Apostilled documents in London for use in Peru

London apostille for Peru — obtain an apostille from The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) for documents to be used in Peru.

London → Peru

Hague Members

Destination Peru

Destination status Hague Convention member

Issued by The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Standard turnaround Up to 25 working days, plus postage

Information validated 18 August 2026

Complete Guide

Get a London apostille for Peru - Full Guide

Your UK documents need an apostille stamp from The Legalisation Office to be recognised in Peru, which joined the Hague Convention in 2010.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Peru
Peru's Hague status & what it means
The London → Peru route step by step
Cost & timing for this route
Destination-specific requirements

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Peru

A surprising fact about document legalisation for Peru is that it follows a simpler path than most might expect. Since Peru became a member of the Hague Convention, your British paperwork like birth certificates or company papers only needs an apostille stamp to become valid there. The Westminster Register Office can supply a fresh certified copy of personal certificates while the original stays safely with you. Once you have this copy, the The Legalisation Office authenticates it with their official seal. This single step replaces what used to be a longer chain of permissions before Peru joined the convention.

Peru's Hague status & what it means

Peru made an important change to its recognition of foreign papers when it joined the Hague Apostille Convention. This international agreement means that when you need an apostille from the United Kingdom to Peru, you can use that document immediately after the apostille is attached. The receiving office in Peru will recognise the authority of the The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. Any document carrying this official stamp stands as proof that the signatures somewhere on it are genuine. This saves you from what could otherwise be a lengthy back-and-forth between different ministries and embassies.

The London → Peru route step by step

Your journey to getting that apostille for Peru starts at the relevant office that created or holds your original record. For personal certificates like marriage where no one changes their mind afterward, use the Westminster Register Office on Harrow Road to get a certified copy first. They will make an official copy with a wet signature from one of their registrars. Then mail this fresh copy to the The Legalisation Office with their online form filled out. The address to post these files is The Legalisation Office at PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX. They will check the officer's signature and attach the apostille sticker and ribbon. Your file will come back stamped as meeting international standards and ready for use in Peru.

Cost & timing for this route

The The Legalisation Office sets an official fee for every apostille it issues. For personal applications, this charge is slightly higher than the rate offered to businesses processing multiple files. The next-day option comes with a reduced fee if you are a registered business. When calculating the total time from start to finish, factor in two separate postal periods: one to get the certified copy if needed, and another for the apostille step itself. The authority may quote a working day count once they start on your file. Remember that transit times can vary depending on service levels and public holidays when neither office will open its doors. Budget three weeks to let all steps complete without hurrying anyone along.

Destination-specific requirements

Before you start gathering what you need for the apostille, it's helpful to know that Peru has special rules for certain papers. Educational certificates and professional qualifications may need verification by the issuing institution before the apostille is added. The office reviewing your paperwork in Peru might request a sworn translation into Spanish if they cannot read the original English. Check exactly what version the receiving office across Peru expects. Certain categories like company documents or court orders require a slightly different handling than simple personal certificates. The list of what you need for an apostille for Peru also varies by region and type of use within the country, from buying property to registering a marriage.

Frequently Asked Questions

London → Peru apostille FAQ

How does the London apostille for Peru work?

An apostille is a certificate issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office that verifies the origin of a UK document so it can be recognized in Peru. The process starts by obtaining a new certified copy of your civil record from Westminster Register Office on Harrow Road. That fresh copy is what you send to the Milton Keynes office by post for the apostille stamp. Peru joined the Hague Convention in 2010, so this is the standard route they accept. Once the apostille is affixed, the document is legally ready for use with Peruvian authorities.

What documents can receive this treatment?

UK-issued civil records like birth, marriage and death certificates from Westminster Register Office are most common. Company documents, notarized papers and statutory declarations also qualify for the apostille. Court documents must already be official and signed by a proper authority. Some less common papers like adoption orders or divorce decrees from the UK can get the apostille too. Any document with a clear issuing body and signature line is potentially eligible for stamping.

How long will this take to complete?

The FCDO Legalisation Office quotes different processing times depending on your submission method. Standard postal service involves sending papers to their Milton Keynes mailbox and waiting for the return. The office is usually quick with papers, but you should allow enough time before you need the document. Weekends or public holidays may affect the schedule. The receiving authority in Peru does not set a speed requirement, only that the apostille is validly applied.

What if my document isn't in Spanish?

Peru requires translations into Spanish for any document to be legally recognised there. The translation must be done by a certified professional who can prepare a sworn version acceptable to the Peruvian government. This is usually undertaken after the apostille is secured, not before. The original UK document and its apostille must remain connected to the translation for them to be considered valid together. The Peruvian receiving authority will be specific about what they require in the translated text.

Can I walk in to get this done anywhere in London?

The FCDO Legalisation Office operates strictly by post through their Milton Keynes address. Westminster Register Office deals with certified copies in person at their Harrow Road location. Because important documents like birth certificates should not be sent through the mail, ordering a fresh certified copy for the apostille is the standard approach. Most people post their request rather than delivering it by hand. Both offices have clear instructions on their websites about how to organise things by post.

How It Works

Four steps to your Peru-ready apostille

No office visits, no queues. The entire process is handled remotely and you track every step in real time.

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 before use in Peru 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

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Document Types