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Apostille DBS Check

Welcome to Fatchett Legalisation’s Apostille DBS Check Service. We specialise in providing efficient and reliable apostille services for Disclosure and Barring Service checks, ensuring your documents meet international standards. Whether you need to authenticate your DBS certificate or any other form of criminal record check for legal reasons, travel, study, or work abroad, our professional team is here to assist you every step. Trust our DBS legalisation service to handle your apostille needs with precision and care.

Why use Fatchett Legalisation for your DBS Apostille?

Also, unlike many of our competitors, we are a firm of notaries. This means:

  • We have more in-house expertise than most of our competitors, and can offer fast and expert advise without having to refer you to third parties
  • Our industry regulator holds us to a higher standard than most of our competitors

Choose your DBS Apostille Service

Standard
From
£64
including FCDO fees and VAT
10-12 business days
Free document review
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DBS Document Formats for Apostille

All three types of DBS certificate can be legalised with an apostille:

  • Basic disclosure
  • Standard disclosure
  • Enhanced disclosure

You can get only get a DBS Certificate apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office for the original unsigned document that has subsequently been certified by a UK solicitor.

DBS certificates are issued without a signature from an official of the issuing before applying for the apostille, your DBS Certificate must be signed and stamped by a solicitor who is registered with the FCDO. The signature and stamp indicate that the solicitor has verified the authenticity of the DBS certificate and that it is from the issuing body (DBS). Using a solicitor who is not FCDO-registered will lead to your DBS apostille request being rejected by the FCDO.

Photocopies, scans, or photos of DBS documents for DBS apostille will also be rejected by the FDCO.

Because the DBS is an official government-issued document, it does not normally require notarisation by a notary public for use abroad. However, on rare occasions, the foreign requesting authority may ask for notarisation on top of apostille.

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FAQ

An apostilled DBS certificate is certified with an apostille stamp. The certificate and stamp ensure the document is legally valid and recognised in the Hague Apostille Convention member countries. The apostille guarantees the document’s authenticity for use in international legal matters.

In the UK, you can get a DBS certificate apostilled through the Legalisation Office or FCDO-authorised service providers, such as Fatchett Legalisation. Our team is experienced in handling such requests, ensuring your document is processed efficiently and correctly.

In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Legalisation Office. When issuing an apostille, the FCDO will affix a certificate to the original documents to show that the document and signatures are genuine. However, authorised service providers like Fatchett Legalisation can facilitate the process on your behalf, making it more convenient and often faster. For further assistance or to initiate the apostille process for your DBS certificate, please get in touch with Fatchett Legalisation. Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through every step of the process.   

We can arrange apostille for basic disclosure, standard disclosure, and enhanced disclosure DBS certificates. However, it is vital that the DBS check is certified by a FCDO registered solicitor prior to submission to the Legalisation Office. This is a service that we can provide as part of our streamlined process.

The cost to apostille a DBS certificate can vary depending on the service provider and the urgency of the request. At Fatchett Legalisation, we offer competitive rates for apostille services. For detailed pricing, please contact our office or visit our website order form, where we regularly update our fee structure.

The time it takes to apostille a DBS check can vary. Typically, the process can take from a couple of working days to a couple of weeks, depending on the workload of the Legalisation Office. At Fatchett Legalisation, as a FCDO-registered provider, our express service takes three to five working days and we offer and expedited next day service to meet urgent requirements. The next day service takes one to two working days depending on the time of day that documents are received.

To obtain an apostille for a DBS certificate in the UK, follow these steps:

  1. Obtain the original DBS certificate.
  2. Submit the document to the Legalisation Office or authorised service, such as Fatchett Legalisation.
  3. Pay the necessary fees.
  4. Wait for the document to be processed and returned with the apostille.

At Fatchett Legalisation, we can streamline this process, ensuring your documents are handled correctly and efficiently.

An apostille is a certificate attached to your document. Generally, an apostille features a stamp or sticker and includes information such as the issuing country’s authentication, the identity of the official who signed the document, and the date of issue. It is designed to be easily recognisable by officials in foreign countries.

In the UK, DBS apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Legalisation Office. When issuing an apostille, the FCDO will affix a certificate to the original DBS document to show that the document and signatures are genuine.

FCDO authorised service providers like Fatchett Legalisation can facilitate the process on your behalf, making it more convenient and often faster. For further assistance or to initiate the apostille process for your DBS certificate, please get in touch with Fatchett Legalisation. Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through every step of the process.   

The FCDO will not issue a DBS apostille if you do not provide the original DBS document. Rejections also happen when the DBS check has not been certified by a UK solicitor or if the signature on your DBS certificate is not recognised. Rejection typically occurs when the signing solicitor is not in their official database. Currently, there is no way to check the signature before submission.

If the FCDO rejects your DBS certificate for apostille, contact the signatory’s office and ask the person who signed the certificate to register their signature with the FCDO.

The Hague Convention simplifies the process of certifying or legalising documents, such as a DBS certificate, for international use. An apostille certifies that a DBS certificate is authentic. The Hague Convention ensures that the apostille certification process is standardised across member countries.

At Fatchett Legalisation, we understand the details and requirements for obtaining an apostille for your documents. Trust our service to handle the certification of your DBS check efficiently under the Hague Convention’s guidelines.

Countries outside of the Apostille Convention will not recognise an apostilled DBS certificate. As of July 2024, 127 states are contracting states of the Apostille Convention. Iran, Malaysia, and Vietnam (North) are not.

At Fatchett Legalisation, we understand the details and requirements for obtaining an apostille for your documents. Trust our service to handle the certification of your DBS check efficiently under the Hague Convention’s guidelines. We can advise you on alternative methods of document legalisation for non-contracting locales.

Please note that some countries may not recognise apostilled DBS certificates without translation. Also, in general or for specific legal purposes some countries may request that the apostilled DBS document is further legalised by attesting (authenticating) the apostille at their embassy or consulate. This involves additional time and fees.

Still have more questions?

Call our friendly helpline on  0843 836 0201
Email us at legalise@fatchett.co.uk
Use our web contact form
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This is the first time I have used a Notary service and I was very grateful to Gareth for his warm , approachable and professional manner. Gareth guided me effortlessly through the signing of the documents . Thank you Gareth for your support and for explaining the process to me. Excellent service.
I found that the service at Fatchett & Co. Notaries Birmingham was efficient, professional and friendly service. I am very happy with the service I received.🙂
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