Legalisation requirements for Bahamas
Documents for use in the Bahamas do not usually need to be legalised if they have been signed/authenticated by a UK notary public (s.102 (1)(a) of the Bahamian Evidence Act 1996).
The Bahamas High Commission in London offers attestation of documents originated from the Bahamas which have been attested by their local Ministry of Foreign Affairs for use in other countries such as the UAE, if required.
Please confirm the legalisation requirements with the local instructing party to avoid rejection.
Hague Apostille Fees
The FCDO Apostille Disbursement fee is:
- £40 for Standard & Express
- £100 for Premium (Restrictions apply)
- £35 for e-Apostille (Restrictions apply)
Apostille Processing Times
Turnaround time is likely to be:
- Standard: 5 working days
- Express: Next-Day Service (If document arrives by 11:15 am)
- Premium: 2-3 hours
- e-Apostille: 1-2 working days
Apostille Processing Terms
Express: For the Express Apostille Next-Day Service (paper-based Apostille), we must receive the original documentation by 11:15 am am to be despatched the next working day. If the document arrived after 11:15 am it will be processed on the next-working day.
Premium: The Premium Apostille is a restrictive service the FCDO can provide for a few eligible types of documents and they require evidence to support the urgency requirement. Please contact our legalisation team for further details.
e-Apostille: Documents eligible for the e-Apostille must be first e-notarised with an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) or a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).
Additional Fees for the Bahamas
If consular attestation is required, the consular fee per document is £80.
Additional Processing Times for the Bahamas
The Bahamas High Commission processing time is 1-2 working days.
Important Notes for the Bahamas
If legalisation by the Bahamas High Commission is required, photocopy of the document is needed.
Method of payment: cash only
CONSULATE ADDRESS
10 Chesterfield St, Mayfair, London W1J 5JL