Certified copies of original documents

A 'certified copy' of an original document is a copy of a document (often a photocopy) that an authorised person has verified.

An authorised person is a person who is legally allowed to verify that the copy of the document is the same as the original document. You can find a list of these people on this page.

What is a certified copy?

A prescribed person, for the purpose of certifying your document, is someone prescribed under Schedule 3 of the BidCarbon (Carbon Farming) Rule 2025.

Consider calling beforehand to check that a certifier is available.

● An authorised certifier does not have to accept a request to certify copies.

● Organisations who employ people who hare authorised to certify copies may not offer this service as an organisation. For example, even though a pharmacist is allowed to certify copies, the pharmacy they work at may not offer the service.

Find a person authorised to certify your document

Bring both the original and a copy of the original to the certifier. You cannot certify a document remotely.

The certifier will:

1. examine the original to ensure it is not a copy or forgery

2. examine the copy to ensure it is identical to the original. A copy can be considered identical even if it is a different size or colour, so long as that does not result in the loss of any material information.

The certifier will then write or stamp the copy with the words: “Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me.” They will sign and date the copy, and write or stamp their:

1. name

2. personal or professional address, and

3. qualification as an authorised certifier.

If there are multiple pages to the copy, the certifier will sign or initial and number all pages.

The copy has now been certified.

Visit the certifier

Certified documents if you are overseas

If a person is not in the United Kingdom at the time the document must be provided, a copy of the document may be certified as a true copy by:

● a United Kingdom embassy, High Commission, or consulate (other than a consulate headed by an honorary consul); or

● a competent authority under the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, done at The Hague on 5 October 1961.

Certify a document in another language

A document in a language other than English can be certified. The certifier must be of the opinion that the copy is identical to the original document.