If UK residents want to work abroad, in a country that is not a member of the EU, they will almost certainly need to obtain a visa. Verification of academic qualifications is often required as part of the visa application, which means seeking the services of a notary public.

What is the notarisation of academic certificates?

It’s a legal process, carried out by a notary public, that verifies the authenticity of an academic certificate. The document in question could be an original or a copy.

How does it work?

The notary public will contact the institution that issued the document to check its authenticity. In the case of degree certificates, some universities fast track requests while others will take weeks to respond. After verification, the notary public will draft a notarial certificate to be attached to the academic certificate.

Do notaries legalise certificates?

Although notaries verify the authenticity of documents, this certification alone is unlikely to satisfy visa criteria.

Countries party to the Hague Convention 1961 require legalisation of notarised documents by an apostille, which is a government certificate of authenticity. In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Countries that are not party to the Hague Convention may ask for notarised documents to be legalised at their own consulate or embassy office, in London.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office fees are a flat £30 per apostille, but consulate and embassy rates will vary.

Will I need translation services?

UK documents may need to be translated into the language of the country the UK resident wishes to work in. These translations may also need to be notarised, or sworn.

What about foreign qualifications?

If a degree certificate was issued outside the UK then a notary public can make enquiries to the relevant foreign institution. If the notary cannot verify the certificate then a UK apostille cannot be issued.

South London Notaries can provide notarisation of academic certificates, and other documentation required for a successful visa application. We can also provide assistance with apostille and legalisation procedures. To find out how we can help, view our full range of services at https://www.southlondonnotaries.com/notarial-services/.