Legalising a Commercial Contract / Agreement from London
To use a commercial agreement overseas, you must first have it notarized if the receiving country requires this step. The FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes then verifies the notary's seal and signature, issuing an official stamp that confirms its authenticity. For consular legalization of a commercial contract in United Kingdom, the final stage involves presenting the paper to the relevant embassy or consulate in London. Each step builds on the previous one, creating a chain of trust that foreign authorities will recognise. The Westminster Register Office does not handle this type of legalisation.
To legalize a commercial contract in London, you work with both UK and foreign offices in a set sequence. The FCDO Legalisation Office deals with documents by post from their Milton Keynes location, while each consulate has its own rules for accepting files through their London offices. For embassy attestation of a commercial contract in London, check whether the receiving country's mission requires an appointment or accepts postal applications. Many commercial agreements must be stamped within specific time frames to remain valid, so check the rules with us for your target country before starting the process.
Issuing body & pre-requisites for a Commercial Contract / Agreement
The contract itself may come from any business or legal advisor, but to start the embassy legalization of a commercial contract in London, it must bear original signatures and any necessary company seals. The papers must be free of alterations or strike-throughs that could cast doubt on their authenticity. Before approaching the FCDO Legalisation Office, ensure the document is complete and any supporting papers are in place. How to legalize a commercial contract begins with getting the paper notarised if the destination demands it, though some commercial contracts can proceed straight to legalisation. The FCDO checks only the signature of the UK notary or official, not the content of the agreement itself.
When preparing commercial contracts for use abroad, remember that some countries require additional formalities like chamber of commerce registration or company registry extracts. These supporting papers often need their own separate legalisation through the same consular chain. The FCDO Legalisation Office at PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX handles the UK verification step after notarization when required. Once they stamp the document, it moves to the relevant consular section for their examination and final attestation.
Cost & turnaround
Processing your commercial contract through the UK Legalisation Office normally takes seven to ten working days by standard post. For a faster option, the express service cuts this to just two or three working days once the office receives your papers. An official fee applies to the UK part of the legalisation, with each embassy setting its own separate charge for the consular stamp. The total cost depends on which country's embassy needs to attest the document, as fees vary between consulates. You can find the current charge for your target country in our online directory of consular fees.