Apostilled documents in London for use in Uruguay

London apostille for Uruguay is obtained by requesting an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office (PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX), paying the official fee, and, if the document is a civil record, ordering a fresh certified copy from Westminster Register Office at 317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ.

London → Uruguay

Hague Members

Destination Uruguay

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

London Apostille for Uruguay: The Complete Guide

A straightforward guide to getting an apostille in London for documents bound for Uruguay, with current requirements and step-by-step instructions.

In this guide

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

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Uruguay

For document legalisation for Uruguay from London, you need an apostille as the final certification. This applies because the UK and Uruguay are both parties to the Apostille Convention. The Westminster Register Office at 317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ provides certified copies of birth, marriage, and death records that you can use instead of your originals. An apostille verifies the signature and seal on British public documents so they will be recognised in Uruguay.

Uruguay's Hague status & what it means

Uruguay joined the Hague Convention in 2012, which simplifies the process of using documents across borders. When you get an apostille from United Kingdom to Uruguay, it confirms that the officer who signed your document was authorised to do so under UK law. This single stamp from the Legalisation Office replaces the older method of multiple certifications through embassies and foreign ministries. There is no need to visit any embassy in London for further stamps.

The London → Uruguay route step by step

Start by obtaining a fresh certified copy of your document from the Westminster Register Office if it's a birth, marriage, or death certificate. This means the register office sends a newly printed version with their stamp and signature directly to you, notarised copies not required. Next step is getting this new copy apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Each paper you plan to use in Uruguay needs its own apostille, which is a square sticker on the back or a plus sign covering the existing stamps and signatures. The office works by post only, so you mail your papers to PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX.

Cost & timing for this route

A standard postal apostille for Uruguay costs forty-five pounds per document. The official turnaround time for the Legalisation Office is of up to 25 working days after they receive your materials. If time is tight, you can choose the next working day service, though this option has a different price per sheet. The overall speed depends on postal transit times both to Milton Keynes and then from there to South America. Budget additional weeks for regional mail services once the document crosses into Uruguay.

Destination-specific requirements

Before you get started, consider what you need for an apostille for Uruguay. Most papers from the UK must be translated into Spanish for them to work there, but this should be done locally after you arrive. The translation needs to be official and may require further certification in Uruguay. Some documents like business records or police clearances might need added verification in addition to the apostille. When preparing everything, verify whether personal identification numbers or passport copies must accompany the papers at the receiving end.

Frequently Asked Questions

London → Uruguay apostille FAQ

How does a London apostille for Uruguay work?

An apostille issued in London is the document that Uruguay accepts for official use. This means the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Legalisation Office adds a stamp that confirms the signature of the original record. You send the paper to the FCDO Legalisation Office at PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX, and they will return it with the apostille after the official fee is paid. A common mistake is to send the original civil record instead of a fresh certified copy, which can be ordered from Westminster Register Office. After you receive the apostilled copy, you can forward it to the Uruguayan authority that requested it.

Do I need embassy legalisation for a document going to Uruguay?

No, Uruguay is a member of the Hague Convention, so an apostille is sufficient. This means the receiving office in Uruguay will look for the apostille stamp rather than a separate embassy endorsement. The apostille comes from the FCDO Legalisation Office in the United Kingdom, which operates by post and does not have a public counter. Some applicants mistakenly add a consular legalisation, which can cause delays and extra cost. Therefore you should only request the apostille and then send the certified document to the Uruguayan party.

Can I use a birth certificate directly, or do I need a certified copy?

For civil records like birth certificates you must use a fresh certified copy rather than the original. This ensures the record carries the official seal that the apostille office recognises. You can order the copy from Westminster Register Office, 317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ, which sends the copy by post. Sending the original often leads to it being held by the apostille office, which may be irreversible. Once you have the certified copy, include it in the package you send to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille.

How long does it take to receive the apostille for a Uruguayan document?

The FCDO Legalisation Office generally returns the apostilled paper within 25 working days after receipt. This time frame reflects the office’s internal checks and the mailing period back to you. If you choose the next‑day service for registered businesses, the official fee is lower and the return can be quicker. A frequent error is to assume the turnaround is immediate and to plan a deadline too tightly. To be safe, allow extra days beyond the estimated return when you schedule the document’s delivery to Uruguay.

What language or format does Uruguay expect for the apostilled document?

Uruguay requires the apostilled document to be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified translation. This means the text on the original record must be understandable to the Uruguayan authority, or a translation must be presented alongside it. The apostille itself contains the necessary multilingual wording, but any narrative part of the record stays in its original language. Applicants sometimes forget to arrange the translation, leading to the file being returned for amendment. Ensure you attach a sworn translation according to Uruguayan rules before sending the file to the requesting party.

How It Works

Four steps to your Uruguay-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 London documents are certified and apostilled

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

Westminster Register Office

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

317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types