# Power of attorney for property in the United Kingdom, signed near Vancouver - **Source:** https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/abroad/united-kingdom/ - **Title:** UK power of attorney near Vancouver — notarized + apostille - **Language:** en · also published as Markdown at /{lang}/real-estate/abroad/united-kingdom/index.md for: en > UK property and you live in B.C.? Many UK deeds need only a witness. When a notary and an apostille are needed, compare the B.C. and Washington routes. British consulates in Canada witness signatures only in exceptional cases. Before you book a notary instead, check whether you need one at all: for many UK property documents, a witness is enough. ## Your options from B.C. Start with a question your UK solicitor can answer: does this document need a notary and an apostille, or just a witness? ### The British Consulate-General in Vancouver British embassies and consulates can witness a signature only in exceptional circumstances — GOV.UK's example is someone in prison whose lawyer cannot do it. In Commonwealth countries, Canada included, they cannot administer oaths or affidavits or certify copies at all. **Good fit when** almost never, by GOV.UK's own rules. _Source: [GOV.UK — Documents for British people abroad](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/documents-for-british-people-abroad) · checked September 28, 2026_ ### A B.C. notary or lawyer, then the B.C. apostille No border to cross: every B.C. lawyer is also a notary public. The province's Authentication Program then attaches the apostille — CA$20 per document, by mail or courier only, currently 2 to 4 weeks plus mail time. A document that is not entirely in English must first be translated into English and notarized together with its translation — side-by-side bilingual texts included. If HM Land Registry has to verify your identity and no UK conveyancer acts for you, form ID1 is completed by a lawyer or notary public qualified in your country of residence — for a B.C. resident, a B.C. lawyer or notary. **Good fit when** your document is in English and the deadline is more than a month away. _Source: [B.C. government — notarized documents](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/guide-to-the-authentication-of-documents/process/notarized-docs), [B.C. government — fees](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/guide-to-the-authentication-of-documents/fees), [B.C. government — processing times](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/guide-to-the-authentication-of-documents/times), [B.C. government — translation requirements](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/guide-to-the-authentication-of-documents/translation-requirements), [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 67](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-of-identity-conveyancers/practice-guide-67-evidence-of-identity-conveyancers) · checked September 28, 2026_ ### A Washington notary at the border, then the Washington apostille (That's us) We meet at [Peace Arch Park](https://andrii.ca/en/park/index.md) — no U.S. visa or border crossing needed — or in Blaine, WA, then take the document to the Washington Secretary of State: apostille the same business day, the next business day, or within 7 days. Only the notary's certificate has to be in English, so the power of attorney itself can stay in the language the other country expects. We could not confirm that HM Land Registry accepts a Washington notary on form ID1 for someone who lives in Canada, so for that form we point you to a B.C. lawyer or notary. **Good fit when** your deadline is close, or the document is not in English. _Source: [RCW 42.45.130 (Washington law)](https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.45.130) · checked September 28, 2026_ > Check whether you need a notary at all. For property in England and Wales, HM Land Registry requires your signature on a deed, such as a TR1 transfer, to be made in the presence of a witness who attests it: an adult who is not a party to the deed. Your solicitor will tell you whether they need anything more. _Source: [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 8](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/execution-of-deeds/practice-guide-8-execution-of-deeds) · checked September 28, 2026_ ## Documents we notarize for the United Kingdom The documents people bring us most often for property abroad: - Powers of attorney to sell, buy or manage a UK property, in the form your solicitor drafts - Affidavits and declarations that your solicitor or a UK authority asks to have notarized - Certified copies of your passport and other documents, where a notary's certification is asked for > You provide the final draft, usually from the lawyer or notary in the other country. We do not draft documents or advise on foreign law. ## How it works 1. Email the final draft (a Word file is best) and the name of the country to [notary@andrii.co](mailto:notary@andrii.co) at least 24 hours before we meet. 2. Meet us at [Peace Arch Park](https://andrii.ca/en/park/index.md) or in Blaine, WA. Bring your passport, and sign in front of the notary. 3. We take the document to the Washington Secretary of State for the apostille. 4. The day the apostille is issued, you receive the document by email as a digitally signed PDF (Adobe Approved Trust List). 5. The signed original goes to your solicitor by DHL or FedEx with tracking, or you collect it from us. ## United Kingdom specifics What published sources say. The recipient's own requirements always come first, so confirm them before you sign. **Signing a deed** — HM Land Registry requires each individual to sign a deed “in the presence of a witness who attests the signature”. The witness must actually be there and must not be a party to the deed, and HM Land Registry advises an adult who is not your spouse or partner. English law governs the form of a deed even when it is signed outside England and Wales. _Source: [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 8](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/execution-of-deeds/practice-guide-8-execution-of-deeds) · checked September 28, 2026_ **Proving your identity** — Without a UK conveyancer, you verify your identity to HM Land Registry on form ID1, completed by a lawyer or notary public qualified in your country of residence. The form cannot be signed electronically, has to be lodged within three months of signing, and needs two recent colour passport photos. _Source: [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 67](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-of-identity-conveyancers/practice-guide-67-evidence-of-identity-conveyancers), [HM Land Registry, form ID1](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/verify-identity-citizen-id1) · checked September 28, 2026_ **A power of attorney made under Canadian law** — HM Land Registry accepts a power of attorney made under another country's law, but asks for a certified copy, translated if needed, and an opinion from a lawyer qualified in that country. _Source: [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 9](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powers-of-attorney-and-registered-land/practice-guide-9-powers-of-attorney-and-registered-land) · checked September 28, 2026_ **Scotland and Northern Ireland** — All of the above is HM Land Registry's, which registers land in England and Wales. Property in Scotland or Northern Ireland is registered under different rules: ask the solicitor handling it. _Source: [HM Land Registry, Practice Guide 8](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/execution-of-deeds/practice-guide-8-execution-of-deeds) · checked September 28, 2026_ ## Price and speed Three speeds, in Canadian dollars. The apostille prices include the notarization. ### Urgent — Same business day _Document apostilled on the same business day_ - Document received before the 5 am morning cut-off - Hand-walked to the WA Secretary of State - Both digital PDF and express drop-off same day **First document:** $700 · **Each additional:** $150 · **Shipping:** Carrier rate ### Rush — Next business day _Apostilled by the end of the next business day_ - Faster than BC Authentication Program. - Receive document by 4 pm, ready by tomorrow afternoon - Dropped off at the DHL / FedEx counter by 4 pm **First document:** $350 · **Each additional:** $150 · **Shipping:** Carrier rate ### Standard — Up to 7 days _Meet on the weekend; document ready before the next._ - Best price — no rush surcharge - Use when your deadline is more than 2 weeks out - Same quality, same chain of certification **First document:** $170 · **Each additional:** $120 · **Shipping:** Carrier rate Prices are quoted in Canadian dollars. We believe our prices are highly competitive with any service provider in B.C. — we will price-match any quote, and may adjust or even waive our fee in humanitarian or compassionate circumstances. Pay by Visa or Mastercard (in U.S. dollars) or Interac e-Transfer (in Canadian dollars). Same-day and next-day service is paid in advance; standard service can be paid after the meeting. ## Check acceptance first Confirm with your solicitor, or with HM Land Registry, that they accept the document in this form. We witness and notarize; we do not give legal advice on UK law. ## Common questions ### Does a UK property deed have to be notarized? Not for HM Land Registry in England and Wales: a deed has to be signed in front of a witness who attests your signature. Your solicitor, your lender or the buyer's side can still ask for more, so check with them before you book a notary. ### Can the British Consulate-General in Vancouver witness my signature? Only in exceptional circumstances, according to GOV.UK; its example is someone in prison whose lawyer cannot do it. In Commonwealth countries, Canada included, British consulates cannot administer oaths or affidavits or certify copies. ### Who can complete form ID1 for me in B.C.? HM Land Registry's guidance says a lawyer or notary public qualified to practise in your country of residence. In B.C., every lawyer is also a notary public. ### Do I need an apostille for the United Kingdom? Only if whoever receives the document asks for one. The UK has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 1965, so when an apostille is required, one from B.C. and one from Washington State both work. ### Can you prepare the power of attorney for me? > I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities. ## Related guides - [Property abroad: every country](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/abroad/index.md) — Your options for a power of attorney from B.C., country by country. - [Closing on U.S. property from Canada](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/us-property/index.md) — What a wet-ink signing is, and every way to get one done. - [Cross-border real-estate signings](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/index.md) — U.S. escrow packages, and Canadian deals signed in Washington State. - [Peace Arch Park visitor guide](https://andrii.ca/en/park/index.md) — Where we meet, what to bring and how to get there. ## Send us the draft and your deadline. We will confirm a meeting time, and tell you honestly if another route would serve you better. Most emails are answered within a few hours during business hours. > I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities. ## Other pages on this site (Markdown) - [Same or next business day apostille for international documents for B.C. residents](https://andrii.ca/en/index.md) - [Peace Arch Park visit instructions](https://andrii.ca/en/park/index.md) - [Privacy notice](https://andrii.ca/en/privacy/index.md) - [Cross-border real-estate signings](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/index.md) - [Property abroad: your power-of-attorney options from B.C.](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/abroad/index.md) - [Ukraine power of attorney near Vancouver](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/abroad/ukraine/index.md) - [Closing on U.S. property from Canada: wet-ink signings](https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/us-property/index.md) --- Andrii Co. · notary@andrii.co · (206) 319-3543 · serving Greater Vancouver and the B.C. Lower Mainland HTML version of this page: https://andrii.ca/en/real-estate/abroad/united-kingdom/ · AI index: https://andrii.ca/llms.txt · Full site text: https://andrii.ca/llms-full.txt