Legalise a UK document (apostille)
To use a UK document such as a birth certificate abroad, you may need an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office.
Home » Public bodies » Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The foreign ministry. For residents, it runs the Legalisation Office (apostilles on UK documents) and consular help for British nationals abroad.
Contact
FCDO London office
- Phone · General enquiries telephone
- 020 7008 5000
- Postal address
- King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom - Contact form
- gov.uk/guidance/contact-the-fcdo
FCDO East Kilbride office
- Phone · General enquiries telephone
- 020 7008 5000
- Postal address
- Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
United Kingdom - Contact form
- gov.uk/guidance/contact-the-fcdo
British embassy, high commission or consulate abroad
You can contact us at any time in an emergency, for example if you have been in an accident or arrested. Select option 1. If you call us through your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate select the option ‘consular services for British nationals overseas’.
- Phone · Telephone
- 020 7008 5000
- Contact form
- contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/home
Travel advice
View our Travel Advice pages for our latest information on the country you’re visiting. If you have a question about our advice or a topic that isn’t covered, contact us.
- Contact form
- contact-embassy.service.gov.uk/
Legalisation and apostille service
If you need to use British documents for business or personal matters abroad.
- Phone · Enquiries
- 020 4623 3100 (24-hour service)
- legalisation@fcdo.gov.uk
- Contact form
- gov.uk/get-document-legalised
Overseas Pension enquiries
The FCDO’s Overseas Pension Department administers pensions to eligible former colonial civil servants and their dependants.
- Phone · Telephone
- 01355 843927
- Phone · Fax
- 01355 843636
- Email · Overseas Pensions Department
- HOPD@fcdo.gov.uk
- Postal address · Overseas Pensions Department
- Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
United Kingdom
We only list official numbers. Beware of websites showing 084, 087, 09 or 118 numbers that connect you to a public body at a premium rate.
Related procedures
Social media
Contact data source: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0, updated 12 October 2026.