- Original certificate option, stamps will be placed on the back of the certificate. Part of the attestation process for an original marriage certificate is to have the signature from the registrar/minister verified by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The signature verification does not commence until the FCDO has the original certificate in their offices. If the signature is on file, the certificate will be processed as normal and we will be able to meet the quoted timescales for the attestation (the signature has to be on their database for the certificate to be attested straight away). If the signature is not on file, the FCDO will return the certificate to us. If this is the case, the FCDO will return it to us and we will make contact with you to advise on the options available which will include the following:
- The GRO copy to be ordered provided the criteria is met as detailed in point 2 below.
- We can send the original certificate back to the FCDO for the original to be attested and their process is to try to contact the person who signed the certificate in order that they can verify the signature on the document. The timescale for this is not guaranteed and the FCDO advises that this can be from a few working days up to a month; we are not involved in this process as it must be undertaken by the FCDO. If and when the signature is verified we can continue with the attestation. Please note if they have not had confirmation after a month they will return the certificate unattested and no further search for the signature can take place. If you do not meet the GRO requirements below the original certificate must be attested and there would be no other options.
2. GRO copy option is available if the certificate meets the following criteria:
- The marriage must have taken place at least 24 months ago if the event was in England or Wales; or
- At least 9 months ago if the event was in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Please note, the GRO in Scotland has a high certificate order time and we are currently unable to order any certificates issued in Scotland at the moment.
If you choose the GRO copy, this will take 2 working days to reach the London office and there is an additional fee of AED 300.00 (or equivalent in the currency you wish to pay in - for GBP this would be approx. £60.00 per certificate but avoids the need for you to send us the original certificate). This will also avoid the need for a signature query as the attestation is done from the seal of the GRO rather than the signature of the registrar/minister. Our recommendation is to take this option where possible as it will avoid any delays with the process. The fee for the GRO to be ordered covers the certificate being ordered and delivered to us in the London office. Please note once a GRO has been ordered, they are nonrefundable.