Deed Poll Apostille UK

Changed your name and need it recognised abroad? Foreign authorities, embassies and banks usually require your deed poll to be officially apostilled before they will accept it — for example when updating a foreign passport, visa, or overseas records. We arrange the solicitor certification your deed poll needs and obtain the FCDO apostille on your behalf, so your name change is recognised abroad without the stress of doing it yourself.

Please keep in mind that we don’t issue apostilles ourselves. We specialise in guiding your deed poll through the correct official channels quickly and accurately, so you avoid the rejections and delays that catch most people out.

What is a deed poll apostille?

A deed poll is the legal document used in the UK to change your name. If you need your new name recognised in another country — by an embassy, foreign registry, bank or employer — the deed poll will usually need to carry an apostille first.

An apostille is an official certificate added by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirming your document is genuine, so it can be accepted in any country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Why your deed poll needs solicitor certification first

A deed poll cannot go straight to the FCDO for an apostille — whether you send the original or a copy, it first needs to be certified by a UK solicitor. The certification carries a signature the FCDO can verify, which is what allows the apostille to be issued. We arrange this for you for £20 per document.

Original or copy — both work

We can apostille either your original deed poll or a certified copy, and the process is the same for both:

On the original: post your deed poll to us, or bring it to our London office.

On a copy: if you’d rather keep your original safe, simply email us a clear scan. We’ll have the copy certified by a solicitor and apostilled, and your original never leaves you.

How it works

• Send or bring your original deed poll, or email us a clear scan.
• We arrange the solicitor certification (£20 per document).
• We submit the certified document to the FCDO for the apostille.
• Your apostilled deed poll is returned to you, ready to use abroad.

We handle the entire process and keep you updated at every step.

Pricing

• Solicitor certification (required before apostille): £20 per document
• Standard apostille (3–5 working days): £59 per document
• Next-day apostille (next working day, received before 10am): £79 per document

Example: next-day service is £20 + £79 = £99. Standard is £20 + £59 = £79.

Who needs a deed poll apostille?

• Updating a foreign passport or national ID after a name change.
• Notifying overseas banks, employers or universities of your new name.
• Visa, residency or citizenship applications that require proof of name change.
• Matching your name across UK and foreign documents before marrying or moving abroad.

Good to know

If your name change needs to be evidenced alongside other documents — for example a birth certificate or marriage certificate in your previous name — you can add them all to one order and we’ll apostille them together. Some countries also require a certified translation of the deed poll; we can arrange that too.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does my deed poll need solicitor certification?
A: Yes, in all cases — whether you send the original or a copy, a UK solicitor must certify it before the FCDO will apostille it. We arrange this for £20 per document.

Q: Can I just send a scan?
A: Yes. Email us a clear scan and we’ll have it certified and apostilled — your original stays safely with you.

Q: How long does it take?
A: Standard service is 3–5 working days. For documents received before 10am, our next-day service returns it the next working day.

Q: Will it be accepted in my destination country?
A: An apostille is recognised by all member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination requires full embassy legalisation instead, we can arrange that too.

Ready to get started?

Email us a scan of your deed poll, post us the original, or get in touch and we’ll confirm exactly what you need.

WhatsApp: +44 75 3937 7776  |  Call: +44 20 7856 0115  |  Email: info@apostilleandcertification.com
Office: 17 Hanover Square, London W1S 1BN (Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm)