Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates — Europe
All 27 European Union member countries are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. For the most part, a UK apostille is therefore all that is required for documents to be accepted across the EU, and embassy legalisation is rarely required. The receiving authority may still have its own requirements for translations or the form of a document, so these should be confirmed before it is submitted.
Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates for use in Europe
UK birth, marriage and death certificates must normally be original or certified copies issued by the relevant register office before they can be apostilled for use in the EU. Photocopies are not usually accepted unless the authority in the EU specifically allows a solicitor-certified copy.
How it works
- Confirmation of the destination country and the receiving authority's requirements
- Solicitor certification of your document, where required
- Apostille legalisation through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Return of the legalised document, ready for use in the relevant European country
Fees
Note: These fees would be in addition to the fees Embassies and Consulates charge for processing and legalising documents. Every Embassy has their own fee structure depending on whether documents are commercial or personal. The exact costs can be confirmed if required.
Most European destinations accept a UK apostille without further embassy legalisation. Translation or another local requirement may still apply, depending on the country and authority receiving the document.
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