When a UK company opens or manages a bank account abroad, the bank may ask for company paperwork to be certified, legalised or translated before it can be accepted.
This can feel unnecessary if the documents are already valid in the UK. However, overseas banks usually need extra assurance that UK documents are genuine, properly issued and connected to the company applying for the account.
Banks need to verify the company exists
An overseas bank may not be able to check Companies House records in the same way a UK organisation can.
Legalised documents help the bank confirm that the company exists, is registered in the UK and has official records supporting its application.
This is why banks often ask for documents such as a Certificate of Incorporation, company extract, Certificate of Good Standing or Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Compliance checks are stricter for international accounts
Banks have strict anti-money laundering and know your customer checks, especially for international company accounts.
They need to understand who owns the company, who controls it and who is authorised to act.
This can involve director records, shareholder registers, PSC information, ownership charts, board resolutions and identity documents for directors or beneficial owners.
Legalisation confirms a UK signature or seal
Legalisation does not confirm the commercial value of the document or approve the company’s business activity.
It confirms that the signature, seal or stamp on the UK document is genuine and recognised for international use.
If the document is issued directly by a public authority, it may be suitable for legalisation in that format. If it is a private or internal company document, it usually needs solicitor or notary certification first.
Some documents must be certified first
Many company documents are downloaded, printed, internally prepared or digitally issued. Overseas banks may not accept them unless a UK solicitor or Notary Public has certified them.
This can apply to passport copies, proof of address, board resolutions, shareholder registers, bank letters, accountant letters and internal company records.
Certification creates a verified UK signature that can then be legalised.
Banks may ask for recent documents
Overseas banks often have strict rules on document age.
A Certificate of Good Standing, proof of address, bank statement or company extract may need to be issued within a recent period, such as the last three months.
An older document may be rejected even if the information is still accurate.
Translation may also be required
If the overseas bank does not accept English documents, certified or sworn translation may be required.
The order matters. In many cases, the UK document is certified and legalised first, then translated so the translation includes the legalisation certificate.
Some banks 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 bank accepts the company documents.
This can add extra time, so it should be checked before booking account opening appointments or transfer deadlines.
Banks can reject documents for small errors
Overseas banks may reject company paperwork if the certification wording is wrong, the document is too old, the name does not match exactly or the legalisation route is incomplete.
They may also require a specific notarial format or ask for a full document rather than an extract.
Before preparing paperwork, ask the bank for a written checklist and any required wording.
Prepare the banking document pack carefully
A complete banking pack may include company registration records, director documents, shareholder evidence, board resolutions, Powers of Attorney, tax documents and proof of address.
Each document may have a different preparation route, so it is important to check whether it needs solicitor certification, notarisation, legalisation, translation or embassy attestation.
If an overseas bank has asked for UK company paperwork to be legalised, 12 Apostille can review the bank’s requirements, confirm the correct route and help prepare the documents for submission.