Notarial and documentary services guide for Bahrain
Notarial and legalisation services at the British Embassy in Bahrain.
Introduction
The British Embassy Manama provides limited notarial and documentary services for British nationals in Bahrain.
Where local notaries can provide services, the British embassy will not provide them. In many cases, local notaries or lawyers can sometimes provide services more conveniently, quickly and cheaply.
You must make an appointment for each service that requires your personal attendance. Please use the links after each service to make an appointment. Before booking make sure that you have selected the correct service and that the document will be accepted by the relevant authority. This could be the registry office, tax authorities, immigration office, or another authority either in Bahrain, the UK, or a third country.
Services we provide in Bahrain
- prepare a document in English such as a no objection letter relating to a death
For documents relating to marriage, such as a certificate of no impediment (CNI), please see getting married abroad.
If you can’t find the service you are looking for on this page, please see other services provided by the British embassy in Bahrain.
Prepare a document in English
In a limited number of cases consular staff can write a statement of fact (‘preparing a certificate’) to help British nationals with various local authorities. The wording must be cleared with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London, which means these documents will take longer to prepare.
We can only provide this service if we have proof that the wording/content you require is correct and unambiguous. This service is provided at the discretion of consular staff and we can refuse to provide it. Please contact the embassy before making an appointment.
We can prepare these documents in English.
What you will need to bring with you:
- the wording or content and proof it is correct and unambiguous
- proof of identity/address
- the correct fee – see the list of fees and payment options
Book an appointment to prepare a document in English at the British Embassy Bahrain
Note: British Embassy Bahrain does not issue visit visas to the UK. For further information on applying for a UK visa, please click here to check if you need a UK visa.
What to bring to your appointment
See the individual services for details of supporting documents to bring. Make sure you have acceptable proof of address and identity, and payment for any fees. See the full list of Consular fees information.
We accept payment by cash in local currency.
Proof of address and identity
For all appointments for notarial services you will need to bring acceptable proof of your identity and address.
We accept passports as proof of identity.
We accept a tenancy/lease agreement or a letter from your employer as proof of your address.
Fees
For the our current fees, please see our consular fees information.
Services provided by other authorities
Copies of British birth, death and marriage certificates
For copies of British birth, death & marriage certificates visit the General Register Office website.
Renew British driving licences or provide certificates regarding British driving licences
Legalisation of signatures on apostilled documents for use in Bahrain
There are three steps you need to follow to have your United Kingdom document legalised for use in Bahrain:
(1) The Legalisation Office, Milton Keynes.
Get the document legalised by the Legalisation Office in the UK. Follow the steps on how to get a document legalised.
(2) Bahrain Embassy, London.
Have your document legalised by the Bahrain embassy in London. Once the Legalisation Office attests your document(s), you will need to take them to the Bahrain embassy in London for the next stage of the process. You can either go in person or send the documents by post or by courier.
The address of the embassy is:
Bahrain Embassy,
30 Belgrave Square
London, SW1X 8QB
Telephone: 020 7201 9170
Up-to-date information, such as the current fees, can be found on the Bahrain embassy’s website.
(3) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bahrain
Have the document legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain. Once the Bahrain Embassy in London has attested the document, you will then need to go to the Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the final step in the process.
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice.
Certified copy of a document
Please note that the Embassy will no longer witness signatures and produce certified copies of documentation, including British passports as documentary evidence, Home Office registration/naturalisation certificates and British divorce decrees.
Please seek assistance via the private sector alternatives such as notary publics, solicitors, Justice of the Peace etc. The embassy no longer assists in stamping Apostilles.
British educational degrees and vocational certificates can only be verified by the British Council. It is not necessary for the embassy to further stamp and legalise the British Council signature.
We are unable to legalise or provide certified copies of marriage, birth or death certificates. These must be sent to the FCDO legalisation office in Milton Keynes. Detailed guidance is available on the website.
Applications for renunciation and naturalisation or registration as a British citizen
All applications are now handled by the UK Border Agency.
Informative notes
We do not provide notarial and documentary services to Commonwealth citizens in countries where they do not have any diplomatic representation, unless there is a clear UK connection to the document or service.
We do not issue visa recommendation letters to British nationals applying for visas to travel to any country. Visa officers are requested to accept a British passport evidence of a person’s identity and nationality.
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For a letter explaining a name change in the UK, please present this information note on change of name in the UK to the requesting authorities.
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For a letter confirming your passport details, please present this information note along with your original British passport and any other required supporting documents to the requesting authorities.
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For a letter confirming that the e-version of your divorce certificate is valid, please present this information note to the requesting authorities.
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If you require a no objection letter for dual nationality, please present this information note to the requesting authorities.
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For a letter to confirm that you are permitted to hold more than one valid British passport, please present this information note to the requesting authorities.
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For a letter to confirm that your marriage in Bahrain will be recognised in the UK, please present this information note to the requesting authorities.
Data Protection
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 (which may be viewed at Information Commissioner’s Officer. 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 by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. Accordingly the FCDO and the British embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.
Last updated 2 July 2023 + show all updates
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Updated under the section 'Prepare a document in English' - new note has been added about how to check if you need a UK visa.
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Updated - Informative Notes from 1 to 5.
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Updated "Informative Notes".
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Updated - Informative notes
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Added information note about change of name in Bahrain.
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New Notarial and documentary services guide for Bahrain
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From 1 March 2015, the British Embassy in Bahrain will no longer be issuing visa recommendation letters to British nationals applying for visas to travel to any country. Visa officers are requested to accept a British passport evidence of a person’s identity and nationality.
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First published.