Guidance

Notarial and documentary services guide for Trinidad & Tobago

Documents, certificates, letters and notes available at the British High Commission Port of Spain

Overview

The British High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago offers limited notarial services as British consular officers in Commonwealth countries have no powers under the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889 to undertake notarial acts, administer oaths or take affidavits which will be effectual in the United Kingdom. British consular officials in Trinidad and Tobago have no notary powers and cannot certify, notarise or legalise a document. This function is carried out by a Trinidad and Tobago notary public.

The services we provide

Letter of no objection to adoption overseas

We can issue a letter of no objection for a British national who is not habitually resident in the UK and who is seeking to adopt a child through the local courts. Please note that the ‘no objection’ letter has the sole function of confirming that the British national(s) in question are no longer habitually resident in the UK and that as the child is not being adopted under British adoption legislation, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and British consulates have no further role in the matter.

There is no scope or provision to amend the letter, which is designed for a specific purpose. It is not for the British High Commission to agree whether the applicants are suitable or eligible to adopt the child, or whether the child is adoptable.

Therefore, to obtain the ‘no objection’ letter, the prospective adopters must first obtain independent legal advice that they are in fact not resident in the British Isles and then swear a statement witnessed by a lawyer that states: “I confirm that I have received independent legal advice and with reference to all circumstances of my particular case and in light of existing UK law, I can confirm that I am not habitually resident in the British Isles”. Please bring this sworn statement to the British High Commission and we can then issue the letter of no objection to inter-country adoption.

Services provided elsewhere

Legalise a documents

This service is for customers who require confirmation that the signature, seal or stamp on a document is genuine. It does not certify the authenticity or a document or give approval of its content. UK public documents can be legalised by the Legalisation Office.

Marriage and civil partnerships

We don’t issue certificates of no impediment, affirmations or affidavits of marital status. We also don’t perform marriages or civil partnerships for British nationals. For further information on getting married in Trinidad and Tobago, see getting married abroad.

Register a birth or death

Find out how to register a birth or register a death in Trinidad and Tobago. You can’t register a birth or death at the high commission.

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 / consulate 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 / consulate 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/consulate will be accepted.

Published 1 January 2014
Last updated 29 March 2021 + show all updates
  1. Information reviewed and updated.

  2. First published.