Apostille service overview:

We need the original gender recognition certificate
You can post or hand deliver your certificate (GRC)

3-4 days and starts from £87 per document
24-hour service from £97 per document

Prices are per document and include the apostille certificate, all fees, and VAT.

There are 3 variations of gender recognition certificates. Please let us know which one you have.

Signed with a wet signature from the GR panel
Wet ink, embossed seal from the GR panel
Without an official signature from the GR panel

Only version 3 must be certified by an FCDO-registered solicitor or notary before getting the apostille.

You can deliver the certificate in person, by post, or by courier to our office in Westminster, London.

We can return the legalised document via DHL or Royal Mail(next-day service), or you can collect it in person.

The full process explained:

If you have any questions, please call 0207 0500 692

Step one:

Check which version needs to be apostilled. Note that photocopies cannot be processed, although official replacements from the Gender Recognition Panel (GRP) are acceptable.

Step two:

Contact our office.

When emailing, please provide the following information:

How soon do you need the apostille?
Do you also require embassy legalisation?
How will the certificate be delivered and returned?

When we have all the information, the team will assess your enquiry and give you a detailed quotation and timeline of the process.

If you accept the quotation, then getting an apostille starts. We will take of everything.

Final step:

As soon as your UK gender recognition certificate has been apostilled, we will send you a scanned copy via email.

If you are not collecting your apostilled document from our London office – we will provide you with the tracking number given by the courier.

Note that we return documents by DHL or Royal Mail only. If you want to make other arrangements, please let us know.

Call +0207 0500 692

Order your apostille online

Your fast-track apostille options

Choose the turnaround that fits your deadline.

Option 1: Next business day

Your deed poll must arrive at our office by 9:30 am. It will be ready to collect from around 3:30 pm the following business day

Option 2: 3 to 4 day service

Documents arriving after 9:30 am are processed on the 3 to 4 business day track. This is our most popular option.

Option 3: e-Apostille in 5 to 48 hours

The e-apostille is a digital version of the apostille certificate. If your document qualifies, it is usually completed within 24 hours, but may take 2 working days, depending on the FCDO’s workload.

Most ink-signed deed polls require the paper apostille instead. Contact us if you are unsure which applies to you.

Start your order online

Do I have to come to your office?

No, you don’t need to attend our office in Westminster. Documents can be sent by courier or by post. We recommend using a tracked service if you send your documents by post. We return your documents in the same way.

You are, of course, welcome to drop the documents off in person. Delivering in person requires that you have an order number. Please make sure you contact our office first.

What are the requirements to get an apostille for a gender recognition certificate?

To get an apostille from the Legalisation Office of the FCDO, the original Gender Recognition Certificate must have been issued by the Gender Recognition Panel (GRP) of HM Courts & Tribunal Service.

You cannot get a UK apostille for a certificate issued in another country.

If you wish to get an apostille yourself, you can send the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) to the FCDO. You must follow all the requirements of the Legalisation Office.

As an agency registered with the FCDO and with over 15 years of experience, we ensure that all the correct procedures are followed. We can also speed up obtaining your apostille.

What are the reasons for getting an apostille for a gender recognition certificate?

Reasons to get an apostille for your Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) are when requested by a foreign employer, organisation, public official, company, or government agency.

The purposes for which an apostille of your GRC may be requested include the following:

visa applications
citizenship applications
confirmation of identity overseas
marriage overseas
employment in another country
sale or purchase of property abroad
registration of a birth or adoption in another country
execution of a will or probate overseas

Can I use a copy of my gender recognition certificate to get an apostille?

No. You cannot use a copy of your GRC to get an apostille unless it is an official copy issued by the Gender Recognition Panel.

Although you cannot obtain a replacement for a lost or damaged GRC, the Gender Recognition Panel can send you a photocopy of your original certificate.

The official copy must be stamped by the Gender Recognition Panel office to be accepted by the FCDO legalisation office.

The FCDO does not accept any other copies of a Gender Recognition Certificate, even if they have been certified by a solicitor or notarised by a notary public in the UK.

Who issues the Gender Recognition Certificate that is used to get an apostille?

The Gender Recognition Panel issues a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). The GRP is a branch of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service.

You can apply for a GRC through the ‘Standard Route’, the ‘Alternative Route’, or the ‘Overseas Route’.

You can find details of the application process on the government’s website.

Apostille and gender recognition certificates example

Example of an apostille and gender recognition certificates

What is the fee for a gender recognition certificate?

There is a £5.00 administration fee for a GRC.

What is the difference between an interim GRC and a full GRC?

An interim gender recognition certificate is a temporary document issued to individuals in the UK who are transitioning from one gender to another.

A full gender recognition certificate, on the other hand, is a permanent certificate that is issued to individuals who have completed their gender transition.

Overall, the difference between an interim gender recognition certificate and a full gender recognition certificate is that a provisional certificate is temporary and issued to individuals transitioning.

In contrast, a full gender recognition certificate is permanent and given to individuals who have completed their transition.

Is it illegal for a foreign person, organisation, or government agency to request an apostille for a gender recognition certificate?

No. In most countries, it is not illegal to ask for an apostille for a GRC.

The law in some countries may differ from the law in the UK. For example, in the UK, it is illegal for anyone “in an official capacity” to view your GRC without your consent. This includes employers.
You will need to check the law in your destination country.

In all countries that are party to the European Convention on Human Rights, it is contrary to Article 8 of the Convention to do anything which infringes the right to privacy.

In the UK and many other countries, it is discriminatory for a prospective employer to ask for documents that are not required from all applicants.

There is a list of ‘approved countries and territories’ whose gender recognition procedures are deemed equivalent to those of the UK. If your gender has already been recognised in one of these countries, you do not need to supply medical reports with your application for a UK Gender Recognition Certificate.

The law in your destination country determines whether an apostille is required.

For how long is the apostille of a gender recognition certificate valid?

The validity of an apostille is the same as the validity of the underlying document. In the case of a GRC, this is permanent.

When you apply for a GRC, the Gender Recognition Panel must be satisfied that you “intend to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life”.

This means that the validity of both the GRC and its accompanying apostille is lifelong.

Do I need a translation of the gender recognition certificate and apostille?

You do not need a translation of the GRC or an apostille unless requested. In some cases, you may need to have a translation of the gender recognition certificate to use it in another country or for certain official or legal purposes.

It is always a good idea to check with the relevant authorities or institutions in the country where you plan to use the gender recognition certificate to determine their specific requirements, including any requirements for translations or apostille.