Documents for British people abroad

Guidance

Documents for British people abroad

Where to get official UK documents when you're abroad. Sometimes called notarial and document services.

Contents

1. Marriage and civil partnership
2. Getting UK documents legalised and certified
3. Oaths, affirmations and affidavits, and witnessing signatures
4. Getting documents translated
5. Passports, visas and residency
6. British citizenship and nationality
7. Child adoption
8. Name change
9. Driving
10. Births and deaths
11. Getting copies of official certificates and documents
12. Pensions
13. Police and criminal records
14. Study and work documents
15. Healthcare and medical documents
16. Service of documents and taking of evidence

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You can find out about and apply for most official documents online through the UK government departments and agencies listed on this page.

British embassies and consulates offer very limited notarial and documentary services for British nationals abroad and it's usually cheaper and easier to find a local notary or a local lawyer to help you.

If you live abroad, find out about additional documents you might need in our Living in guides.

Marriage and civil partnership

If you're a British national getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad you might need certain documents from the UK government, for example, a certificate of no impediment (CNI), or affirmation.

Find out what you need to do to get married or register a civil partnership abroad.

If you're unable to get married or register a civil partnership because of a country's laws, you may be able to do so in a British embassy, high commission or consulate if local authorities have given permission. This is known as a consular marriage or consular civil partnership.

Converting a same-sex civil partnership

If you registered a same-sex civil partnership in the UK you may be able to convert it into a marriage in some countries.

Find out about converting a same-sex civil partnership.

You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership into a marriage.

Recognition of marriage and civil partnership

Your marriage or civil partnership abroad will be recognised in the UK if:

• you follow the correct process according to the law of that country or territory
• it would be allowed under UK law

You may be asked by local authorities to provide a letter to confirm your foreign marriage or civil partnership is recognised by UK law.

Proof of civil status or family circumstances

You may be asked by local authorities to provide proof of your civil status or family circumstances. The UK does not have a central register of civil status and British embassies and consulates cannot offer civil or family status certificates. If a local authority asks for proof of this you can get a letter to confirm that family or civil status certificates are not available.

Getting UK documents legalised and certified

Check with the person asking for your document if it needs to be:

• legalised (certified with a stamped official certificate called an apostille)
• a certified copy (signed and dated to confirm it's a true copy of the original)

It's your responsibility to make sure you're using the correct service.

Legalisation

You may need to get a UK document legalised by the Legalisation Office. They'll do this by checking your document to see if any signatures, stamps or seals match their own records. British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot legalise any document.

If your document was issued in another country, contact the authorities in that country to find out what you need to do to get it legalised.

Check with the person asking for your document if it needs to be legalised. It's your responsibility to make sure you're using the correct service.

Certified copy

If you need a certified copy of a UK document so that it can be legalised you'll need to use a notary (lawyer) based in the UK. To find out more contact the Legalisation Office.

If you're abroad and need a certified copy of a document for a reason other than legalisation, you should find a local notary to do it. Check with the notary which documents they'll certify.

In non-Commonwealth countries British embassies and consulates can certify a copy of an original UK passport, but only if a local notary is unable to do it, or the person asking for the certified copy has said it must be done by an embassy or consulate.

In Commonwealth countries British high commissions or consulates cannot certify a copy of any document. For some countries you can ​get a letter to confirm to local authorities this service is not available.

British embassies and consulates cannot certify copies of:

• non-UK passports
• official documents when it's possible to get a copy of a document
• education certificates - contact the school or college that issued the certificate, or the British Council in your country may be able to help
• registration or naturalisation certificates - contact The National Archives

Check with the person asking for your document if it needs to be a certified copy. It's your responsibility to make sure you're using the correct service.

Apply for a certified copy of a document online

Oaths, affirmations and affidavits, and witnessing signatures

Oaths, affirmations and affidavits

Find out about getting an affirmation or affidavit if you're getting married or registering a civil partnership.

If you need an oath, affirmation or affidavit for another reason find a local notary (lawyer) to do it.

In Commonwealth countries British high commissions and consulates cannot provide these services. For some countries you can ​get a letter to confirm to local authorities this service is not available.

In non-Commonwealth countries British embassies and consulates can only administer oaths, affirmations or affidavits if a local notary is unable to do it or it must be done at an embassy or consulate.

Witnessing signatures

British embassies and consulates can only witness your signature under exceptional circumstances, for example, if you're in prison and your lawyer cannot do it.

Check with the person asking for the document who they'll accept to witness your signature. If it does not need to be witnessed by an embassy or consulate, find a local notary to do it.

Getting documents translated

British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot translate documents.

Find a qualified translator or interpreter or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country.

Passports, visas and residency

Passports

If you need to travel urgently from abroad and cannot use your UK passport you may be able to get an emergency travel document. This is usually only valid for one single or return journey.

If it's more than 6 weeks until you need to travel, you can apply online for a passport from the UK or abroad.

For questions about passports and passport applications, contact HM Passport Office.

If a local authority asks for proof of UK laws you can get a letter explaining passport laws for British people.

Visas and travelling to the UK

Check if you need a UK visa and apply for a UK visa.

Find out if you can extend your UK visa.

Find out what you need to do to enter the UK.

For questions about applying for a UK visa or your visa status contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Visas for other countries

If you need a visa for a country other than the UK, check the entry and visa requirements for that country in foreign travel advice or living in country guides.

British embassies, high commissions and consulates do not issue visa recommendations. If a local authority asks for proof of this you can get a letter to confirm visa recommendations are not available.

Residency in the UK

Find out about biometric residence permits (BRPs), including what to do if your BRP is lost or stolen.

The UK does not have a central register of residency and British embassies and consulates cannot offer certificates or declarations to confirm these. If a local authority asks for proof of this you can get a letter to confirm that residency certificates are not available.

Residency in another country

For advice on what you need to do to get residency abroad and how British people can apply for residential status, see the relevant living in country guide.

British citizenship and nationality

Find out about and apply for British citizenship

For questions about British citizenship and citizenship applications, contact the UK Home Office.

Citizenship ceremonies

If you've applied for British citizenship abroad the UK Home Office will send you a citizenship approval letter. You'll usually get a decision within 6 months but some applications can take longer.

The UK Home office will send your certificate of British citizenship to your British embassy, high commission or consulate who will contact you to arrange your citizenship ceremony.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of other countries.

You do not need to apply for dual citizenship. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship.

Find out more about dual citizenship.

UK nationality services

Find out more about and apply online for nationality services including:

• giving up (renouncing) British nationality
• ordering a replacement citizenship certificate
• correcting a British citizenship certificate
• applying for a letter to confirm your immigration status
• applying for a letter to confirm you do not have British nationality

If a local authority asks for proof of UK laws you can get a letter explaining UK laws about British nationality, including dual nationality, confirmation of nationality, and renouncing citizenship.

Citizenship if you're born abroad with a British parent

Check if you have to apply for British citizenship.

Child adoption

Find out about adopting a child from overseas if you live abroad.

In some countries you need a letter of no objection to adopt a child in that country.

Get a letter of no objection from a British embassy, high commission or consulate

Name change

You may find it difficult to access services abroad if you have changed your name. This includes changing from your maiden name to your married name, or if your name's different in any official document, for example, because of a spelling mistake or a missing middle name.

If a local authority asks for proof of UK laws you can get a letter explaining UK laws about names and changing your name.

If you live in another country permanently you cannot change your name by deed poll. Check with local authorities what you need to do if you want to change your name.

If you've had a UK passport with a different name you can apply for a data subject rights request from HM Passport Office (HMPO). The results of this will confirm the names that you've had on passports and show you're the same person.

Driving

Read the advice for UK nationals living abroad, which includes information about driving when you live in another country.

You might need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. Find out about driving abroad on holiday.

For questions about driving in the UK or renewing your UK driving licence visit the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

If a local authority asks for proof of UK laws you can get a letter explaining UK laws about driving licences and tests.

Viewing and sharing your driving licence information

Get a 'check code' if you need to share your driving licence information for hiring a car abroad.

Births and deaths

Registering a birth abroad

You must register your child's birth according to the regulations in the country where the child was born.

You do not need to register a birth abroad with the UK authorities for your child to be eligible for British citizenship or a UK passport. It's optional to register a birth abroad with the UK authorities and you'll have to pay to do this.

Births abroad and British citizenship

Find out about British citizenship if you're born abroad with a British parent.

Registering a death abroad and getting death documents

Find out what to do when a British national dies abroad. This includes registering the death, getting a death certificate and documents you may need to bring the person's body to the UK. You do not need to register a death abroad with the UK authorities.

Getting copies of official certificates and documents

You can get a copy of a UK birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate online.

Get a copy of documents for a divorce, dissolution or annulment

Visit the UK Deed Poll Service to apply for a replacement deed poll.

For questions about records of births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships, stillbirths and adoptions, contact:

• General Register Office for England and Wales
• General Register Office for Northern Ireland
• National Records of Scotland

If you need a record of a birth or death that happened abroad before 2014 and was registered at a British consulate, email the Overseas Registration Unit at [email protected].

Pensions

You might get a 'life certificate' form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to check you're still eligible for the UK State Pension.

The people who can sign the form are the same as those who can countersign a passport photo.

British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot offer this service.

Find out more about the State Pension if you retire abroad.

Police and criminal records

Make a 'subject access request' to the UK police to get a copy of your police records.

Find out about applying for a criminal records check from abroad.

British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot offer confirmation of good conduct for British people. If a local authority asks for this you can get a letter saying that certificates of good conduct are not available.

Study and work documents

Find out about visas and other documents you may need for long term study or work abroad in our living in country guides.

Healthcare and medical documents

Find out about healthcare and medical documents you may need when abroad in our living in country guides.

Service of documents and taking of evidence

If you need to serve documents overseas or are involved in the taking of evidence for UK court proceedings, read the guidance on service of documents and taking of evidence.

Published 25 July 2024
Last updated 15 November 2024 + show all updates

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