What is Apostille/ Legalisation?
An Apostille in the United Kingdom is a certificate issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) which verifies the signature and/or seal of a public officer, e.g. a Notary Public, on a document and the capacity in which he or she has acted and has the same effect as legalisation.
Our Notary is very well experienced in producing these certificates. Having an apostille is very beneficial; as it will speed up any situation where you are told that you have to prove your identity. A seal of approval from our Notary will be recognised by any organisation all over the world.
Many countries have ratified the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961 on the legalisation of public documents. Documents for use in such countries only require legalisation by “Apostille” at the FCO.
Apostilles are required for a number of different countries around the world. This includes USA, UAE, Australia, Argentina, Canada (to name a few). The list of countries are many so please call us and book an appointment at our East London office so we can identify the correct procedure for the country you are concerned with.
Apostille Services We Offer
Standard Apostille Service – Processed in Milton Keynes
This service involves submitting your documents to the FCDO in Milton Keynes for legalisation. It’s best suited for non-urgent matters, as turnaround times are not guaranteed and can vary throughout the year. On average, processing may take between 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the FCDO’s workload.
Premium Next Day Apostille Service
As registered users of the FCDO’s Next Day Service, we can fast-track the legalisation of your documents. If you submit your documents by 10:00 a.m., they can be processed and returned by 4:30 p.m. the following working day.
Please note: This expedited service includes an administrative fee in addition to the FCDO’s standard charge.
Premium 2 Working Day Service – Milton Keynes Legalisation
With this option, documents submitted by 2:00 p.m. are typically legalised and returned by 4:30 p.m. after the next working day. This is a reliable solution for clients needing quicker turnaround than the standard service.
An administrative fee is added on top of the FCDO fee to facilitate this service.
Important Update:
As of December 2023, the Legalisation Office has discontinued same-day services in London. However, in urgent or exceptional cases, Muhammad Karim may assist in arranging the Restricted Urgent Service. Please provide justification for the urgency, and he will request pre-approval from the FCDO on your behalf.
E-Apostille / Electronic Apostille
Electronic Apostilles are usually processed within two working days, and many are completed on the same day. This service is available only for documents with a Qualified or Advanced Electronic Signature (QES) and does not apply to paper documents.
Embassy/Consular Legalisation
For countries which have not ratified the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961, documents must be legalised at the Consulate of the country in question. For some countries it will still be necessary to first obtain an Apostille. If the notarised document needs Consular legalisation more time is needed. Particularly in connection with some countries where the legalisation process requires two visits. Such countries include Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Tunisia, Taiwan, Vietnam, China and Uruguay (to name a few).
We are highly experienced in the process of Consular legalisation; we understand the various requirements and know the likely time scales involved. Our Notary Public will advise you of any country specific Embassy/Consular legalisation requirements. Our Notary Public can also assist in obtaining the Embassy/Consular legalisation if this is requested by you.
White Horse Solicitors & Notary Public
96 White Horse Lane
London E1 4LR
Parking
Private Car Park Bays for clients at the rear of our Office
Bus
The 25, 309 and 205 buses run closest to our Office
Nearest Tube Station:
Stepney Green Underground tube station – (District Line) – (1 minute walk to our Office)
Mile End and Whitechapel Underground Tube Station – (Central Line) – (7 – 10 minutes walk to our Office)
OUR REVIEWS
White Horse Notary Public London
96 White Horse Lane, London
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I cannot rate White Horse Notary highly enough.
Muhammad Karim is incredibly professional, friendly, knowledgeable and skilled.
From my initial phone call he couldn't have been more supportive and helpful.
My self declaration was notarized … More and apostilled with great efficiency and promptness.
The gentleman on reception is also extremely friendly and welcoming.
Take my advice. If you need a notary then it should always be White Horse of course. -
Exceptional service from start to finish. The notarial team at White Horse Solicitors & Notary Public demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, and flexibility when handling a time-sensitive international matter. They provided clear guidance, … More adapted quickly to changing requirements, and facilitated remote verification with ease.
The process was seamless—from initial contact and video witnessing to prompt delivery of the notarised document and follow-up with courier details. Communication was courteous and timely throughout, and all actions were executed with precision.
Highly recommended for anyone in need of reliable and responsive notarial services, especially under tight deadlines or international constraints. -
I had a fantastic experience with White Horse Notary Services, specifically with Muhammad, who handled the notarization of my mortgage documents for South Africa. From the initial phone call, the team was incredibly helpful and friendly. … More I needed an urgent appointment, and they were able to accommodate me the very next day, which was a huge relief.
Given the volume of documents, I was also very grateful for the generous discount offered.
Thanks to White Horse, my mortgage process was significantly smoother. They played a crucial role in ensuring all my documents were correctly finalized. I recommend White Horse Notary Services to anyone needing reliable and efficient notary services.
Muhammad Karim
Notary Public
Muhammad Karim is both a qualified Solicitor & Notary Public. Muhammad Karim qualified as a Solicitor in 2012 & was awarded the post graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice from the University College London (UCL) & qualified as a Notary Public in 2015.
FAQ’S
What is the role and duty of a Notary Public?
Can a Notary Public notarise documents in foreign languages?
Who do you provide your notarial services to?
What is an Apostille & do I need it?
Do you provide same day legalisation services?
Can a Notary Public Notarise a Document Online?
What is the role and duty of a Notary Public?
A Notary Public (also referred to as a ‘Public Notary’ or simply as a ‘Notary’ is a public officer & is a specialist lawyer authorised to witness, authenticate or certify documents for use in countries around the world. Solicitors & Barristers in the UK owe a duty of care towards their clients. In contrast a Notary Public owes a duty of care to the document he is notarising.
Can a Notary Public notarise documents in foreign languages?
The short answer is yes. In certain instances it may be necessary to change a lettered translation of the document into English. Our Notary Public can advise you on whether this is required – If this is required the Notary can assist with obtaining a certified translation. If you do require notarisation of a document which is in a foreign language, please do contact our Notary Public & he will be happy to explain any specific requirements.
Who do you provide your notarial services to?
We provide notarial services to both our individual & business clients. We have years of experience in accommodating the needs of both of our individual & corporate institutions. Please visit our pages for ‘Services for Individuals’ & ‘Services for Businesses’ for more details.
What is an Apostille & do I need it?
An Apostille is a certificate issued by the foreign or commonwealth office in the UK & is the authentication of a document for use in another country.
The Apostille certificate confirms the signature, seal & stamp of the Notary Public to be genuine so that it is accepted when presented in another country outside the UK. The Apostille assures that any documents fraudulently ‘notarised’, purporting to be a Notary Public is not recognised & therefore reduces the risk of fraudulent documents being circulated around the world.
If the document being notarised is to be received by a country that is a signatory to the Apostille convention of 1961 – it is likely that you will require an Apostille. The purpose of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 is that once the country becomes a member/signatory there should no longer be any requirement for separate consular or embassy legalisation as long as the document has been notarised and apostilled. Our Notary Public will be happy to advise you on whether the recipient of the document will require an Apostille. If an Apostille is required, our Notary Public can advise you on the process of obtaining one, the cost & can arrange this for you.
Do you provide same day legalisation services?
We cater for all your urgent notarial needs & have a robust system in place to cater for your urgent needs. Unfortunately- the UK government have ceased the same day apostille service in London (save some limited types of documents). Our in-house courier will ensure that if required with an additional fee, the Apostille is obtained next day & country specific consular or embassy legalisation is obtained the following day if this is applicable.
Can a Notary Public Notarise a Document Online?
If we are required to notarise documents to confirm they are authentic- remote or online electronic notarisation is possible on certain documents. At White Horse Notary Public, we have successfully carried out digital notarisations using the internationally recognised eIDAS Regulation standard “Qualified Electronic Signature” for use overseas and will continue to advise clients on the best course of action in this area. The resulting “qualified electronic signature” is recognised as having the same legal effect as a handwritten wet-ink signature.
Do I need consular or Embassy legalisation for the country where my document is going to be used?
Do I need to bring identification documents with me when coming to notarise my documents?
How much will it cost me to notarise my documents?
Do you provide home visits/ visits to my office/ weekend/ evening appointments?
Do I need consular or Embassy legalisation for the country where my document is going to be used?
Although many countries have become members/signatures to The Hague Apostille convention of 1961 – there still remains many countries around the world that are not signatures/members of the convention. This means that if your document is being received in a country who is not a signature/member is it likely that further legalisation of the document will be required by the consular or embassy of the receiving country.
Our Notary Public has comprehensive knowledge of the legalisation requirements for all the countries around the world & will be happy to advise you accordingly in relation to your specific requirements.
Do I need to bring identification documents with me when coming to notarise my documents?
To comply with money laundering regulations, a Notary Public must confirm your identity. Our Notary Public would expect you to bring with you your current unexpired passport or your full photo card driver’s license as a proof of identification. You will also be expected to produce proof of residency which is no more than 3 months old – this can be by way of bank statement or utility bill issued to you.
For more information on specific identification requirements please check our ‘Identification’ page
How much will it cost me to notarise my documents?
The cost will depend on the number of documents you require notarising. Our charge for one document starts at £70. We do not charge VAT & there are no hidden charges. If you require an Apostille, consular or Embassy legalisation, the cost will depend on the number of documents & how quickly you require the documents to be apostilled &/or legalised.
Do you provide home visits/ visits to my office/ weekend/ evening appointments?
Our Notary Public offers home or office visits & out of hours service (including weekends) by prior appointment. This service will incur on additional charge. Please do let us know if you require our out of hours/office service.