Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Burkina Faso
For Stoke-on-Trent residents sending documents to Burkina Faso, the process is consular legalisation, not an apostille. Burkina Faso is not party to the Hague Convention. This means simply getting an apostille from the FCDO is not enough. The document must go through the full embassy legalisation process, which includes verification by the FCDO Legalisation Office but continues to the Embassy of Burkina Faso in London. This applies whether your paper is a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or company record.
The embassy of Burkina Faso requires everything to be presented in French, the country's official language. Any supporting paperwork in English must be translated before submission. You will also need to complete specific forms provided by the consular section. The desk reviews each file individually and may ask for further evidence depending on the nature of the document.
Burkina Faso's position & what it means
Since Burkina Faso has not joined the Hague Convention, the simplified apostille process does not apply. The FCDO Legalisation Office PO Box 6255 in Milton Keynes can place their stamp on the document, but it then requires additional verification from the consulate. This means your document goes through more steps than if it were bound for a Hague country, increasing both the processing time and the effort required. Every sheet requiring official recognition, from civil records to business papers, must follow this longer route.
You cannot use the standard route that would apply for Hague countries. This affects all types of documents from Stoke-on-Trent, whether you obtained them at the Civic Centre on Glebe Street or through the post. The embassy legalisation for Burkina Faso requires careful attention to the specific demands of their consular team in London, who have the final say on what they will accept.
The Stoke-on-Trent to Burkina Faso route step by step
Start by getting a fresh certified copy of your document from Stoke-on-Trent Register Office if it is a local birth, marriage, or death certificate. The office at the Civic Centre issues these with the registrar's signature. Never send your original if it is irreplaceable. Then proceed to have this certified copy placed under the official stamp. This verification happens at the FCDO Legalisation Office by post, after which your paper will be ready for the next step.
Once the FCDO has placed their stamp, the document must be legalised by the Embassy of Burkina Faso in London. They will expect to see the chain of verification on the paper and may ask you to complete supplementary forms. The apostille from United Kingdom to Burkina Faso is completed only once the embassy attaches their own stamp, confirming they recognise the previous attestations. Each document follows this path individually.
Cost & timing for this route
The process requires two separate fees: one for the FCDO and another for the embassy of Burkina Faso. Your cover letter must include the embassy's legalisation fee, which varies by document type. The FCDO's official fee also applies. Plan ahead, as the embassy's review can take several weeks. We recommend building in a buffer of at least ten working days beyond any deadline you are given.
Shipments to and from the consular desk take time, and the embassy may hold your file for further checks. The standard postal service adds more days to the total turnaround. Include a prepaid return envelope for the office to send your papers home once they finish. Processing the apostille for Burkina Faso from FCDO submission to final collection from the embassy can span three weeks or more during busy periods.
Destination-specific requirements
Burkina Faso's authorities expect all foreign documents to be translated into French by a certified professional. The translation is done after obtaining the FCDO's stamp but before sending to the embassy. Use a professional who understands legal terminology to avoid rejection. The consular desk may require the translator's credentials to be included with your submission. This is part of what you need for an apostille for Burkina Faso alternative process.
Once fully legalised, your document is ready for official use in Burkina Faso. Present it alongside the French translation and any other locally-required certificates. If your planned stay exceeds three months, verify that the recipient office in Burkina Faso will accept a UK-issued paper. Make two clear photocopies before sending anything off, and consider sending records by a tracked method.