UK Marriage Certificate Apostille for Argentina: Family Reunification Essentials

A marriage certificate is central to several Argentine residency categories: family reunification (if your spouse is Argentine or a legal resident), joint visa applications, and Rentista/Pensionado applications where spousal income is being combined. The UK marriage certificate is straightforward to get and apostille, but the sequence matters.

The right certificate

For related context, see Moving to Argentina from the UK: A Practical Guide.

Do not use the original certificate from your wedding ceremony. That document is fine for UK purposes but Argentine Migraciones wants a recently issued certified copy from the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport.

Order online at gro.gov.uk:

• Cost: £12.50 standard, £38 premium
• Processing: 4 working days standard, 1 working day premium
• Posted to any UK address

Include both parties' full names, date and place of marriage, and parents' names if available. The certified copy comes with official GRO watermarks and the registrar's signature.

FCDO apostille

As with all UK documents for Argentine use, the marriage certificate needs a Hague Apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office. Process:

1. Post the original certified copy (not a photocopy) to the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes

2. Include the online application form printout

3. Pay £30 per document + courier costs

4. Standard return: 7 working days; premium: 2 working days

The apostille is stamped on the reverse of the certificate. Keep the original physical document safe. you will present it at your Migraciones appointment.

Spanish traducción pública

Once back in your hands, the apostilled certificate needs a traducción pública by a CTPCBA-matriculated translator in Buenos Aires. Cost: ARS 15,000-35,000. Turnaround: 2-4 working days.

The translator produces a bound document containing the original certificate, the apostille, and the Spanish translation with their certification seal. This bound package is what you hand to Migraciones.

For family reunification visas

The family reunification visa (visa por reagrupación familiar) is one of the fastest Argentine residency categories. Requirements:

• Marriage certificate (yours, apostilled and translated as above)
• Spouse's Argentine DNI or residency documentation
• Your ACRO police certificate (apostilled and translated)
• Your birth certificate (apostilled and translated)
• Medical certificate from an Argentine doctor
• Migraciones application forms and fees

The process takes 2-4 months once submitted, compared to 3-6 months for Rentista or other categories. The advantage is the family relationship accelerates review.

Validity rules

Argentine Migraciones accepts marriage certificates up to 6 months old at the point of application. Apostille timing should match: if your Migraciones appointment is in October, apostille the certificate in June-August. Apostilling too early risks the certificate expiring mid-process.

Civil partnerships and same-sex marriage

UK civil partnerships and same-sex marriages are recognised in Argentina, which legalised same-sex marriage in 2010. Your UK civil partnership certificate is valid for spousal residency applications with the same apostille-translation process. If you entered into a UK civil partnership before 2005 (the UK's civil partnership law enactment), documentation may need additional notes. consult an Argentine immigration lawyer.

Marriages abroad

If you were married in a third country (not the UK and not Argentina), the marriage certificate is issued by that country and needs to be apostilled there, not by the FCDO. The Spanish translation is still done in Buenos Aires.

Common errors

1. Using the wedding ceremony certificate. it is too old and not in GRO-issued format.

2. Not apostilling the original — FCDO only stamps originals, not photocopies.

3. Translating in the UK. only CTPCBA-matriculated translators are accepted.

4. Missing the 6-month window. apostille timing must align with Migraciones appointment.

5. Inconsistent names. if your married name differs from the passport name, expect additional questions.

Not legal advice. Consult a specialised Argentine immigration lawyer if your case involves complex family structures (previous divorces, multiple nationalities, dependent children).

Worth reading next

• Moving to Argentina from the UK: A Practical Guide
• Getting a CUIL or CDI as a UK Citizen: ANSES in Practice
• Overstaying on a UK Tourist Stamp in Argentina: Consequences and Fixes