Yes, you can apostille a contract, but you usually can’t send it straight for legalisation on its own. Because a commercial agreement is a private document between two parties rather than an official public record like a birth certificate, it requires an extra step before foreign authorities will accept it.
Why Private Contracts Need Prior Certification
If you are dealing with an overseas business deal, an international employment contract, or a foreign property sale, the receiving country needs proof that the signatures on the paper are genuine.
In the UK, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issues the apostille certificate. However, they only verify the signatures of recognised public officials, registered solicitors, or notary publics. They cannot verify private individual signatures directly. The UK government’s guidance confirms that contracts can be legalised when they have first been certified by a UK public official such as a solicitor or notary.
To bridge this gap, a UK solicitor or notary must first certify the contract. They do this by witnessing you sign the agreement or by verifying the signatories’ identities. Once they add their official stamp and signature to the paper, the FCDO can verify the solicitor’s credentials and attach the apostille. A professional notary service can help authenticate and certify documents before they are submitted for legalisation.
Legalising Your Business Agreement
To make sure your document is accepted abroad without any unnecessary hold-ups, you can:
Check Foreign Requirements – Confirm whether the overseas party requires the original signed contract to be legalised or if a certified copy will do.
Get It Certified – Have a registered UK solicitor or notary witness the signing or authenticate the document.
Submit for Legalisation – Send the certified contract to the legalisation department to obtain your official apostille.
Our Apostille UK service can help arrange the necessary legalisation process for documents intended for use overseas. Once completed, the apostille can simplify the authentication of the document for use in another country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Although you should always check the receiving country’s specific requirements.
Read more blogs on apostilles, document legalisation and international document requirements. Explore our latest guides for practical advice on preparing and legalising documents for use overseas.
For professional assistance with apostilles, translations, or the legalisation of your documents, you can reach out to Apostille & Legalisation Services on 020 8017 2216.
