What is a Notary Public?

A Notary Public  is a legal official who holds public office. The Notary authenticates and legalises documents and facts for use in a specific Country. You will require the services of a Notary when you have documents which need to be used abroad. The Notary’s signature and seal will verify to the authorities in any country that the relevant checks have been carried out and that the documents are authentic.

What is Legalisation and what is an Apostille?

Legalisation is a way by which foreign authorities check that the Notary’s signature and seal are those of a proper and qualified Notary using the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the appropriate embassy.

An Apostille is a shortcut to this process if the country receiving the document is a signatory to the Hague Convention; in this case, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office can certify the Notary’s signature and seal (an Apostille) and so no further steps are required.

Seeing a Notary

In order to see a Notary, an appointment should be made in advance, please make sure that you bring with you sufficient Identification documents (see Identification requirement page) as well as any other Documents which are required for the Process.