UK Apostille for Certificate of No Impediment
We legalise UK Certificates of No Impediment (CNI) for couples marrying overseas. Send us your original CNI, we check it, obtain the FCDO apostille and return it to you in the UK or overseas. Most orders are completed within 1-2 working days of receipt, plus return delivery. From £82.
Certificate of No Impediment Apostille: Key Facts
Everything you need to know before you order, at a glance.
| Key facts | Certificate of No Impediment |
|---|---|
| Price | £82.00 per certificate, FCDO apostille and fees included |
| Turnaround | Our service is usually completed within 1-2 working days of receipt |
| Issued by | Any UK register office, after you give notice of marriage (usually a 28-day notice period) |
| Original or copy? | Original CNI only. Photocopies and scans cannot be legalised |
| Solicitor certification | Not needed. The apostille is added directly to the original CNI |
| e-Apostille | Not available for a CNI. Paper apostille only |
| How recent? | Usually no more than 3 months old for countries such as Greece. Italy: less than 3 months old on the ceremony date |
| Lost or out of date? | We cannot order a replacement. Contact the register office where you gave notice |
| Often needed with | Long-form birth certificate, and a Final Order or death certificate if previously married. See our marriage abroad guide |
| Return delivery | UK next working day courier service or DHL Express worldwide available (options and charges shown at checkout) |
Can a UK Certificate of No Impediment Be Apostilled?
Yes, the original CNI
A CNI is needed to marry in many countries outside the UK, most often Greece, Italy, Morocco and Spain. It is issued by a UK register office, so the FCDO can apostille the original certificate directly, with no solicitor certification. Any CNI issued by a UK register office, in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, can be apostilled at the same price.
How to Legalise a Certificate of No Impediment
Reasons your CNI is requested
How to Get an Apostille on Your CNI
What Is a Certificate of No Impediment?
A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) confirms that there is no legal reason why you cannot marry. It is issued by your local UK register office after you give notice of your intended marriage abroad. The notice period is usually 28 days, although this can depend on your circumstances, and the CNI is issued at the end of it if there are no objections. Each partner usually needs their own CNI.
A CNI shows your name, age, marital status, occupation, address and how long you have lived there, your nationality and where you intend to marry. Depending on the register office, it is printed on blue or white paper. Both versions can be apostilled.
Experience
25+ years
Typical Turnaround
1-2 days
Certificate of No Impediment Apostille Price
One price per certificate: the FCDO paper apostille on your original CNI, with document checks, order tracking and support. No solicitor certification is needed. Delivery options and charges are shown at checkout.
Countries That Most Often Ask for an Apostilled CNI
Where Our Customers Use Them
Based on our CNI orders, these are the most common destinations (this list is not exhaustive):
Marrying in a Commonwealth Country?
The UK does not issue Certificates of No Impediment for marriages in Commonwealth countries, such as Malta, Mauritius and Barbados. A Statutory Declaration, signed in front of a UK solicitor or notary and then apostilled, is usually used instead. See our statutory declaration apostille page.
How Recent Does Your CNI Need to Be?
A CNI is usually required to be no more than 3 months old for countries such as Greece, and Italy will only accept a CNI that is less than 3 months old on the date of the ceremony. Plan backwards from your wedding date, allowing for the notice period, so your CNI is still recent enough. Most countries also ask for a sworn translation after the apostille. See our translation service.
