Guidance

Libya: Knowledge Base profile

Published 11 August 2025

Version 2.0

About: Libya

This document contains useful information about Libya 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 HM Passport Office’s Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

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

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 7 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Libya: names

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

Names in Libya usually consist of:

• 1 or more forenames
• father’s name
• grandfather’s name
• 1 or more surnames

Change of name

Libya does not allow a change of name unless there has been an error in the Libya family book.

Women do not change their surname when they get married.

Name alignment

Names cannot be changed or amended on Libya passport. Forenames will be included on the passport in full. The father’s name and grandfather’s name may be shown in full or as initials.

Names in a Libya passport may be spelt differently to how they appear in other official documents, due to phonetic translations.

HM Passport Office will not ask a customer to align their Libya passport if their passport only shows father’s or grandfather’s initials in the personal details page or if their name in their Libya passport is spelt differently to other official documents, where this is due to phonetic translation.

Libya: nationality

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

Dual nationality is not recognised in Libya.

Libya: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Libya.

Legitimacy

Libya recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if:
  • the parents are married at the time of birth
  • born to unmarried parents who marry after the birth and obtain a court order
• illegitimate, if born to parents who never marry

Libya: adoption

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

Adoption is recognised in Libya. However, the country has no legal framework for adoption.

Libya: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Libya.

Surrogacy is not recognised in Libya.

Libya: gender recognition

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

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Libya.

Libya: civil partnerships and marriage

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

Civil partnerships and same sex relationships are illegal in Libya.

Religious and civil marriage ceremonies are legal in Libya.

Libya: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Libya.

Birth certificates

All births in Libya should be registered at the Civil Registry within 10 days. Late registrations are allowed.

For Libya citizens, births are added to the Libya family book, separate birth certificates can be requested from the authorities on production of the family book.

Foreign nationals use the mother and child’s hospital records to apply for a local birth certificate from the Civil Registry.

There are various types of birth certificates, and these vary depending on the place of issue. Birth certificates are issued in Arabic.

Where a mistake is identified on a Libya birth certificate, a correction will be made to the family book. When the family book has been corrected, a new birth certificate will be issued by the authorities.

Hospital records exist and show both parents names.

Marriage certificates

Marriages in Libya must be registered within 7 days of the date of marriage by the person who conducted the ceremony. There is a central register of marriages.

When a marriage certificate is issued, the groom must apply for the Libya family book, which is mandatory for all families in Libya.

Most cities issue an A3 sized standardised marriage certificate, but there are several different types of marriage certificate, depending on where they were issued.

Death certificates

All deaths must be registered within 24 hours in Libya.

Death certificates are issued following the registration of all deaths.

All death records are held in a central register. There are different types of certificates issued depending on the place of issue.

Identity documents

Identity cards are issued and laminated by Libya authorities.