Apostilled documents in Reading for use in Hungary

Reading apostille for Hungary ― issued for UK documents by the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes, with fresh certified copies from Reading Register Office.

Reading → Hungary

Hague Members

Destination Hungary

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

Get a Reading Apostille for Use in Hungary | Document Legalisation

Your guide to getting a British document legalised with an apostille for Hungary, including Reading Registry services and processing through the FCDO Legalisation Office.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Hungary
Hungary's Hague status & what it means
The Reading → Hungary route step by step
Cost & timing for this route

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Hungary

When presenting a British document in Hungary, you must meet their acceptance rules exactly. Since Hungary signed the Hague Convention in 1973, an apostille issued by The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) is the recognised certification method. This international agreement means you do not need to visit a Hungarian embassy or go through additional legalisation steps once the apostille is attached. The only exception would be if your document lacks original signatures or seals that the Hungarian receiving authority expects to see.

Hungary's Hague status & what it means

Hungary's membership in the Apostille Convention, which extends across all of its territory, ensures a standardised legal process applies. An apostille for Hungary can only be obtained through the FCDO Legalisation Office — no other body has this authority. For those in Reading, this means sending your document to the Milton Keynes processing centre where it will be stamped with the unique, numbered apostille marker Hungary requires. The Hague certification replaces any need for further verification at a Hungarian consulate or embassy, saving both time and complexity.

The Reading → Hungary route step by step

Your journey begins with the correct document. If you need a certified copy of a life event record like a birth, marriage, or death certificate, visit Reading Register Office at Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU. A clerk there can provide a fresh, officially signed duplicate with the court seal, so you can keep your original safe at home. This new certified copy can then be dispatched for apostille processing without risking the loss of your primary record. What you need for an apostille for Hungary includes completing whatever internal forms the FCDO requires that month, as these change periodically. The entire process runs by post, with options for standard processing or faster return service if your deadline is tight. Sealed envelopes and tracked mail protect your papers while they are in transit both ways from and to your home or office.

Cost & timing for this route

The official fee for document legalisation for Hungary includes the apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office. Registered businesses may access lower fees if they meet specific criteria and follow a separate registration process. Individuals in Reading typically add on the charge for a fresh certified copy of their vital record from Reading Register Office, as sending the only existing original risks losing it forever. Typical processing spans up to 25 working days, though you can expedite this if needed. Always build in extra time for unexpected delays, such as postal services holding items during busy periods or the receiving authority in Hungary requesting further clarification after viewing the apostille and underlying document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading → Hungary apostille FAQ

What is a Reading apostille for Hungary?

A Reading apostille for Hungary proves that a British public document is real when you need to use it abroad. The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) in Milton Keynes places this special seal on papers that were issued or certified in the UK. For example, a birth or marriage certificate from Reading Register Office can get this stamp so Hungarian authorities will accept it. The process works because Hungary joined the Hague Convention in 1973, which means they must recognise an apostille as valid. You post your document to their office, and they return it with the apostille attached.

How long does it take to get an apostille for a Hungarian document?

The Legalisation Office takes about one to three weeks to place an apostille on your document. The exact time depends on how many people are making requests when you apply, not because of the destination country. If you need the apostille sooner for a tighter schedule, you can use a same-day commercial courier service. The fastest route still needs a working day for the apostille to be placed. Once complete, your document is posted back.

Can I walk in at the Reading Register Office for an apostille?

No, apostilles are always done by post through the Legalisation Office, not at the Reading Register Office or any other council building. The Register Office in Bridge Street can, however, supply a fresh certified copy of your birth, marriage, or death record so you can keep the original safe. You would then send the new certified copy away rather than risk your only original document in the mail. Their clerical team works standard office hours for certified copy requests.

What kind of UK documents need an apostille for Hungary?

Hungarian authorities most often require apostilles for civil status records like birth and marriage certificates, plus court orders and academic diplomas. A business might need company paperwork like a certificate of incorporation checked for moves to Hungary. Each document follows the same route through the Legalisation Office. Some types need a certified copy from the creator first, like university degrees from their original office. The process is the same regardless of the document type.

Why would my document need translation for Hungarian use?

Hungary requires UK documents to be in Hungarian or, in some cases, an official language like German if the paper comes from a foreign source. You cannot send an English-only certificate to the Hungarian authorities and expect them to read it. The translation should match the apostilled version exactly to avoid confusion. A local translator in Hungary can often help ensure it fits what the local office expects. We can arrange a sworn translation that meets legal requirements.

How It Works

Four steps to your Hungary-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 Reading documents are certified and apostilled

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

Reading Register Office

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

Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types