How cookies are used on the Verify Apostille service

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How cookies are used on the verify apostille service

For information on what cookies are and how they are used on GOV.UK pages, go to GOV.UK opens in new window

Measuring website usage (Matomo)

We use Matomo Analytics software to collect non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. We do this to better understand how applicants for legalisation use the website. From time to time, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, eg, by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.

Matomo Analytics sets the following cookies:
Name Purpose Expires
_pk_ref Tracking of web site usage Two years
_pk_cvar Tracking of web site usage Two years
_pk_id Tracking of web site usage Two years
_pk_ses Tracking of web site usage Two years

You can opt out from Matomo Analytics cookies. If you are using an unsupported browser, such as Internet Explorer 6 on Windows Vista, we do not track your web site usage and the opt out page above will not be displayed.

Your progress when verifying an apostille

When you use the verify apostille service, we set a cookie to remember the details you are looking up. You cannot verify an apostille without it, so this cookie is necessary in order to perform our official functions as a government department. The cookie will be deleted after a 30 minute period of inactivity.

Name Purpose Expires
apsotille.sid Storing apostille data so that it can be looked up After a 30 minute period of inactivity

Introductory cookie message

When you first use the service we show a ‘cookie message’. We then store a cookie on your computer so it knows not to show this message again.

Name Purpose Expires
seen_cookie_message Lets us know you’ve already seen our cookie message 28 days