Apostilled documents in Leicester for use in Germany

Leicester apostille for Germany is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office, and a fresh certified copy from the Leicester Registration Service can be used in place of the original.

Leicester → Germany

Hague Members

Destination Germany

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 21 August 2026

Complete Guide

Leicester to Germany: How to Obtain an Apostille for Your Documents

Step‑by‑step guide on getting an apostille in Leicester for use in Germany, covering fees, offices and required paperwork.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Germany
Germany's Hague status & what it means
The Leicester → Germany route step by step
Cost & timing for this route
Destination‑specific requirements

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Germany

Germany is a party to the Hague Convention of 1961, which means that any public document that carries a valid apostille is automatically recognised by German authorities. When you need a birth certificate, a commercial contract or a university degree to be accepted in Germany, the apostille for Germany alone satisfies the certification step; a further embassy legalisation is not required. This makes the route from Leicester to Germany much simpler because the only extra step after obtaining a certified copy is to have the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office attach the apostille.

Germany's Hague status & what it means

Although Germany joined the Hague system in 1966, some organisations still refer to the older process of document legalisation for Germany, which involved a consular stamp after the apostille. In practice, once the apostille is present, German courts, registries and employers accept the paper without any further stamp. Therefore you can ignore the historic consular step and focus on obtaining the correct apostille. The only time a separate legalisation might be mentioned is when a foreign authority outside the Hague network asks for it, but for German purposes the apostille alone is sufficient.

The Leicester → Germany route step by step

To start the Leicester to Germany route, first decide whether you need a fresh certified copy of a civil record. The Leicester Registration Service at 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ issues certified copies of birth, marriage and death entries and works only by post; there is no public counter you can visit. Once you have the fresh copy, you request a Leicester apostille for Germany from the Legalisation Office, which is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and also works by post. The office will check the copy, stamp it with the apostille and return it to you, completing the certification step.

Cost & timing for this route

The official fee for each document is £45 when you use the standard postal service and £40 if you qualify for the next‑day option available to registered businesses. This fee covers the entire work of attaching an apostille from the United Kingdom to Germany, including the clerk’s time and the official stamp. The Legalisation Office usually processes applications within 25 working days, although exact timing can vary according to workload. Because the office handles requests on a UK‑wide basis, you do not need to travel to a local branch; you simply send the paperwork to the PO Box address in Milton Keynes and await the returned document.

Destination‑specific requirements

When you are ready, the three items you must provide are the original (or a fresh certified copy from the Leicester Registration Service), a completed request form and payment of the official fee. The request form asks for details such as your name, the type of document and the destination country, which in this case is Germany. By supplying these pieces, you meet what you need for an apostille for Germany and the Legalisation Office can attach the apostille without further complication. After you receive the apostilled paper, you may send it directly to the German authority that requested it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Leicester → Germany apostille FAQ

How long does the Leicester apostille for Germany take?

The apostille is issued by the Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) in the United Kingdom. This office works by post, so the time depends on the postal service used. For the standard postal service the official fee is £45 per document and the typical turnaround is up to 25 working days, while a next‑day registered service costs £40 and can be returned in a few days. A common mistake is to expect the stamp within a single business day, which seldom occurs because the office must check the document against its register. After the apostille arrives you can include it with your certified copy and send the package to the German authority that will receive the file.

Do I need to send my original birth certificate to obtain an apostille?

The Legalisation Office only accepts a certified copy of a civil record, not the original. A certified copy can be ordered from the Leicester Registration Service at 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ. The copy is issued with the official stamp of the register, which satisfies the office’s requirement for a public record. People sometimes send the original by mistake, which can lead to loss if the postal service misplaces it. Therefore you should request a fresh certified copy first, then forward that copy for the apostille.

What is the official fee for obtaining an apostille on a document from Leicester?

The Legalisation Office charges a standard fee of £45 per document when using ordinary post. If you opt for the next‑day registered service, the fee is reduced to £40 per document. The fee covers only the stamp and the handling by the office; any postal costs are separate and are paid to the carrier. A frequent error is to assume the fee includes translation or courier fees, which it does not. After paying the fee you can send your certified copy to the office and await the stamped return.

Can I use a certified copy instead of the original for the apostille required by Germany?

Germany accepts an apostilled certified copy of a civil record, so the original is not required. The certified copy must bear the seal of the Leicester Registration Service, proving it is a true copy of the original. Once you have that copy you send it to the Legalisation Office, which adds the apostille stamp recognized by Germany. Some applicants mistakenly assume the foreign authority needs the original document, which can cause delays. Using the certified copy therefore avoids risking the loss of the original and still meets German requirements.

What steps must I follow after receiving the apostille before my document can be used in Germany?

After the apostille arrives you attach it to the same page as the certified copy of your record. The combined paper is then ready for submission to the German office that will process the request, such as a local registry or court. Because Germany has been a Hague Convention member since 1966, the apostille alone satisfies the certification requirement. A typical mistake is to also seek a consular legalization, which is unnecessary and adds cost. You should therefore send the apostilled file directly to the German authority in the format they request, for example by mail or in person.

How It Works

Four steps to your Germany-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 Leicester documents are certified and apostilled

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

Leicester Registration Service

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

115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types