Apostilles and Certified Copies of UK Birth Certificates

I am often asked to certify photocopies of UK Birth Certificates and sometimes there is also a request to obtain an Apostille for the document.

UK Birth Certificates are subject to crown copyright however, and may not be freely photocopied.  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will reject a photocopy for this reason and a Notary Public will not therefore, be able to certify a photocopy.

Certified copies of the original entry may however, be obtained on application to the General Register Office if required, and these may then be used to obtain an Apostille from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Birth Certificates from outside the UK may not be restricted by copyright and a Notary Public will wish to check what, if any, restrictions do apply.

Birth Certificates are among the category of documents that can have an Apostille directly attached to them.  However, if you need more than one document legalised, a Notarial Certificate may be a more cost effective way forward.  The original certified copy of the Birth Certificate and any other relevant documents may be exhibited to a Notarial Certificate and this obviates the need for multiple Apostilles, subject of course, to the receiving jurisdiction finding this acceptable.