It’s that time of year again where thousands of students from all over the UK have completed their studies and are anxiously waiting their final degree results. The next stage is graduation, and then moving out into the world of work. Employers are increasingly using a wide range of pre-employment checks before hiring new staff, and companies overseas may have different requirements to those in the UK.
If as a new graduate you are thinking of applying for jobs at companies based outside the UK, then you might have to go through the apostille system as a way of legalising your degree certificate and verifying it as genuine and official. This is an international system only, so if you are remaining in the UK there is no need to go through the process of legalising anything – your degree certificate is all you will need for job applications.
What is the Apostille System?
An Apostille stamp, also known as an Apostille seal, is an official government logo which can be added to official government documents. Having your degree certificate with an Apostille means that an official certificate accompanies the degree certificate, giving it the status of a legalised British document. Legalisation confirms the authenticity of the original signature, seal, and stamp on the document. It is a way for employers in overseas countries who are not familiar with the layout and format of degree certificates issued by British universities to verify that they are genuine. It’s not just degree certificates which can be legalised and have an Apostille certificate attached. The system can also be used for other government documents such as wedding certificates or birth certificates, as well as for business documents and financial statements from banks.
Getting an Apostille Stamp on Your Degree Certificate
If you are planning on moving overseas after graduating and think you might need an Apostille at some point in the future, it is best to sort the Apostille while still in the UK rather than trying to organise it remotely at a later date. The easiest way of getting an Apostille for any sort of document is by contacting us and letting us handle the process for you – we’re the experts and know all of the traps which people might fall into while trying to negotiate the process themselves.
If you would prefer to try to do it yourself, start by reading the guidance on the government website and compete the application form. Make sure that your document meets the requirements for Apostille, then send your application form, the required payment, and the document itself to the Legalisation Office in London. Don’t forget to give them your address so they can return the certificate with the Apostille stamp attached. The Legalisation Office usually turns around applications quickly but remember to factor in postal delays. If you are considering applying for jobs in countries where English is not widely spoken, you may have to pay to have your certificate and any academic transcript officially translated.
