Apostille a Birth Certificate — Next-Day Service from £100+VAT
Get your UK birth certificate legalised for use abroad. We handle everything — FCDO submission, verification and secure return.
How Much Does It Cost to Apostille a Birth Certificate?
Choose the tier that fits your timeline. Discounts available for multiple documents.
All service fees plus VAT at the standard rate. The FCDO fee is a government charge and carries no VAT. Example total for Express service: £100 + £20 VAT + £40 FCDO fee = £160 total. Discounts available when apostilling multiple documents — contact us for a quote.
Get a Quick Quote
Tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you within the hour. No obligation.
Why Do You Need to Apostille a Birth Certificate?
A UK birth certificate is one of the most commonly apostilled personal documents. Once it carries the FCDO apostille stamp, it is legally recognised for official purposes in all 125 Hague Convention member countries.
Emigration & Visa Applications
Many countries — including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA — require an apostilled UK birth certificate as part of a permanent residency or skilled visa application.
Dual Citizenship Registration
Applying for Italian, Irish, Spanish or Portuguese citizenship by descent typically requires apostilled birth certificates for you and your ancestors to prove lineage.
Overseas Marriage
Getting married abroad often requires your UK birth certificate to be apostilled so that the foreign registry office can accept it as a valid UK government document.
Adoption Proceedings Abroad
International adoption processes frequently require apostilled birth certificates for both the adopting parents and the child as part of the legal documentation package.
School & University Enrolment
Enrolling children in foreign schools or registering at a university abroad may require an apostilled birth certificate to verify age, nationality and identity.
Inheritance & Property Abroad
Foreign probate courts and notaries often require apostilled UK birth certificates to confirm identity when claiming an inheritance or completing a property transaction abroad.
How Does the Birth Certificate Apostille Process Work?
Three straightforward steps — from sending your document to receiving your apostilled certificate.
Send Your Certificate
Post your original UK birth certificate or a certified copy issued by the General Register Office (GRO) to our office at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH. We accept standard and recorded post. Both the short version and long version are accepted by the FCDO.
FCDO Submission
As registered users of the Document Legalisation Service of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, we hand-deliver to the FCDO business counter every working day. Your document is verified and the apostille stamp applied by a public official.
Secure Return by Courier
Your apostilled birth certificate is returned by tracked courier to any UK or international address. A scanned copy is emailed on the same day it is collected — so you have a digital record immediately.
Client Case Study
A real example of how our Express service solved an urgent apostille problem.
Emigrating to Australia — Urgent Birth Certificate Apostille
Tom and Sarah were relocating to Australia on a skilled worker visa that required apostilled UK birth certificates for both applicants. Their visa appointment was in 48 hours and their documents were still in Manchester. They needed apostilles the same day the documents arrived — or they would miss a 12-month window on their application.
They booked our Express Apostille service and sent both birth certificates by same-day courier from Manchester. The documents arrived at 19 Wigmore Street before 10:00am. We submitted them to the FCDO business counter the same morning and had apostilled documents ready by close of business. Scanned copies were emailed that afternoon; the originals followed by tracked courier the next day.
Tom and Sarah attended their visa appointment on time with fully legalised UK birth certificates for international use.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers?
Six reasons clients trust us with their most important personal documents.
Daily FCDO Counter Access
We are registered business users of the Document Legalisation Service and submit directly to the FCDO counter every working day — no postal queues, no delays caused by intermediaries.
Regulated Notary Practice
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury — the governing body for notaries in England and Wales. Your documents are in the hands of a qualified UK notary public.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
Our apostille fees are fixed and quoted upfront. No hidden charges, no surprise invoices. You know exactly what you pay — service fee, VAT, and the FCDO government fee — before you send anything.
Express Next-Day Service
For urgent deadlines, our Express service delivers legalised documents the next working day. Documents must arrive by 10:00am. If you need your apostille today, call us first to confirm availability.
Central London Location
We are based at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH — two minutes from Bond Street and five minutes from Oxford Circus. Drop in to deliver documents in person if you prefer.
20+ Years of Experience
Our team has handled thousands of UK birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other personal documents for clients in over 80 countries. We understand the requirements of the Hague Apostille Convention and guide you through every step.
What Our Clients Say
Rated 4.9 stars from over 127 verified reviews.
“Needed a UK birth certificate apostilled urgently for my Italian citizenship application. The team at Edward Young turned it around the next day — incredibly professional and helpful throughout.”
“Used the Priority service for apostilling birth certificates for our whole family before our move to Australia. Excellent communication and very competitive pricing. Will use again without hesitation.”
“Quick, professional and exactly what I needed for my Canadian visa. Very clear about costs upfront — no surprises. The scanned copy arrived by email the same afternoon. Highly recommend.”
“Sorted apostilles for our children’s birth certificates for school enrolment in Spain. Efficient, friendly and very well priced. They even advised us on whether we needed notarisation first.”
Other Documents We Apostille
Birth certificates are among the most popular documents we apostille, but our apostille service covers a wide range of UK personal documents and official documents for use abroad. Every document listed below is handled with the same daily FCDO counter access and fixed-fee pricing.
Need a document apostilled that is not on this list? View our full apostille service or call us on 020 7499 2605 and we will advise whether your document qualifies for direct FCDO apostille or requires notarisation first. We also offer translation services for foreign-language documents before legalisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about apostilling a UK birth certificate.
Where do I get an apostille for a UK birth certificate? +−
UK birth certificates are apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which is the only UK government body authorised to issue apostilles for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The FCDO operates its Document Legalisation Service from its office; postal applications are sent to Milton Keynes. As a regulated notary practice, Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers submits directly to the FCDO business counter in person every working day from our office at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH — which is significantly faster than a postal submission.
How long does it take to apostille a birth certificate? +−
Our Standard service takes 10 working days, Priority takes 5 working days, and our Express service delivers an apostilled certificate the next working day — provided documents arrive at our office by 10:00am. Turnaround times include FCDO processing. If you need your apostille today or have a same-day deadline, please call us on 020 7499 2605 before sending documents and we will advise on the fastest available option.
How much does it cost to apostille a birth certificate? +−
Our service fees start at £60+VAT (Standard, 10 days), £80+VAT (Priority, 5 days), and £100+VAT (Express, next day). The FCDO government fee of £40 per document (no VAT) applies to all tiers — this is a UK government charge. A typical Express apostille costs £160 total (£100 + £20 VAT + £40 FCDO fee). Discounts are available when apostilling multiple documents. Contact us for a multi-document quote.
Can I apostille a copy of my birth certificate? +−
The FCDO will only apostille an original birth certificate or a certified copy issued by the General Register Office (GRO). Photocopies and self-certified copies are not accepted. Both the short version (birth certificate excerpt) and the long version (full birth certificate) can be apostilled. If you have lost your original, you can order a GRO-certified replacement birth certificate from GOV.UK before sending it to us. We can also advise on lost replacement birth certificate options.
Do I need a solicitor or notary to apostille a birth certificate? +−
A solicitor or notary is not legally required to apostille a UK birth certificate — the FCDO apostilles original GRO documents directly without solicitor certification. However, some countries require the birth certificate to be notarised before apostille, depending on how it will be used. Using a regulated notary practice such as Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers ensures daily FCDO counter access, expert guidance on destination country requirements, and secure document handling throughout.
What is the difference between an apostille and embassy legalisation? +−
An apostille is a single government stamp recognised in all 125 countries that have signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — no further authentication is needed. Embassy attestation (also called consular legalisation) is required for countries outside the Hague Convention, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China — it involves FCDO apostille followed by additional authentication by the destination country’s embassy in London. We offer both services. If you are unsure which applies to your destination country, call us and we will advise.
Telephone: 020 7499 2605 | Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury | Registered users of the FCDO Document Legalisation Service
Apostille Services | What is an Apostille? | Corporate Notary Services
Send Us Your Birth Certificate — We’ll Have It Apostilled Fast
Fixed fees, no surprises. Next working day Express service available. Daily FCDO counter access from 19 Wigmore Street, London.