Legal route for UK documents to Madagascar
Documents from the UK need embassy legalisation, not an apostille, for use in Madagascar. The embassy legalisation proves the signatures and stamps on your papers are real in the eyes of Madagascar's government. This extra step is needed because Madagascar has not joined the Hague Convention that makes apostilles valid across borders. Edinburgh Registration Service provides the papers you need as certified copies so that your original documents stay safe at home while the copies go through legalisation.
Madagascar's rules on foreign papers
The government in Madagascar requires every foreign document to go through their consulate or embassy. Since they are not part of the Hague system, the only way to make a British paper valid there is to have it stamped by the Madagascar consulate. The certificate you get after embassy legalisation for Madagascar is very different from an apostille but serves the same purpose for their officials. Get the certified copy from Edinburgh Registration Service at City Chambers first, as many offices demand to see where the original is held.
How to legalise from Edinburgh to Madagascar
Start by getting the correct certified copy from Edinburgh Registration Service, which you can order in person or by post. This fresh copy goes for legalisation instead of your original vital records to keep them safe. Once you have the certified paper, send it to the Foreign Office's Legalisation Office to confirm the UK seals and signatures are real. After the Foreign Office returns it, the final step is sending everything to the Madagascar Embassy in London to get their legalisation stamp. The whole thing takes several weeks because each office works by mail with no fast track.
What you need for an apostille for Madagascar
For embassy legalisation in Madagascar, there is an official fee that covers each page that needs stamping. Each office along the way charges its own cost, so the final tally depends on your papers. In Edinburgh, getting your fresh copy from the register office comes with its own charge. The time from the first step to picking up your fully legalised file hinges on how long each office takes to do its part.
Special rules from Madagascar
Madagascar expects papers from abroad to be in either English or French, but the consulate might ask for a third translation if they spot issues. The embassy wants to see the full chain of legalisation, so hold on to every slip and receipt until the end. Some agencies offer help for document legalisation for Madagascar, but you can do it yourself by sending things step by step. Keep in mind that the Madagascar consulate gets busy, so send your papers early enough to beat the rush.