UK Marriage Certificate Apostille
UK Marriage Certificate Apostille
A UK marriage certificate apostille is essential for expats in the UAE who need to prove their marital status for visa sponsorship, tenancy agreements, banking, or legal proceedings. The UAE government and its various authorities — including GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs), courts, and financial institutions — require that foreign marriage certificates carry a valid apostille before they are recognised.
The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) is the designated authority for issuing apostilles on UK documents. Your marriage certificate must be an original issued by the General Register Office (GRO), a local register office, or the relevant authority in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Church marriage certificates that are not registered with the civil authorities are not eligible for apostille on their own.
Green Apple Attest simplifies this process for couples based in the UAE. You send us your original marriage certificate or arrange for it to be sent from a family member in the UK, and we manage the FCDO submission, tracking, and return delivery. If your certificate has been lost or damaged, we can also arrange a replacement from the GRO before processing the apostille.
Documents Required
- Original UK marriage certificate issued by the GRO or local register office
- Clear colour scan of the marriage certificate for pre-assessment
- Copy of both spouses' passports (photo pages)
- Completed Green Apple Attest service request form
- Proof of UAE address for return delivery
How It Works
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1Submit a scan of your marriage certificate for free pre-assessment by our team.
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2Receive confirmation of eligibility and a fixed-price quote with no hidden fees.
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3Send the original certificate to our UK partner address via tracked courier.
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4We submit the document to the FCDO for apostille processing.
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5The apostilled certificate is couriered to your UAE address within the agreed timeframe.
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
- If both spouses need to process documents (e.g., marriage certificate plus birth certificates), bundling them in a single shipment reduces courier costs significantly.
- For spouse visa sponsorship in the UAE, you will typically also need your birth certificate and employment contract apostilled. Plan ahead and process all documents together.
- If your marriage certificate has been lost, we can obtain a certified replacement from the GRO before apostille. This adds approximately 5 working days to the timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if the marriage was also registered with the civil authorities and you hold a civil marriage certificate. A standalone religious certificate without civil registration cannot be apostilled by the FCDO.
Yes. The apostille confirms the authenticity of the UK-issued document, not the nationality of the parties. Any marriage certificate issued by a UK registry office is eligible regardless of the nationalities of the spouses.
Standard processing is 5 to 8 working days total, including courier time. Express same-day FCDO processing is available if you need the document urgently.
For most UAE government processes including visa sponsorship and court matters, yes. We offer a combined FCDO apostille plus MOFA attestation package to save you time.
Quick Facts
- Processing Time
- 7-12 business days
- Pricing From
- AED 350
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Delivery
- Free across the UAE
Questions About This Service?
Our specialists know United Kingdom requirements inside out — call or message for free guidance.
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