Apostilled documents in Brighton for use in Ukraine

Brighton apostille for Ukraine is obtained through the FCDO Legalisation Office and a certified copy from the Brighton & Hove Register Office.

Brighton → Ukraine

Hague Members

Destination Ukraine

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 20 August 2026

Complete Guide

Getting a Brighton Apostille for Ukraine: Step-by-Step

How UK documents from Brighton are legalised for use in Ukraine through the apostille process at the Legalisation Office.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Ukraine
The Brighton to Ukraine route step by step
Cost & timing for this route
Ukraine's specific requirements

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Ukraine

Ukraine joined the Hague Convention in 2003, which means an apostille from the UK Legalisation Office is all you need for document legalisation for Ukraine. The process is not the same as embassy legalisation, which is longer and costs more because it involves extra steps at a Ukrainian consulate. If you are asked for an 'apostille from United Kingdom to Ukraine', they mean the certificate issued in Britain, not something Ukraine adds there. For papers issued in Brighton like birth, marriage or death records, the same rule applies: only the single apostille certificate is needed before using them in Ukraine. This simplified route helps people avoid the older chain of certifications that were once standard for international paperwork.

The Brighton to Ukraine route step by step

Start by ordering a fresh certified copy of your original document from Brighton & Hove Register Office at Bartholomew Square - this means keeping your original safe at home. The register office will provide you with a new copy stamped and signed by their registrar, which they are authorised to do. Then send this certified copy to the Legalisation Office for the apostille for Ukraine. Their Milton Keynes processing centre will affix the official apostille certificate directly to your document if there is space, or attach it by an official ribbon. You do not need your only original at any point: the certified copy is the one that gets the apostille stamp, so your priceless family papers stay protected throughout the process. That stamped version is what you present when using the document in Ukraine.

Cost & timing for this route

Each document presented for an apostille from the UK Legalisation Office carries an official fee, with standard processing through the post taking around a few weeks. If you need the paper back faster, there is a next-day service for registered business customers, which the office handles through a dedicated in-house team. The total time from sending the document out to receiving it back with the apostille stamp can vary based on holiday periods and how busy the post is. Brighton & Hove Register Office also charges their own separate fee for providing a certified copy of any public record they hold. Neither office applies extra charges for staff looking at the papers or cross-checking the official registers.

Ukraine's specific requirements

Russian-origin documents sometimes trigger requests for extra notarisation in Ukraine, regardless of the apostille. English-language documents can proceed straight to the Legalisation Office for the apostille stamp without prior translation. The only step after obtaining your Brighton apostille for Ukraine is to present it to the final authority in Ukraine that requested it. Remember what you need for an apostille for Ukraine: a document signed and stamped by a UK official, or a certified copy of an official record. The Ukrainian side looks solely at whether the apostille comes from the correct UK authority, as both nations share the Hague Convention framework for document acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brighton → Ukraine apostille FAQ

How long does the Brighton apostille for Ukraine take?

The apostille is usually ready within 25 working days after the office receives your paper. That means the time you wait is the period the FCDO Legalisation Office needs to check the copy and add the stamp. The office works by post, so you should allow the mailing period plus an additional two to three days for the stamp to be printed and returned to you. A common mistake is to expect same‑day service even though the office does not have a walk‑in counter. To avoid delay, send a fresh certified copy to the address PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX and wait for the returned document.

Do I need to send the original certificate to get an apostille?

You do not have to send the original civil record; a fresh certified copy is sufficient. This means you keep the original safe at home while the copy travels to the legalisation office. You can order the copy from the Brighton & Hove Register Office, which sends it by post from Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JA. Many people mistakenly think the original is required and risk losing it, which is avoidable. Request the certified copy, then forward that copy to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille.

What fee applies for each document?

An official fee is charged for every paper that receives the apostille stamp. The amount depends on the speed of service you choose, with a standard postal option and a faster option for registered businesses. The standard postal charge is £45 per document, while the next‑day registered‑business service costs £40 per document. A frequent error is to assume the fee includes any extra handling, but it covers only the stamp itself. Pay the appropriate amount when you send your certified copy to the FCDO Legalisation Office.

Can I use a standard civil record for a Ukrainian business purpose?

Ukraine accepts an apostille on a civil record for most business uses, so the stamp is sufficient. This means you do not need to obtain a separate consular legalisation after the apostille. After you receive the apostilled copy from the FCDO Legalisation Office, you can present it directly to the Ukrainian authority handling the business matter. A mistake some make is to translate the document before the apostille, which can invalidate the stamp. Ensure the apostilled copy is in the language required by the Ukrainian side, then submit it as instructed.

What is the first step if my document is a marriage certificate?

First you should obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the Brighton & Hove Register Office. This step ensures you have a paper that the legalisation office can stamp without risking the original record. The register office issues the copy by post from Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JA, and you receive it within a few days. Some applicants try to send the original certificate directly, which can lead to loss or delay. Once you have the certified copy, forward it to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille and then use it in Ukraine.

How It Works

Four steps to your Ukraine-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 Brighton documents are certified and apostilled

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

Brighton & Hove Register Office

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

Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JA

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types