UK documents for Nigeria, notarised and legalised
An organisation in Nigeria has asked for a UK document. As Nigeria is outside the Apostille Convention, it normally needs notarisation, UK FCDO legalisation and a further step at the Nigeria High Commission. We confirm the route and a fixed fee, then arrange the UK steps.
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The route for Nigeria at a glance
- Notarisation, where neededA power of attorney, certified copy or company document may need a notarial act first. Some UK public documents can go straight to the FCDO.
- UK FCDO legalisationThe FCDO checks the signature, stamp or seal and attaches its certificate, the first step of legalisation.
- Nigeria High Commission step: likelyNigeria does not appear in the HCCH status table of the Apostille Convention. GOV.UK sets out a further embassy step for countries outside the Convention. We confirm it and quote any charge in writing before you pay.
- TranslationAsk the recipient whether it needs a translation of any part of the document, and from whom.
Fixed fees from £95 plus VAT per document. We confirm the route and the full fee in writing before you pay.
- Powers of attorney
- Certified copies
- Company documents
- Degree certificates
- UK public certificates
What your document needs for Nigeria
- 1
Check the document and the recipient’s instructions
Ask the Nigerian recipient about acceptable wording, originals or copies, and exactly which legalisation it needs. If a Nigerian lawyer has prepared a power of attorney, send us the draft for review and wait for signing instructions.
- 2
Notarise where needed
The Notary may need to witness your signature or certify a copy before legalisation. GRO birth, marriage and death certificates can go straight to the FCDO, without a notarial act.
- 3
UK FCDO legalisation
The FCDO checks the signature, stamp or seal against its records and attaches its certificate. It does not certify the content of the document.
- 4
Nigeria High Commission
Nigeria is not a party to the Apostille Convention, according to the HCCH status table. For countries outside the Convention, GOV.UK says the document is then stamped at that country’s embassy in London. The Nigeria High Commission in London lists legalisation of documents among its consular duties. We confirm its current requirements, and quote its charge and timescale in writing, before anything is ordered.
- 5
Any step in Nigeria
GOV.UK describes a final approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the destination country. Ask the recipient whether that applies and who arranges it.
The fee you are quoted is the fee you pay
Notarised and apostilled, per document
| Power of attorney, notarised and apostilled | £230 |
|---|---|
| Company document, notarised and apostilled | £245 |
| Court order, notarised and apostilled | £190 |
| Degree certificate or transcript, notarised and apostilledplus the university’s verification fee at cost, confirmed before you pay | £190 |
| Birth, marriage or death certificate (GRO), apostille only | £95 |
Plus VAT. Including the UK FCDO fee. Urgent or e-apostille add £30 per document. Next-day UK delivery £25 per order.
Notary appointment only
| Personal documents and powers of attorneyin person; by video from £195 | £135 |
|---|---|
| Business and property documentsin person; by video from £195 | £150 |
| Certified copy of a passport or identity documentin person or by video | £95 |
Plus VAT, per document. Out of hours, 7 days a week, from £195. Embassy or consular, translation and courier charges are quoted in writing before you proceed.
Three ways to get it done
Online by video
For signatories in England and Wales, where the act, the document and the receiving authority allow it. From £195 plus VAT.
Book a video appointment →In person, Gray’s Inn Road
Fox Court, 14 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8HN. Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, plus evenings and weekends out of hours.
Book at our office →By post, courier or by hand
Already signed, or a UK certificate that only needs an apostille? Post, courier or hand-deliver the original to us and we take it from there.
Send us your document →
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Documents for Nigeria
Anything else? Email team@internationalnotary.co.uk or call 020 3488 4195.
Is an apostille enough for Nigeria?
Not on its own, as a rule. Nigeria does not appear in the HCCH status table of the Apostille Convention, so a further step at the Nigeria High Commission is normally expected. We confirm the route for your document before you pay.
How much does the Nigeria High Commission charge?
We do not publish a figure because it is set by the High Commission and can change. Any High Commission charge is quoted in writing before you proceed.
Can you help with a Nigerian power of attorney?
Yes. Send us the draft before you sign. A power of attorney, notarised and apostilled, is £230 plus VAT per document, including the FCDO fee; the High Commission step is quoted separately in writing.
Can you do company documents for Nigeria?
Yes. A company document, notarised and apostilled, is £245 plus VAT per document, including the FCDO fee. Any further legalisation is quoted in writing before you proceed.
Can I sign online?
Possibly, if you are in England and Wales. The Notary first checks that the act, the document and the recipient permit online notarisation. Some matters need an in-person appointment.
How much will it cost in total?
Notarisation and the UK FCDO apostille are fixed fees per document, set out in the table above: for example, a power of attorney notarised and apostilled is £230 plus VAT, including the FCDO fee. Any embassy or consular, translation or courier charges for Nigeria are quoted in writing before you proceed, so you know the full cost before you pay.
How long does it take?
Notary appointments are usually available the same day, with 2 hours’ notice. A standard UK FCDO apostille takes 3 working days, an urgent apostille 1 working day, and an e-apostille usually arrives within 24 hours.
How do I get the finished document back?
Collect it from our Gray’s Inn Road office, or choose next-day UK delivery for £25 plus VAT per order. International courier is quoted in writing. E-apostilles are emailed.
Sources and checks
Last checked: 9 November 2026. HCCH: Apostille Convention status table (Nigeria not listed as a Contracting Party); GOV.UK: Documents for British people abroad (the three-step process for countries outside the Convention); Nigeria High Commission, London: Sections; GOV.UK: Get your document legalised. The Nigeria High Commission’s published pages list legalisation of documents among its consular duties but do not set out the procedure, so no specific High Commission requirement is asserted here.
Requirements are set by the receiving organisation and the authorities in Nigeria. We confirm the route for your document before you pay.
Ready for Nigeria? Book the Notary today.
Or send us the document and the recipient’s instructions. We reply within one hour in office hours with the route and a fixed fee.