The legalisation route for Ghana
Documents issued in Edinburgh need consular legalization for Ghana to be accepted by authorities there. The full route involves three key steps that must be done in order. First, your document must be notarised by a UK solicitor or notary public. Then it goes to the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Milton Keynes. Finally, you complete the consular legalization for Ghana at the relevant diplomatic mission.
Ghana's consular requirements
The Ghana High Commission sets specific rules for document legalization for Ghana that must be followed precisely. All papers should be recent originals rather than scanned copies or prints. Some document types may require additional verification depending on their purpose. School certificates often need validation from the examining body before starting the legalisation route. The specific requirements can vary based on where and how the document will be used in Ghana.
Step-by-step from Edinburgh
Begin by obtaining a fresh certified copy of your document if it is a Scottish birth, marriage or death record from Edinburgh Registration Service. This means you do not have to send precious originals through the post. The certified copy then needs to be notarised by a solicitor. After notarisation, send it to the FCDO Legalisation Office by post with all needed forms. Once returned with the official stamp, you move to the embassy legalization for Ghana from Edinburgh as the final stage. The Ghana High Commission or an approved agency must complete this last step.