Notarial and documentary services in Argentina

Overview

The British Embassy can provide a range of notarial and documentary services for British nationals in Argentina.

Where local notaries can provide services, the British Embassy will not provide them. In many cases local notaries or lawyers can provide services more cheaply, quickly and conveniently.

Some services may be available by post. You must make an appointment for each service that requires your personal attendance. Use the links after each service to make an appointment.

Before booking, make sure you have selected the correct service and that the document will be accepted by the relevant authority. This could be the local town hall, registry office, tax authorities, immigration office or another authority either in Argentina, the UK or a third country.

The services we provide in Argentina

Consular staff in Argentina can:

• make a certified copy of a British passport
• prepare a document in English or Spanish

For information about documents relating to marriage, such as a certificate of no impediment (CNI) and affirmations or affidavits of marital status, see getting married abroad.

If you can’t find the service you are looking for on this page, see other services provided by the British Embassy in Argentina.

What to bring to your appointment

See the individual services below for details of supporting documents to bring. Make sure you have acceptable proof of address and identity, and payment for any fees. See the full list of consular fees.

Payment

We accept payment by Visa, Visa Electron UK, MasterCard, Maestro UK, or cash in the local currency on the day of the appointment.

Proof of address and identity

For all appointments for notarial services you will need to bring acceptable proof of your identity and address.

We accept passports or national identity cards as proof of identity.

We accept a national identity card with your address on it or a utility bill with your name and address on it as proof of your address.

Make a certified copy of a British passport

This service is for customers who need a certified photocopy of a British passport.

What you will need to bring with you:

• the British passport
• the correct fee, fee No. 6 – see the list of fees and payment options
• proof of identity/address – see what we will accept as proof

Book an appointment to make a certified copy at the British Embassy Buenos Aires.

Prepare a document in English or Spanish

This service is for customers who require a signed and stamped version of one of our standard letters.

In a limited number of cases consular staff can write a statement of fact (‘preparing a certificate’) to help British nationals with various local authorities. The wording must be cleared with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London, which means these documents will take longer to prepare.

We can only provide this service if we have proof that the wording/content you require is correct and unambiguous. This service is provided at the discretion of consular staff and we can refuse to provide it. Please contact the embassy before making an appointment.

We can prepare these documents in English or in Spanish. Please ensure you select the correct service and note the difference in fees.

What you will need to bring with you:

• original written evidence to support your request for a letter from the embassy
• the correct fee, fee No. 2(i) for English or fee No. 2(ii) for Spanish – see the list of fees and payment options
• proof of identity/address – see what we will accept as proof

Book an appointment to prepare a document in English at the British Embassy Buenos Aires.

Book an appointment to prepare a document in Spanish at the British Embassy Buenos Aires.

Other services we provide

Information notes

The British Embassy has produced an information note, which explains the recognition in English law of a marriage contracted outside the United Kingdom under foreign local law. You can print this Information note: Validity of marriages (PDF, 371 KB, 2 pages) if any foreign government requests it.

The British Embassy has produced an information note on consular certificates also known as “Bajas Consulares” Information Note Baja Consular (PDF, 303 KB, 2 pages) which you can print if necessary. The British Embassy does not issue such certificates.

We can confirm that holders of British passports may reside legally in the UK and that holders of UK visas may also stay in the UK for the period of validity of the visa as long as all entry requirements are met on arrival in country.

The British Embassy does not issue certificates of name. Parents may give their child any forename or surname under UK law. For more details, please see the Information note: Names (PDF, 387 KB, 6 pages) we have produced, which you can print if necessary.

Services provided elsewhere

We no longer witness life certificates for British nationals claiming a British pension abroad. Please refer to the list of people working in a recognised profession who can do this for you.

The British Embassy no longer handles applications for renunciation and naturalisation or registration as a British citizen. All applications are now handled by the UK Border Agency.

Services provided by other authorities

We have collated a list of notaries public that can witness signatures; administer oaths, affirmations and declarations and certify copies of original documents.

Data protection

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998. Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK government departments and public authorities.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. Accordingly the FCDO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. For all notarial and legalisation services it is the responsibility of the customer to ascertain the precise requirements of the person requesting the notarial or legalisation service and to satisfy themselves that the service provided by the embassy will be accepted.