Document Attestation
Document attestation is the formal process through which documents are verified and authenticated to ensure their legal validity in a foreign jurisdiction. This may apply to a wide range of records, including personal documents such as educational qualifications, birth or marriage certificates, as well as commercial documents such as contracts, invoices, or corporate records.
The procedure is also commonly referred to as legalisation, authentication, certification, stamping, or verification. Each foreign embassy or consular authority prescribes specific requirements for attestation depending on the type of document and its intended use. Failure to comply with the prescribed process may result in the document being deemed invalid and therefore inadmissible for official purposes abroad.
Documents that commonly require attestation include
- Degrees and educational certificates
- Birth and death certificates
- Marriage and divorce certificates
- Adoption certificates
- Court documents and police certificates
- Passports
- Driving licences
- Financial documents
Notarisation
Through our extensive network of Notaries, we are able to provide document notarisation across the UK and in many other countries, often within just 24 hours. For businesses, we can also arrange on-site visits to witness multiple signatures in a single session, ensuring a quick, reliable, and secure process for both current and future documentation needs.
Where additional steps are required, we can coordinate services such as Apostille certification through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Embassy legalisation, or certified translations.
Notarisation generally involves a Notary Public verifying an individual’s identity and capacity to sign. After carrying out the necessary checks, the Notary will attach a notarial seal and, where appropriate, a notarial certificate. In some cases, notarisation is also used to confirm the authenticity of official records—for example, educational qualifications—or to create certified copies of important documents such as passports.
A Notary Public is a legally qualified professional whose role typically includes:
- Preparing and witnessing powers of attorney for use abroad
- Verifying company and business records and transactions
- Certifying and authenticating documents and signatures
- Handling the legalisation of property transactions overseas
- Providing authentication for immigration, emigration, marriage, or employment purposes abroad
By working closely with our Notary partners, we can deliver fast and efficient notarisation, both across the UK and internationally, whether for individual clients or businesses requiring multiple documents to be processed at once.
Embassy Legalisation
Embassy legalisation is the formal procedure of submitting a document to the relevant Embassy for authentication, which is often a mandatory requirement before the document can be accepted for official use in the country that Embassy represents. Prior to submission, certain documents may also need to undergo additional steps, such as notarisation, certification by the Chamber of Commerce, or legalisation by the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.
Because each country sets its own rules and requirements, the process of Embassy legalisation can be complex and time-consuming. Strict adherence to the prescribed guidelines is essential to ensure that the documents are fully compliant and eligible for recognition by the foreign authorities.