FAQ
Certification & apostille
5 questions and answers on certification & apostille.
Certification & apostille (5)
Do I need an apostille for the certificate of incorporation to use it in Saudi Arabia, Egypt or the UAE?
Usually yes if an official body, a bank or a local partner requests a 'certified British document'.
The certificate of incorporation issued by Companies House is a British document; to use it before bodies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE or elsewhere, a Hague apostille from the FCDO may be required, and sometimes a certified translation.
Not every daily use (Wise, Stripe, Shopify) requires an apostille — the official PDF is usually enough. An apostille is more often required for government contracts, opening traditional accounts, or proving the company before courts/ministries.
Eteform provides guidance and can coordinate the apostille service through partners in London — see the Document legalisation page.
What is a UK apostille and how do I get one?
An apostille is a certificate from the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that confirms the authenticity of the signature/seal of an official British document for use in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention.
For the company's certificate of incorporation or Companies House documents, the appropriate copy is prepared and then submitted to the apostille service (post, in-person delivery, same-day, or e-Apostille depending on the type of document). The time is from a day to several days depending on the option.
Eteform coordinates through partners in London — request a quote via Contact us or WhatsApp with the type of document and the target country.
What is the difference between an apostille and notarisation (by a notary)?
Notarisation by a Notary Public confirms the signatory's identity or the authenticity of a copy before a British notary. An apostille is a subsequent step from the FCDO that recognises that notarisation or the official document for international use.
Some documents need both in sequence; certain government documents may accept an apostille directly. For countries not signatory to the Hague Convention, consular legalisation follows the notarisation. See Document legalisation for more details.
When do I need consular legalisation instead of an apostille?
If the target country is not a signatory to the Hague apostille convention, you will usually need consular legalisation via that country's embassy/consulate in London after the British notarisation. An apostille is enough for more than 120 signatory countries.
The process is longer and more expensive than a standard apostille. Check the requirements of the receiving body before applying. See Document legalisation for the full breakdown of apostille vs consular legalisation; contact us for a quote depending on the country and document.
When do I need a certified translation of company documents?
When an Arab or foreign body requests a copy in another language of the certificate of incorporation, a contract, or an official document. The certified translation is usually attached with the apostille or consular legalisation. Wise and Stripe rarely request an Arabic translation — English is enough.
For embassies, ministries, universities and traditional banks in the Gulf and Egypt, translation is common. Fixed price of £19 per page — order and pay online directly at Certified translation.