Taking and giving evidence by video link from abroad
The process of taking or giving evidence from abroad for UK court cases and rules on which countries allow it.
Witnesses or people appealing cases who are abroad may want to submit evidence by video link to:
- civil or commercial courts
- tribunals.
- criminal courts
Criminal cases
FCDO does not deal with taking video evidence in criminal court cases. For information about giving evidence by video link for criminal cases, read the Home Office guidance on mutual legal assistance.
Civil and commercial court cases
Requests for taking evidence in civil and commercial cases from other countries are governed by either:
If the country you want to give evidence from is not part of the Hague Convention or does not have a bilateral agreement with the UK, contact TOE.Enquiries@fcdo.gov.uk for more information.
Tribunals
Tribunals might include:
- immigration
- employment
- tax
Rules around taking or giving evidence in tribunals are specific to countries or territories.
Rules by country for tribunals
The rules for different countries are listed here. If the country you want to give evidence from is not listed, contact the relevant tribunal.
A
Albania
Citizens or residents of Albania can voluntarily give evidence from Albania by video link for UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case) in immigration cases only. For other tribunals contact the relevant tribunal.
Andorra
Citizens or residents of Andorra can voluntarily give evidence from Andorra by video link for UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Antigua and Barbuda
Citizens or residents of Antigua and Barbuda can voluntarily give evidence from Antigua and Barbuda by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Azerbaijan
Citizens or residents of Azerbaijan can voluntarily give evidence from Azerbaijan by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
B
Belize
Citizens or residents of Belize can voluntarily give evidence from Belize by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Brunei
Citizens or residents of Brunei can voluntarily give evidence from Brunei by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
C
Canada
Citizens or residents of Canada can voluntarily give evidence from Canada by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Costa Rica
Citizens or residents of Costa Rica can voluntarily give evidence from Costa Rica by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
E
Estonia
Citizens or residents of Estonia can voluntarily give evidence from Estonia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
F
Finland
Citizens or residents of Finland can voluntarily give evidence from Finland by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
G
Guyana
Citizens or residents of Guyana can voluntarily give evidence in Guyana by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
H
Hungary
Citizens or residents of Hungary can voluntarily give evidence in Hungary by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
I
Indonesia
Citizens or residents of Indonesia can voluntarily give evidence in Indonesia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Iraq
Citizens or residents of Iraq can voluntarily give evidence in Iraq by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
L
Latvia
Citizens or residents of Latvia can voluntarily give evidence in Latvia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Lebanon
Citizens or residents of Lebanon can voluntarily give evidence in Lebanon by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Lithuania
Citizens or residents of Lithuania cannot give evidence in Lithuania by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Liberia
Citizens or residents of Liberia can voluntarily give evidence in Liberia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Liechtenstein
Citizens or residents of Liechtenstein can voluntarily give evidence in Liechtenstein by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Libya
Citizens or residents of Libya who want to give evidence in Libya by video link in UK tribunals must request permission on an individual basis. Contact the relevant tribunal for information.
Luxembourg
Citizens or residents of Luxembourg cannot give evidence in Luxembourg by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
M
Maldives
Citizens or residents of the Maldives can voluntarily give evidence in the Maldives by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Mali
Citizens or residents of Mali can voluntarily give evidence in Mali by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Mauritius
Citizens or residents of Mauritius can voluntarily give evidence in Mauritius by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
N
New Zealand
Citizens or residents of New Zealand can voluntarily give evidence in New Zealand by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Niger
Citizens or residents of Niger can voluntarily give evidence in Niger by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Nigeria
Citizens or residents of Nigeria can voluntarily give evidence in Nigeria by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
P
Paraguay
Citizens or residents of Paraguay can voluntarily give evidence in Paraguay by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
S
Saint Lucia
Citizens or residents of St Lucia can voluntarily give evidence in Saint Lucia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
Citizens or residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines can voluntarily give evidence in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Singapore
Citizens or residents of Singapore who want to give evidence in Singapore by video link in UK tribunals must request permission on an individual basis. Contact the relevant tribunal for information.
South Sudan
Citizens or residents of South Sudan cannot give evidence in South Sudan by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Sweden
Citizens or residents of Sweden who want to give evidence in Sweden by video link in UK tribunals must request permission on an individual basis. Contact the relevant tribunal for information.
T
Turkey
Citizens or residents of Turkey cannot give evidence from Turkey by video link for UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
U
United States of America
Citizens or residents of the United States of America can voluntarily give evidence in the United States of America by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).
Z
Zambia
Citizens or residents of Zambia can voluntarily give evidence in Zambia by video link in UK tribunals (either as a witness or when appealing a case).