Apostille for a Foreign Death Certificate: How to Get One

What Is an Apostille?

The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961) — commonly called the Apostille Convention — created a simplified method for certifying public documents between member countries.

An apostille is a certificate that is attached to (or stamped on) a public document confirming that the document is genuine and that the issuing authority (in the UK, the General Register Office or a registrar) is a valid authority. Once a document bears an apostille, it is recognised in any of the 120+ Hague Convention member countries without further authentication.

Common documents that may require apostilles in estate administration:

• Death certificates
• Birth certificates (to prove relationships)
• Marriage certificates
• Wills
• Grants of Probate
• Powers of Attorney

How to Get an Apostille on a UK Death Certificate

In the UK, apostilles for public documents are issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office. The process:

1. Obtain a certified copy of the death certificate: You need a certified copy issued directly by the General Register Office or a local registrar — a photocopy or uncertified copy will not be apostilled. Obtain certified copies when registering the death (see our guide on the estate administration checklist)
2. Apply to the FCDO Legalisation Office: Apply online at the FCDO Legalisation Office website (gov.uk/get-document-legalised). You can apply by post or use a courier service. Premium same-day services are available
3. Pay the fee: The standard fee is £30 per apostille (as at 2024); premium services are more expensive
4. Receive the apostilled document: The FCDO attaches the apostille certificate to the death certificate. This is now valid in all Hague Convention countries

Processing times vary: standard postal service takes approximately 10 working days; premium services may be same-day or next-day. For urgent cross-border estate matters, use a premium service.

Note: Some notaries and foreign consulates offer an apostille facilitation service, which can be useful if you are also having documents translated.

Countries That Require Apostilles

The Hague Apostille Convention has over 120 member countries, including all EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, India, South Africa, and many others.

For cross-border estate matters, an apostilled UK death certificate is sufficient for use in:

• France — for the French notaire and succession declaration
• Spain — for the Spanish notario and certificado de últimas voluntades
• Italy — for the dichiarazione di successione
• Germany — for the Nachlassgericht and Finanzamt
• Portugal — for the habilitação de herdeiros
• Australia — for re-sealing applications
• New Zealand — for re-sealing applications
• The United States — for ancillary probate proceedings

Countries That Need Consular Legalisation (Not Apostille)

Some countries are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention and do not accept apostilles. For these countries, you need full consular legalisation — a more complex process.

Countries requiring consular legalisation (as at 2024) include:

• UAE (not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention)
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Many African countries
• Some Southeast Asian countries

Consular legalisation typically involves: (1) FCDO apostille on the document first, (2) then submission to the relevant country's embassy or consulate in London for their legalisation stamp. Some countries require additional steps — an agent specialising in document legalisation can assist.

Using a Foreign Death Certificate in the UK

When a person dies abroad, the UK Probate Registry will accept a foreign death certificate as evidence of death. Requirements:

• The certificate should ideally bear an apostille from the issuing country's competent authority (for Hague Convention member countries)
• A certified translation into English is required for non-English documents — the translator must certify that the translation is accurate and complete
• The Probate Registry may accept a non-apostilled foreign death certificate in some circumstances, particularly from countries where authentication is impractical

For guidance on death abroad more generally, see our guide on death abroad: repatriation and UK probate and our guide on what to do when someone dies abroad.

Practical Tips

• Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate at registration — obtaining them later costs more and takes longer
• Apostille each copy separately if multiple foreign administrations require apostilled originals
• Use a document authentication agent if the foreign jurisdiction is complex or the legalisation chain is long
• Allow 2–4 weeks for a standard apostille plus translation; use premium services for urgent needs
• Check with the foreign notary, solicitor, or court exactly what authentication they require before applying — requirements vary

For the UK probate process, see our guide to applying for probate, our complete UK probate guide, and our guide to documents needed for probate. For recognition of foreign grants in the UK, see our guide on how a foreign grant is recognised in the UK. For cross-border estate administration, see our guide on multiple wills in different jurisdictions. For resealing a Commonwealth grant, see our guide on resealing a Commonwealth grant of probate.

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