If you had a document apostilled several years ago and now need to use it again, you might wonder whether you need to obtain a new apostille. The good news is that an apostille itself doesn’t have an expiry date. Once it has been issued for a document, it remains attached to that document as confirmation that the relevant signature, stamp or seal was authenticated at the time. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean an older apostilled document will always be accepted. The GOV.UK guidance on document legalisation explains how an apostille confirms the authenticity of a signature, stamp or seal on a UK document.
If you need to arrange an apostille for a document, you can find more information about our apostille services and the documents we can assist with.
The Document May Be Too Old
The organisation or authority requesting your paperwork may have its own rules on how recently the underlying document must have been issued. This is common with documents that contain information that could change. For example, you might be asked to provide a criminal record check or other official document issued within the last three or six months. In that situation, the problem isn’t that your apostille has expired. It’s that the document it relates to is no longer recent enough for the purpose for which you’re using it.
Do I Need a New Apostille?
If you need to obtain a newly issued version of the original document, that new document may then need its own apostille. Before ordering another copy or paying for legalisation again, check exactly what the receiving authority requires. Requirements can vary between countries and even between different organisations within the same country. An apostilled birth certificate, for example, may be accepted years later for one purpose, while another authority could specifically request a recently issued copy. The HCCH Apostille Handbook confirms that a validly issued apostille has no expiry date, although the destination country may impose time limits on the underlying document.
So, while there is no general expiry date stamped on an apostille, it’s always worth checking the rules for your particular document and destination. That quick check could save you from paying for paperwork you don’t actually need. If you have questions about the apostille process, our apostille frequently asked questions provide further information.
Read more information on tenancy agreements, contracts and apostille certificates.
For help with apostilles, translation and legalisation, contact Apostille & Legalisation Services on 020 8017 2216.
