Apostille and Legalisation for Educational Documents Issued in the UK

School and secondary education documents are commonly required for university admissions, visa applications, employment overseas, and professional recognition.

Pardus Bloom supports clients with the Notarisation and Apostille legalisation of UK-issued school certificates, ensuring they meet the requirements of the receiving authority.

School Certificates

School certificates confirm the completion of secondary education and may be required for academic progression or employment abroad.

Common uses:

  • University or college applications overseas
  • Visa and immigration processes
  • Professional or academic equivalency assessments

Notarisation and Apostille Requirements:

  • Usually notarised as a certified copy by a UK Notary Public
  • Submitted to the FCDO for Apostille certification
  • Embassy legalisation may be required depending on the destination country
GCSE and A-Level Certificates

GCSE and A-Level certificates are among the most frequently legalised educational documents for international use.

Common uses:

  • University admissions abroad
  • Skilled visa applications
  • Recognition of UK qualifications overseas

Notarisation and Apostille Requirements:

  • Certified copy notarisation is typically recommended to preserve originals
  • Apostille issued by the FCDO
  • Certified translations may be required for non-English speaking countries
Secondary School Transcripts

Transcripts provide a detailed academic record, including subjects studied and grades achieved.

Common uses:

  • International university applications
  • Academic transfers
  • Scholarship applications

Notarisation and Apostille Requirements:

  • Must be issued or verified by the school or awarding body
  • Notarised as a certified copy or original document (depending on format)
  • Apostille certification applied by the FCDO
International Baccalaureate (IB) Certificates

IB certificates are internationally recognised qualifications, often required for further study or professional pathways abroad.

Common uses:

  • University admissions worldwide
  • Academic equivalency processes
  • Visa and residency applications

Notarisation and Apostille Requirements:

  • Original or certified copies can be notarised
  • Apostille required for use in Hague Convention countries
  • Additional embassy legalisation may apply depending on jurisdiction

Need to prove school attendance or completion for use abroad?

School Attendance or Completion Letters are often required for visa applications, residency permits, or further education overseas, confirming a student’s enrolment or completion of studies.

To be accepted internationally, these letters typically must:

  • Be issued on official school letterhead
  • Be signed and prepared for notarisation
  • Be notarised by a UK Notary Public
  • Receive an FCDO Apostille

Additional translations or embassy legalisation may be required depending on the destination country.

Pardus Bloom manages the full process, ensuring your document is correctly prepared for international use.

Tailoring services to meet your needs

Apostille only

For official UK documents issued by government authorities, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates or death certificates, which can be submitted directly to the FCDO.

Standard Apostille Service
£125 per document

Turnaround time:
5–6 working days from the moment the document arrives at our London office.

Includes

  • Document preparation and verification
  • Submission to the FCDO Apostille Office
  • Collection from the FCDO
  • Secure handling through our London office

Notarisation + Apostille​

Some documents must first be certified by a UK Notary Public before they can be submitted for an Apostille.

This commonly applies to:

  • Certified passport copies
  • Deed Poll documents
  • Affidavits or declarations
  • Copies of personal documents

Typical pricing

Notarisation fees vary depending on the document and number of signatories. Once notarised, the document can then be submitted for Apostille through our service.

Apostille fee following notarisation

£125 per document (Standard)
5–6 working days turnaround

Our team coordinates the notary appointment and the Apostille submission, ensuring the documents move smoothly through each stage.

Express Services

For clients who require documents to be legalised urgently.

Express Apostille Service
£195 per document

Turnaround time
1–2 working days from the moment the document arrives at our London office.

Includes

  • Priority document preparation
  • Fast-track submission to the FCDO Apostille Office
  • Priority collection and handling

Our process

01.

Contact Our Team

Requests are best reviewed by email, allowing our team to assess your documents efficiently and provide clear confirmation of requirements and fees. You can also get in touch through any of the contact forms on our website, where you may securely upload your documents to start the review process and help us expedite your request.

All documents and personal data are handled securely and in accordance with GDPR requirements.

02.

Send Your Documents

For certain documents, identity verification and signing may take place during a secure video appointment with a UK Notary Public. 

Once the original document has been received, the Notary Public completes the notarisation by applying the official signature, stamp and notarial seal required.

Where the destination country requires further legalisation, the document is then submitted to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Apostille Office. Our team coordinates all the steps. 

03.

Notarisation & Apostille Processing

For certain documents, identity verification and signing may take place during a secure video appointment with a UK Notary Public. 

Once the original document has been received, the Notary Public completes the notarisation by applying the official signature, stamp and notarial seal required.

Where the destination country requires further legalisation, the document is then submitted to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Apostille Office. Our team coordinates all the steps. 

04.

Secure Return

Once the notarisation and Apostille have been completed, scanned copies of the documents are provided promptly for your records or immediate use.

The original documents are then carefully prepared for return. Clients may choose secure UK tracked delivery, international courier via DHL Express, or collection from our Central London office. Tracking details are provided so the shipment can be monitored until it reaches its final destination.

Not sure which service applies to your document? Send us a scan and our team will confirm the correct process within minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some of the most common questions about Legalisation and Apostille services for School and Secondary Education Certificates

 

In most cases, yes. Educational documents are typically notarised as certified copies before being submitted for Apostille. This allows many clients to preserve their original certificates without marks or stamps.

 

Scanned copies can be reviewed initially; however, physical documents must be provided for notarisation and Apostille.

Apostilles do not expire, but receiving authorities may require documents to be recently issued or legalised.

If your documents are being submitted to a non-English speaking country, certified translations may be required.

Yes. We can support you with sourcing replacement documents or advising on obtaining official copies from awarding bodies.

Appointments can typically be arranged within 2–3 days, or within 30 minutes under our Express service.

Enquire about our additional services

Certified translations for academic documents

Accurate and professionally certified translations prepared by qualified linguists, ensuring your academic documents meet the requirements of foreign authorities. Request a Translation Quote

Embassy legalisation for non-Hague Convention countries

For countries that do not accept Apostilles, we coordinate the additional embassy or consular legalisation required for your documents to be recognised abroad.Arrange Embassy Legalisation

Secure international courier delivery via DHL Express

Fast and reliable international delivery of your documents via DHL Express, with full tracking and secure handling from dispatch to delivery. Request a Quote Today

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