The UK birth certificate is a proof of identity document that allows UK nationals to undertake official business in other countries. If you need an apostille for your birth certificate in UK, the members of our notary public in London can assist you. They will also check that all of your documents are in the correct format, have been certified by a solicitor if necessary, and have been filed to the appropriate offices.
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Types of birth certificates in UK
If you are planning to get an apostille for a birth certificate in UK, you must know about its types. In the UK, birth certificates fall into two main categories:
- Birth certificates in short form, which merely list the child’s specifics;
- Long-form birth certificates, also referred to as Full or A4 certificates, contain information about the parents and the child. The long-form certificate also includes the precise birthplace, the father’s occupation (and, more recently, the mother’s occupation), and the address of the person who registered the birth.
This information can at least give you the minimum idea of which birth certificate you own right now. You can also find below the purpose of this categorization of a birth certificate in UK. Furthermore, you are welcome to get in touch with us if you are interested to legalize a birth certificate in UK.
Which birth certificate can be apostilled in UK?
Both forms of birth certificates can be apostilled in UK, however, we advise legalizing the lengthy version if possible. When presenting a UK birth certificate outside the UK, this is often necessary. You can get an official replica of your birth certificate that will be sufficient for the apostille process if you have lost your original one or do not want to mail it to our notary. The local registry office, where the birth was initially registered, is where you can get an official copy. As an alternative, you can get a replacement document from the GRO online (General Registry Office). If required, our notary in UK can arrange these replacements on your behalf. To place an order for a replacement, kindly get in touch with our UK notary public. They can also help you to get an apostille for your birth certificate in UK.
Purpose of short-form birth certificate
A short-form certificate may also be referred to as an abridged certificate. The one your mother has is most likely short-form. They are nice little souvenirs that were typically distributed without any charge to your parents. But from a legal standpoint, the advantages stop there. Typically, a short-form certificate just includes the following information: name and surname, sex, date of birth, and place of birth. Short-form birth certificate is acceptable for your parents’ memento. However, legally speaking, they are insufficient if you ever need your birth certificate as proof. They are being phased out to stop illegal immigration. Instead, a long-form birth certificate that is complete will be required. If you are planning to legalize your birth certificate in UK, our notary can assist you.
Purpose of long-form birth certificate
The A4 certificate is another name for a long-form one. It may be beneficial from a legal perspective. The information on an A4 certificate is the same as that on a short-form certificate, with a few essential additions. A long-form birth certificate includes the following information: name and surname, sex, birthdate, birthplace, mother’s details, father’s details (or second parent’s details), and the address of the person registering the birth.
Full birth certificates can be used to verify your nationality because they contain information about your parents; therefore, you can use them to apply for ancestor visas. They can be useful for work considerations and are acceptable for passport applications. You will need a long-form birth certificate if you desire one for any official reasons or documents. If you are seeking help to apostille such a birth certificate in UK, you can get help from our notary.
How the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regulates in the UK
Birth certificates issued in the United Kingdom require document legalization from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. According to it, the apostille on a birth certificate in London, the seal and signatures on the document are authorized by a recognized UK official body, legal practitioner, or a representative of a government body. All member countries of the 1961 Hague Convention recognize this stamp.
Our UK notary will check that all of your documents are in the correct format, have been certified by a solicitor if necessary, and have been filed to the appropriate offices as well as carefully collected when they have been legalized. In addition, our knowledgeable staff will ensure that your documents are safely returned to you, either personally or via courier.
The process of having an apostille birth certificate in London granted by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office is known as legalization (FCO). The apostille legalization of a birth certificate document verifies the authenticity of the issuing authority’s signature, seal, or stamp in the United Kingdom. Because the United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, public documentation with the FCO apostille stamp is recognized by all Hague Convention signatory countries without consular legalization. However, suppose the destination country is not a signatory to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. In that case, the birth certificate must be legalized by the appropriate embassy in London after the FCO has stamped it.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not issue apostilled birth certificates in London without verification and attestation by a UK notary public or solicitor. So, in such a case, you can rely on the validation and attestation of your documents by our notary in London. Our expert team members can provide you with fast services regarding apostilles on birth certificates in London and help you identify if there is any chance of counterfeiting in the paperwork.
The original birth certificate, which was issued at the time of birth registration, will be apostille-ed by the FCO. An authentic certified copy or a replacement copy from the General Register Office (GRO) can also be submitted. Photocopies of the document, even if certified by a notary public in London or solicitor, will not be accepted. For legalization, we propose that you provide the original form of the birth certificate document. There are chances to apostille birth certificates in London on the same day of application. So, you are welcome to get in touch with our skilled team members located at the notary public in London for their apostille services.
In addition to this, if you need apostille services at Canary Wharf, you can also interact with our skilled team members located there. An official government-issued certificate called an apostille is appended to documentation so that they will be recognized when presented in another nation. The state where the document was originally created typically issues the apostille certificate, however occasionally another state may do so. A document can be presented to any nation that accepts the Apostille after an Apostille Certificate verifying the legitimacy of the signatures and seals has been affixed to it. Get in touch with the members located at our Canary Wharf’s notary.
Can our UK notary issue an apostille on a non-UK birth certificate?
If you are wondering whether you can apostille a non-UK birth certificate, get in touch with our notary in London. Our notary members can explain in detail in this regard. Original birth certificates that were issued outside of the UK cannot have a UK apostille added to them. The sole exception to this rule is if the certificate was issued by a British Embassy or Consulate abroad however if it was technically a UK document.
The members of our notary office in London can produce a certified copy of the birth certificate and issue the UK apostille to a true copy of the document to affix an apostille to a non-UK birth certificate. You must determine whether the party you plan to deliver the document to will accept this method of legalization if you want our notary members to arrange for the apostille to be attached to a copy of the document.
In addition to this, find an apostille supplier in the country of origin if the apostille needs to be added to the original document. Unfortunately, apostilles cannot be issued even by the embassy of the country of origin. Ask the individual/entity requesting the legalized document from you which alternative form of legalization they will use if the nation of origin does not issue apostilles. If you need the assistance of an expert to legalize your birth certificate in UK, please consult with our agents.
How may our London notary public assist you?
Our team members can apostille birth certificates in London to be used outside of the UK. They will send them to the London legalization office right after notarization, providing you with a quick legalization service.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will stamp your document with an apostille stamp, confirming that our notary is qualified to notarize it. Some documents issued in the United Kingdom, such as marriage certificates and birth certificates, can be apostilled without previously being notarized.
If you are confused about selecting a certified notary public, our team members can help you because the notaries must fulfill the eligibility criteria for apostilling the documents.
A decline in UK birth rate
The related authorities might be receiving fewer applications for apostilling birth certificates, as there has been a constant decline in the birth rate of the UK. Please find below the reduction in the UK birth rate from 2017 to 2020:
- In 2020, the birth rate in the United Kingdom was 11.433 per 1000 inhabitants, dropping to 0.48 percent from 2019;
- In 2019, the birth rate in the United Kingdom was 11.488 births per 1000 people, down to 0.48 percent from 2018;
- In 2018, the birth rate in the United Kingdom was 11.543 births per 1000 people, decreasing to 1.54 percent from 2017.
Contact our notary if you want to apostille a birth certificate in London. Their efficient services can save your time and energy.
Further, if you are interested to learn the process of obtaining a notary affidavit, you can consult with our team members. They can provide you with comprehensive guidance in this regard.
