After many years of discussion, the UK government finally introduced the e-apostille, or electronic apostille, in 2022.

The e-apostille is a digital certificate that is added to a digital document that contains a recognised digital signature. The entire process can be completed online or in some cases partly online.

To explain the process, let us use a Companies House certificate as an example-

  • Customer provides a PDF certificate this a downloaded from Companies House
  • A solicitor will check a digital document to make sure it is correct
  • The solicitor will then upload the document to a digital certification platform to add their signature
  • An application is then made to the FCDO for an e-apostille. The digitally signed document is uploaded securely to the FCDO for checking and issue of a digital e-apostille.
  • The document then has additional files attached with the digital authentication and e-apostille.
  • This is then emailed to the customer on completion for use outside of the UK.

Not all documents can have an e-apostille. Please see our e-apostille pages for more information.