Apostilled documents in Birmingham for use in Greece

Birmingham apostille for Greece lets you secure a fresh certified copy from the Birmingham Register Office, Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ, then have the UK Legalisation Office issue the apostille (official fee applies) as it operates by post, enabling the document’s use in Greece.

Birmingham → Greece

Hague Members

Destination Greece

Destination status Hague Convention member

Issued by The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Standard turnaround Up to 25 working days, plus postage

Information validated 18 August 2026

Complete Guide

Birmingham Apostille for Greece

A guide to getting the correct apostille certification in Birmingham for documents to be used in Greece.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Greece
Greece's apostille acceptance
The Birmingham → Greece route step by step

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Greece

The Birmingham Register Office can help you get the right papers for an apostille from United Kingdom to Greece. If you have a civil record like a birth, marriage, or death certificate, this is the place to start. Remember to order a fresh certified copy rather than parting with an original that would be hard to replace. The certified copy comes with the register office's stamp and signature, which the Legalisation Office needs to issue an apostille.

Greece's apostille acceptance

Since joining the Hague Convention in 1985, Greece accepts apostilles from all member countries including the UK. What you need for an apostille for Greece is the UK-issued seal on a document to prove its authenticity, without the extra step of embassy legalisation. This system makes the process more straightforward for British papers used there. The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes handles the apostille for Greece, working by post to apply the official seal to your documents, whether they come from Birmingham or elsewhere in the UK.

The Birmingham → Greece route step by step

The complete process for document legalisation for Greece starts at Birmingham Register Office. Order a fresh certified copy of your civil record by post or in person at Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ. This approach protects your original from loss in transit. Once you have the certified copy, send it to the Legalisation Office with the standard postal fee and a return address. There is no counter service in Birmingham for the apostille itself, as the office deals with everything through Milton Keynes by post.

The Legalisation Office will check the signature on your certified copy and attach an apostille. The turnaround depends on which service you choose, standard or next-day. After the apostille is attached, your document will be posted back to you. At that point, it's ready for use in Greece. Always confirm the exact papers you need with the receiving office in Greece before starting the process, as some regions may need more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Birmingham → Greece apostille FAQ

How long does the Birmingham apostille for Greece take?

The time between sending your paper and receiving the apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office depends on the post journey and the office’s workload. The office works by post and does not have a public counter, so you must mail your paper to PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX. Once the office receives the paper, they normally return the stamped copy within a few weeks, though exact timing can vary. A common mistake is assuming faster service without the required fee tier, which can delay the return. To stay within your deadline, allow several weeks after mailing before the document is needed in Greece.

Do I need an apostille or a consular legalisation for documents used in Greece?

Greece is a member of the Hague Convention, so an apostille is the correct and sufficient stamp for documents intended for Greek authorities. This means you do not have to go to a Greek embassy or consulate for further steps. You send your paper to the FCDO Legalisation Office, which adds the apostille stamp once it checks the file. A frequent error is sending the document for consular legalisation, which would add unnecessary time and cost. After you receive the apostilled paper, you can present it directly to the Greek receiving office.

Where can I obtain a fresh certified copy of a civil record in Birmingham?

A fresh certified copy of a birth, marriage or death record can be ordered from the Birmingham Register Office, located at Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ. The Register Office issues copies that already bear an official signature, so you never need to send the original document away. You request the copy by contacting the office directly; they will send the certified copy by post to your address. A common mix‑up is trying to use the original certificate, which can be lost in transit. Once you have the certified copy, you can forward it to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille.

What official fee applies for the apostille?

An official fee applies for each document that receives an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office. Two fee levels exist: one for the standard postal service and a lower amount for next‑day service that is only available to registered businesses. The fee must be paid when you send the paper, and the office will not add the stamp until the payment is confirmed. A mistake some people make is omitting the fee or using the wrong payment method, which stops the work from starting. After the fee is settled, the office proceeds with the apostille and returns the stamped document.

Is a translation needed for Greek authorities and how should it be prepared?

Greek authorities require that any non‑Greek document be presented with a sworn translation into Greek. The translation must be signed in front of a court (Tribunale) and then bear the court’s stamp to show accuracy. You arrange the translation with a qualified translator, who then signs the sworn statement (asseverazione) before the court. A common oversight is providing an uncertified translation, which the Greek office will reject. Once you have the sworn translation, attach it to the apostilled document and you can submit the bundle to the Greek receiving desk.

How It Works

Four steps to your Greece-ready apostille

No office visits, no queues. The entire process is handled remotely and you track every step in real time.

Prepare your document

Obtain the original document (or a certified copy) you need to use abroad, and check whether it must be notarised first.

Confirm the requirements

Verify the document is eligible for an apostille.

Submit to The Legalisation Office

The apostille is issued by The Legalisation Office, the competent authority. The government fee is £45 / document (standard postal); £40 / document next-day (registered businesses).

Receive your apostille

The authority attaches the apostille certificate, making the document valid abroad with no further embassy legalisation.

Where to go

Where Birmingham documents are certified and apostilled

These are two different offices doing two different jobs. The local register office issues the certified copy of a Birmingham birth, marriage or death record — check its current appointment rules before going. The apostille itself before use in Greece comes from the FCDO Legalisation Office, the UK's single competent authority, which accepts documents by post rather than in person.

Birmingham Register Office

Certified copies of civil records (birth, marriage, death)

Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types