If you’re planning to move abroad and are worried about the cost of apostilling your birth certificate, the good thing is that there are a couple of ways for you to bring down the cost.
What’s a Birth Certificate Apostille and Why Do You Need One?
If you’ve just been requested to provide an apostilled birth certificate, you may be wondering what in the world that means. Well, a birth certificate apostille is an official seal or stamp along with a signature that confirms the authenticity of your documents.
Take the case of a birth certificate – when presented to officials in a foreign country, there simply isn’t a way to verify whether the information is true. However, by including an official confirmation from the country of origin, the recipient country can recognize and approve the documents. In the UK, apostilling is usually handled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
What Costs Are Involved, and How Can You Lower Them?
Typically, the costs of apostilling a birth certificate in the UK will include government fees, shipping and handling fees, and service fees. When navigating the entire process on your own, the process can be puzzling and annoying.
That’s why using an accredited service provider such as London Apostille to get an apostille for a UK birth certificate is the right way to go. Not only do they understand the requirements and associated fees, but they also know how to keep the cost low.
Nonetheless, here are some tips that will help you save money on birth certificate apostilling:
1. Check out Different Apostille Service Providers
When getting a birth certificate apostille, make sure to research different apostille services so you can choose the most reputable and affordable option. Here are some quick steps you should follow:
- Create a list of possible apostille services
- Study the reputation and customer feedback of each provider
- Weigh the pricing structures and fees of the most qualified providers
- Find out the expected turnaround time of each of the most qualified providers
- Determine the level of experience that each of the providers has with apostille processes for your country of interest
Depending on your situation, your research process may be easier or more complex than the one above. Just make sure not to leave any stone unturned, and don’t choose a provider just because they offer the cheapest services.
2. Use a Third-Party courier service
Third-party services often sound like a ticking bomb, but only if you keep using services that haven’t been tried and tested. If there are reliable third-party courier services in your area, don’t be afraid to use one.
The only downside to such services is that they are a tad slower and need more rigorous planning if you want your plans to succeed. So if you’re not pressed for time (which should be the case if you plan early), you can save some bucks by using a third-party courier.
3. Act Early Enough
Begin the apostilling process as soon as you know that your documents need to be apostilled for use in a foreign country. That way, you won’t have to use expedited services, thus you’ll save money and enjoy a worry-free process.
Besides, submitting your documents early enough makes it easier to handle unexpected delays. Where possible, always track the progress of your application and follow up if you think it’s taking longer than expected.
4. Request Multiple Copies
If possible for your situation, it’s always a good idea to request multiple copies of your birth certificate apostille so you can save time and money in the future. Before doing so, check the requirements to make sure that you can get copies and that you can use them in the country of interest.
In most cases, however, this isn’t necessary, unless you lose your first apostilled document. All you have to do is assess your situation to determine whether this step will be necessary.
E-Apostilles in the UK: Can You Have Your Birth Certificate Apostilled Digitally?
Birth certificates are undoubtedly indispensable as far as personal identification goes. Every human has to receive one as long as they are born in a country with a functional government, thus they are quite reliable in proving one’s identity and providing key information about who that individual is.
That’s why your birth certificate will be among the top documents that you have to apostille when moving to a new country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention. As the UK continues to embrace digital solutions for different official processes, the concept of e-Apostilles has unsurprisingly gained traction.
The idea of having your birth certificate apostilled electronically sounds convenient, but is it practical? Find out below.
Can You Get an E-Apostille for Your Birth Certificate?
Well, not at the moment: E-Apostilles are known to be more convenient and slightly cheaper compared to paper-based apostilles. So if you’re looking to save some money, you’d probably want to have your birth certificate apostilled electronically. At present, however, it’s not possible to have your birth certificate apostilled digitally.
However, you can still enjoy the convenience of a smooth process when seeking an apostille for UK birth certificates by engaging an apostille services provider like London Apostille Services Limited. The good thing about ordering your apostille through an accredited business is that such service providers can even hand-deliver your documents to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) compared to mailing them which would take longer.
What Other Documents Can’t Be Apostilled Digitally?
Most official documents in the UK will not be eligible for e-apostilling. Here’s a list of documents that must have a printed apostille certificate added to them:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Certificate of No Impediment
- Civil ceremony certificates
- Fingerprint documents
- Court documents with ink stamps
- ACRO, NPCC, DBS certificates
- Medical notes signed by a doctor
- Notarised documents
- Fit-to-work documents signed by a doctor
- Disclosures and police checks
- Civil ceremony certificates
- Ink-signed solicitor documents
- Other government-issued certificates
So, What Personal Documents Can Be e-Apostilled?
Though most of your official documents are not capable of being e-apostilled currently, you can still simplify the entire process by having the following personal documents e-apostilled, if they will be required in the new country:
- Copy of driving licence (requires verification)
- Degree certificates (verification required)
- Employment letters and contracts (verification can be necessary)
- Academic certificates and awards (verification may also be necessary)
- Passport copies (original required for confirmation)
- NHS employment documents
- P45, P60 that’s issued digitally
- Digitally-issued HMRC documents
- Court documents issued digitally
- TEFL certificates
- Professional qualifications & memberships
- Decree Absolute, Decree Nisi (digital versions)
- Numbered bullet
- Certificate of residence (make sure you have the original)
Business Documents You Can e-Apostille
If you’re moving to the destination country for business, you can also utilise the e-apostille service for the following business documents:
- Company registers
- Change of address documents
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of association
- Digitally-issued HMRC documents
- Certificate of Free Sale
- Certificate of Residence (you’ll need to provide the original)
- Company accounts (you may be asked for verification)
- Companies House documents
- Memorandum of Association
- Share Certificates
- CS01
Apostille Your Documents With Ease
There is a lot you need to know about the apostille process to have your documents legalised effortlessly, which is where an apostille services provider comes in. With enough experience and knowledge of this process, they can guide you through and handle some steps for you.
As one of the renowned companies in the UK, London Apostilled Services is a great choice if you’re feeling stuck or confused by the apostilled process. Check out ApostilleLondon.com today to learn more or order your birth certificate apostille without going through unnecessary struggles!
