The wedding is booked. The visa deadline is approaching. Or you are trying to settle a loved one’s affairs overseas. Then comes the request for an apostilled UK birth, marriage or death certificate. What if you cannot find the certificate, or the one you have is the wrong version?
Westminster Legalisation Services (WLS) can help you obtain an official GRO certificate and arrange its apostille. You can also order the certificate yourself and have the GRO send it directly to our office, saving an extra postal journey.
Here is how to get the right certificate, what the GRO charges, and how long each stage may take.
How do I order a birth, marriage or death certificate from the GRO?
You can order a certificate through the official GRO portal. The GRO issues certificates for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate registration services, although their official certificates can also be submitted for a UK apostille.
Where to order your certificate
- England and Wales: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp
- Scotland: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/order-a-copy-of-a-certificate
- Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ordering-life-event-certificates
Follow these steps to order a certificate
- Choose the correct record. Select birth, marriage, death, civil partnership or adoption, as applicable.
- Enter the identifying details. Have the relevant names, date and place of the event ready. Include a GRO index reference if you have it.
- Select an official paper certificate. For apostille purposes, do not choose a historical PDF or online image.
- Choose standard or priority processing. Allow time for delivery as well as certificate production.
- Enter the delivery address carefully. You can arrange for the certificate to be sent directly to WLS.
You can also approach the local register office where the event was registered. For a recent event, check availability there first, as it may not yet be available through the GRO.
What is a GRO Certificate Apostilled?
A GRO certificate apostilled is an official Hague Apostille attached by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to authenticate the signature, stamp or seal on an official paper-based GRO document. It may be required when presenting a birth, marriage, death or other civil registration certificate to an overseas authority.
The apostille authenticates the document’s official origin. The receiving authority still decides whether its contents, format, date of issue and any translation meet its requirements.
Which certificates might need an apostille for use abroad?
Birth, marriage, death, civil partnership and adoption certificates may need apostilles when an overseas organisation requests legalised evidence of a family event or relationship. The purpose of your application determines which documents you need.
| Certificate | Examples of overseas use | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Marriage abroad, citizenship by descent, family visas, school enrolment and some study-related applications | Whether a full certificate showing parents’ details is required |
| Marriage certificate | Spouse visas, residence applications, registering a marriage abroad and proving a name change | Whether the authority requires a recently issued original |
| Death certificate | Overseas probate, inheritance, insurance, pensions and property or estate administration | Whether accompanying probate documents also need legalisation |
| Civil partnership certificate | Partner visas, residence applications and recognition of a registered relationship | The receiving authority’s requirements for relationship evidence |
| Adoption certificate | Nationality, family registration and applications requiring evidence of adoptive parentage | Whether a full adoption certificate is needed |
These are possible uses, rather than a universal requirement. Ask the organisation handling your application for its document checklist before ordering.
Birth certificate apostille for marriage, visas and citizenship
A birth certificate may be needed to establish your date and place of birth or your relationship to a parent. For overseas applications, we recommend checking whether you need the full birth certificate, often called the long version, which includes parents’ details as recorded.
A short birth certificate can be apostilled, but the apostille cannot add missing parental information. Choosing the wrong version could mean paying for a second certificate and another apostille.
Read our guide to apostilling a UK birth certificate for more about long and short versions.
Marriage certificate apostille for a spouse visa or registration abroad
If you married in the UK and need to prove the marriage overseas, the receiving authority may request your official marriage certificate with an apostille. This can arise in spouse visa applications, residence procedures or registration of the marriage in another country.
For example, the Italian Consulate in London lists an apostille among the requirements for registering marriages celebrated in countries covered by the Hague Apostille Convention.
Check whether the authority needs a translation and whether it places a limit on how recently the certificate must have been issued.
Certificate for marriage
You can order an official copy of a UK marriage certificate through the General Register Office (GRO) or via third-party providers like Westminster Legalisation Services.
To apply for a marriage certificate, you will need:
- Full names of both partners (including maiden or prior surnames)
- Date of the marriage (or approximate year to narrow a search)
- Place of the marriage (church, registry office, town, or district)
- You can order a marriage or civil partnership certificate online …facebook.com
Common Uses
- Changing your surname on passports, bank accounts, and driving licences
- Applying for spousal visas or handling legal inheritance
- Proving marital status for pensions and social security
Westminster Legalisation Services (WLS) can help you obtain an official GRO certificate and arrange its apostille, with translation where required. If you already have your certificate, we can help prepare it for overseas use. You can also order a replacement from the GRO and have it delivered directly to WLS, saving an extra postal journey.
Death certificate apostille for overseas probate and inheritance
A death certificate apostille may be requested when dealing with assets, pensions, insurance or an estate abroad. The overseas bank, lawyer, insurer or probate authority should confirm the documents it needs.
Handling an estate can involve several separate documents. Before arranging legalisation, ask whether the death certificate alone is sufficient or whether a grant of probate, will, cremation certificate, coroner’s certificate or other supporting paperwork is also required.
We can help you organise the legalisation steps, so you have one clear point of contact while managing the wider process.
How much do GRO certificates cost, and how long do they take?
Online GRO paper certificates start at £12.50 for the standard service with an index reference, or £38.50 for priority processing. A search fee applies if you do not supply the reference.
| Online GRO service | With index reference | Without index reference | Published dispatch time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard paper certificate | £12.50 | £16.00 | Fourth working day with a reference; fifteenth working day without one |
| Priority paper certificate | £38.50 | £42.00 | Next working day for applications received before 4 pm |
Dispatch is not delivery. These times describe when the GRO sends the certificate. Postal transit and apostille processing are additional stages. Premium delivery options cost extra.
These are GRO certificate fees only. WLS procurement, apostille, translation and onward delivery charges are separate where applicable. Check the GRO’s current service information before paying.
Can the GRO send my certificate directly to WLS?
Yes. You can use WLS’s office address as the delivery address when ordering your GRO certificate. This removes the journey from the GRO to your home followed by a second journey to us. It can save transit time and the cost of forwarding the certificate, particularly if you live overseas.
How to arrange direct delivery
- Contact WLS for a quote and tell us which certificate you are ordering, the destination country and your deadline.
- Arrange your apostille order with us and confirm the delivery details.
- Order the certificate from the GRO using the agreed WLS address.
- Send us your GRO order confirmation and the name on the certificate so we can match its arrival to your instructions.
Delivery details for our London office
Westminster Legalisation Services Ltd
60 St. Martin’s Lane
Covent Garden
London
WC2N 4JS
United Kingdom
Include our company name in the delivery address. Please confirm the address with us before ordering, and include your WLS reference where the GRO delivery fields allow.
Once your certificate arrives, we will check it against your order and proceed with the agreed apostille service as soon as possible. The submission date depends on arrival time, our daily cut-off and any document checks.
You do not need to be in the UK to organise this. We can arrange onward delivery to your chosen address once the service is complete.
Can WLS obtain my GRO certificate for me?
Yes. Our GRO Procurement service can obtain an official certificate on your behalf and coordinate its apostille. This is useful if you have lost the certificate, need a replacement or would prefer us to manage the ordering process.
Tell us the certificate type, the relevant names, the date and place of the event, and any GRO index reference you have. Also provide the destination country and your deadline.
We will confirm availability, the information needed and a quote for the requested services. Procurement depends on the GRO locating and issuing the record, so the certificate ordering stage must be allowed for before apostille processing begins.
Request GRO procurement and apostille together.
Does a GRO certificate need a solicitor or notary before an apostille?
An official GRO or register office paper certificate normally goes directly for apostille without solicitor certification or notarisation. Use the official issued certificate, including an official replacement, rather than a privately certified photocopy.
An official certificate may itself be labelled a “certified copy of an entry”. That is different from a photocopy endorsed by a solicitor. The National Archives’ guidance on reproducing certificates explains that an endorsed photocopy should not be supplied as evidence of the event.
GRO documents also have a Crown Copyright and only the original can be Apostilled.
How long does a birth, marriage or death certificate apostille take?
WLS offers a next working day Express Apostille service for eligible documents received by 11:15 am, subject to successful FCDO checks. Our Standard Apostille service has an estimated turnaround of five working days.
Fastest UK Service: If you already have the certificate in hand, just send it to WLS and the Apostille can be ready in 1 working day!
| Route | New GRO certificate – Priority | Apostille processing | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLS Express Apostille | Allow around 3–4 working days for the certificate to reach WLS | 1 working day if received by 11:15 am | Around 4–5 working days, plus delivery |
| WLS Standard Apostille | Allow around 3–4 working days for the certificate to reach WLS | Approximately 5 working days | Around 8–9 working days, plus delivery |
| Apply directly to the FCDO | Allow around 3–4 working days to obtain the certificate | Usually up to 25 working days | Around 28-29 working days, plus delivery |
If you also need a new certificate, its production and delivery come first. The total process can take 3-5 working days for the new certificate to arrive at WLS + 1 working day for the Apostille.
For comparison, the FCDO’s direct standard paper service currently costs £45 per document, plus return delivery, and usually takes up to 25 working days before postal transit. Check the current estimate when applying. If you order your Apostille directly through the FCDO, be ready to wait 3-5 working days for the certificate + 25 working days for the Apostille + delivery transit times.
The FCDO’s direct standard paper service currently costs £45 per document, plus return delivery. GRO certificate fees, WLS service fees and any other delivery costs are separate. Check current processing estimates before applying.
See our apostille services.
Will I need a translation or embassy legalisation?
You may need a translation as well as an apostille. Ask the receiving authority which language and translator qualifications it requires, whether the apostille must also be translated, and whether it specifies the order of the steps.
WLS can arrange certified and sworn translation services, subject to the requirements of your destination.
Where an apostille alone does not cover the required route, further embassy or consular steps may be necessary. Our consular legalisation service can help you establish the appropriate process.
Get your GRO certificate ready for use abroad
Westminster Legalisation Services has offices in London and Milton Keynes and supports clients in the UK and overseas.
Tell us which certificate you need, where it will be used and your deadline. We will explain the next steps and provide a quote.
Request a Legalisation Quote:
Frequently asked questions about GRO certificates and apostilles
Where can I order a GRO certificate online?
Use the official GOV.UK ordering page to access the GRO service for England and Wales. If you want WLS to obtain the certificate and arrange its apostille, ask about our GRO Procurement service.
How do I obtain an official marriage certificate in the UK?
For a marriage registered in England and Wales, order from the GRO or the relevant local register office. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate services. Tell WLS where the marriage was registered if you need help identifying the correct route.
Can I order a replacement birth certificate with an apostille?
Yes. WLS can coordinate procurement of the official replacement birth certificate and its apostille. You can also order the certificate yourself and have the GRO deliver it directly to Westminster Legalisation Services. Certificate issuance and apostille are separate stages.
Are there companies that offer expedited birth certificate delivery?
WLS can help coordinate certificate procurement, apostille and onward delivery. You can also choose the GRO’s own priority service and any available premium delivery option. Check each stage’s timing before relying on an arrival date.
Can a GRO birth, marriage or death certificate get an e-Apostille?
No. The FCDO excludes GRO documents, including birth, marriage, death, adoption and civil partnership certificates, from its e-Apostille service. These documents require paper apostilles.
Does a GRO certificate arrive with an apostille already attached?
No. The GRO issues the certificate. Apostille legalisation is a separate service, handled by the FCDO. WLS can arrange that stage after the official certificate has been issued.
Do I always need a newly issued certificate?
Check the receiving authority’s instructions before ordering a replacement. Some applications specify a recent issue date. Tell us what the authority has requested so we can help you plan the correct certificate and legalisation route.
About the Author: Emerson De Queiroz Barbosa
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