5 Trusted Apostille Services in Central London
If you need a UK document accepted abroad, you will almost certainly need an apostille. That might be a power of attorney for a property purchase in Spain, company documents for a Dutch registry, or a degree certificate for a job in Japan. Central London has plenty of firms offering apostilles, but they are not all doing the same job.
Some are notaries who can prepare, notarise and legalise your document under one instruction. Others are agencies that only submit documents to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on your behalf. Knowing the difference saves time, money and rejected paperwork.
Below are five well-established Central London notary practices. First is Staple Inn Notaries in Holborn, a leading provider of remote notary services in England and Wales.
What to look for in an apostille service
Can they notarise, or only submit?
The FCDO only apostilles documents that bear a recognised UK public official’s signature. Many private documents must be notarised first, including powers of attorney, board resolutions and copies of qualifications. A notary can handle both steps. An agency usually has to bring in a notary separately.
Do they offer the FCDO e-Apostille?
With the e-Apostille, a notary signs a document electronically and the FCDO attaches a digital apostille, which often removes courier time altogether. It suits clients overseas and anyone short on time.
Is the pricing transparent?
Good providers separate the notarial fee from the apostille fee, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Can they advise if an apostille isn’t enough?
Apostilles only work for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Other destinations require consular legalisation through the relevant embassy.
1. Staple Inn Notaries — Holborn
Best for: one point of contact for notarisation, apostille and legal advice, in person or remotely.
Staple Inn Notaries is based at Fox Court, 14 Gray’s Inn Road, a short walk from Chancery Lane and Holborn stations. It serves clients across Central London, including the City, Mayfair, Westminster, Bloomsbury and Covent Garden.
The practice is led by Sheikh Najam, a Notary Public for England and Wales, appointed by the Court of Faculties under Royal Authority and regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is also a European Attorney, an RICS Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator and a STEP-qualified Private Wealth and International Tax Lawyer, and he specialises in cross-border corporate and property matters.
That background matters. Notaries in England and Wales are fully qualified lawyers, not just document stampers. Before a document is signed, the firm can check that it will actually work in the destination country, rather than simply certifying whatever is put in front of it.
As a leading provider of remote notary services in England and Wales, Staple Inn Notaries can notarise documents by secure video and obtain an FCDO e-Apostille. Clients abroad never need to travel to London.
Fees (published, fixed):
Notarisation, personal document: £135
Notarisation, commercial or property document: £150
FCDO apostille, standard (3 working days): £95 + VAT, including the £45 FCDO fee
FCDO apostille, urgent (1 working day): £125 + VAT, including the £45 FCDO fee
Apostille and embassy legalisation are charged separately from the notarial fee.
2. Notary.co.uk — Victoria
Best for: clients near Victoria or Canary Wharf who want a high-volume, established practice.
Notary.co.uk is a long-standing notary and legalisation firm. Its main office is at 6 Lower Grosvenor Place, Victoria, with a second office at Canary Wharf. Services include notarisation, apostille, consular legalisation, mobile notary visits and e-Apostille, and same-day apostille processing is available.
3. Notary Public London — Trafalgar Square
Best for: a central West End location and notaries who can come to you.
Notary Public London practises from Golden Cross House, Duncannon Street. The office is just off Trafalgar Square, opposite Charing Cross station, and within easy reach of Covent Garden and Westminster. The firm offers the full range of notarial certifications along with apostille, consular legalisation and translation services. Clients can be seen at the office, and the firm also offers a visiting notary service across London.
4. Holborn Notary — Holborn
Best for: convenient, same-day appointments in the Holborn area.
Holborn Notary (holbornnotary.com) is a Central London notary practice. It offers notarisation, attestation, signature witnessing, FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation, with same-day appointments and mobile notary services.
5. Tom Ginot Notary Public — Bedford Row
Best for: a traditional notary practice in the Gray’s Inn legal district.
Tom Ginot Notary Public practises from 37–41 Bedford Row, in the heart of Holborn’s legal quarter. The practice provides notarial services for documents intended for use abroad.
Notary or agency: which do you need?
Some documents are already UK public documents with an official signature, such as a GRO-issued birth certificate. These can be submitted directly to the FCDO, either by you or through an agency.
Private and commercial documents usually need notarising first. That includes powers of attorney, contracts, company records and certified copies of qualifications. Going straight to a notary means you pay one provider instead of two, and it reduces the risk of rejection abroad.
Complex matters include cross-border property purchases, overseas company filings and inheritance documents. For these, a notary with international legal expertise can also advise on what the receiving authority will actually accept.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in Central London?
At Staple Inn Notaries, a standard FCDO apostille (3 working days) costs £95 + VAT and an urgent apostille (1 working day) costs £125 + VAT, both including the £45 FCDO fee. If your document needs notarising first, the notarial fee is separate: £135 for personal documents and £150 for commercial or property documents.
Do I need a notary before getting an apostille?
Often, yes. The FCDO can only apostille documents bearing a recognised UK public official’s signature. Private documents such as powers of attorney, company resolutions and copies of qualifications are commonly notarised first. Some public documents, such as UK-issued birth certificates, can go to the FCDO directly. A notary can confirm which route your document needs.
What is an FCDO e-Apostille?
An e-Apostille is a digital apostille attached to an electronically signed PDF. The notary signs the document electronically, the FCDO issues the e-Apostille, and the recipient can verify it online. It removes courier delays, but acceptance depends on the destination country, so check with the receiving authority before you proceed.
Is an apostille accepted in every country?
No. Apostilles are only valid in countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention, such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Japan. Documents for non-member countries need consular legalisation through the relevant embassy instead, which takes longer. A notary can advise which process applies to your destination.
What is the difference between a notary and an apostille agency?
An apostille agency submits documents to the FCDO but usually cannot notarise them. A notary is a qualified lawyer who can prepare, notarise and arrange the apostille under one instruction, and advise on whether the document will be accepted abroad. For private or commercial documents, going directly to a notary is usually quicker and simpler.
Staple Inn Notaries
Fox Court, 14 Gray’s Inn Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8HN | 020 3488 4195 | internationalnotary.co.uk
About the author
Sheikh Najam is a Notary Public for England and Wales, a European Attorney, an RICS Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator and a STEP-qualified Private Wealth and International Tax Lawyer. He is CEO of Staple Inn Notaries and Vice President for Notarial Affairs at Justinian Lawyers, specialising in cross-border corporate and property matters.
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