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Do my documents need to be certified, and when is an apostille needed?

Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 17:46 (UTC+08:00)

Some agents and banks accept clear scans, others want copies certified by a lawyer, notary or accountant, and we tell you which applies before you send anything. An apostille matters on the way out: the BVI is covered by the Hague Apostille Convention through the United Kingdom, so apostilled BVI company documents are accepted in other member countries without further legalisation.

Certification and apostille

Source: Status table: Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)

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