Diploma Apostille in London

Diploma apostille in London — processed at The Legalisation Office, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, with options for standard postal or next-day service.

Diploma Apostille

Hague Member

Document type Diploma

Competent authority The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Standard turnaround Up to 25 working days, plus postage

Express turnaround Next working day (registered businesses only)

Information validated 18 August 2026

Complete Guide

Apostille for a Diploma from London

How to place the apostille stamp on a UK-issued diploma so it can be used abroad, with specific London instructions.

In this guide

Apostilling a diploma from London
Issuing body & pre-requisites
Cost & turnaround
Common uses abroad
Translation & acceptance notes

Apostilling a diploma from London

To get an apostille for a diploma when you need legalisation of a diploma in London, the government desk that handles it is the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. This office works by post - there is no drop-in counter in London or elsewhere. You mail your paperwork to PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX with the correct fee, then wait for them to check and stamp it. Westminster Register Office can provide a fresh copy of birth or marriage records if needed, so the original family certificates never have to be posted at all. For degrees, the university itself should be contacted for a replacement with fresh signatures.

Issuing body & pre-requisites

Before you can apostille a Diploma in London, the certificate must carry an official ink signature or seal from the awarding university or school. Photocopies and digital scans do not qualify - the paper must be an original or a certified true copy from the institution. Some countries also ask for the document to pass through the correct chain of validation first. The steps for how to apostille a Diploma depend on these receiving authority rules, not just what the British side needs.

Cost & turnaround

The official fee for placing an apostille stamp on a diploma is set at £45 per document when using the standard postal route. If you are a business with a registered volume account, a reduced rate per item is available for bulk submissions with quicker processing. These charges apply across the whole country - the apostille cost for a diploma in London is the same as for any other UK city because there is only one office that performs this task. The stamp itself looks identical no matter where the degree came from.

Common uses abroad

Foreign governments, schools and employers almost always expect to see the apostille when evaluating qualifications issued abroad. Academic positions in Europe, further study applications in Asia, or professional licensing in the Americas all usually require this step. It proves to the other country that the person who signed your diploma was authorised to do so. This step is only needed for nations outside the Hague Convention - though since the UK joined in 1965, most developed countries now participate.

Translation & acceptance notes

If you need to apostille a diploma in United Kingdom for a non-English speaking nation, translation comes after the apostille step. The order matters because moving the stamp would break the chain of proof. Once stamped, find a certified translator who specialises in educational records. Have them work from the apostilled version, not the original. Some high-demand languages like Spanish or Mandarin have qualified translators listed in London who can meet consular requirements. Always confirm what the receiving authority will accept before paying for work on papers they may reject.

Frequently Asked Questions

Diploma apostille FAQ

What exactly is a diploma apostille in London and where do I get it?

A diploma apostille is a certificate that verifies the signature on your graduate or postgraduate degree for use in a Hague Convention country. In the UK, the Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) issues the apostille, working by post from its Milton Keynes office rather than a physical counter. They need to see either your original diploma or an officially certified photocopy bearing the stamp of your university registrar. Common pitfalls include sending a decorative certificate rather than the official graduate version, or a printout of an e-document that isn't properly signed. For your transcripts, request a fresh certified copy from your university's registry office so you can keep your original diploma safe.

How do I prepare my diploma before sending it for apostille?

First, check that your graduation certificate has the original signature of the university registrar and the official seal of your institution. If you're using the actual diploma, make sure it's free of protective covers or bindings because these must be removed for the stamp. Many people get tripped up by laminated documents, which often cannot be processed at all. For international credentials issued outside the UK, you'll need to have the awarding body or the relevant embassy provide a certified copy in London. If your name on the diploma differs from your current name, attach a deed poll or marriage certificate that shows the name change when you mail your application.

Which office in London handles the apostille?

The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) processes all requests across the UK, operating by post only from PO Box 6255 in Milton Keynes. While it serves the entire country, London residents often choose services that handle the submission and collection, though the office itself doesn't have a public counter in London for walk-ins. If your document needs additional stamps from the issuing university, you might need to coordinate with the registrar at your London-based institution for new certified copies. The Westminster Register Office can assist with certifying personal documents, but the actual apostille always comes from the Legalisation Office as it's the sole UK authority.

Why might a foreign authority reject my UK apostilled diploma?

The most common reason is a document that appears altered or lacks a proper certifying signature from the university. Other countries may have specific requirements like certified translations into their official language or additional stamps from their own consulate in London. Some institutions also refuse bound academic transcripts or insist on seeing the degree certificate itself, not just course completion statements. For Hague member countries, the apostille should be sufficient, but a few still require embassy legalisation in exceptional cases. Always confirm the exact requirements with the receiving institution or employer before you begin the apostille process.

How It Works

Four steps to your diploma apostille

No office visits. We handle your London diploma remotely with real-time tracking.

Prepare your document

Obtain the original document (or a certified copy) you need to use abroad, and check whether it must be notarised first.

Confirm the requirements

Verify the document is eligible for an apostille.

Submit to The Legalisation Office

The apostille is issued by The Legalisation Office, the competent authority. The government fee is £45 / document (standard postal); £40 / document next-day (registered businesses).

Receive your apostille

The authority attaches the apostille certificate, making the document valid abroad with no further embassy legalisation.

Where to go

Where London documents are certified and apostilled

These are two different offices doing two different jobs. The local register office issues the certified copy of a London birth, marriage or death record — check its current appointment rules before going. The apostille itself comes from the FCDO Legalisation Office, the UK's single competent authority, which accepts documents by post rather than in person.

Westminster Register Office

Certified copies of civil records (birth, marriage, death)

317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types