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Terms and conditions and privacy policy

By using this legalisation service you agree to our privacy policy and to these terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

Terms and conditions

General

These terms and conditions affect your rights and liabilities under the law. They govern your use of, and relationship with, the legalisation online service. They don’t apply to other services provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), or to any other department or service which is linked to in this service.

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of, this site by any third party.

We may occasionally update these terms and conditions. This might happen if there’s a change in the law or to the way this service works. Please check these terms and conditions regularly, as continued use of the legalisation online service after a change has been made is your acceptance of the change. If you don't agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy set out in this document, you should not use this service.

Applicable law

Your use of this service and any dispute arising from its use will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, including but not limited to the:

  • Computer Misuse Act 1990
  • Data Protection Act 1998
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005

How to use this service responsibly

You must provide a valid email address and contact number when using this service. We need these details to provide information about your application, including follow up questions when necessary, so you must provide accurate details where we can reliably contact you.

Please note that when using the premium business service you'll have to pass through Security upon arrival and you should expect your belongings to be checked.

There are risks in using a shared computer, such as in an internet café, to use this digital service. It’s your responsibility to be aware of these risks and to avoid using any computer which may leave your personal information accessible to others.

We make every effort to check and test this service whenever we amend or update it. However, you must take your own precautions to ensure that the way you access this service does not expose you to the risk of viruses or other forms of interference which may damage your own computer system.

You must not misuse our service by knowingly introducing viruses, trojans, worms, logic bombs or other harmful material. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access or attack our site via any form of denial-of-service attack.

Disclaimer

While we make every effort to keep this service up to date, we don’t provide any guarantees, conditions or warranties as to the accuracy of the information on the site.

While legalisation staff will give you as much advice as they can, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are obtaining the correct service and that you supply all the necessary documentation for the service. If unsure, seek legal advice.

Our consular fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. Check the consular fees list (opens in new window) for the latest information.

Privacy policy

Information provided by this service

We strive to ensure this service is accurate and available at all times, but can’t guarantee completeness or uninterrupted availability.

To use this service, you’ll need to enter personal information (e.g. name, contact details, document details, return address). If you create an account, you can optionally store payment details and preferences.

Avoid entering sensitive information in free-text fields (e.g. medical, religious or financial details) — this is at your own risk and the FCDO accepts no liability.

How we use your information

The FCDO uses and retains your data to provide the legalisation service securely and reliably. If you opt-in to feedback, we or our research partner may contact you. You can opt out during your application.

You have the right to request a copy of your personal data, and to request corrections if it’s inaccurate or outdated.

We also collect anonymised site usage information (not personal data) including:

  • feedback and queries you submit (including email address if provided)
  • IP address and browser version
  • how you use the site via cookies and tagging

This helps us to:

  • improve the site experience
  • respond to your feedback
  • provide information about local services (if requested)

We cannot personally identify you using site usage data.

Where your data is stored

We store your data securely in the EEA, but it may be transferred globally depending on infrastructure and suppliers. By using the service, you consent to this.

We use third-party services including:

Keeping your data secure

We use SSL to encrypt all communications. While we strive to protect your data, internet transmission isn’t completely secure — you transmit data at your own risk.

Disclosing your information

We may share document information with relevant authorities for authentication or legal purposes. By applying, you consent to this. We may also share data if legally required or for enforcement purposes.

Storage and retention of data

Completed applications are stored securely. Financial data is retained for 18 months.

Data Protection Act 1998

The FCDO handles personal data according to its registration with the Information Commissioner. See details at ico.org.uk (opens in new window).

Disclaimer

We accept no liability for loss or damage from use of this service, including loss of income, contracts, or data, unless otherwise stated in law.

This does not affect liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or other liabilities that cannot be excluded by law.