Portugal has recently approved changes increasing the nationality residency requirement from five to ten years, a decision upheld by the Constitutional Court. However, uncertainty remains for applicants already in the system, particularly those applying through the Portugal Golden Visa programme.
As a result, if you are applying for the Portugal Golden Visa as a UK citizen, your application still depends heavily on correctly prepared UK documents. In practice, the most common issues involve a UK birth certificate and a UK apostille.
Therefore, this guide explains how to obtain a UK birth certificate, when to replace it, and how to apply a UK apostille correctly for Portugal Golden Visa applications.
Why UK Birth Certificates Matter for Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal requires clear proof of family relationships. As a result, a UK birth certificate is essential when you:
- include a child as a dependent
- prove a parent–child relationship
- submit family reunification documents
- prepare for Golden Visa renewal or citizenship
In all these cases, Portugal accepts only a full UK birth certificate.
Full UK Birth Certificate vs Short Version
First, it is important to understand the difference.
- A short birth certificate is not accepted
- Portugal requires a full birth certificate showing parents’ details
Therefore, if you lost your original certificate or only hold a short version, you must order a replacement full UK birth certificate.
How to Get a UK Birth Certificate Replacement
UK birth certificates are issued by official registry authorities, not by notaries.
Depending on where the birth was registered:
- England and Wales → General Register Office (GRO)
- Scotland → National Records of Scotland
- Northern Ireland → GRONI
You must request an official certified copy.
Scans, photocopies, or printed PDFs are not valid for apostille.
Do UK Birth Certificates Need Notarisation?
No. This point causes frequent confusion.
UK birth certificates are already official public documents. Because of this, you should not notarise them before apostille.
In fact, the UK Foreign Office will not apostille notarised copies of UK birth certificates.
UK Apostille for Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal is a Hague Apostille Convention country.
Therefore:
- UK documents must carry an UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s apostille
- Portuguese embassy legalisation is not required
For a UK birth certificate, the correct process is simple:
- submit the original certified certificate
- apply directly for a UK apostille
Correct Preparation Order (Very Important)
To avoid delays or rejection, follow this exact order:
- First, obtain a full replacement UK birth certificate
- Next, confirm all names match the passport exactly
- Then, apply for the UK apostille
- After that, translate the document only if requested
- Finally, present the originals at your biometrics appointment
If you change this order, applications often stall.
Common UK Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Many Portugal Golden Visa delays happen because applicants:
- use a short birth certificate
- apostille a notarised scan
- apostille documents too early
- overlook spelling differences between documents
However, these problems are easy to prevent with correct planning.
How Ginkgo Advisory Can Help
We regularly assist Portugal Golden Visa applicants by:
- arranging UK birth certificate replacements
- handling UK apostille applications
- aligning document timing with Golden Visa submissions
- avoiding unnecessary notarisation and repeat filings
As a result, clients reduce risk, cost, and waiting time.
Contact Us
Address
167-169 Great Portland Street, 5/F, London
English 
Chinese