By country

By the Pasecom Group Ltd editorial team · Reviewed 20 October 2026

How destination rules usually work

The receiving country, and often the specific organisation within it, decides what it will accept. In practice, requests for UK company documents follow one of two broad patterns.

Hague Apostille Convention countries

Countries such as the United States, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Australia, Singapore and China are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. For these, a UK public document normally needs a single FCDO apostille to be recognised. The order is: obtain the Companies House document, then have it apostilled. Some recipients will accept an e-Apostille on an eligible digital document, and others insist on paper. Ask them in writing.

Countries that also need embassy legalisation

Countries that are not parties to the Convention, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Vietnam and Thailand, usually need an extra step. After the FCDO apostille, the document is legalised by that country’s embassy or consulate in the UK. Some destinations also need a further stamp after arrival, such as a foreign ministry attestation, and that step is handled in-country. Embassy requirements and fees change, so we confirm them at the time of quoting.

A typical sequence

1. Confirm the recipient’s list, including the exact document names, whether originals or certified copies are needed, how recent the documents must be, and whether a translation is required.
2. Order the Companies House documents. These are buy-now on UKCOGS: the Certificate of Good Standing, the certified Certificate of Incorporation, certified articles or the company documents pack.
3. Apostille through the FCDO Legalisation Office, either paper (£45 official fee) or e-Apostille (£35). This step is quote-only through UKCOGS.
4. Embassy legalisation, if the destination needs it. This step is quote-only and destination-specific.
5. Translation, if required. It is often done in the destination country by a translator the recipient accepts. This step is quote-only.

Freshness: how recent must the certificate be?

Many banks, registries and free zones want company certificates issued within a recent window, often three or six months. This rule is set by the recipient, not by Companies House, so check their wording. Our document freshness helper can help you plan dates, and ordering close to the submission date avoids having to order again.

What these destination pages are, and what they are not

The country notes linked above explain the usual document route for UK company paperwork in each destination. They are general information for planning, not legal advice. We do not advise on visas, immigration, residency or opening bank accounts. Rules can change without notice, and the recipient’s written instructions always take priority. UKCOGS is a private document agent operated by Pasecom Group Ltd. We are not Companies House or the FCDO, and we do not claim FCDO-listed status.

What overseas recipients typically ask for

Recipient lists vary, but a handful of requests come up again and again.

• Banks and payment providers usually ask for proof the company exists and is active, which is normally a Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes with the certified Certificate of Incorporation and articles. We do not advise on opening bank accounts. Follow the bank’s own list.
• Free zones and company registries setting up a branch or subsidiary often ask for a fuller set: the certificate, the constitutional documents, and sometimes a board resolution or power of attorney. Resolutions and powers of attorney are your company’s own documents and may need notarisation before an apostille. That is a step for a notary, not for Companies House.
• Courts, lawyers and counterparties in a transaction may want certified copies with an apostille so the documents can be relied on in local proceedings.
• Tenders and supplier onboarding often accept the Companies House certificate on its own, without legalisation. Check before paying for steps you may not need.

Planning your timeline backwards

Work back from the date the documents must be with the recipient. Allow courier time to the destination. If there is an embassy stage, allow time for it, and we will give you a current estimate when we quote. Allow FCDO apostille time as published on GOV.UK, which is shorter for an e-Apostille than for paper. Then allow Companies House time: about 10 working days for standard dispatch, or same working day for express before 11am where offered. Add 1–3 working days for us to receive and send the paper on. If the total does not fit, express Companies House ordering is usually the easiest place to save time.

Avoid ordering certificates too early. If the recipient has a freshness rule, a certificate ordered months ahead may be out of date by the time it arrives.