Legalise a UK document (apostille)
To use a UK document such as a birth certificate abroad, you may need an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office.
Home » Public bodies » Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The foreign ministry. For residents, it runs the Legalisation Office (apostilles on UK documents) and consular help for British nationals abroad.
You can contact us at any time in an emergency, for example if you have been in an accident or arrested. Select option 1. If you call us through your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate select the option ‘consular services for British nationals overseas’.
View our Travel Advice pages for our latest information on the country you’re visiting. If you have a question about our advice or a topic that isn’t covered, contact us.
If you need to use British documents for business or personal matters abroad.
The FCDO’s Overseas Pension Department administers pensions to eligible former colonial civil servants and their dependants.
We only list official numbers. Beware of websites showing 084, 087, 09 or 118 numbers that connect you to a public body at a premium rate.
To use a UK document such as a birth certificate abroad, you may need an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office.
Contact data source: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0, updated 12 October 2026.