Confirm a notarial or document service is not available
Letters explaining services are not available in some British embassies, high commissions and consulates. Sometimes called information notes.
- From:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Published
- 22 May 2024
- Last updated
-
2317 September20242025 — See all updates
The Foreign, In Commonwealth andcountries, DevelopmentBritish Officehigh cannotcommissions offer certain notarial and documentconsulates servicescannot inprovide someany countries.notarial services. This includes services like certifying documents and administering oaths and affirmations,affirmations for example, that prove you’re free to get married.
In some other, non-Commonwealth countries, British embassies and consulates cannot offer certain notarial and document services.
If you need one of these servicesservices, you should find a local lawyer (notary).
If you’re asked to provide proof that a service is not availableavailable, you can:
- download the relevant
letterletter,asifconfirmation.oneYouiscangetavailable,afromsignedthisandpage - contact
stampedtheversionembassy,ofhighacommissionletter,orwhichconsulatecoststo£50.request a letter
Notarial services unavailable
If you’reyou askedneed to explain or prove that notarial services are not availableavailable, download the relevant letter.
Stamped and signed versions of these letters cost £50 but are only available in some countries. Ask the British embassy, high commission or consulate if you can get a stamped and signed version.
These letters do not represent all the countries where notarial services are unavailable.
Bangladesh: notarial services
PDF, 98.3 KB, 1 page
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Brunei: notarial services
PDF, 254 KB, 1 page
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Cyprus: notarial services
PDF, 166 KB, 1 page
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India: notarial services
PDF, 189 KB, 1 page
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Malaysia: notarial servicesacts letter
PDF, 2561.24 KBMB, 1 page
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Pakistan: notarial services (Islamabad)
PDF, 20.8 KB, 1 page
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Pakistan: notarial services (Karachi)
PDF, 64.7 KB, 1 page
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Singapore: notarial services
PDF, 259 KB, 1 page
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South Africa: notarial services
PDF, 51.6 KB, 1 page
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Marriage: certificate of no impediment unavailable
If you’reyou askedneed to explain or prove that a marriage notarial service is not availableavailable, download the relevant letter. If your country or territory is not listed use the ‘All countries and territories’ letter.
Stamped and signed versions of these letters cost £50 but are only available in some countries. Ask the British embassy, high commission or consulate if you can get a stamped and signed version.
All countries and territories: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 168 KB, 1 page
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Brunei: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 382 KB, 1 page
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India: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 1.06 MB, 1 page
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Laos: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 76.8 KB, 1 page
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Malaysia: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 336 KB, 1 page
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Netherlands: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 56.3 KB, 1 page
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Nigeria: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 799 KB, 1 page
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Portugal: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 177128 KB, 1 page
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South Africa: certificate of no impediment
PDF, 59.9 KB, 1 page
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Update history
2025-09-17 18:23
A letter to confirm that notarial services are not available at the British High Commission in Colombo has been added.
2025-09-17 03:51
Attachment ‘Malaysia: notarial acts letter’ updated.
2024-09-23 15:48
Added all countries and territories letter.
2024-09-06 16:19
All countries and territories letter removed.
2024-09-04 17:40
Link to get a signed and stamped letter added.All countries and territories letter added.
2024-05-30 16:52
Letter confirming that a Certificate of No Impediment cannot be issued at British consulates in Nigeria added to the available printable documents.
2024-05-22 10:41
First published.