Apostille service overview:
  1. We need the original gender recognition certificate
  2. 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.

  1. Signed with a wet signature from the GR panel
  2. Wet ink, embossed seal from the GR panel
  3. 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 or by post or 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.

Jump to: How much does it cost? | How long does it take?

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.

Suppose 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.


How much does it cost?

For personal documents, prices are as follows:

  • 3-4 day apostille service starts from £87.
  • 1 day (next business day) service costs £97

The price includes our fees, FCDO fees, and VAT.

There could be additional costs, depending on another service you choose and how many documents you wish to apostille. Additional cost examples are:

  • Translations start from £35
  • Notarisation by notary public (+ £96)
  • Return delivery costs (+ £12)
  • Embassy legalisation (from + £60)

How long does it take to get an apostille?

There are three options for getting an apostille.

Option one: 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 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: e-Apostille 1 to 2 days 

If the document qualifies for an e-apostille, it is 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 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 get a replacement for a lost or damaged GRC, the office of the Gender Recognition Panel can send you a photocopy of your original certificate [1].

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

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’ [2].

You can find details of the application process on the government’s website [3].

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 [4].

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

An interim gender recognition certificate is a temporary certificate issued to individuals in the UK who are in the process of 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 not legal for anyone “in an official capacity” to see 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 [6].

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 [7].

There is a list of ‘approved countries and territories’ whose procedures for gender recognition are deemed to be 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 [8].

The law in your destination country determines whether or not an apostille is requested.

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” [9].

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 the apostille unless it has been 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.

Translations must be certified as accurate [10].

This article has been written by experts and fact-checked by experts. We only link to high-quality sources like government information & data, original reporting and interviews with industry experts. Reputable publishers are also sourced and cited where appropriate to support the facts within our articles.
[1] You cannot get a replacement certificate
https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate/how-to-apply

[2] Gender Recognition Certificate – The Rainbow Project
https://www.rainbow-project.org/gender-recognition-certificate/

[3] Apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate
https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate

[4] Gender recognition application fees
https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate.

[5] Interim gender recognition certificate
https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate.

[6] Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/guide_art_8_eng.pdf

[7] If you have a gender recognition certificate
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cymraeg/Defnyddwyr/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/.

[8] Gender Recognition Certificate: list of approved countries and territories
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gender-recognition-certificate-list-of-approved-countries-and-territories/

[9] Information about translations for GRC
https://www.iti.org.uk/discover/about-the-profession/official-translations.html

Gender Recognition Act 2004
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/7/contents