About the Author
Kwok is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Kwok has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every apostille and legalisation case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
Kwok Lam
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
Help with ordering GRO certificates online
Before contacting the General Register Office (GRO) for help, you should first check the GRO “How to Order” guidance videos.
These guides explain how to use the GRO online ordering service and may help you solve common issues before submitting an enquiry.
If you need help with online ordering, or if you want to ask about a GRO service before ordering a certificate, you can contact GRO online.
You can also use the online form if your question relates to a certificate you have already ordered from GRO.
GRO normally responds to online enquiries within 5 working days.
Contact GRO online
The GRO online form can be used for:
- questions before ordering a certificate
- online ordering support
- enquiries about an existing certificate order
- questions about GRO services
- issues with a certificate, PDF or Online View digital image
If your enquiry relates to an existing order, you should include the relevant order details so GRO can locate your application.
Contact GRO by telephone
You can contact GRO by telephone on:
+44 (0)300 123 1837
The telephone line is open:
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Calls to 0300 numbers cost no more than calls to UK numbers beginning with 01 or 02. They should also be included in any inclusive minutes under your phone provider’s call package.
GRO may record calls for training and monitoring purposes.
Text Relay for deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired customers
Deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired customers can contact GRO using the Text Relay service.
To use this service, text:
18001 followed by 0300 123 1837
GRO normally responds to enquiries within 5 working days.
Contact GRO by post
You can contact GRO by post at:
Certificate Services Section
General Register Office
PO Box 2
SOUTHPORT
PR8 2JD
United Kingdom
GRO normally responds to postal enquiries within 10 working days.
If you want to order a certificate by post, you can download the relevant application form and guidance note from GOV.UK. You can also write to GRO at the address above and confirm the number and type of application forms you need.
How to make a complaint to GRO
If you have a complaint about an order you have already placed, or about the service you received, you can contact GRO using its online form.
GRO normally responds to complaints within 20 working days.
GRO aims to provide the best possible service, but it must work within the legal rules that govern the work of the office.
Why GRO contact times matter for overseas use
If you need a GRO certificate for overseas use, response and delivery times can affect the full document process.
A GRO certificate may be needed for:
- overseas marriage
- visa applications
- family registration
- citizenship or nationality applications
- probate or inheritance matters
- immigration procedures
- school or university admission
- overseas government filings
After the certificate is issued, you may still need a UK FCDO apostille. Some countries may also require embassy legalisation, consular legalisation or official attestation after the apostille.
How Ginkgo Advisory can help
Ginkgo Advisory can assist if you need a GRO certificate for overseas use and want the process handled clearly.
We can help you:
- identify the correct GRO certificate
- assist with GRO certificate ordering where required
- check whether the certificate is suitable for overseas use
- arrange the UK FCDO apostille
- offer a 2 working day UK apostille service where available
- arrange embassy legalisation, consular legalisation or attestation if required
- return the completed document by tracked courier in the UK or overseas
If you have already ordered your GRO certificate, we can advise on the apostille and legalisation route once the document arrives. If you have not ordered it yet, we can help you check the correct document type before you proceed.
Need help with a GRO certificate for overseas use?
If you need a GRO birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, adoption certificate or overseas record for use abroad, Ginkgo Advisory can help with the next stage.
We assist with GRO certificate ordering, FCDO apostille, embassy legalisation and international courier delivery.
Contact Us
Address
Suite 161, 30 Red Lion Street, Richmond, London
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