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How to obtain overseas documents

Local document search for any overseas issued birth, marriage or death documents

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to request documents from overseas authorities on your behalf.

If you are currently living in the UK:

You are advised to contact the relevant country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK who should be able to advise on how to obtain a copy of the document you require.

If you are currently overseas:

You may wish to contact a solicitor in the country from where you are trying to obtain the document to request assistance. Lists of solicitors can usually be found on the website of the British Embassy or High Commission in the country concerned.  To access the website of the British Embassy or High Commission, please use our ‘Find an Embassy’ page.

Useful links

• British Library
Ecclesiastical records from India before 1947