The Legalisation Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the only competent authority to issue apostilles in the UK. Legalisation is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a UK public document is genuine. Legalisation is usually required by foreign authorities before they will allow a UK document to be used for official purposes in their country.
The relocation of the Legalisation facility from London to Milton Keynes was part of the Lyons initative of decentralising government departments away from London. Legalisation is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a document is genuine; various types of documents are proofed as being genuine. The department has a large amount of applications made, on-line, by post and in person by the public. Security was carefully considered to allow the public a welcoming open space that also provided a secure environment. The location being within a commercial office building shared with others had to be totally self sufficient. The brief required, a public reception and wc facilities, the office required open plan workspace, meeting room facilities, secure server room, dedicated wc and shower faculties and a breakout space.