When Do You Need Your Marriage Certificate Apostilled?
A marriage certificate is one of the most commonly apostilled documents in the UK. Foreign governments and institutions need an apostilled version to confirm that your marriage is legally recognised before they process applications that depend on your marital status.
Here are the most common situations where you will need an apostilled marriage certificate:
Relocating Abroad as a Couple
When applying for family visas, spousal residency permits, or joint immigration applications, foreign governments require proof that your marriage is legally valid. An apostilled UK marriage certificate satisfies this requirement in all Hague Convention countries.
Spouse Visa Applications
If your partner is sponsoring you for a spouse or dependent visa, the immigration authority will require an apostilled marriage certificate as proof of your relationship. This applies in countries like the UAE, Australia, Canada, and across Europe.
Buying Property Abroad
In many countries, property purchases by married couples require proof of marriage. Notaries and land registries in Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal commonly request an apostilled marriage certificate before completing a sale, particularly for joint ownership arrangements.
Name Change Overseas
If you changed your surname after marriage and need to update records abroad (banks, employers, government agencies), an apostilled marriage certificate is the standard proof of your name change. This is required for opening bank accounts, registering with local authorities, and updating employment records.
Which Marriage Certificates Can Be Apostilled?
There are different types of marriage certificates in the UK, and they are treated differently by the FCDO. Understanding which type you have is essential to choosing the right service.
✅ GRO-Issued Marriage Certificates (Apostille at £90)
This is the official certificate issued by the General Register Office. It is the version that all legally valid marriages in England and Wales are registered with, whether you had a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony in a registered venue. It bears the GRO watermark and official seal.
This is the certificate you should use for apostille whenever possible. It can be apostilled directly at £90 without solicitor certification.
📝 Church or Religious Marriage Certificates (Apostille at £120)
A church certificate is a commemorative document issued by the place of worship. It is not the official GRO-registered certificate and is treated as a private document by the FCDO. It requires solicitor certification before it can be apostilled.
If you have both: Use the GRO certificate for apostille (£90) rather than the church certificate (£120). Every legally valid marriage has a GRO certificate, even if you were married in a church.
🤝 Civil Partnership Certificates (Apostille at £90)
Civil partnership certificates issued by the GRO are treated the same as marriage certificates for apostille purposes. They can be apostilled directly at £90 without solicitor certification.
Note: Check with the receiving country whether they recognise civil partnerships. Some countries treat them differently from marriages, which may affect how the document is accepted.
⚠️ Lost Your Marriage Certificate?
You can order a replacement marriage certificate from the GRO for £11 online. The replacement is a certified original and can be apostilled at £90. This is cheaper and simpler than apostilling a photocopy with solicitor certification (£120). Replacements are typically delivered within 2 weeks.
Do I Need Solicitor Certification?
The rules are clear: official GRO-issued certificates can be apostilled directly. Church certificates, photocopies, and other non-official versions require solicitor certification first.
✅ No Solicitor Needed — £90
- • GRO-issued marriage certificate (original)
- • GRO replacement marriage certificate
- • Civil partnership certificate (GRO)
- • NRS marriage certificate (Scotland)
- • GRONI marriage certificate (Northern Ireland)
📝 Solicitor Required — £120
- • Church or religious ceremony certificate
- • Photocopy of marriage certificate
- • Scanned or printed copy
- • Marriage certificates not issued by a UK registry
- • Commemorative marriage certificates
Cost-Saving Tip: If you only have a church certificate or photocopy, order a GRO replacement certificate for £11 instead. The GRO certificate qualifies for the £90 service, saving you £19 compared to the £120 solicitor certification route (£11 + £90 = £101 vs £120).
Step-by-Step Process
Getting your marriage certificate apostilled through LegaliseNow is a simple, five-step process.
Place Your Order Online
Use our online tool to select your document type, choose whether you need solicitor certification, and pick your delivery method. Payment is taken securely via Stripe.
Send Us Your Document
Post your marriage certificate to our London office, or drop it off in person. We recommend tracked delivery for your peace of mind when sending originals.
We Verify Your Document
Our team checks your marriage certificate to ensure it meets FCDO requirements. We confirm whether it is a GRO original or a church certificate, and advise on the correct service level. If there are any issues, we contact you before proceeding.
FCDO Submission & Collection
We submit your document to the FCDO and collect it the next working day with the apostille stamp attached. As a registered agent, we have direct submission access — no postal delays.
Return to You
Your apostilled marriage certificate is returned via your chosen delivery method. Full tracking is provided at every stage so you know exactly where your document is.
Popular Destinations
These are the countries where we process the most marriage certificate apostilles. Each has its own nuances that are worth knowing before you order.
ES Spain
An apostilled marriage certificate is commonly required for NIE applications, property purchases, and residency permits. Spanish authorities typically require a sworn Spanish translation of the apostilled certificate (the translation itself may also need apostilling). Essential for couples buying property together in Spain.
FR France
Required for carte de séjour (residence permit) applications, PACS conversions, and joint tax declarations. French authorities will want the apostilled certificate with a sworn French translation. Also needed when registering a UK marriage with French civil authorities (transcription).
IT Italy
Needed for registering a UK marriage with the Italian comune, spouse visa applications, and property purchases. Italy often requires an apostilled marriage certificate for elective residency visa applications. A sworn Italian translation is usually required alongside the apostilled original.
AE UAE
Essential for family visa sponsorship, dependent visa applications, and opening joint bank accounts. The UAE requires apostille plus embassy attestation (from £150). Your marriage certificate will need both the UK FCDO apostille and UAE embassy legalisation in London before it is accepted by UAE authorities.
AU Australia
Required for partner visa applications (subclass 309/100 and 820/801) and spouse-dependent skilled migration visas. The Department of Home Affairs requires apostilled relationship evidence, including your marriage certificate, as part of the offshore or onshore visa application.
US United States
Needed for spousal immigration petitions (CR-1 and IR-1 visas), name changes with the Social Security Administration, and joint tax filings. Some US states also require an apostilled marriage certificate when applying for a marriage-based green card.
Divorce Documents
If you are divorced and need documents apostilled for use abroad, the process depends on the type of court document you have.
Decree Absolute
The final order that legally ends a marriage. If you have the original court-issued decree absolute (with the court seal), it can be apostilled directly at £90 as it is an official court document.
Decree Nisi / Conditional Order
The provisional order issued before the final divorce. Original court-issued copies can be apostilled at £90. Some countries accept a decree nisi as proof that divorce proceedings are underway, but most require the final decree absolute.
💡 Need Both Marriage and Divorce Documents?
If you are remarrying abroad or applying for a visa as a divorced person, you may need both your marriage certificate and decree absolute apostilled. Send them together to save on delivery costs — you only pay the delivery fee once. Contact us for volume pricing on multiple documents.
⚠️ Photocopies of Court Documents
If you only have a photocopy of your decree absolute, it will need solicitor certification before it can be apostilled (£120). You can request a sealed copy from the court that issued the decree, which would qualify for the £90 service. Contact the Family Court or apply through the GOV.UK website.
Costs & Delivery Options
Our pricing for marriage certificate apostille is simple, transparent, and includes no hidden fees.
💷 Apostille Service Pricing
| Document Type | Price per Document | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| GRO Marriage Certificate — Apostille Only | £90 | Next working day |
| Church Certificate / Photocopy — With Solicitor | £120 | Next working day |
| Civil Partnership Certificate — Apostille Only | £90 | Next working day |
| Decree Absolute (Original) — Apostille Only | £90 | Next working day |
📦 Delivery Options
In Person Collection
Free
Collect from our London office at 50 Broadway, SW1H 0DB
DHL UK Next Day
£11.63
Tracked next-day delivery anywhere in the UK
DHL Europe
£40
Tracked express delivery across Europe (2–4 days)
DHL Worldwide
£50
Tracked express delivery worldwide (3–7 days)
✅ Relocating as a Family? Save on Delivery
If you need multiple documents apostilled (marriage certificate, birth certificates, degrees), send them all together. You only pay the delivery fee once, not per document. Contact us for volume discounts on three or more documents.