Documents for Hong Kong are often simply notarised by a London Notary with no additional requirement for legalisation. It is always best to check specific requirements with your legal advisor in Hong Kong. Occasionally an apostille (or legalisation certificate) is required in addition to the Notarial certificate. Documents for use in Hong Kong which do require a legalisation certificate or Apostille must be lodged at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (“FCO”).

The legalisation fee is currently £75 per document and documents will be processed the same day if lodged with the FCO before 15:00. The FCO currently has 2 legalisation offices. The Legalisation office open to the public is located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, which is approximately 55 miles/ 85 kilometres north of London. The FCO will charge £30 per Apostille certificate. Documents will nearly always need to be signed before a London Notary Public, and then notarised,  before being presented to the FCO.

The FCO has an alternative office located at Admiralty Arch, near Trafalgar Square, in London. This FCO legalisation office is open to Notary Publics and some other businesses for the premium legalisation service only. The FCO will charge £75 per Apostille. Members of the general public cannot use this premium legalisation service, but notaries can lodge documents on behalf of clients wishing to utilise the premium legalisation service.

If Notary clients ever need to deal with The Hong Kong Consulate, this is located at the Chinese Embassy which has an address at:

31 Portland Place,
London
W1B 1QD

For further information and notarisation services for Hong Kong or any other country please contact M D Pryke Notary Public via the usual channels.