UK visa & immigration
UKVI requires apostilled birth and marriage certificates for Settlement Visas, Indefinite Leave to Remain, and family reunification applications. We confirm the correct certified copy format for each application type.
UK apostille service
Apostille Help for Documents Used in the United Kingdom.
We help Los Angeles clients apostille U.S. documents for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the Home Office, HM Land Registry, NHS professional registration, UK teaching credentials, and UK solicitors — with California Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State apostille as required.
Fastest start: text or email a photo of your document along with the UK authority or solicitor that will receive it — so we can confirm the correct certified copy format and apostille path before you mail anything.
- UK is Hague — California apostille accepted by UKVI & Home Office
- Birth certificates for UK spouse visa & citizenship by descent
- Degrees for NHS registration & UK Qualified Teacher Status
Document pre-review
We review the certified state copy or notarized document first so you don’t request the wrong version or submit a format that UKVI or HM Land Registry will reject.
Hague-compliant apostille
The UK is a Hague Convention member. The California Secretary of State apostille is all the U.S.-side authentication required — no U.S. Embassy or UK Consulate step needed.
Mail-in welcome
Clients outside California can mail documents in for California Secretary of State apostille and tracked shipment to your UK solicitor, UKVI application centre, or family in the UK.
Common reasons people need UK apostilles
Why Los Angeles clients apostille documents for the UK.
The UK accepts U.S.-origin documents with a California Secretary of State apostille — no additional embassy or consulate authentication needed. Here are the most common situations we handle.
British citizenship by descent
Adults born in the U.S. to British parents claiming citizenship through descent must submit an apostilled U.S. birth certificate alongside the British parent’s own documentation to the Home Office or HM Passport Office.
NHS & professional registration
U.S.-trained nurses, doctors, therapists, and allied health professionals need apostilled U.S. degrees for NMC, GMC, and other UK regulatory registration. Teachers need apostilled degrees for QTS applications.
UK property & legal matters
Powers of attorney for UK property conveyancing, HM Land Registry filings, UK bank account management, or probate are notarized in California and apostilled so your UK solicitor can act on your behalf.
Process
How UK apostille service works.
We confirm the correct document format and certified copy first, then route through the California Secretary of State apostille so your document arrives in the UK ready for UKVI, HM Land Registry, your NHS employer, or your UK solicitor.
Step 1 — Review the document and UK purpose
- Send a photo of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, degree, or power of attorney draft.
- Tell us which UK authority or entity (UKVI, Home Office, NMC, HM Land Registry, solicitor) will receive it.
- We confirm the correct certified copy format — long-form vs. short-form, original vs. notarized copy — before you mail anything.
Step 2 — Confirm the correct apostille authority
- California-issued documents: apostilled by the California Secretary of State.
- Other U.S. state-issued documents: apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State.
- Federal documents (e.g., Consular Report of Birth Abroad): apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
Step 3 — Submit for apostille
- We submit your certified document to the California Secretary of State and track the order through processing (typically 2–5 business days).
- Rush apostille service is available when UK visa appointments or property completions are imminent.
Step 4 — Ship to you or your UK recipient
- We ship the apostilled document to you in Los Angeles, to your UK solicitor, to a UKVI application centre, or to family in the UK — wherever it is needed.
- Tracked international courier to the UK typically takes 3–5 business days.
Documents we apostille for the UK
Pick the document you need apostilled for the United Kingdom.
These are the four documents we most commonly apostille for clients with UK visa, citizenship, employment, and property needs. Each guide explains what certified copy is required and how the apostille process works for that UK purpose.
Birth Certificate Apostille for the UK
Apostille a U.S. birth certificate for a UK spouse visa, British citizenship by descent, dual nationality documentation, or UK employer right-to-work checks — accepted by UKVI, the Home Office, and HM Passport Office.
Degree & Diploma Apostille for UK Employment
Apostille a U.S. university degree or college diploma for NHS professional registration (NMC, GMC), UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Skilled Worker visa credential verification, or UK professional body recognition.
Marriage Certificate Apostille for the UK
Apostille a U.S. marriage certificate for a UK Settlement Visa (spouse route), Indefinite Leave to Remain application, UK pension or benefit records, or name-change documentation with HMRC, DVLA, or UK banks.
Power of Attorney Apostille for the UK
Notarize and apostille a power of attorney so your UK solicitor or representative can handle UK property conveyancing, HM Land Registry filings, UK bank account management, or probate and estate administration on your behalf.
Translations we can coordinate.
Many destination countries require the apostilled document to be accompanied by a certified translation into the local language. We coordinate ATA-certified and sworn translations through a translation partner — English to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Arabic, Mandarin, Tagalog, Thai, and more. Ask us when you book the apostille and we will bundle both into a single delivery. Translation timing is quoted per document; simple vital records are usually returned in 2–3 business days.
UK apostille FAQ
Questions about apostilling documents for the United Kingdom.
Does the UK accept a California apostille?
Yes. The United Kingdom is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. A California Secretary of State apostille on a U.S.-origin document is the correct and sufficient authentication for use with UKVI, the Home Office, HM Land Registry, NHS registration bodies, UK solicitors, and UK courts. No additional U.S. Embassy or UK Consulate legalization is required.
Who issues the apostille for documents going to the UK?
For U.S.-origin documents used in the UK, the apostille is issued by the relevant U.S. state’s Secretary of State (for state-issued documents, such as California birth or marriage certificates) or the U.S. Department of State (for federal documents, such as a Consular Report of Birth Abroad). The UK FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes issues apostilles on UK-origin documents — that is a separate process we do not handle.
Can I apostille my U.S. degree for NHS registration or UK teaching credentials?
Yes. U.S.-trained healthcare professionals applying to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Medical Council (GMC), or other UK health regulators, and teachers applying for UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), regularly need apostilled U.S. degrees. We apostille the original diploma or a notarized certified copy through the California Secretary of State.
Do I need a UK solicitor to prepare my power of attorney before you notarize it?
For UK property transactions, HM Land Registry filings, or UK banking, we strongly recommend having a UK solicitor draft or review the power of attorney. UK legal requirements for conveyancing and Land Registry execution differ from U.S. forms. We add the California notarial block to the UK-standard document and route it through the California Secretary of State for apostille — which the UK solicitor then uses directly.
How long does a UK apostille take from Los Angeles?
California Secretary of State apostille typically takes 2–5 business days. Rush apostille service is available in 1–2 business days when UK visa appointments or property completions are imminent. Shipping to the UK adds 3–5 business days via tracked courier. Total turnaround from receiving your document is usually within one week for standard service.