table of contents
Need a fast apostille?

We can help!

What Is A Certificate Of Naturalisation?

A Certificate of Naturalisation is the official document issued by the UK Home Office that confirms a foreign national has been granted British citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1981. It gives the holder the same rights as a person born British – including the right to apply for a UK passport – and is the document most often requested by overseas authorities as proof of UK citizenship.

If you need to use your Certificate of Naturalisation abroad, you will almost always need a certified copy legalised with an apostille. The original cannot be altered or stamped, so we arrange solicitor certification of a copy and submit it to the FCDO on your behalf.

Need this legalised quickly?

Apostille a Certificate of Naturalisation

Fast UK solicitor certification and apostille service for Certificates of Naturalisation. Fully managed service from £94 with secure return delivery options available worldwide.

Order Today

What information is shown on a Certificate of Naturalisation?

The certificate of Naturalisation follows a standard format and displays details about the individual who has been granted British nationality. Generally, the certificate will show the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Name at Birth if Different
  • Date of Birth
  • Place and Country of Birth
  • Certificate Number
  • Reference Number
  • Date of Issue

It is important to ensure the details on the certificate are correct at the time of issue as the UK government charge for amending documents and issuing replacement certificates.

We are not able to assist with applying for certificates of naturalisation, obtaining official copies or providing guidance on the application process.

What does a Certificate of Naturalisation look like?

A UK Certificate of Naturalisation is an A4 portrait document printed on cream or white security paper. The current design features:

  • The Royal Coat of Arms at the top
  • The title “Certificate of Naturalisation as a British Citizen”
  • A printed unique certificate number
  • The applicant’s personal details set out in a tabular layout

Older certificates issued before 2003 used a parchment-style design with different branding. Both formats remain valid and can be apostilled.

Apostille Certificate of Naturalisation

Do I need to Apostille my Certificate of Naturalisation?

You will need an apostille on your Certificate of Naturalisation whenever an overseas authority asks you to prove your British citizenship and the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. The most common reasons our clients legalise this certificate include:

  • Applying for residency, a long-stay visa or work permit overseas
  • Registering a marriage in another country where citizenship must be evidenced
  • Renouncing or re-applying for a second nationality in line with a foreign government’s rules
  • Applying for a passport from a country that recognises British citizenship as an eligibility route
  • Submitting evidence to overseas pension, banking or property authorities

If the destination country is not a Hague signatory – for example the UAE, Qatar, or Kuwait – an apostille is still the first step, followed by attestation at that country’s embassy or consulate. We can also assist with the embassy attestation process.

Ready to legalise your document?

Order the Apostille for your Certificate of Naturalisation

Express UK solicitor certification and apostille service from £94. Suitable for overseas residency, visas, dual nationality applications, marriage registration, and other international legalisation requirements.

Order Today

How to Apostille your Certificate of Naturalisation

The original Certificate of Naturalisation cannot be altered in any way, including by stamping or attaching anything to it. Doing so would invalidate the document. Instead, we arrange for a photocopy of your original to be certified by a solicitor as a true copy and the apostille is attached to that copy. The original is returned to you intact.

  • 1

    Order online. Choose our Solicitor Certification & Apostille Service.

  • 2
    Post your original certificate to us. Send the original Certificate of Naturalisation with your order number.
  • 3
    We handle the solicitor certification. A regulated UK solicitor produces a certified copy that meets FCDO standards.
  • 4
    FCDO Apostille. We submit the certified copy directly to the Legalisation Office in person.
  • 5
    Return. We return the documents as per your delivery instructions. You receive both your original certificate and the apostilled certified copy, ready for overseas use.

Once the certificate has been issued it grants the individual the same rights as an individual who was born as a British national. This means the certificate can be used by individuals to apply for a UK passport.

— Hague Apostille Service

We are not able to assist with applying for certificates of naturalisation, obtaining official replacements from the Home Office, or providing guidance on the application process itself. Our service is limited to certifying and apostilling existing certificates.

Find out how to apply for a Certificate of Naturalisation on the UK government site. 

Express Solicitor & Apostille

£94

Per document

Documents requiring certification

Inclusive service

  • Document Checks

  • Solicitor Certification

  • Fast Submission to FCDO

  • Order Tracking

Apostille in Days, Not Weeks

Document Legalisation, Simplified

Post your documents, we do the rest. Quick turnaround, no hassle.

  • Order online
  • Post your documents to us with your order number

  • We add the apostille to your document

  • That’s it! We’ll do the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before ordering your apostille.

Is a Certificate of Naturalisation the same as a Certificate of Citizenship/Certificate of Registration?

 No. A Certificate of Naturalisation is issued to adults granted British citizenship through the naturalisation process. A Certificate of Registration is issued to people who acquire British citizenship through registration – most commonly children, British Overseas Territories citizens, or certain Commonwealth and stateless persons. Both documents serve as official evidence of British citizenship and can usually be apostilled in the same way.

The Home Office’s published timescale is typically up to six months from a complete application, though many decisions are issued sooner. Once approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony to receive your Certificate of Naturalisation. We do not handle naturalisation applications – our service begins once you have the certificate in hand.

Replacement certificates are issued by the Home Office. There is a Home Office fee, and the process can take several months. Contact the Home Office directly to start this process.

Yes. In practice, Certificate of Naturalisation documents are normally apostilled as solicitor-certified copies. The FCDO does not generally attach apostilles directly to the original certificate because the document must not be permanently altered, stapled, or marked. Our solicitor prepares a certified copy suitable for apostille legalisation.

The apostille is recognised by all 120+ Hague Apostille Convention countries without the need for further legalisation. For non-Hague countries – most commonly the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait – a further embassy attestation step is required after the apostille. We can confirm the full process for your destination country before you order.

Need help with your documents? –

Talk to our legalisation team.

Call us
+44 2476 108888
News and Information on Document Legalisation

view related content