Getting an apostille for a UK birth certificate can be achieved via the official FCDO website or via a document legalisation agency.
Getting the apostille yourself via the FCDO can take up to 20 working days.
Using an FCDO-registered apostille agency can reduce the time to 2-3 working days or the same day if needed urgently.
How to order:
Step one:
Check your birth certificate:
- Do you have the ‘long form’ birth certificate?
- Do you have the original birth certificate – or –
- Do you have an official copy from the GRO?
IMPORTANT: A photocopy of a birth certificate can not be used for an apostille!
Originals or official GRO copies do not need to be certified by a solicitor or a notary.
Step two:
Contact our office.
- What type of birth certificate needs the apostille?
- In which country will your certificate be used?
- Does the birth certificate need translation?
- How soon do you need the apostille?
When we have all the information, the team will assess your enquiry and give you are personalised and detailed quotation.
If you accept the quotation, we will send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille for your birth certificate starts.
Step three:
As soon as your birth certificate has been apostilled, we will send you a scanned copy via email to inform you that the process has been completed successfully and your certificate is on its way or ready to be collected.
If you are not collecting your apostilled certificate from our London office – we will provide you with the DHL tracking number the courier gave.
How much does it cost?
The cost of a birth certificate apostille starts from £79.
Other costs will depend on what service you choose (standard or same-day service) if you also need embassy attestation, and what return delivery method has been chosen.
Birth certificates can be rejected for the apostille!
If the FCDO does not recognise the signature on your birth certificate, the apostille certificate will not be issued.
This may happen if the birth certificate is very old or very new. Registrars or other authorised persons signing the birth certificate must be registered with the FCDO database.
Unfortunately, there is no way to check the signature before submission.
If the signature is not recognised and the FCDO rejects your certificates, the next steps would be:
What are the different types of UK birth certificates?
There are types of birth certificates in the UK, which include the following:
Which type of birth certificate should be apostilled?
Not every type of birth certificate can be apostilled. Apostilles are only given out on long-form birth certificates, also known as extended certificates.
These documents show the full name of both parents and have the signature of a UK public official in charge of registration. They can be obtained from local government offices, hospitals, or vital records departments.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. In some cases, a short-form birth certificate can receive an apostille if it is accompanied by an official letter from a vital records department confirming the authenticity of the document. This letter must be printed on official stationery and signed by relevant authorities.
Why did I receive a short certificate rather than a longer one?
You received a short certificate when you first registered the birth of your child in the UK. There are two main types of birth certificates:
The long-form birth certificate shows other details, such as the exact place of birth and the father’s occupation. Recently, they have also included the mother’s occupation and the person’s address that registered the birth.
When you first register your child’s birth, you will be issued with a copy of the short birth certificate, and if you wish to have the long one, it will be issued upon request, but at an additional cost.
What does a UK birth certificate look like?
Most UK birth certificates are printed in black and green or black and red.
Who has the authority to apostille a birth certificate in the UK?
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office – FCDO is the only office that issues apostilles. They affix the certificate on the original documents to show that the signatures are genuine and issue an apostille certificate.
How to get a copy of your birth certificate
To get a copy of your birth certificate and other documents such as death certificates, marriage certificates, or civil partnership certificates in England or Wales, you will have to register with the General Register Office – GRO’s website [2].
You will need to have your debit or credit card, which takes around ten minutes.
Is it possible to legalise birth certificates from countries other than the United Kingdom?
No. Birth certificates issued in countries other than the United Kingdom cannot be legalised here in the UK. The only method to have them legalised is to do it in the country in which they were issued.
Exception:
If a foreign embassy in London issues the birth certificate (in English), then the birth certificate issued by the embassy in London can be apostilled if it is solicitor certified. Note that the apostille will be issued against the solicitor’s signature, not the public official from the embassy.
Why would you need an apostille for a birth certificate?
A birth certificate apostille may be requested when registering a birth in another nation, confirming your identification, dual citizenship applications in the UK or abroad, getting married in another country or for inheritance purposes.
Our expert staff and professional consultants can apostille UK birth certificates in one or two days – or same-day emergency service if required.
