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The FCO plans to centralise in the UK its overseas consular birth and death registration service by the end of 2014.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) plans to centralise in the UK its overseas consular birth and death registration service by the end of 2014, and will begin centralisation of this service from April. This requires amending part of the British Nationality Act (BNA) 1981. Following a public consultation, the FCO has decided to proceed with amending the BNA by means of a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) made under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006. The LRO, with its accompanying Explanatory Document, was laid before Parliament on 5 December 2013. More information can be found on the LRO consultation page, which has the Consultation Document, Impact Assessment, Summary of Responses, Government Response, LRO and Explanatory Document.

Background

Centralisation of consular birth and death registration into a single-purpose unit in the UK will allow the FCO to provide a common online application procedure and credit card payment facility, which will be more efficient and convenient for customers. Centralisation will also help FCO staff overseas give greater focus to their primary function of assisting British nationals in distress.

Centralisation will begin in April this year, and will be completed by the end of 2014. Customers will find information on how to apply for a consular birth or death registration on the GOV.UK website.