Made on
Tilda
Before 31 December 2020, UK nationals living in EU countries enjoyed free movement rights and rarely needed to formalise their residency with translated documents. Brexit changed this fundamentally. UK nationals are now treated as third-country nationals in all EU member states and must go through the same residency permit processes as other non-EU nationals.
For UK nationals who were already living in an EU country before the Brexit deadline, most regularised their status under the Withdrawal Agreement. For those arriving now, a national long-stay visa is required — and that visa application typically requires a package of certified translated UK documents.
While requirements vary by country, the following UK documents are most commonly required for EU residency applications:
| Document | Translation Required? | Apostille Required? |
|---|---|---|
| ACRO Certificate of Good Conduct | Yes — into local language | Usually yes |
| UK birth certificate | Yes — into local language | Usually yes |
| UK marriage certificate | Yes — if applicable | Usually yes |
| Proof of income / financial means | Yes — into local language | Usually not |
| UK academic / professional qualifications | If required by visa category | Varies |
DBS vs ACRO: For overseas use, you need the ACRO Certificate of Good Conduct — not a standard DBS check. The DBS is for UK employment purposes only and is not accepted by EU immigration authorities.
For a French long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) and carte de résident, documents must be translated into French. France requires an apostille on official UK documents. Key documents: ACRO certificate + apostille + French translation; birth certificate + apostille + French translation; proof of income translated into French.
Germany has strict translation requirements. Official German immigration (Ausländerbehörde) typically requires translations by a German court-certified translator (beeidigter Übersetzer). A UK certified translation may not be accepted by German authorities — always confirm with the specific office. Documents needed: birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), ACRO certificate (apostilled), proof of income.
Italy generally accepts certified translations accompanied by apostille. Italian immigration (Questura) requires documents translated into Italian. The typical package: ACRO certificate + apostille + Italian translation; birth and marriage certificates translated.
The Dutch IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) requires documents translated into Dutch, English, French, or German for most visa categories. Birth certificates and financial documents are the most commonly required items.
UK nationals have special status in the Republic of Ireland under the Common Travel Area (CTA). Translation is not required — English is an official language. This is worth knowing if you are considering Ireland as a post-Brexit base.
Several EU countries officially require translations from a sworn or court-registered translator in that country. This is separate from UK certified translation. Where this applies, we can advise on the appropriate approach for your specific situation.
Build in enough time: the ACRO certificate takes 4–8 weeks; apostille on original documents takes 10–20 working days; translation takes 24–72 hours. Allow 2–3 months from starting the process to having a complete, translated, and apostilled document pack ready for submission.