Apostille: Step by Step
An apostille is a word you probably never came across until you were told that your British document is not valid in the Czech Republic without it. In this article, I will explain what an apostille is, why you need it and how and where you can get one. This post is aimed mainly at those of you living in the United Kingdom who need an apostille to submit Czech translations of British documents—such as a birth, marriage or death certificate—either at the Czech Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Manchester, or directly to the Special Register Office in Brno.
If you need to obtain an apostille for a British birth certificate, please first read carefully the information about birth certificate translation, as clients often request an apostille for the wrong type of birth certificate – there are two types of birth certificates in the United Kingdom. You must obtain the apostille for the birth certificate that has the child's parents' details, usually called a "Certified Copy of an Entry". The simplified red birth certificate usually called "Certificate of Birth" is not sufficient and will not be accepted by the embassy or by the authorities in the Czech Republic.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a form of authentication known as legalisation, required for certain British official documents to be recognised in the Czech Republic. An apostille is a piece of paper roughly 15×20 cm in size, attached to the back of the original British document and stamped with an embossed seal (see image below). The apostille confirms the authenticity of the official signature and stamp on the document, and without it the British document is not considered valid in the Czech Republic.
Where can I get an apostille?
Apostilles are issued by the British Legalisation Office, which comes under the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. You can order an apostille yourself online on this official government page www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised/apply-for-legalisation.
How much does an apostille cost?
If you order an apostille through the official Legalisation Office link above, the cost will be £45 plus postage (valid as at 01/12/2025). If you order it from an online party, it will be more.
Can I get the apostille myself?
Yes, absolutely you can. If you order the apostille yourself, you will save time and money. There are many apostille providers online but if you buy an apostille through the official Legalisation Office link that I shared above, it will be cheaper for you and probably quicker.
Can I get an e-apostille instead of a paper one?
No, unfortunately an e-apostille will not be accepted by the Czech Embassy or authorities in the Czech Republic. You must post your document to the Legalisation Office to obtain a paper-based apostille.
Can you get the apostille for me?
Yes, I can get an apostille for you. Simply drop me a line on WhatsApp, Messenger or by email and we will take it from there. You will find my contact details on the Contact page.
How exactly can I get an apostille? It looks complicated.
Getting an apostille is actually quite easy. Simply go to www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised and follow the steps. You will have to fill in an online form, pay the required fee (£45 as of 01/12/2025) plus postage and print the payment confirmation page or confirmation email. You will then put the document you want legalised plus the printout of the confirmation page/email into an envelope and post to the Legalisation Office. The address where to post it will be on the confirmation page. And then you just sit and wait for the Legalisation Office to attach an apostille to your document and send it all back to you.
How long does it take to get an apostille?
It usually takes a few days but can be up to 2 weeks during busy periods. Should there be a problem with processing your apostille application, the Legalisation Office will notify you by email.
How can I contact the Legalisation Office?
📧 E‑mail: legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk
📞 Telephone: 03700 00 22 44 – office hours: Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 16:00
What happens after I get the apostille?
Once you have the apostille, the document (including the apostille) can be translated into Czech. If you need the translation for the Czech Embassy in London or the Czech Consulate in Manchester, I can help. Simply send me photos of the document you need translated, including the apostille, and we will go from there.
- Translation of British Birth Certificate and Apostille into Czech for the Czech Consulate in London or Manchester – £40 plus postage
- Translation of British Marriage Certificate and Apostille into Czech for the Czech Consulate in London or Manchester – £40 plus postage
- Translation of British Death Certificate and Apostille into Czech for the Czech Consulate in London or Manchester – £40 plus postage