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Before Brexit, UK nationals moving to EU countries could do so under free movement rights. Since 31 December 2020, UK nationals are classified as third-country nationals in the EU and must apply for visas and residency permits — a process that typically requires a package of certified translated UK documents.
For moves to non-EU destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or the UAE, UK documents have always been subject to translation requirements depending on the destination country's language.
Regardless of destination, most countries require some combination of the following UK documents for a residency or long-stay visa application:
Almost universally required. You need the long-form birth certificate from the General Register Office — the short version is not accepted for official overseas use. The long-form certificate must typically be apostilled and certified translated into the local language.
Required if you are including a spouse or partner in your appliation. Must be certified translated and usually apostilled.
The ACRO Certificate of Good Conduct is the correct document for overseas use — not a standard DBS check. The ACRO certificate is issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office and is internationally recognised. Most countries require it to be apostilled and certified translated into the local language.
Important: Allow 4–8 weeks for the ACRO certificate to arrive. This is usually the longest lead-time item in the document pack.
Bank statements, pension award letters, employment contracts, or investment income statements are typically required to demonstrate you can support yourself financially. These require certified translation but usually not apostille.
If you are applying on a skilled worker or professional route, degree certificates, professional licences, and qualification certificates may need to be certified translated.
An apostille is an official stamp that authenticates a UK document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. Most European countries, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and many others, are Hague Convention members.
Apostilles are obtained on the original UK document before translation. We obtain the official apostille on your behalf for your translated documents.
Timeline planning: ACRO certificate (4–8 weeks) + apostille on original documents (10–20 working days) + translation (24–72 hours) = plan 2–3 months ahead of any consulate appointment or submission deadline.
For detailed requirements by destination, see our dedicated country guides:
Official Translations provides certified translations of all standard UK documents for overseas use: birth certificates, marriage and civil partnership certificates, ACRO police certificates, DBS certificates, academic transcripts, degree certificates, financial documents, and professional qualifications. We translate into all major world languages.