Westminster Legalisation Services LTD

23/09/2026

Planning a wedding abroad often starts with the exciting questions:
- Where will we get married?
- What will we wear?
- Who is coming?

Then, usually much later, comes the less exciting question: “What documents do we need?”

Many countries ask British couples for documents such as a full birth certificate, Certificate of No Impediment, proof of address and, where relevant, a decree absolute or final order. Certified translations may also be required.

The difficulty is that the rules vary by country. Some documents can take weeks to obtain, while others may only be accepted if they were issued recently.

We have created a practical guide to help couples understand what they may need and when to start preparing:

https://wlegalisation.co.uk/key-documents-overseas-wedding/

Know someone getting married overseas? Send this their way before the paperwork becomes a last-minute surprise.

18/09/2026

Most people think an e-Apostille is simply a quicker and cheaper version of a paper Apostille.

That is one of the most common misconceptions we see.

A UK e-Apostille can be ideal for the right document, but it must meet strict requirements. In many cases, the PDF needs solicitor or notary certification, document checks and a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) before it can be submitted to the FCDO.

Those additional steps can mean the e-Apostille route costs more and takes longer than a paper Apostille.

Our in-house solicitor can provide the required e-certification for suitable documents and apply a compliant digital signature, so you do not need to find a separate professional before making the application.

However, a Next-Day paper Apostille is often the quicker and more cost-effective option. It is also normally required for UK birth certificates, marriage certificates, ACRO Police Certificates, DBS certificates and other official documents.

Before choosing a route, check whether your document is eligible and whether the receiving organisation will accept an electronic Apostille.

Read our updated guide:

Learn how to get a UK e-Apostille for eligible PDF documents with Solicitor or Notary Certification. FCDO Official process from 1 hour

19/08/2026

Big news from WLS:
We have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Service Excellence category at the SME Business Awards

We are genuinely thrilled
Our work is not always glamorous. There are no red carpets when someone needs an urgent apostille, a certified passport copy, a legalised degree certificate, or company documents prepared for overseas use.

But there is pressure. There are deadlines. There are customers who need things done properly, quickly and without confusion.

That is why this recognition means so much to us. It reflects the care, patience and hard work our team puts into every document, every call and every deadline.

A huge thank you to our clients for trusting us, recommending us and keeping us on our toes.

We are proud, grateful and very excited for the finals in London this November.

Not bad for a team that spends most days giving legalisation advice, chasing stamps, signatures and courier updates.

14/07/2026

“Does my degree certificate need Solicitor certification before apostille?”
Sometimes, yes. But education documents can be a little more complicated than people expect.

Some authorities only ask for a certified copy of the degree or transcript.
Others want the award verified with the UK university first. This can involve degree authenticity checks before certification and apostille.

This is especially common when documents are being used for: Work abroad, Study abroad, Visa applications, Professional registration, Residency applications, etc.

So the real question is not just: “Can I apostille my degree?”
It is:
“Does the authority want the original or copy, a Solicitor certification or Notary Public certification and university verification?”

For countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and many European destinations, the issue is often around degree authenticity verification before the certification and apostille route is completed. For most middle eastern and asian countries like, Saudi Arabia, China, etc, a Solicitor certification and Apostille is the easiest route.

Our advice: check the destination country and the receiving authority before choosing the certification route.
It can save you from paying for the wrong step twice.

Not sure what to do? Contact our team to receive a free quote: https://wlegalisation.co.uk/quote/

06/07/2026

A lot of people ask us: “Do I need solicitor certification for my document?”
Our answer is: it depends!

It depends on the type of document, the country where it will be used, and what the receiving authority is asking for.

For example, some UK documents can go straight for apostille. Others, such as passport copies, academic documents, company documents, powers of attorney or private documents, may need Solicitor or Notary Public certification first.

Another question we often hear is: “Can a Solicitor issue an apostille?”
The answer is no. In the UK, the apostille is issued by the FCDO. A Solicitor can certify the document first if that step is required.

That’s why checking the correct route matters: We ALWAYS review each document type, destination country and requirements before confirming whether you need Solicitor certification, notarisation, apostille, consular legalisation or certified translation.

Not sure what your document needs?
Send us the document type, destination country and deadline, and we’ll guide you from there. Request a quick quote here: https://wlegalisation.co.uk/quote/

30/06/2026

Getting UK documents ready for use overseas? We can help make the process much quicker with our IN-HOUSE Solicitor! We now have a full-time ready to certify UK documents that may need apostille, consular legalisation or certified translation.

Some documents need solicitor certification. Some need notarisation. Others can go straight to apostille in their original form. Choosing the wrong route can cause delays, extra costs and rejected submissions. The best part? We check the correct route before you start.

Our in-house SRA-certified solicitor is registered with the FCDO, so we can keep the process smooth from certification through to apostille or legalisation where needed with estimated turnaround from 1 working day.

Need your document certified by a solicitor for overseas use? Send us your document type, destination country and deadline, and we’ll guide you from there: https://wlegalisation.co.uk/services/solicitor-certification/

27/04/2026

🏆Recognised at the SME News UK Legal Awards 2026 for both Legalisation Agent of the Year – London and Client Service Excellence.
These awards reflect our expertise in handling complex legalisation matters and our commitment to delivering a consistently high standard of service.

👉Submit your enquiry at
wlegalisation.co.uk

23/04/2026

👉Some documents require more than a standard apostille.
From notarisation to embassy legalisation, each step must be handled correctly to avoid delays and ensure acceptance overseas.

👉Submit your enquiry at
wlegalisation.co.uk

13/04/2026

👉Vietnam is moving to a simpler document legalisation process from 2026.

The shift to the Apostille Convention will remove the need for embassy legalisation, making international document use faster and more efficient.

Understanding these changes is key to preparing your documents correctly.

📖 Read more on our website. Link is in the comments.

26/03/2026

Handling documents that require more than a standard apostille?

Westminster Legalisation Services provides expert support for complex, time-sensitive and multi-step legalisation requirements, ensuring every stage is managed correctly.

Submit your enquiry at
wlegalisation.co.uk