UK Apostille Stamp Figures Released

In a report published this week by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), following a Freedom of Information Request back in May, the FCO has released details of its Apostille activities for the last financial year. Incredibly, between April 2014 and March 2015, there were 471,796 Apostilles issued from the Legalisation Offices in Milton Keynes and London.

The last published figures on the volume of UK Apostilles stamps issued was released in a questionnaire response to the Hague Conference on Private International Law in 2012. In this report, the FCO reported the following Apostille numbers:

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The current figures show more than a 20% increase in Apostille numbers over the past 4 years.

Why has Apostille Legalisation Risen So Much?

Over the past few years, the trend in UK Exports has seen a steady rise. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show a year-on-year increase in UK Exports, currently averaging around £43bn per month.

With so many goods and materials being exported, it is understandable that Apostille legalisation numbers are on the rise.

What is an Apostille anyway?

When a document needs to be used in a country that it was not issued in, there is a process needed to prove it is genuine. Established in 1962, The Hague Convention was created to simplify cross-border trade. Every country that is a signatory to the convention can issue an Apostille stamp which is attached to the document it relates to. This proves that the document has been legally issued. For more details, take a look at our support article.

How do I Arrange an Apostille Stamp?

You can order an Apostille for your documents online here. We have three speeds of service for you to choose from.