delivery options before sending your documents.

What if your document needs embassy attestation?

If your document is being used in a country outside the Hague Apostille Convention, it may need embassy or consular attestation after the apostille.

This can apply to countries such as:

• UAE
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• Vietnam
• Thailand

Embassy attestation is a separate stage and can add extra time. If this is required, you should mention the destination country clearly when sending your documents so the correct process can be confirmed.

Postal apostille checklist

Before posting your documents, check that you have included:

• The correct original or certified copy
• Any required solicitor or notary certification
• Your full contact details
• Your return delivery address
• The destination country
• Any deadline or appointment date
• Any instructions from the receiving authority
• A secure envelope or document wallet
• A tracked or signed-for postal service

Taking a few minutes to prepare your package properly can help avoid delays and protect your documents in transit.

Need help before posting your documents?

If you are unsure whether your document is ready for apostille, contact us before sending it.

Our team can confirm whether you need to send the original or a certified copy, whether solicitor or notary certification is required, and whether translation or embassy attestation may be needed for the destination country.

Contact The Apostille Office on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 and we will guide you through the safest way to send your documents for apostille.