If you need to use a UK birth certificate in Nigeria — for citizenship / passport matters, school registration, family documentation, inheritance, or property — the document usually needs formal legalisation, not just a scan or a certified copy.
A key point many people miss:
Nigeria is not listed as a Contracting Party to the 1961 Apostille Convention on the official HCCH status table (last updated 5 November 2025). hcch.net
That means a UK “apostille-only” approach (as used for Hague countries) is not the right mental model for Nigeria.
This guide explains the correct, practical route:
- Get the right UK birth certificate
- Legalise it with the UK FCDO
- Then submit it for Nigerian High Commission attestation (London)
When a UK Birth Certificate is commonly needed in Nigeria
A UK birth certificate is often used to prove identity and parent–child relationship, for example when you need to:
- support Nigerian passport / citizenship-related documentation
- register a child for school or formal processes in Nigeria
- prove family relationship for administrative or legal matters
- handle inheritance / estate documentation
- handle property matters involving family proof
Full (long-form) vs short UK birth certificate
For cross-border use, authorities usually want the full birth certificate (the version that includes parents’ details). A short certificate often causes avoidable back-and-forth.
Practical rule: if the Nigerian side needs to see parents’ names, you want the full certificate.
Step 1 — Order an official replacement UK birth certificate (if needed)
UK birth certificates must be obtained from the official registry authority.
Depending on where the birth was registered:
- England & Wales: order via the UK government guidance / GRO route GOV.UK+1
- Scotland: National Records of Scotland (NRS) certificate ordering National Records of Scotland
- Northern Ireland: GRONI ordering via nidirect nidirect
Important: use an official certified copy / original certificate (not a scan, printout, or screenshot).
Step 2 — UK FCDO legalisation (often called an “apostille”)
Even though Nigeria is not a Hague Apostille country, the UK still issues an FCDO legalisation certificate for UK public documents.
The UK government’s legalisation service lists fees and service types (paper-based and e-apostille). GOV.UK
Current FCDO fee reference (paper-based): £45 per document (plus postage/courier). GOV.UK
Do you need notarisation first?
Usually, for an official UK birth certificate, you can often legalise the certificate directly via the FCDO (because it is already a public document). If you’re unsure, we’ll tell you the safest route before you spend money.
Step 3 — Nigerian High Commission attestation (London)
Because Nigeria is outside the Apostille Convention framework, the process typically requires an extra consular step: attestation/legalisation by the Nigerian High Commission.
The Nigerian High Commission in London’s address and consular submission hours are published on their official site (consular submissions typically 9:00am–1:00pm). nigeriahc.org.uk
Practical expectation: consular submissions usually require the physical document and supporting copies, and payment methods can be restrictive (often postal order).
Note: fee schedules and exact submission requirements can change. If you’re sending by post vs in-person, requirements may differ. We recommend confirming the current checklist right before submission.
Correct preparation order (avoid rejections)
- Order the correct birth certificate (usually full / long-form)
- Check names carefully against passports (spelling, middle names, order)
- FCDO legalisation (paper-based is the safest default for consular workflows) GOV.UK
- Nigerian High Commission attestation (final step for Nigeria) nigeriahc.org.uk+1
If you change the order (for example, you do translation too early, or you legalise the wrong version), you often end up paying twice.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Using a short certificate when parents’ details are required
- Sending scans / printouts instead of official certificates
- Name mismatches between certificate and passport
- Assuming “apostille-only” is enough for Nigeria (Nigeria is not on the HCCH Apostille Convention contracting party list as of the last update shown) hcch.net
- Choosing e-apostille without checking acceptance: the FCDO offers e-apostilles, but consular/overseas workflows often still expect paper originals GOV.UK
FAQs
Is Nigeria an Apostille Convention country?
As of the HCCH Apostille Convention status table last updated 5 November 2025, Nigeria is not listed as a Contracting Party. hcch.net
Do I need embassy / consular attestation after FCDO legalisation?
For Nigeria, often yes — the Nigerian High Commission attestation is commonly the step that makes the document usable in Nigeria. nigeriahc.org.uk+1
How much does UK legalisation cost?
The UK government lists £45 per document for standard paper-based legalisation (plus postage/courier), with other service options available. GOV.UK
How Ginkgo Advisory can help
We help clients prepare UK birth certificates for use in Nigeria by:
- arranging replacement UK birth certificates (England & Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland routes)
- handling UK FCDO legalisation correctly (paper-based vs e-apostille where appropriate) GOV.UK
- guiding the Nigeria attestation workflow so you don’t waste time and re-file
If you tell us where the birth was registered (England & Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland) and what the certificate will be used for in Nigeria, we can map the safest preparation route immediately.
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