Applications by post

How long does it take?

The average turn around time for straighforward postal applications is within 48 hours. If there is a query with the application the turn around time may take longer. This period is an approximate guide to when documents may be processed and is not a guaranteed return period. If there is a high demand for our postal service, the turn around period for returning documents may be longer. We do offer a counter service for time sensitive documents.

How much does it cost?

Please ensure that you pay £28 for each document you wish to have legalised, plus one overall postage fee of £6 for return postage. For example, for one document you should pay £34 (£28 + one fee of £6 postage), for four documents you should send £118 (4 x £28 + one fee of  £6 postage). We may request additional funding if postage costs exceeds £6.

What do I need to include with my application?

• Please include a cover letter with your name, address, telephone number, email address, fax number (if you have one) and a brief message saying what documents need to be legalised. Also state what address the documents need to be sent to. Please be aware we cannot phone international numbers. Please print off the following Cover Letter (new window, word, 35kb) and fill it in to include with your application.
• Please include the correct payment i.e postal order (made out to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office), a company cheque (no personal cheques will be accepted), an ePayment receipt (or the confirmation email).  
• Please include a stamped addressed envelope with your application. If you have included the £6 postage in your fee a self addressed return envelope without any postage will be sufficient. We may request additional funding if the postage costs exceeds £6 or if the postage has not been covered in the fee or on the envelope.

Please make sure the payment is correct and the documents match our criteria for legalisation in the documents we can legalise section. If there is a problem with the payment or with one or more of the documents, the whole application will be returned by first class post or first class equivalent post for overseas addresses.

Where do I send my application to?

The Legalisation Office
Norfolk House (West)
437 Silbury Boulevard
Milton Keynes
MK9 2AH

How should I send my application?

We recommend that documents are sent to us by recorded or special delivery. Please keep a note of the recorded or special delivery tracking number.

You may also use a courier company to send documents to us if you wish. Again you should ensure you keep a note of the tracking number of the application. Please note that we are unable to arrange for your application to be returned to you by courier.

We no longer offer a DX service.

How do I pay?

Please do not send cash. We accept payment by the following methods:

UK Postal Order:
Please make Postal Orders payable to the 'Foreign & Commonwealth Office'

International Money Order:
Customers overseas can pay by international money order as long as it is in UK sterling and has a UK bank address on it so the international money order can be cashed. The international money order needs to be payable to the 'Foreign and Commonwealth Office'.

UK company or business cheque:
Please make Company cheques payable to the 'Foreign and Commonwealth Office'. Please note we cannot accept personal cheques.

Pay online via our ePayment system by credit/debit card:
To pay online via our ePayment system, please click on the ‘purchase it’ button below and follow the prompts. Before completing your payment, please check that the 'Payment Status' page says SUCCESS not DECLINED, and print off this page to send with your application. Then click on ‘Complete Payment’.
You will also receive an automated email confirming the payment. Please only send this if you did not manage to print the Payment Status page.
If you are unable to print either the Payment Status page or the confirmation email, please make a note of the Payment ID that you will find on the Payment Status page, or the Order Number on the ePayment confirmation email along with the date  and time the ePayment was made on your cover letter. Lastly, if the name on the credit card differs from the name of the person sending the application, please make a note of this on your covering letter so that we can match the ePayment with the application and avoid any delay.

After you have sent your documents to the Legalisation Office, you will also receive a further automated email confirming that 'your order has been shipped'. This means that your payment has been shipped from your account to the FCO account. This automated email does not mean that the your documents have been sent back to you. It is however an indication that the return of your documents is likely to be imminent.

The £6 postage will automatically be added to each ePayment made.

If you have technical difficulties whilst making an online payment please email LegalisationOfficePostalE-Payments@fco.gov.uk or call 01908 295 111 (+44 01908 295 111 from outside the UK) during opening hours.

To begin the ePayment process please click on the 'purchase it' button:

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