Ordering a UK COGS for foreign counsel or a bank abroad

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

When foreign counsel or an overseas bank asks for a “UK good standing certificate”, they normally mean a Companies House company certificate with a statement of good standing, often apostilled. Before you order, confirm the exact entity, the latest acceptable issue date, paper or electronic format, and whether an apostille or translation is needed.

Short answer

Overseas lawyers and banks use one phrase for a document that, in the UK, is a Certificate of Good Standing: a Companies House certificate confirming the company has existed continuously since incorporation and is not being struck off. Because the request comes from another legal system, the wording on the checklist often does not match UK products. Spend ten minutes turning it into a precise specification, and you avoid the most common cost, which is ordering twice.

UKCOGS is a private agent operated by Pasecom Group Ltd. We order the official certificate from Companies House and coordinate the apostille on a quote-only basis. We are not Companies House or the FCDO, and we do not give legal opinions on the transaction.

Turn the request into a specification

Reply to counsel with these questions, or answer them from their closing checklist:

Which entity? Give the full registered name and company number. Group structures often contain similarly named companies, and certificates are issued per company number.
What must the certificate show? The standard good standing statement, or extra certified facts such as directors, registered office or company type? Companies House can add some facts but not shareholders.
How recent? Counsel may want a certificate dated within a set number of days before signing or closing. UK law sets no expiry date, so this is the recipient’s rule.
Paper or electronic? A paper original with a paper apostille, or a PDF with an e-Apostille?
Apostille or legalisation? For Convention countries an FCDO apostille is usual. Non-Convention countries may need embassy legalisation as well.
Translation? Some jurisdictions require a sworn translation of the certificate and the apostille.
Delivery address and deadline. Is it going to counsel’s office, a notary or a bank branch, and by when?

What counsel is usually checking

In a cross-border transaction, counsel generally uses the certificate to support an opinion or a condition that the UK party exists and is not being dissolved. That is all the certificate proves. It does not confirm solvency, tax compliance, authority to sign or ownership. If counsel needs those points, ask what separate evidence it wants: board minutes, an officer’s certificate, a register of members or a UK legal opinion. Identifying this early stops the certificate being treated as more than it is.

Plan the timeline backwards

Start from the date counsel needs the document in hand, then work back:

International courier: usually 2 to 5 working days, depending on destination.
Apostille: paper usually up to 25 working days; Next-Day (£40, registered businesses only) or e-Apostille up to 2 working days (GOV.UK, checked 4 October 2026).
Certificate: express is dispatched the same working day if Companies House receives the order before 11am; standard can take several working days.
Filings check: do it first. Late accounts or an overdue confirmation statement stop the good standing statement. Use our filings checker.

If counsel’s window is very short, ask whether a recent certificate plus a live register check on the day of closing will do. Our document freshness tool helps match an order date to a recipient’s age limit.

Costs at a glance

Certificate of Good Standing, standard: £79 ex VAT (includes £22 Companies House fee).
Express: £129 ex VAT (includes £65 Companies House fee).
FCDO apostille: £45 paper plus courier, £35 e-Apostille (official fees, quote-only through UKCOGS).

If counsel also wants incorporation documents or articles, see the company documents pack.

Worked example

A New York law firm acting on an acquisition asks its UK client for “a good standing certificate for the UK seller, dated within five business days of closing, apostilled”.

Five business days is too short for a standard order plus a paper apostille, so the client’s finance director talks to counsel early. Counsel agrees to accept a certificate dated within 30 days of closing if the client also runs a register search the day before signing. The client checks filings with our filings checker, orders an express COGS (£129 ex VAT through UKCOGS, including the £65 Companies House fee) three weeks before closing, and requests a quoted paper apostille. On the day before signing, the finance director sends counsel a screenshot of the live register showing no overdue filings. The closing checklist is satisfied without a last-minute scramble.

Common mistakes

Ordering for the wrong group company. Always quote the company number, not just the name.
Ignoring counsel’s date window. A certificate issued too early may be rejected at closing.
Assuming the certificate proves authority or solvency. It does not; agree separate evidence.
Choosing an e-Apostille without asking. Some foreign notaries and registries still want paper.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Certificate of Good Standing replace a legal opinion?

No. The certificate confirms existence and that no strike-off action is under way. A legal opinion covers wider points such as capacity and authority.

Who decides how recent the certificate must be?

The recipient. Counsel or the bank sets the window, so get it in writing.

Does every overseas use need an apostille?

No. Some recipients accept the certificate as issued, especially for internal due diligence. Ask before paying for an apostille.

Can the certificate list the shareholders?

No. Companies House stopped including shareholder and PSC details on certificates. Counsel needs separate evidence for ownership.

Why quote the company number?

Certificates are issued per company number, and similar names are common. The number makes sure the right entity is certified.

Can you deliver directly to counsel abroad?

Yes. We can courier the original to the address you give us. International courier time is extra.

What should I send counsel with the certificate?

Send a short covering note with the exact company name and number, the certificate issue date, the order reference and whether an apostille is attached or following. Counsel can then check the document against their opinion or closing checklist without coming back for basics.

Order a Certificate of Good Standing or request a quote for apostille and delivery.

Private agent: UKCOGS is not Companies House or the FCDO. Official fees — CH £22/£65; FCDO paper £45 / e-Apostille £35 — confirm on GOV.UK. Not legal advice.