FCDO Apostille & Legalisation
FCDO legalisation (an apostille) confirms that a UK official signature, stamp or seal on a document is genuine so a foreign authority can trust it. UKCOGS quotes company Certificates of Good Standing plus paper apostille, e-Apostille, embassy legalisation and related work as a private agent — we do not take legalisation money until we confirm we can fulfil. Official FCDO fees (GOV.UK, last checked 18 September 2026): paper £45 · e-Apostille £35.
How UKCOGS legalisation quotes work
Three working-day steps — honest about partner fulfilment.
Request a quote with the recipient checklist
Send destination, exact document list, paper vs e-Apostille preference, deadline and whether embassy steps are named. We reply with what we can fulfil — no legalisation charge until fulfilment is confirmed.
Order Companies House originals if needed (buy-now)
COGS, certified incorporation, articles or the pack can be ordered now. Standard CH aims ~10 working days; we typically scan and send within 1–3 working days of receipt. Official CH fees £22 / £65 are shown separately from UKCOGS prices.
Legalisation when contracted — then tracked delivery
When a partner route is available for your case, we arrange FCDO paper or e-Apostille (and embassy stages if quoted). Paper returns by tracked post or courier; e-Apostille is a PDF. Timescales follow GOV.UK working-day guidance plus courier.
What FCDO legalisation is for
When a foreign bank, counsel, free zone or registry asks for a UK document to be legalised, they usually mean an FCDO apostille — a certificate attached after the Legalisation Office checks that a UK signature, stamp or seal matches its records. See GOV.UK Get your document legalised. UK company certificates and certified copies from Companies House are typical inputs. UKCOGS quotes the company-document plus apostille route as a private agent; we are not the FCDO and we do not claim FCDO-listed or partner status.
Official fees (last checked 18 September 2026)
Cite live GOV.UK figures — not agent mark-ups and not outdated £30 apostille prices.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FCDO paper apostille (standard)Per document + courier/postage | £45 | GOV.UK legalisation |
| FCDO e-ApostilleEligible digitally signed PDFs | £35 | GOV.UK legalisation |
| Companies House company certificate / certified copy (standard)When ordering CH first | £22 | GOV.UK CH order guidance |
| Companies House same-day / express certificateWhere offered | £65 | GOV.UK CH fees |
GOV.UK also lists business-only paper options (e.g. next-day and restricted-urgent) with different fees — confirm on the live page for your case. UKCOGS prices for buy-now CH products are separate and ex VAT; legalisation remains quote-only.
Hague Apostille parties vs embassy extra steps
For many destinations that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, an FCDO apostille is the UK legalisation product foreign clerks expect. Some countries are not Hague parties — a common commercial example is the United Arab Emirates, where banks and free zones often need embassy or ministry attestation beyond any UK apostille. Destination notes: by country and embassy legalisation hub. Share the written checklist; we will not invent steps your recipient did not ask for.
Eligibility and honesty
- Paper still dominates for many foreign banks — do not assume e-Apostille will be accepted.
- e-Apostille is not universal and some document types are ineligible on GOV.UK (e.g. certain GRO and police certificates).
- We are a private agent — not the FCDO, not Companies House, not GOV.UK. No FCDO partner or “listed” claim.
- Apostille fulfilment awaits a contracted partner — quotes welcome; we confirm before taking legalisation money.
- No visa, immigration or bank-account-opening advice. No invented legal validity period for apostilles or COGS.
Paper versus e-Apostille — acceptance reality
You choose the type when you apply on GOV.UK, but the recipient decides what they will accept. Ask in writing for paper or electronic. e-Apostille is faster on GOV.UK’s published timescales (often up to about 2 working days) and costs £35; standard paper is £45 plus return courier or postage and usually takes longer (GOV.UK cites up to about 25 working days plus transit — confirm when you apply). Many overseas teams still want a wet-ink paper chain. Guide: apostille vs e-Apostille vs embassy.
Who typically needs this
Foreign banks onboarding a UK company, overseas counsel preparing filings, free-zone or branch registration clerks, and counterparties who will not accept an unlegalised Companies House print. Match the written list — examples only, not advice on opening accounts or registering branches. If filings may be late, run a free filings check before ordering COGS. Building a multi-document set? Try the pack builder.
Related buy-now Companies House prices (ex VAT)
- Certificate of Good Standing — £79 standard (CH £22) · £129 express (CH £65)
- Company documents pack — £249–£299 (typical £279)
- Certified Certificate of Incorporation and certified articles — see catalogue
Official CH fees are included in those product pages and shown separately. Apostille and embassy stages are not buy-now — use Get a quote.
Related pages
- COGS · Pack · Company documents
- UAE destination notes · All destinations
- Filings check · Pack builder · Quote form
- FCDO fees guide · Same-day / express apostille (quote)
Who we are
PASECOM GROUP LTD / Pasecom Group Ltd · 17139327 · 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DE · ICO ZC117546 · pete@pasecom.co.uk. Trading as UKCOGS. Private agent — not Companies House, not the FCDO, not GOV.UK.
Sources checked the week of publish: GOV.UK “Get your document legalised” (FCDO fees paper £45 / e-Apostille £35); GOV.UK Companies House fees and order-certified-copies guidance (£22 / £65). Fees last checked 18 September 2026. Page last updated 18 September 2026.
FAQ — FCDO apostille & legalisation
Quote-only answers. Last updated 18 September 2026.
How much does an FCDO apostille cost?
Official FCDO fees on GOV.UK (last checked 18 September 2026): paper (standard) £45 per document plus courier or postage; e-Apostille £35. Never use stale £30 figures. UKCOGS agent handling is separate and quote-only — we confirm fulfilment before anyone pays for legalisation.
Is apostille buy-now on UKCOGS?
No. Paper apostille, e-Apostille, embassy legalisation, translations and same-day FCDO routes are quote-only. Companies House originals (COGS £79/£129, pack £249–£299, certified copies) are buy-now ex VAT. Order the CH document first if you need it, then request a legalisation quote.
How long does FCDO legalisation take?
GOV.UK publishes working-day guidance that can change when you apply. As of the week of 18 September 2026: standard paper usually up to about 25 working days plus courier/postage; e-Apostille up to about 2 working days; business-only next-day and restricted-urgent options exist on GOV.UK. We quote current expectations for your document and destination — not a guaranteed same-day promise.
Paper apostille or e-Apostille — which do I need?
Ask the recipient in writing. Paper still dominates for many foreign banks and registries. e-Apostille is only for eligible digitally signed PDFs and is not universally accepted; some document types are not eligible for e-Apostille on GOV.UK. We will not choose for you as legal advice.
Do you handle company documents and personal documents?
Our catalogue focus is UK company documents from Companies House (COGS, certified incorporation, articles, packs). We can discuss related legalisation quotes for those company papers. Personal documents (GRO certificates, police certificates, etc.) are outside our core buy-now catalogue — ask via the quote form if unsure.
Are you the FCDO, an FCDO partner, or Companies House?
No. UKCOGS is a private document agent operated by Pasecom Group Ltd (17139327). We do not claim FCDO-listed or partner status. The FCDO issues apostilles; Companies House issues company certificates. We arrange documents and quote legalisation when we can fulfil.
When should I order a Certificate of Good Standing first?
When the foreign bank, counsel or registry list asks for a company certificate / summary statement (often still called “good standing”). Order COGS buy-now (£79 std / £129 express ex VAT; official CH £22 / £65 shown separately), then request an apostille quote if legalisation is also required. Use the free filings check if accounts or confirmation statements may be overdue.
What about Hague vs non-Hague destinations (e.g. UAE)?
For Hague Apostille Convention parties, an FCDO apostille is often the UK legalisation step. Some countries are not Hague parties (the UAE is a common example) and may need embassy or ministry attestation beyond any apostille. Share the written checklist — embassy stages stay quote-only.
Solicitors and SRA — do you replace a notary or solicitor?
No. Some documents need a UK solicitor or notary signature before FCDO legalisation. We are a private document agent, not a law firm and not an SRA-authorised practice. If your checklist requires a notary or solicitor certification first, arrange that step separately or ask us to quote only what we can fulfil.
Can you fulfil apostille today, or is it waiting on a partner?
Honest answer: apostille and embassy fulfilment await a contracted partner arrangement. Quotes are still welcome — we confirm whether we can fulfil before taking legalisation money. Buy-now Companies House SKUs ship now without waiting on that partner.
Need legalisation quoted?
Submit the recipient checklist for a quote. Order Companies House originals now if you already know you need them — no apostille buy button.