Apostilled documents in Brighton for use in Taiwan

Brighton apostille for Taiwan requires legalisation through the British Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan for UK education, civil status and business documents.

Brighton → Taiwan

Non-Hague

Destination Taiwan

Destination status Not a 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

An apostille isn't enough for Taiwan

Because Taiwan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille won't be accepted. Documents from Brighton need full embassy (consular) legalization instead.

Embassy legalization in Brighton for Taiwan

Complete Guide

Brighton apostille for Taiwan

Important notice: Apostilles are not accepted for documents going to Taiwan; you'll need consular legalisation instead.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Taiwan
Taiwan's Hague status & what it means
The Brighton → Taiwan route step by step

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Taiwan

Papers from Britain that must work in Taiwan follow a different path than most other places. For an apostille issued in Brighton for use in Taiwan, you should know that Taiwan does not accept them under the standard treaty. Letters for court, school papers and company filings from the UK must go through a longer process called consular legalisation. That means getting the paper stamped by the right desk at the Foreign Office first, then approved by the office that speaks for Taiwan in London. A person in Brighton with a birth certificate for college in Taipei would order a fresh copy from Brighton & Hove Register Office to keep their original safe. The new one gets processed for legalisation.

Taiwan's Hague status & what it means

Taiwan is not on the list of places that use the apostille system from 1961. This standard stamp that works in so many countries does not cut it here. The process for document legalisation for Taiwan must include both a stamp from Britain's Foreign Office and then approval from the Taipei office in London. It takes longer than an apostille and costs more because there are two steps instead of one. The right office to send the paper to in the UK is called The Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. They are based in Milton Keynes and their job is to add the first stamp to prove the signature is genuine.

The Brighton → Taiwan route step by step

Start by getting a fresh official copy of your paper from the correct record keeper. For a birth, marriage or death certificate, contact Brighton & Hove Register Office at their town hall. This way you do not mail your only original and risk losing it. Send the new copy to The Legalisation Office by post with a form they provide. They add their stamp which costs an official fee. Once the paper clears that desk, it goes to the office that works with Taiwan in London. That second stamp makes it work for an apostille from United Kingdom to Taiwan, even though under law it follows a longer route. The time frame depends on how busy each office is and the type of your paper. Non-record office items like police checks may need extra steps first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brighton → Taiwan apostille FAQ

How long does the Brighton apostille for Taiwan take?

The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes can place an apostille on a UK document within a period of several weeks. Because Taiwan does not recognise the Hague apostille, that stamp alone will not satisfy the receiving authority, so an additional consular legalisation step is required. The consular stage is carried out by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and often adds another few weeks, meaning the whole route can extend to a month or more. A common mistake is to send only the apostilled paper and expect it to be accepted, which leads to rejection and a repeat of the process. To avoid that, after the apostille you should arrange the consular legalisation before sending the document to Taiwan.

Can I use an apostille instead of embassy legalisation for Taiwan?

An apostille alone is not sufficient for documents destined for Taiwan. The receiving side requires a legalisation performed by the Taiwanese diplomatic mission, which includes a stamp confirming the authenticity of the UK signature. The Legalisation Office issues the apostille first, then the document is forwarded to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office for the final stamp. Some applicants mistakenly rely on the apostille because it is quicker, but the Taiwanese authorities will return the file as incomplete. Therefore you must follow the full embassy legalisation route to ensure the document is recognised.

What steps must I follow to prepare a birth certificate for use in Taiwan?

To use a UK birth certificate in Taiwan you must first obtain a fresh certified copy from the Brighton & Hove Register Office. The office provides the copy by post and does not have a public counter, so you request it using the provided address Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JA. After you receive the certified copy you send it to the FCDO Legalisation Office, where an apostille is placed before the consular step. A frequent error is to send the original certificate, which cannot be replaced if lost; using a certified copy avoids that risk. Once the apostille is attached you arrange the consular legalisation and then the document can be presented to the Taiwanese authority.

How much does the legalisation process cost for a document from Brighton to Taiwan?

The official charge for each document that goes through the Legalisation Office is £45 when you use the standard postal service. If you are a registered business and choose the next‑day registered option, the charge is reduced to £45 per document. These fees cover only the apostille; the subsequent consular legalisation in Taiwan incurs its own cost that is set by the Taiwanese diplomatic office. Applicants often assume the £45 fee includes the embassy step, which is not the case and leads to surprise expenses later. After paying the appropriate fee you can send your certified copy to the Legalisation Office and then proceed with the consular stage.

Where can I obtain a certified copy of my marriage record in Brighton for Taiwan?

A certified copy of a marriage record can be ordered from the Brighton & Hove Register Office located at Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JA. The register office handles requests by post, so you complete the application form and include any required identification, then mail it to the address listed. Once the office issues the fresh certified copy you can forward it to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille stage. It is easy to forget that the original marriage certificate should stay with the register office, as sending it risks loss and forces a new request. Using the certified copy ensures the original remains safe while the legalisation process proceeds for Taiwan.

How It Works

Four steps to your Taiwan-ready legalization

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) and confirm it is correctly issued or notarised before it can be authenticated in United Kingdom.

Authenticate at the source authority

Because Taiwan is not a Hague member, the document is first legalised in United Kingdom by The Legalisation Office — an apostille alone is not accepted.

Consular attestation

Submit the authenticated document to the Taiwan embassy or consulate for its attestation — the step that makes it valid in Taiwan.

Receive your legalised document

Once attested, the document is recognised by authorities in Taiwan. We track every stage and return it to you.

Document Types

Documents accepted in Taiwan with a Brighton apostille

Any of these public documents can be apostilled in Brighton and used in Taiwan.

Birth Certificate

Civil / Government-Issued Documents

Diploma

Private / Educational / Corporate / Legal

Criminal Record Check

Criminal Records / Police Certificates

Marriage Certificate

Civil / Government-Issued Documents

Police Clearance Certificate

Criminal Records / Police Certificates

High School Diploma

Private / Educational / Corporate / Legal

Death Certificate

Civil / Government-Issued Documents

Academic Transcript

Private / Educational / Corporate / Legal

Divorce Decree

Civil / Government-Issued Documents

Degree Certificate

Private / Educational / Corporate / Legal

Certificate of No Impediment

Civil / Government-Issued Documents

Enrollment / Attendance Letter

Private / Educational / Corporate / Legal

Popular Destinations

Also from Brighton

These destinations are Hague Convention members outside the EU/EEA, so an apostille from Brighton is all you need — no embassy step.

Apostilled documents in Brighton for use in Taiwan

Brighton → Taiwan

An apostille isn't enough for Taiwan

Brighton apostille for Taiwan

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Taiwan

Taiwan's Hague status & what it means

The Brighton → Taiwan route step by step

Brighton → Taiwan apostille FAQ

Four steps to your Taiwan-ready legalization

Prepare your document

Authenticate at the source authority

Consular attestation

Receive your legalised document

Documents accepted in Taiwan with a Brighton apostille

Also from Brighton

Going somewhere an apostille doesn't cover?

Apostille for Taiwan from other United Kingdom cities