Check the route first: GOV.UK says a company certificate issued by Companies House is among the public-registry documents that can be legalised. Companies House says a document or certificate sent for FCDO legalisation must bear an original signature of a British public official and explains how to order a certified copy or certificate with that signature. For other documents, GOV.UK says certification by a UK public official such as a notary or solicitor may be needed. The overseas recipient may insist on a particular signer, format or further step.
If the recipient has asked for a Notary Public, start a free quote request and select “Company document”. A provider may need the document and written recipient instructions before confirming a price.
Which type of company document do you have?
| Document | First question | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House certificate or certified register copy | Does the recipient accept a Companies House certified document with apostille, or require a notarial certificate too? | The official certified version may follow a different legalisation route from an ordinary downloaded copy. |
| Contract, company power of attorney, board resolution or other privately signed document | Whose signature or authority must be certified, and does the recipient specify a UK notary? | The work may involve the signing, the signer's authority and the form of the notarial certificate. |
| Bundle of documents | Does each document need its own certification or apostille? | GOV.UK advises checking whether the recipient needs one apostille for a group or a separate one for each document. |
These are preparation questions, not a rule that every document in a row needs notarisation. The receiving body decides what it will accept.
When can a Companies House document go straight to legalisation?
Companies House offers a company certificate with certified facts and certified copies of documents held on its register. Its guidance says that, for FCDO legalisation, the document must have the original signature of a British public official. That is why a downloaded filing or a printout should not be assumed to be equivalent to an ordered certified copy. Ask the overseas recipient which document it needs; then check the current Companies House ordering guidance and GOV.UK legalisation rules.
If the recipient specifically asks for a notary to certify company facts or a copy, do not replace that instruction with an apostille-only route without checking. An apostille checks the authenticity of the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal; it does not establish that a foreign organisation will accept the document's contents.
What should you gather for a company-document quote?
- The recipient's instructions: name the country and organisation, and share its written signing, certification, translation and legalisation requirements.
- The exact document: say whether it is a Companies House certificate, certified register copy, contract, resolution, company power of attorney or another record.
- Company and signer details: give the company name and number, who will sign, and any evidence the provider requests of that person's authority.
- Copies and format: state how many originals or copies are needed and whether paper or an electronic document is acceptable.
- Timing and delivery: include the overseas deadline and where the finished document must be sent.
Use the right form option: choose “Company document” in the quote form above. It asks for your location, destination country, timescale and apostille position. It does not take a document upload or record a full document list; a notary provider may ask for those details afterwards. Do not put confidential company papers into the initial form.
How do you compare like-for-like company-document quotes?
Send each provider the same document list and recipient instructions, then ask for a written breakdown of the total:
- Review and notarial work included
- Number of signers and documents
- Company and signer checks
- Certified copies or additional sets
- VAT and other taxes
- Apostille and provider handling
- Translation or consular work
- Delivery and deadline
Confirm what is excluded and what could change after the provider sees the documents. The cheapest headline fee may not cover the same work. See our guide to comparing full notary quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Companies House certificate need a notary?
No general rule says so. GOV.UK lists company certificates issued by Companies House as public-registry documents that can be legalised, and Companies House explains the signed certified version needed for FCDO legalisation. The overseas recipient may still require a notarial certificate for its own purposes, so check its instructions.
Is an ordinary Companies House download enough for an apostille?
Do not assume it is. Companies House says a document for FCDO legalisation needs an original signature of a British public official and provides a service for ordering signed certified copies and certificates. Check the current process before ordering.
Does an apostille replace notarisation?
They perform different functions. A document may need one, both or neither depending on its form and the recipient's requirements. Our notarisation and apostille guide explains the difference.
Does Compare Notary certify company documents?
No. Compare Notary is an independent quote-comparison service. It helps you request quotes from notary providers; the chosen professional confirms what work is appropriate for your document.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Get your document legalised
- Companies House: Order certified documents and certificates
- GOV.UK: Notary Public profession and regulation
- Faculty Office: Find a Notary
This guide is general information for company representatives arranging services in England or Wales, not legal advice on the effect of a document overseas. Confirm the latest requirements with the receiving organisation and your professional adviser.