Family circumstance, civil status and residency letters
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-24)

Letters explaining that British embassies and consulates do not issue certificates of civil or family status or residency. Sometimes called information notes.

British embassies and consulates cannot issue certificates to confirm civil status, residency or family circumstances. This is because the UK does not have central registers that hold this information.

If you’re asked by authorities abroad to provide proof of this, download the relevant letter for free.

Stamped and signed versions of these letters cost £50 but are only available in some countries. Ask the British embassy, high commission or consulate (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/written-enquiry) if you can get a stamped and signed version.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b4c1fb49b9c0597fdb0ce0/Albania_Letter_Family_Circumstances.pdf)

Albania: family circumstance certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b4c1fb49b9c0597fdb0ce0/Albania_Letter_Family_Circumstances.pdf)

PDF, 89.9 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62c740808eaf43b50dfde/Azerbaijain_Family_Certificates_and_civil_status.pdf)

Azerbaijan: family certificate and civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62c740808eaf43b50dfde/Azerbaijain_Family_Certificates_and_civil_status.pdf)

PDF, 15.7 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62c1aab418ab0555935ca/Belarus_family_certificate_and_civil_status_in_the_UK.doc)

Belarus: family certificate and civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62c1aab418ab0555935ca/Belarus_family_certificate_and_civil_status_in_the_UK.doc)

MS Word Document, 201 KB

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68ef918b8427701993d5e0e9/Belgium_Informative_Note_Marital_Status.pdf)

Belgium: civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68ef918b8427701993d5e0e9/Belgium_Informative_Note_Marital_Status.pdf)

PDF, 145 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62bb2a3c2a28abb50dfc6/BULGARIA_Family_Circumstances_FINAL.pdf)

Bulgaria: family circumstance certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b62bb2a3c2a28abb50dfc6/BULGARIA_Family_Circumstances_FINAL.pdf)

PDF, 619 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b4c35bce1fd0da7b5934e8/Croatia_Information_note_-_Family_certificate_and_civil_status.pdf)

Croatia: family certificate and civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b4c35bce1fd0da7b5934e8/Croatia_Information_note_-_Family_certificate_and_civil_status.pdf)

PDF, 72.3 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2cffa3c2a28abb50e0a8/Greece_IN_ATHENS_-_Family_Certificate_and_Civil_Status_ENG___GR.pdf)

Greece: family certificate and civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2cffa3c2a28abb50e0a8/Greece_IN_ATHENS_-_Family_Certificate_and_Civil_Status_ENG___GR.pdf)

PDF, 207 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68bea3a8de0987fe84e0dcfd/Family_certificate_and_civil_status_note_-_Israel_-_Sep_2025.pdf)

Israel: certificate of civil status and residency unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68bea3a8de0987fe84e0dcfd/Family_certificate_and_civil_status_note_-_Israel_-_Sep_2025.pdf)

PDF, 159 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2d4fab418ab055593691/Italy_Civil_Status.pdf)

Italy: civil status certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2d4fab418ab055593691/Italy_Civil_Status.pdf)

PDF, 853 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2d94ab418ab055593692/MACEDONIA_-_Informative_note_-_Civil_Status.pdf)

North Macedonia: civil status certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb2d94ab418ab055593692/MACEDONIA_-_Informative_note_-_Civil_Status.pdf)

PDF, 156 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb7009b3e33205c4e6f09d/Informative_note_Civil_Status_Montenegro.pdf)

Montenegro: civil status certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb7009b3e33205c4e6f09d/Informative_note_Civil_Status_Montenegro.pdf)

PDF, 284 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb315dab418ab05559369b/Russia_civil_status_INFORMATION_NOTE_on_family_certificate_and_civil_status_in_the_UK.pdf)

Russia: civil status certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb315dab418ab05559369b/Russia_civil_status_INFORMATION_NOTE_on_family_certificate_and_civil_status_in_the_UK.pdf)

PDF, 534 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb31eda3c2a28abb50e0b4/Informative_Note_Family_certificate_Civil_Status.pdf)

Switzerland: family certificate and civil status unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bb31eda3c2a28abb50e0b4/Informative_Note_Family_certificate_Civil_Status.pdf)

PDF, 124 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e150a5d8e313b503358cb7/Turkey_FAMILY_CIRCUMSTANCE.odt)

Turkey: family circumstance certificate unavailable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e150a5d8e313b503358cb7/Turkey_FAMILY_CIRCUMSTANCE.odt)

ODT, 60.1 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-open-document-formats-odf-in-your-organisation) format