Criminal Record Check Apostille in Newcastle upon Tyne

Criminal Record Check apostille in Newcastle upon Tyne — legalised by the FCDO to prove your background report abroad.

Criminal Record Check Apostille

Hague Member

Document type Criminal Record Check

Competent authority The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Standard turnaround Up to 25 working days, plus postage

Express turnaround Next working day (registered businesses only)

Information validated 5 August 2026

Complete Guide

Apostille and Legalisation for a Criminal Record Check from Newcastle upon Tyne

How to prepare and authenticate a UK Criminal Record Check for use abroad, including the role of the FCDO Legalisation Office and where to get a certified copy in Newcastle upon Tyne.

In this guide

Apostilling a criminal record check from Newcastle upon Tyne
Issuing body & pre-requisites for a criminal record check
Cost & turnaround
Common uses abroad
Translation & acceptance notes

Apostilling a criminal record check from Newcastle upon Tyne

When you need to apostille a Criminal Record Check in Newcastle upon Tyne, the legalisation process follows the same path as any part of the United Kingdom. The FCDO Legalisation Office handles every British paper that needs this certificate for use abroad. Your record must be the original version or an official copy stamped by the right office before the Legalisation Office will add the apostille stamp. For those who need to obtain a fresh copy, Newcastle Register Office at Civic Centre can provide a certified version of the record while keeping your original safe at home.

Issuing body & pre-requisites for a criminal record check

The most common question we hear is how to apostille a Criminal Record Check that meets the strict rules for foreign use. The DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) is the body that issues these records, not the local police station. The FCDO Legalisation Office requires that the document bears an original signature and must be the version supplied directly by the DBS themselves. Photocopies, scans, or papers that pass through any other hands will not be accepted unless properly notarised first.

Cost & turnaround

A standard postal application for an apostille from the Legalisation Office costs an official fee. The apostille cost for a Criminal Record Check in Newcastle upon Tyne does not change based on the city where you live. The standard postal service takes several working days from when the office receives your envelope, with no same-day or walk-in option. For higher priority jobs, a next-day service costs a lower official fee but is limited to businesses registered with the Legalisation Office.

Common uses abroad

You might need to apostille a Criminal Record Check in United Kingdom when applying for certain types of visa, securing work overseas, or meeting entry conditions for study programs. These papers often form part of a larger set of records, so you may need to send multiple documents for legalisation together. Each paper will require its own apostille stamp and official fee, though the FCDO Legalisation Office processes them as a single bundle if packaged together. Remember that some countries might also ask for the apostille to be translated or verified further by their own consulate on top of the apostille itself.

Translation & acceptance notes

Following the legalisation of a Criminal Record Check in Newcastle upon Tyne, many receiving countries need a translated copy. The rules for who can translate the document vary by country, but most require a sworn translator or an official stamp from the consulate of the destination state. The FCDO Legalisation Office will not provide translation services or recommend specific companies. It is better to get the apostille first before having the papers translated because some translators need to see the apostille stamp in their records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Criminal Record Check apostille FAQ

Can I get a Criminal Record Check apostille in Newcastle upon Tyne in person?

No, both processes are handled by post. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) issues the record and sends it to you directly. Then you mail that paper to the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. Their service is UK-wide with no physical counter for public visits, so all work is done through the post. Many people apply separately to Newcastle Register Office for a certified copy of the check first, so they can keep the original safe. This way, only the copy goes for the apostille.

Who apostilles a UK criminal record check?

The Legalisation Office (part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) has sole authority to issue apostilles for UK documents. Their office in Milton Keynes stamps all papers sent by post. Newcastle Register Office cannot do the apostille, but they can make a certified copy of the check for you. That certified copy is what the legalisation office will work with, keeping your original safe at home. The process is straightforward - you send them the copy, they add the stamp, and post it back following their official timeframes.

Do I need to get my criminal record check translated?

It depends entirely on where you will use it. English is widely accepted in Commonwealth countries, but many European and Asian nations require an official translation. The key point is that any translation must happen after the apostille is added, not before. The court needs to see the apostille stamp in its original form before they can authenticate a translation. You have two ways to handle this. First, some countries are fine with you translating the paper yourself. Second, others demand a sworn translator approved by their courts.

What is the official fee for the apostille?

The Legalisation Office charges £45 per document for standard postal service. If you are a registered business using their next-day option, it costs £40 per document. These fees are paid directly to the office and are non-refundable once your paper is accepted. The cost covers only the apostille itself - getting extra copies certified or sending by courier involves separate charges. Payment is usually made by card when you submit your form.

Can I use my DBS certificate abroad without an apostille?

In most cases, no. The apostille provides the official confirmation that your criminal record check is genuine. Without it, foreign authorities have no way to verify the signature of the DBS official. Some countries make an exception if the certificate is for your personal records only. But for official uses like visas, work permits, or residency applications, the apostille is almost always mandatory. The Hague Convention streamlines this process for nations that signed it, as they recognize each other's apostilled documents.

How It Works

Four steps to your criminal record check apostille

No office visits. We handle your Newcastle upon Tyne criminal record check remotely with real-time tracking.

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 Newcastle upon Tyne documents are certified and apostilled

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

Newcastle Register Office

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

Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types