An FCDO-registered solicitor or notary must certify the certificates to get an apostille for a Certificate of Naturalisation (Naturalisation Certificate or British Citizenship Certificate). Certification is required for the original and a copy.
The solicitors must see the original even if you want a copy legalised.
If you do not have the original, the solicitors require proof that the copy is genuine. An email from the Home Office to our solicitors will be needed.
We can return the legalised documents via DHL or Royal Mail (next-day service), or you can collect them in person.
Jump to: How much does it cost? ↓ How long does it take?
How the process works:
Step one:
Decide which version of your naturalisation certificate needs to be apostilled.
- Your original certificate of naturalisation
- A photocopy of your certificate of naturalisation
- Electronic certificate of naturalisation produced from the original PDF
Step two:
Contact our office.
When emailing, please provide the following information:
- In which country will your certificate of naturalisation be used?
- 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.
If you accept the quotation, we will send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille starts.
Step three:
Once your naturalisation 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 the courier gave.
Note that we return documents by DHL or Royal Mail only. If you want to make other arrangements, please let us know.
The price includes admin, solicitor, FCDO, and VAT. Business documents incur an additional processing fee.
There could be additional costs, depending on your chosen service and how many documents you wish to apostille. Additional cost examples are:
- Translations start from £30
- Notarisation by notary public (+ £96)
- Return delivery costs (+ £12)
- Embassy legalisation (from + £75)
How long does it take to get an apostille?
There are 4 options for getting an apostille.
Option one: 10-12 days:
Your documents are “posted” to the FCDO in Milton Keynes and then posted back to our office – or your address. This process usually takes about 10 business days. (currently unavailable)
Option two: 3 to 4 days:
- If documents arrive by 10:30 am, it will take 3 days
- If documents arrive after 10:30 am, then it will take 4 days
- Documents are submitted and collected in person
Option three: 1 day (next business day)
- Documents must arrive before 10:00 am for the next-day service.
- Documents can be collected around 3:30 pm the next day.
- Documents are submitted and collected in person
Option four: e-Apostille 1 to 2 days
Electronic apostilles are usually completed within 24 hours but can take two working days, depending on the FCDO’s workload.
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 documents off in person. Delivering in-person requires that you have an order number. Please make sure you contact our office first.
When should I get an apostille for a naturalisation certificate?
You should get an apostille certificate for your naturalisation certificate if you intend to use it outside the UK.
However, please note that the apostille can only be applied to the certified copy and not the original, as the original cannot be modified in any way. Your apostille service provider will check that.
How do you replace a lost certificate of naturalisation?
If you lose or suspect that your naturalisation certificate has been stolen, you must notify the Home Office as quickly as possible. [2]
It is also good to notify the police that your certificate was lost.
If you’ve misplaced or had your naturalisation certificate taken, you must:
Your naturalisation certificate can be ordered from the National Archives if you were granted British citizenship before September 30, 1986. [2]
How do I locate the naturalisation certificate number?
You can locate your naturalisation certificate number at the bottom of the certificate, above the reference number and to the left of the date.
How do I locate my naturalisation certificate reference number?
You can locate the reference number of your naturalisation certificate at the bottom of the certificate, just to the left of the date and immediately below the Certificate Number.
Which information does the naturalisation certificate contain?
The information contained in the naturalisation certificate provides information about the holder. Naturalisation certificates follow a standard format.
The certificate should typically include the following information:
Verifying that the naturalisation certificate is issued with the correct information is critical because the UK government charges for changing documentation and granting duplicate certificates.
Who can apply for a certificate of naturalisation?
Anyone who meets the required qualification criteria can apply for a certificate of naturalisation. In addition, according to the British Nationality Act of 1981 [3], anybody who is not a UK citizen can apply for British citizenship.
Once you are issued the certificate, you can live in the UK with the same rights as anyone born a British national. You can also apply for a British passport.
Applying for a certificate of naturalisation UK – requirements:
The main requirements for applying for a certificate of naturalisation are: [4]
Those are the most general requirements. In addition to that, the applicants must also meet the following:
