How to register a marriage or birth

Consular birth registration gives your child a UK-style birth certificate and allows you to get extra copies in the future. When applying you must submit originals of the documents required, along with the completed the application form and the fee.

Registering a birth

If your child is born outside the UK you can register the birth at the British Embassy in Qatar.

You don’t have to do this, but if you do:

your child will be given a British style birth certificate
the birth will be registered at the General Registry Office in the UK as well as in the consular district where the birth occurred.

We recommend consular birth registration because it means you will be able to get extra copies of the certificate from the General Register Office in the future.

Certificate of Registration of Birth

A UK Certificate of Registration of Birth can be issued by the British Embassy to children born in Qatar entitled to British Citizenship.

The nationality of a child born to a British citizen depends on how the British parent obtained British Nationality. For example, a child born in Qatar to a British parent who is British by birth (not descent) will automatically be British by descent.

A child, ( not automatically entitled to British citizenship), born to a British Citizen, can apply for British Citizenship. The parents should register the birth at the British Embassy within one year of the child’s birth.

Applications for registration of birth certificates can be submitted to the British Embassy, Consular Section, from 08:00 to 12:00 Sunday to Thursday, (except on holidays).

Requirements for registration of a birth:

Application form for registering a birth
Child’s local birth certificate
Parent’s birth certificate
Child’s 2 photographs
Parent’s passport
Parents’ marriage certificate
Fee in local currency

If you and your partner are not married

If you are a British man and your child’s mother is foreign you can apply for Consular birth registration only if the child was born on or after 1 July 2006. If you are an unmarried woman who has had a child abroad whose father’s name is not on the local birth certificate and you would like the father’s details recorded on the British certificate, you will need to swear the declarations in front of a consular officer from the British Embassy in Doha.

You can download the application form here. For further information you can contact the Consular section (consular.qatar@fco.gov.uk).

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH

Registering a marriage

Marriage in the UK

British nationals who are normally resident in the Qatar and intend to get married back in the UK may wish to consult the following websites for guidance on residency requirements and necessary documentation:

Marriage in England and Wales

Marriage in Scotland

Marriage in Northern Ireland

British nationals who wish to marry in UK should be aware that if their fiancé(e) is not a British national or a national of an EEA country or Switzerland, their fiancé(e) will need to apply for a visa before travelling to UK to be married. Further information on obtaining a visit-marriage visa can be found at on the UK Border Agency website , or by contacting the Visa Application Centre in Qatar (telephone number: 00974 4622159/4621544).

How to Get Married in Qatar

Notice of Marriage in Qatar

A Date for the marriage must be obtained before posting Notice.
British citizens who intend to marry need to take out a Notice of Marriage at the Embassy. You need to appear in person with the following documents:

You and your fiance(e)'s passports and Qatar residence visas
Your long form British birth certificate
If applicable, original divorce documents
Your fiance's details (Name, Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Age, Marital status, Profession, Nationality, Passport Number, Length of residence in Qatar, P.O. Box Number and telephone number)

Your Notice of Marriage will be posted at the Embassy for 21 days and should no impediment be shown during this period we will issue you a Certificate of No Impediment. The Certificate will be valid for 3 months from the date the notice was given. Please allow at least 24 days for this process.
If you are marrying in another country that is not the UK or a Commonwealth country, you can still post your Notice of Marriage here. The British Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry will then issue you your Certificate of No Impediment. We will arrange that with them on your behalf.

Marrying a non British Citizen
British nationals marrying a non British national should have their partner verify with their own Embassy/Consular as to the validity of the marriage in their own country.

Marriage in the Church
British nationals who are resident in Qatar and are Anglican Christians may be able to marry at Church of the Epiphany.
Roman Catholics may be able to marry at St Mary's Church.

The Churches will provide details of documentation, fees and other requirements.
This may involve making a sworn affidavit and posting a Notice of Marriage at the Embassy in Qatar.

The British Embassy in Qatar