Apostille for a UK birth certificate

An apostille is a stamped official certificate that the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) attaches to a UK public document. The office attaches it only after checking the document’s signature or seal against its records.

A document can be legalised when it was issued by a UK public official or certified by one, such as a UK notary or solicitor.

Two types of apostille, both applied for online

• Paper-based — the document is handled by post, or in person for registered businesses.
• e-Apostille — a PDF signed electronically by a UK notary or solicitor.

gov.uk states that you cannot get an e-Apostille for birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates or other General Register Office documents. The same exclusion covers ACRO police certificates (England and Wales), DBS certificates (England and Wales), disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland) and fingerprint certificates.

For a birth certificate, this means the paper-based process is the relevant route: the application is made online, and the certificate itself is handled on paper.

Fees

Per document:

Courier costs apply to paper-based apostilles. There is no refund if a document cannot be legalised.

How long it takes

For a birth certificate, the paper-based times are the ones that apply.

Before you apply

• Check with the receiving authority what it accepts: gov.uk notes that some authorities want a paper-based apostille even when an e-Apostille exists.
• Remember that courier or postage comes on top of the fee for paper-based apostilles, and that there is no refund if the document cannot be legalised.

What this page does not cover

This page is general information only and is not legal advice.