A birth certificate apostille is one of the most commonly requested documents we process, usually for a visa application, marriage abroad, citizenship, or enrolling a child in school overseas. Here’s exactly what the process involves, or start your birth certificate order directly if you already know what you need.
Why you’d need a birth certificate apostille
Most countries outside the UK won’t accept a UK birth certificate at face value. An apostille is an official certification from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirming the document is genuine, so the receiving country can trust it without further checks. Common reasons people need one:
- Applying for a visa or residency abroad
- Getting married in another country
- Applying for citizenship or a passport through a parent
- Enrolling a child in a school or nursery overseas
- Registering a birth or family event with a foreign authority
What you actually need before you start
- Your original birth certificate
- Confirmation of which country you’re sending it to, since some destinations have specific extra requirements beyond the apostille itself
If your birth certificate isn’t an original, you’ll need order a replacement certificate from the GRO, and we can assist you with that.
A birth certificate can only be submitted in its original format. It cannot be solicitor certified for apostille purposes. This same requirement applies to all GRO-issued documents, including marriage certificates and death certificates.
Choosing the right service for a birth certificate
We offer three ways to get a birth certificate apostilled:
- Standard, the most affordable option if you’re not in a rush
- Express, a faster physical turnaround for urgent applications
The E-Apostille service is not available for birth certificates or any other documents issued by the General Register Office (GRO), including marriage certificates and death certificates. These documents contain physical security features that cannot be verified in a digital format.
What the process looks like, start to finish
- Send us your original birth certificate.
- We check it’s eligible for apostille before submission, so nothing gets rejected at the FCDO stage
- We submit it on your behalf and handle the FCDO processing
- You receive it back, either physically by post or instantly by email if you’ve chosen E-Apostille
FAQs
No. You cannot legalise a scanned copy or photocopy of a birth certificate. Only the original birth certificate can be submitted for an apostille.
Birth certificates cannot be solicitor certified as an alternative to the original. If you don’t have the original, we can arrange and order an official replacement from the GRO.
Depends on the tier you choose. Turnaround and current pricing are on our pricing page.
Generally yes, if you need the document accepted in more than one country, you’ll typically need it apostilled and sent separately for each, since requirements vary by destination.
Only in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination isn’t a member, you’ll need full embassy legalisation instead, a different process.
How Apostille Solutions can help
Not sure if your birth certificate needs Solicitor Certification, or which service tier fits your deadline? Get in touch for a free document review, or place your order directly if you already know what you need.
Sources: FCDO legalisation service guidance, gov.uk. Apostille Solutions pricing, current as of writing. Requirements vary by destination country, always confirm what’s needed before submitting.
