India: apostille or embassy legalisation for UK company papers

Published 21 September 2026 · Last updated 4 October 2026 · Official fees checked on GOV.UK 4 October 2026 (Companies House, FCDO)

India has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 July 2005, so most UK company documents for Indian use need an FCDO apostille, not embassy legalisation. Ask your Indian recipient to confirm in writing whether an apostille alone is enough, and whether it also wants notarisation or a translation.

Short answer

The phrase “embassy legalisation” often appears on Indian checklists out of habit, but India applies the Apostille Convention. For a Companies House document such as a Certificate of Good Standing or a certified Certificate of Incorporation, the usual UK step is a single FCDO apostille. The High Commission of India in London does not normally need to see a document that already carries an apostille. Your Indian counsel, chartered accountant, bank or registrar still decides what it will accept, so get its answer in writing before you pay for anything.

UKCOGS is a private document agent. We order the Companies House documents and coordinate the steps your recipient asks for. We are not Companies House, the FCDO or the High Commission, and we do not advise on Indian company, tax or foreign-exchange law.

Who usually asks, and for what

Requests from India tend to come from a small set of recipients, and each asks for slightly different evidence:

• Registrar of Companies (through the MCA portal). When a UK company subscribes to shares in a new Indian private company or registers a branch or liaison office, the Indian professional filing the forms usually asks for the parent’s certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents, apostilled.
• Authorised dealer banks. When an Indian bank processes inward investment, it may ask for evidence that the foreign investor exists and is in good standing, so a Certificate of Good Standing is typical.
• Chartered accountants and company secretaries. They compile the pack, so their checklist is the one to follow. Ask them which form the documents support.
• Commercial counterparties. Distributors and joint-venture partners sometimes ask for a good standing certificate as part of their own due diligence.

Choosing the right UK documents

A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that the company exists, has existed continuously since incorporation and is not being struck off, provided its filings are up to date. A Certificate of Incorporation records when and how the company was formed. Articles of association show its constitution. None of them shows who owns the shares, so if the Indian side asks for shareholder or beneficial owner details, that needs separate evidence such as a certified confirmation statement or a board-certified register.

If your recipient wants several documents, the company documents pack groups the usual set. Not sure which one fits the request? Our which document tool maps common checklist wording to the right Companies House product.

Step by step

1. Get the checklist in writing. Ask the Indian professional to list each document, whether it must be original or certified, and whether an apostille, notarisation or translation is required.
2. Check the company’s filings. An overdue confirmation statement or late accounts can stop Companies House issuing the good standing statement. Run the company number through our filings checker first.
3. Order the documents. Use the exact registered name and company number. Standard certificates cost £79 ex VAT through UKCOGS (including the £22 Companies House fee); express is £129 ex VAT (including the £65 fee).
4. Apostille. Each document needs its own apostille unless the recipient accepts one covering a bundle. The FCDO charges £45 per paper apostille plus courier, or £35 per e-Apostille (fees checked on GOV.UK, 4 October 2026). Apostille handling is quote-only with UKCOGS.
5. Send and keep evidence. Courier the originals or send the e-Apostille PDF, and keep the tracking and covering note with your records.

Paper apostille or e-Apostille for India?

An e-Apostille is quicker (GOV.UK says up to 2 working days, against up to 25 working days for the standard paper service, plus courier). It only works if the PDF has been electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor, and only if the Indian recipient can verify and accept an electronic document. Some Indian registrars and banks still prefer paper originals, so ask before choosing. If the documents will be filed on the MCA portal as scans anyway, the recipient may be happy with an e-Apostille, but that is its decision.

Worked example

A UK software company is setting up an Indian subsidiary. The Indian chartered accountant’s checklist asks for the parent’s Certificate of Good Standing and Certificate of Incorporation, “apostilled or embassy legalised”.

Because India has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 July 2005 (HCCH status table), the company asks the accountant whether an FCDO apostille alone is acceptable. The accountant confirms in writing that the registrar accepts apostilled documents. The company orders the certificate (£79 ex VAT) and a certified Certificate of Incorporation (£49 ex VAT) through UKCOGS, each including the £22 Companies House fee, then requests a quote for two paper apostilles at £45 each in FCDO fees. No High Commission step is needed, which saves time and an extra fee. The written confirmation goes in the file in case the registrar later queries the route.

Common mistakes

• Paying for embassy legalisation India does not need. Some providers still sell an “attestation” step at the High Commission for apostilled company documents. Ask your recipient before paying for it.
• Ordering before filings are up to date. A certificate without the good standing statement is often rejected.
• Sending a printout from the Companies House website. A free register printout is not a certified document and cannot be apostilled.
• Assuming one apostille covers everything. By default, each document gets its own apostille and its own £45 or £35 fee.
• Leaving dates too late. Indian recipients often want recently issued documents. Ask for the maximum age and plan the order backwards from the filing date.

Frequently asked questions

Does India need embassy legalisation for UK company documents?

Usually not. India applies the Apostille Convention, so an FCDO apostille is normally the UK step. Some recipients still use the old wording on their checklists, so ask them to confirm in writing that an apostille is enough.

Is an apostille the same as embassy legalisation?

No. An apostille is a single certificate from the FCDO that confirms the signature or seal on a UK public document. Embassy legalisation is an extra consular stamp added afterwards, used for countries outside the Convention.

Which Companies House documents do Indian recipients usually ask for?

A Certificate of Good Standing and a certified Certificate of Incorporation are the most common. Articles of association are often requested for subsidiary or branch filings. Ask which form or approval the documents support.

Can a Certificate of Good Standing show the shareholders?

No. Companies House no longer includes shareholders or people with significant control on company certificates. If ownership evidence is needed, ask the recipient which document it will accept.

Do UK company documents need translating for India?

English is widely used in Indian corporate filings, so translation is often not required. The recipient decides, so check its checklist.

How recent must the certificate be?

UK law sets no expiry date. Indian banks and professionals set their own rules, so ask for the maximum age in writing. Our document freshness tool helps you plan an order date.

Can UKCOGS arrange the apostille?

Yes, on a quote-only basis. We confirm the route and the official FCDO fee before you pay, and we do not take payment for a step we cannot deliver.

Is India part of the Apostille Convention?

Yes. The HCCH status table shows the Convention in force for India since 14 July 2005, so an FCDO apostille is often the UK step Indian recipients expect. Some Indian banks, registrars or counsel still ask for notarisation or other steps, so follow the written checklist rather than assuming.

Ready to start? Order a Certificate of Good Standing or request an apostille quote.