If a UK company is expanding overseas, opening a branch, applying for a licence or registering with a foreign regulator, the local authority will usually ask for company documents before the process can move forward.
These documents help prove that the company exists, is properly registered, has authorised representatives and is allowed to carry out business. For overseas use, they may need certification, legalisation, translation or embassy attestation before they are accepted.
Certificate of Incorporation
A Certificate of Incorporation is one of the most commonly requested documents when registering a UK company abroad.
It confirms the company name, registration number and date of incorporation. Foreign authorities often use it as basic evidence that the company legally exists.
If the certificate is downloaded or printed, it may need solicitor or notary certification before legalisation. In some cases, an official Companies House version may be required.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Foreign authorities may ask for the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association to understand how the company is structured and governed.
These documents may be needed for branch registration, licensing, banking, tax registration or commercial approvals.
If the documents are printed from company records or downloaded online, they may need certification before they can be legalised.
Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing may be requested to show that the UK company is active and properly maintained.
Some foreign authorities only accept this document if it has been issued recently, often within the last three or six months.
If the certificate carries a verifiable signature, seal or stamp, it may be suitable for direct legalisation. If it is electronic or printed without those features, solicitor or notary certification may be required first.
Director and shareholder information
A foreign authority may need to know who owns and controls the company.
This can include director appointment records, shareholder registers, share certificates, PSC information, ownership structure charts or company extracts.
Because many of these documents are internal company records, they often need solicitor or notary certification before legalisation.
Board resolutions and authority documents
If a director, employee, lawyer or local agent is registering the company abroad, the authority may ask for proof that they are authorised to act.
This is often provided through a board resolution, authority letter or Power of Attorney.
The document should clearly state who is authorised, what they can do and which country or registration process it relates to.
Power of Attorney for registration
A Power of Attorney is commonly used when a local representative is handling the registration on behalf of the UK company.
Some countries accept solicitor-certified Powers of Attorney, while others require notarisation by a Notary Public.
If the foreign authority asks for a notarised document, solicitor certification may not be accepted, even if the document has been legalised.
Translation requirements
If the foreign authority does not accept English documents, certified or sworn translation may be required.
The order should be checked carefully. In many cases, the UK company document is legalised first and translated afterwards so the translation includes the legalisation certificate.
Some authorities may also require the translation itself to be certified or legalised separately.
Embassy attestation for some countries
For countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, UK legalisation is often the main authentication step.
For countries outside the Convention, embassy or consular attestation may also be required before the company documents are accepted.
This is especially important for company registration in jurisdictions with additional commercial or regulatory legalisation requirements.
Check the foreign authority’s checklist
Before preparing company documents, ask the foreign authority, lawyer, regulator or local agent for a written checklist.
Confirm which documents are required, how recent they must be, whether originals or certified copies are accepted, whether notarisation is needed and whether translation or embassy attestation applies.
If you are registering a UK company with a foreign authority, 12 Apostille can review the document list, confirm the correct preparation route and help manage certification, legalisation or attestation where required.