How long does a Certificate of Good Standing take?

Published 25 March 2026 · Last updated 4 October 2026 · Official fees checked on GOV.UK 4 October 2026 (Companies House, FCDO)

Companies House aims to dispatch a standard company certificate within 10 working days of the order. An express order placed before 11am is dispatched the same working day (GOV.UK, checked 4 October 2026). That is only the first stage: if the certificate is going abroad, add postage, any FCDO apostille (up to 2 working days for an e-Apostille, usually up to 25 working days plus courier for standard paper) and any translation or embassy step.

This guide sets out each stage so you can work out a realistic date. UKCOGS is a private agent; we cannot speed up Companies House or the FCDO, but we can help you choose the fastest sensible route.

Stage 1: Companies House

An express order placed after 11am is not sent until the next working day. “Same day” means same-day dispatch, not same-day delivery: the certificate still has to travel through the post.

Stage 2: receiving and scanning

When you order through UKCOGS, the certificate comes to us first. We usually scan and send within 1 to 3 working days of receiving it, so you can share a scan with the recipient while the original travels. If you order directly from Companies House, the certificate goes to the address you give.

Stage 3: apostille, if needed

GOV.UK warns that any service may take longer, for example if a signature needs to be verified. The e-Apostille needs a PDF electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor, and the recipient must accept the electronic format. UKCOGS handles apostille work on a quote-only basis.

Stage 4: embassy legalisation, translation and courier

For countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, an embassy step usually follows the apostille. Embassy timings vary and change, so we confirm them when quoting. Sworn or certified translations add time too. Finally, allow for courier transit: GOV.UK’s FCDO courier options cover the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

Worked examples

UK bank, no apostille. Standard COGS ordered Monday. Companies House dispatches within 10 working days, and we scan it on receipt. Typical total: about two to three weeks.

Spanish bank, paper apostille. Express COGS ordered before 11am, dispatched the same day, scanned on arrival, then sent for a standard paper apostille. Typical total: roughly five to seven weeks, mostly the apostille queue and courier.

UAE free zone, embassy legalisation. Standard COGS, paper apostille, then UAE embassy legalisation and courier. Plan for the longest timeline and ask the recipient early whether a scan can start the review.

These are planning estimates based on the published timescales, not guarantees.

Working back from a deadline

Use this as a rough planning sheet, counting backwards from the date the recipient must have the documents:

Add a few days’ margin for bank holidays and postal delays. The cost estimator shows what each choice adds to the price.

How to save time

1. Check filings first with our free filings checker. An overdue filing stops the summary statement and costs you weeks.
2. Get the checklist in writing so the first order is right: certified facts, apostille type, translation.
3. Use express when the Companies House stage is the bottleneck. It costs £129 ex VAT through UKCOGS, including the £65 fee, on our Certificate of Good Standing page.
4. Ask whether e-Apostille is accepted. If it is, it is cheaper and faster than paper.
5. Order at the right time. Too early and the certificate may age out of the bank’s window; check with the document freshness helper.

Common mistakes

• Treating “same day” as delivery. It is same-day dispatch from Companies House.
• Missing the 11am cut-off. See the express 11am cut-off.
• Ignoring the apostille queue. The standard paper service is usually the longest single stage.
• Ordering several documents separately. A company documents pack keeps everything on one timeline.
• Forgetting bank review time. The recipient’s own checks can take longer than the documents.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Companies House take to issue a Certificate of Good Standing?

It aims to dispatch standard orders within 10 working days. Express orders placed before 11am are dispatched the same working day.

Can I get a Certificate of Good Standing the same day?

You can get same-day dispatch with an express order before 11am. Delivery still depends on the post. Read same-day COGS: what is possible.

How long does an apostille take?

GOV.UK says up to 2 working days for an e-Apostille, usually up to 25 working days plus courier for standard paper, and next working day for the business-only Next-Day service.

Is the e-Apostille always faster?

It is faster to issue, but only useful if the recipient accepts electronic apostilles and the document is eligible.

Do you guarantee delivery dates?

No. We use the published Companies House and FCDO timescales to plan, but we cannot guarantee third-party processing or courier times.

What if my certificate does not arrive?

Contact us straight away. Companies House requires missing orders to be reported within 28 days of ordering.

How long does embassy legalisation take?

It depends on the embassy and changes from time to time. We confirm current timings when we quote.