Birth Certificate Attestation: Finding the Best Translation Providers
What you need to know about Birth Certificate Attestation
In the UK, birth details are permanently recorded in the register book of the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the birth occurs. These records are also sent to the General Register Office (GRO), a division of the UK HM Passport Office responsible for registering births, deaths, adoptions, and marriages. The GRO is the only authority that can issue a copy of a birth certificate.
A birth certificate is crucial as it serves as proof of a person’s birth, age, and nationality. It is often needed for passport applications, school and college registrations, driver’s license applications, marriage licenses, opening bank accounts, loan applications, and job applications. Additionally, it is required for various official purposes abroad.
You can obtain a birth certificate copy by registering online on the GRO website or through local register offices acting on behalf of the GRO. The UK birth certificate comes in two versions: a short version that includes the individual’s name, place, and date of birth, and an unabridged version that also lists the parents’ names.
If you need to apply for a foreign visa, engage in legal matters in a foreign court, participate in international adoption or marriage, apply for a birth certificate for your child abroad, or seek employment with a foreign company, you will need to submit your UK-issued birth certificate. In such cases, the attestation and legalisation of the
Legalisation and Attestation Process
Legalisation involves obtaining an apostille certificate from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) . This confirms the authenticity of the birth certificate’s signature, seal, or stamp. As the UK is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, documents with an FCDO apostille stamp are accepted in all convention member countries without further consular legalisation. If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, the birth certificate must be legalised by the respective embassy in London after the FCDO attaches the apostille.
The UK FCDO requires verification and attestation by a UK notary public or solicitor before issuing apostille certificates. However, birth certificates issued by the Registrar’s office do not need such attestation.
The FCDO attaches an apostille to the original or a certified copy of the birth certificate. Photocopies, even if certified by a notary, are not acceptable. We recommend submitting the unabridged version of the birth certificate for legalisation.
Process to Notarise and Apostille a Birth Certificate
Certified Translation Org UK Expertise
Certified Translation Org UK has extensive experience in document legalisation for various purposes. We ensure your documents are correctly formatted, certified by a solicitor if needed, submitted to the appropriate offices, and safely retrieved. Our agents ensure safe return of your documents, either personally or via courier.
For reliable birth certificate attestation and translation services, Certified Translation Org UK is your trusted partner.