Companies House express certificates and the 11am cut-off

2 December 2026

An 11am cut-off is commonly used when discussing Companies House express certificate processing, but it is a service condition, not a promise of instant delivery or overseas acceptance. Check current rules and ensure the order is complete before relying on a deadline.

This Advice Centre guide is practical document information, not legal advice, an immigration opinion, a banking decision or a promise of foreign acceptance. Ask the named recipient for its current written checklist before ordering.

Short answer

An 11am cut-off is commonly used when discussing Companies House express certificate processing, but it is a service condition, not a promise of instant delivery or overseas acceptance. Check current rules and ensure the order is complete before relying on a deadline. The safe approach is to identify the correct company, document, issue date and recipient requirement before paying for certification or delivery.

What the cut-off means

It normally concerns when a complete eligible order and payment reach the express workflow. It does not mean an order before 11am is issued, apostilled, translated and delivered the same day. Ask what time zone and working-day definition apply.

Why delay can still occur

Wrong numbers, missing details, an ineligible product, clarification or a missed courier collection can delay an order. “Submitted” is not the same as “issued”. Ask for status rather than assuming completion.

Express versus apostille

Companies House issue and FCDO legalisation are separate. A same-day certificate does not include an apostille; paper, e-Apostille, Next-Day or urgent routes have distinct fees and conditions.

What to send before 11am

Provide exact name, number, type, copies, delivery, country and recipient instruction. State paper or electronic format and whether an apostille follows. Complete instructions reduce clarification risk.

Can a bank deadline be guaranteed

No. Express processing cannot guarantee courier arrival, embassy appointment or bank approval. Ask if an interim register record or deadline extension is acceptable.

Record the timeline

Keep submission time, reference, payment, cut-off, issue, dispatch and tracking. Include public holidays and destination working days in the plan.

Practical checklist

• Use the exact registered company name, number and company type.
• Review the live Companies House record and recent filing history.
• Ask the recipient what the document must prove, how recent it must be and whether it accepts paper or electronic format.
• Confirm apostille, translation, embassy and courier requirements before paying.
• Keep the order confirmation, issued document and legalisation evidence together.
• Index the pack without claiming that a certificate proves ownership, solvency or authority unless it actually does.

Official fees and sources

Check the live GOV.UK guidance on ordering certified copies and certificates from Companies House before ordering. The current working figures for this batch are £22 for a standard Companies House certificate and £65 for a same-day certificate. These are official charges, not an agent’s full service price.

Where legalisation is needed, the live GOV.UK document legalisation guidance lists £45 for a paper apostille, £35 for an e-Apostille, £40 for Next-Day and £100 for Restricted Urgent where the relevant conditions apply. Certification, translation, courier, postage and any later embassy stage can be separate. Do not describe a provider as an FCDO partner unless current official terms expressly support that wording.

Freshness is a recipient rule

There is no universal 90-day legal expiry for every Certificate of Good Standing. About 90 days is a common recipient habit, but a bank, authority or counterparty may specify 30, 60, 180 days or a document issued after a particular filing. An apostille authenticates the relevant signature, seal or status; it does not refresh company information. Check the recipient’s written rule and the live Companies House record before presentation.

Questions to settle before payment

Ask the receiving organisation to confirm the exact document title, the legal entity, the maximum document age and the accepted delivery format. Ask whether it wants an original, a Companies House certified copy, a solicitor-certified copy or an electronic file. If the document will be used outside the UK, ask whether an apostille is enough or whether translation, embassy legalisation or local filing follows. Put the reply in the order file; a short written answer is more useful than an assumption based on a similar transaction.

Also check the practical hand-offs. Who will receive the certificate? Does the bank or authority need the complete pack uploaded in one session? Will it accept a scan for preliminary review and request originals later? Is a courier address different from the registered office? These details affect timing and can prevent a correctly issued document being sent to the wrong place. Keep tracking information and delivery confirmation with the final pack.

Keep the scope clear

A company certificate is one piece of evidence. It should not be described as a guarantee of incorporation history, ownership, financial health, tax compliance, authority to sign or permission to trade unless the document and recipient specifically establish that point. If a reviewer asks a question the certificate cannot answer, add the separate evidence it requests or obtain professional advice. Clear wording protects the client from relying on a document for a purpose it was never designed to meet.

Frequently asked questions

Does before 11am mean same-day delivery?

No. It is not a delivery or acceptance guarantee.

Does express include apostille?

No. Apostille is separate.

What if details are missing?

Accuracy matters more than rushing an incomplete order.

Can courier arrival be guaranteed?

No. Transit is separate.

Is the rule permanent?

Check current service guidance.

UKCOGS can help coordinate the relevant document route. See the Certificate of Good Standing service, apostille and legalisation information, order page or request a quote. Service prices and delivery times are separate from official fees, and the receiving organisation makes its own decision.