Guidance

Eswatini: Knowledge Base profile

Published 18 August 2025

Version 2.0

About: Eswatini

This document contains useful information about Eswatini which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 12 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Eswatini: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Eswatini.

Names in Eswatini consist of:

• up to 3 forenames
• a surname

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Eswatini.

Eswatini: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Eswatini.

Dual nationality is not recognised in Eswatini.

Eswatini: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Eswatini.

Legitimacy

Eswatini recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate:
  • if their parents are married at the time of the birth
  • from the time of the marriage if their parents marry after the time of the birth
• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Parental responsibility

Both parents have parental responsibility if they are married. For unmarried parents, only the mother has parental responsibility.

Eswatini: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Eswatini.

Adoption is legal in Eswatini.

Eswatini: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Eswatini.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Eswatini.

Eswatini: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Eswatini.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Eswatini.

Polygamy is legal in Eswatini.

Eswatini recognises civil, customary, and religious marriage ceremonies.

Eswatini: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Eswatini.

Birth, marriage and death certificates are issued by the Registrar General.

Birth certificates

All births have been registered since 1968, and records are held in a central register. Births should be registered within 60 days. Late registrations are allowed.

Birth certificates are issued to everyone and are reissued if a mistake is identified.

Official copies cannot be obtained.

Marriage certificates

Civil marriages must be registered within 7 days by the marriage officer.

Customary marriages must be registered within 14 days by both spouses.

Death certificates

Deaths must be registered within 60 days. Late registration is allowed with an affidavit.

Identity documents

ID card scheme is available to Egypt citizens and foreign nationals, these are issued at a national level.