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
What to do if you have not received your GRO certificate
If you have ordered a certificate from the General Register Office (GRO), you should allow enough time for delivery before contacting GRO.
For UK delivery, you should allow at least 5 working days from the estimated date of despatch.
Working days do not include Saturdays, Sundays or bank holidays.
If you live overseas, you should allow at least 15 working days from the estimated date of despatch.
GRO will usually not be able to take action if you contact them before these timescales have passed.
If your certificate has still not arrived after the relevant waiting period, you should contact GRO using its online form. Once you submit the form, GRO will receive your message by email and will usually respond within 5 working days.
You should report non-receipt of a certificate within three months of the date you placed the order.
What to do if you have not received your GRO PDF
If you ordered a GRO PDF, you should allow 5 working days from the estimated order date before contacting GRO.
If the PDF is still not available after this period, you should contact GRO through its online form.
After you submit the form, GRO will receive the details you provided and will usually reply within 5 working days.
What to do if you have not received your Online View digital image
If you ordered an Online View digital image and it has not appeared in your online account, you should contact GRO through its online form.
Online View digital images are normally accessed through your GRO online account once the order has been completed.
Using the GRO online service
The quickest, easiest and cheapest way to order a GRO certificate is usually through the GRO secure online ordering service.
Before you make your first online application, you need to set up a GRO online account. The GRO customer guide explains that you will need to register with an email address and password, verify your account by email, and then provide your name, address, contact email, payment details and event details when applying online.
This online service can be used for many certificate applications, including birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and other eligible GRO records.
Why delivery timing matters for overseas use
If you need a GRO certificate for an overseas authority, timing is important.
You may need the certificate for:
- visa applications
- overseas marriage
- family registration
- citizenship or nationality applications
- probate or inheritance matters
- immigration files
- school or university admission
- overseas government procedures
In many cases, the certificate itself is only the first step. 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 from start to finish.
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 already ordered a certificate and are waiting for delivery, we can advise on the next steps once the document arrives. If you have not ordered it yet, we can help you check the correct route before the application is submitted.
Simple process
Step 1: Send us the details
Tell us which GRO certificate you need, or send us a scan of the certificate if you already have it.
Step 2: We check the document route
We confirm whether the certificate is suitable for apostille and whether further legalisation may be needed.
Step 3: We arrange the FCDO apostille
Once the certificate is ready, we arrange the UK apostille. A 2 working day apostille option may be available.
Step 4: We arrange further legalisation if required
If the destination country requires embassy legalisation, consular legalisation or attestation, we arrange the next step.
Step 5: We courier the completed document
We send the completed certificate to you by tracked courier in the UK or overseas.
Need help with a GRO certificate for overseas use?
If your GRO certificate has arrived, or if you are still planning to order one, Ginkgo Advisory can help with the next stage.
We assist with GRO certificate ordering, FCDO apostille, embassy legalisation and international courier delivery for overseas use.
Contact Us
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Suite 161, 30 Red Lion Street, Richmond, London
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