Apostilled documents in London for use in Philippines

London apostille for Philippines — issued by The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes (FCDO) and accepted across the Philippines under the Hague Convention.

London → Philippines

Hague Members

Destination Philippines

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

London Apostille for Use in Philippines

How to get an apostille in London for official documents to be used in the Philippines.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Philippines
The London → Philippines route step by step
Destination-specific requirements
Timing for your papers

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Philippines

Since the Philippines joined the Hague Convention in 2019, an apostille from the UK will be recognised there without further embassy stamps. The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes adds this certificate to your papers so they pass checkpoints in Manila. This usually replaces the longer route of consular legalisation that some other countries demand. Consider what you need for an apostille for Philippines, as the right route saves both time and trouble on your file.

The London → Philippines route step by step

Begin by ordering a fresh certified copy of your birth, marriage, or death record from Westminster Register Office on Harrow Road. This keeps your only original paper safe at home instead of in the post. Then post this certified copy to The Legalisation Office (FCDO) in Milton Keynes for the apostille to be attached. The full ride from London to the Philippines involves the FCDO confirming the signature on your British paper so it carries weight abroad.

Personal papers like degree certificates or police checks follow a different but similar path. Educational records from British schools or universities may need signing by a solicitor first if they lack an official stamp. Arrange the apostille from United Kingdom to Philippines by sending these documents to the same Milton Keynes office. No agent needs to handle the papers for you to complete the process.

Destination-specific requirements

Even with an apostille, some offices in Manila expect papers to be in Filipino or English. For document legalisation for Philippines, check if your receiving authority has rules about translations. Official bodies may want a locally sworn translator to handle your words for court or school use. The apostille for Philippines covers only the British document, not any added translations.

Timing for your papers

The UK Legalisation Office works through the post without a public counter service. Regular post to them takes a few weeks, while faster commercial options exist through registerd businesses. A London postal order for their official fee covers the apostille service, with your paper returned by courier. Processing then shipping to Manila adds more time, so plan for several weeks from start to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

London → Philippines apostille FAQ

Who issues a London apostille for Philippines?

The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) issues the apostille by post for the whole of the United Kingdom, including London. They verify the signature and seal on public documents, then attach the certificate. Many London residents send their papers to the FCDO Legalisation Office through secure postal services. The process takes working days to complete once the papers arrive at their office.

Which Philippine documents can I use this apostille for?

You can request this for public documents issued in the UK, such as birth, marriage or death certificates from Westminster Register Office. Academic diplomas, company formation papers, and notarised personal statements also qualify when properly prepared. The office rejects papers it cannot verify through their standard checks. Ensure the document shows a clear official signature before sending it.

What makes the Philippine route different from other countries?

The Philippines became a party to the Hague Convention in 2019, so an apostille alone replaces the former two-step legalisation process through their embassy. This single step is now all that stands between your London-issued document and its use in Manila or elsewhere in the country. Confirm the specific authority that will receive it, as each may have additional wording requirements for the apostille to be recognized.

Do I need any extra stamps after the apostille for the Philippines?

No further stamps are legally required on top of the apostille from the UK side. However, some receiving offices in the Philippines may ask for the original document to have an official translation into Filipino or English if it's in another language. Check with your specific university, employer, or government agency about their precise rule set, as practices vary by institution even within the same country.

How does the postal service work with legalisation?

All documents requiring an apostille must travel by post to The Legalisation Office's address in Milton Keynes. Order a certified copy from Westminster Register Office rather than mailing irreplaceable originals such as birth certificates. Tracked post is strongly recommended to monitor the file's progress both ways through the system. Registered delivery options provide a chain of custody from the moment it leaves your hands until it returns.

How It Works

Four steps to your Philippines-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 Philippines 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