Memorandum & Articles of Association Apostille in Reading

Memorandum & Articles of Association apostille in Reading: prepared for international use through FCDO's centralised process.

Memorandum & Articles of Association Apostille

Hague Member

Document type Memorandum & Articles of Association

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 21 August 2026

Complete Guide

Memorandum & Articles of Association Apostille in Reading: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

How companies in Reading can get an apostille certificate for their Memorandum & Articles of Association to use abroad, from document preparation to final legalisation.

In this guide

Issuing body & pre-requisites for a Memorandum & Articles of Association
Apostilling a Memorandum & Articles of Association from Reading
Cost & turnaround
Common uses abroad
Translation & acceptance notes

Issuing body & pre-requisites for a Memorandum & Articles of Association

Before any questions of legalisation of a Memorandum & Articles of Association in Reading arise, there are two things to check. The company must be officially registered with Companies House, from which the paper version comes as part of company formation. If your copy was printed long ago, get a fresh one with the company seal clearly visible along with the words 'certified as correct'. This helps avoid rejection at the next stage when the Legalisation Office checks the signature.

Apostilling a Memorandum & Articles of Association from Reading

The Legalisation Office based in Milton Keynes handles every apostille a Memorandum & Articles of Association in United Kingdom needs. Send your document by post in a proper protector envelope because pages must arrive crisp and free from marks. Include a covering letter stating the destination country — this helps desk staff route it correctly if any special rules apply. Natural wear on older sets may lead to questions over whether the contents are still valid.

Cost & turnaround

The current official fee for the Legalisation Office to place the apostille costs for a Memorandum & Articles of Association in Reading £45. Sending your file by recorded delivery adds a cost but lets you track it through their system. Standard postal service takes up to 25 working days once received. A quicker option offers next-day service at £40 for businesses registered to use this route. The office makes their stamps between Monday and Friday.

Common uses abroad

The main reason you might need to know how to apostille a Memorandum & Articles of Association is for business activity overseas. A bank account in Europe often asks to see the full company constitution filed with them alongside valid ID. Branch offices in countries like India or the UAE require this paper as part of local company registration. Customs authorities may also ask to file it when large shipments cross borders under the company's name. The receiving office keeps it as part of their corporate records.

Translation & acceptance notes

Where the paper goes to a non-English speaking country, a sworn translator can attach their work to create a single bound set. The company name should match on both the original and the translation. The accepted way to perform the apostille a Memorandum & Articles of Association in Reading is to have it done first, then the translation attached. In all cases, make sure the notary or commissioner's seal remains visible through any protective cover. The receiving authorities normally place higher faith in papers signed in the past five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Memorandum & Articles of Association apostille FAQ

I need a Memorandum & Articles of Association apostille in Reading. Where do I start?

A fresh certified copy is available from Companies House, which maintains the official register. Many directors file digitally, so an official printout has the same validity as a paper originally signed. The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) handles all UK apostilles by post, with no physical counter in Reading. Once you have the page with the registrar's signature, post it to the FCDO Legalisation Office with the official fee. Avoid sending your only original version by ordering a spare copy for the apostille process.

Are there different types of certified copies?

The version matters. Companies House provides two formats: a standard incorporation document and a full certified copy with all amendments. Some overseas authorities require the complete history, while others accept the basic version. Check which format the recipient country specifies before ordering. You must use an official Companies House version rather than a scanned printout, as a company stamp or registrar's signature establishes its validity. The FCDO Legalisation Office verifies the issuing officer's signature, not the content of your company records.

How long does the apostille process take?

Standard postal service takes up to 25 working days once your papers reach the FCDO Legalisation Office. Companies registered at UK addresses may apply for the next-day business service at a lower fee. Times can vary during peak periods, especially around fiscal year-ends and holidays. The Legalisation Office processes applications in the order they arrive, and the time estimate includes posting rather than just the working days. Once complete, your apostilled document returns by post to the address you specify in your application.

What common mistakes slow down the process?

Missing pages cause the most delays. A memorandum and articles typically runs several pages, but must be bound or stapled together as one document. Many applicants forget to include all amendments filed since incorporation or omit the company's most recent certificate of good standing. Another error is adding notes or explanations to the margins thinking it helps officials. The Legalisation Office cannot alter your papers once submitted, even to correct obvious mistakes. Verify the recipient's requirements before sending, as some jurisdictions need additional certificates alongside the apostilled M&A.

How It Works

Four steps to your memorandum & articles of association apostille

No office visits. We handle your Reading memorandum & articles of association 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 Reading documents are certified and apostilled

These are two different offices doing two different jobs. The local register office issues the certified copy of a Reading 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.

Reading Register Office

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

Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

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Document Types