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Documents to bring when giving notice

If you do not bring the correct documents, we will be unable to take your notice. Documents must be original and in date/still valid.

You must bring to your own notice appointment:

  • At least one document showing your name, date of birth and nationality
  • At least one document showing your current name and address

You will also need to bring extra documents if any of the following applies:

  • You have been married or in a civil partnership before
  • You are not a British or Irish citizen or do not have EU settlement scheme settled or pre-settled status 
  • Any of the documents you need to bring for yourself are in different names

Documents you must bring 

Proof of name, date of birth and nationality

You must bring at least one document from the following list to your own notice appointment:

  • Valid passport (all countries)
  • Valid Home Office travel document
  • Valid Home Office digital proof of status share code - eVisa/EUSS electronic certificate/digital EUSS certificate of application made on or before 30 June 2021. This is evidenced by a 9-digit share code. You will need to generate the code within 30 days of the appointment date. Visit GOV.UK 's eVisa page to generate a code.
  • Valid biometric immigration document issued by the Home Office - biometric residence permit (BRP). No new physical BRPs or biometric residence cards (BRCs) were issued after 31 October 2024, and most existing BRPs expired by 31 December 2024.
  • Certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British Citizen granted by the Secretary of State
  • British birth certificate - If you were born before 1st January 1983 bring your short or full birth certificate and:
    • Proof of your current name - this should match the name on the birth certificate. See Proof of current name and address
    • If your current name is different from the name on your birth certificate, bring evidence of how your name has been changed eg marriage certificate(s), change of name deed, statutory declaration of change of name
  • British birth certificate - If you were born on or after 1st January 1983 and before 1st July 2006 bring your full birth certificate, showing your parents' details and:
    • Your mother's UK birth certificate*
    • If your parents were married or in a civil partnership at the time of your birth or since, you may bring your father's UK birth certificate and their marriage/civil partnership certificate 
    • Proof of your current name - this should match the name on the birth certificate. See Proof of current name and address
    • If your current name is different to the name on your birth certificate, evidence of how your name has been changed eg marriage certificate(s), change of name deed, statutory declaration of change of name 
  • British birth certificate - If you were born on or after 1st July 2006 bring your full birth certificate, showing your parents' details and:
    • Your mother or father's UK birth certificate*
    • Evidence to show current use of your name on your birth certificate. See Proof of current name and address
    • If your current name is different to the name on your birth certificate, evidence of how your name has been changed eg marriage certificate(s), change of name deed, statutory declaration of change of name

* If your parent was born on or after 1st January 1983 you will also need your parents' full British birth certificate and one of their parents' (your grandparents') British birth certificates - and if the grandparent whose birth certificate you provide is male, your grandparents' marriage certificate.

Your parent's name as on their birth certificate must show on your birth certificate.

Example: Your mother was married when you were born. Her birth certificate is in the surname 'Abbott'. Your birth certificate shows her married surname of 'Barnes'. If it also shows her birth surname of 'Abbott', in the maiden name section of your birth certificate, that proves a link between your mother's birth certificate and your birth certificate. 

If your parent's name on their birth certificate is not recorded on your birth certificate, please contact us on our Giving notice enquiry form for advice.

 

Proof of current name and address (where you have lived for more than seven days)

You must bring at least one document from the following list to your own notice appointment:

  • Current UK driving licence
  • Utility bill dated within three months of your notice appointment - this can be a digital statement as long as it shows the notice giver's full name and address. We accept gas/electric/water/landline telephone/cable/broadband, not mobile phone
  • Bank or building society statement dated within one month of the appointment - this can be a digital statement as long as it shows the notice giver's full name and address
  • Council tax statement dated within one year of the appointment
  • Mortgage statement dated within one year of the appointment
  • Current resident tenancy agreement which shows your name and address
  • A letter signed and dated by the owner/proprietor/tenant of your property, which must:
    • Say who they are
    • State how long you've lived there
    • Be dated within one month of the appointment

If a tenant has produced a letter you must also bring evidence of the tenant's residence at this address, eg tenancy agreement or utility bill.

If you do not usually live in England and Wales 

If not a British or Irish citizen, you must also bring proof of your usual address (an original document from the list above) and a translation if it is not in English. Anyone can translate the document apart from you and your partner. The person translating the document must write at the end of it: "I certify this to be a true and accurate translation", add their name and address, date and sign it. 

 

    Extra documents to confirm marital status or immigration status

    You will also need to bring extra documents if the following applies to you and/or your partner:

    • You have been married or in a civil partnership before
    • You are not a British or Irish citizen

    Previous marriage or civil partnership

    If you have been married or in a civil partnership before you must bring evidence that it has ended.

    Bring at least one document from the following list to your own notice appointment:

    • Decree absolute, final order, nullity or civil partnership dissolution order issued in the UK. This must be either:
      • An original paper document provided by a UK court, with court stamp
      • A printed copy of a UK court provided digital pdf (not a photocopy)
    • Divorce, nullity or dissolution issued outside the British Isles. Original final document (plus translation): there is a fee of £55 or £83 for us to consider if the divorce/dissolution/nullity is capable of recognition in the UK.
    • Death certificate of previous spouse. If you are not named on the death certificate you must also bring the marriage/civil partnership certificate.

    If you do not have a decree absolute or final order granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in England or Wales visit Get a copy of a final order or decree absolute. 

    If your name on the decree absolute/dissolution document or death certificate is different to your current name, you must bring evidence showing a link between the two names, eg marriage certificate(s), change of name deed/statutory declaration.

    For any document not in English you must provide a full translation of all wording,stamps and signatures.The translation can be made by anyone other than you and your partner. The translator must add their name and address and certify it is a true and accurate translation.

    Foreign divorces 

    You will need to bring original divorce documents. If any document is in a foreign language, all words on the document must be translated. This includes stamps and signatures. Anyone can translate the document apart from you and your partner. The person translating the document must write at the end of it: "I certify this to be a true and accurate translation", add their name and address, date and sign it.

    If you have a foreign divorce from one of the following countries, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Fiji, Irish Republic, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa (excluding Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei and Venda), Tanzania, Zimbabwe, all US States (apart from Nevada and Guam), Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden. 

    And your document matches approved examples:

    • You will need to pay a £55 fee at your notice appointment
    • If your partner also has this type of foreign divorce they will be charged the same fee when they give notice

    If your foreign divorce took place in any other country (or in Nevada or Guam), or if your divorce documents are from a country above but do not match approved examples: 

    • Your divorce documents will need to be sent to the General Register Office (GRO) for their consideration
    • You will need to pay an £83 fee at your notice appointment  
    • It can take the GRO more than six weeks to consider the validity of the divorce
    • We cannot send documents to the GRO until after you have attended your notice appointment
    • You will not be able to get married or form a civil partnership until the GRO has made a decision
    • If your partner also has this type of foreign divorce they will be charged the same fee when they give notice

    If your foreign divorce is from one of the listed countries and you want to know if it will be referred to the GRO, you can use our Giving notice enquiry form to share a copy of your foreign documents, and translation, and we will advise before your appointment.  

    You are not a British or Irish citizen

    If you are a foreign national you must bring the following proof of your immigration status to your own notice appointment. 

    • Valid Home Office digital proof of status share code, eg:
      • EUSS electronic certificate or Digital EUSS certificate of application made on or before 30 June 2021
      • eVisa (evidencing various immigration status, including but not limited to; right of abode, visiting military forces, marriage or civil partnership visa, indefinite leave to enter or remain)

    You will need to generate the code within 30 days of the appointment date. Visit GOV.UK 's eVisa page to generate a code.

    • Photo vignette or stamp in passport (if this is in an expired passport you must also bring a valid passport)
    • Valid Home Office issued biometric immigration document (biometric residence permit or card) 

    Visiting military forces  

    If you are visiting military forces you must bring the following evidence to your own notice appointment. Either: 

    • Valid passport  
    • Valid Home Office digital proof of status share code - you will need to generate the code within 30 days of the appointment date. Visit GOV.UK 's eVisa page to generate a code.
    • Valid Forces ID Card  

    And either:

    • Your military orders showing date eligible for return from overseas. This is the date until which you are allowed to be in England. 
    • A letter signed by your Commanding Officer telling us the date until which you are allowed to be in England. 

    Passport photos 

    You and your partner will both need to bring to your appointment a printed United Kingdom passport-style photo if either of you is not British or Irish and does not have: 

    • EUSS settled or pre-settled status or a pending application for this submitted on or before 30 June 2021 
    • Indefinite leave to remain/enter  
    • Right of abode  
    • Military exemption  

    If either you or your partner are not in the above categories, you must each bring a United Kingdom passport style and size photograph which clearly shows the face of the party, who must:

    • Have a neutral expression 
    • Not be wearing any head covering (other than for religious or medical reasons) 
    • Shows only the party and no other person or object 
    • Is unmarked, unaltered and without tears or creases 
    • Was taken recently and shows a current likeness of the individual 

    For further information visit Get a passport photo: Printed photos - GOV.UK.

    How to get required documents

    If you do not have a required birth, death or marriage certificate order copies at Copy certificates.

    If you do not have a decree absolute or final order granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in England or Wales visit Get a copy of a final order or decree absolute. 

    If you do not have and cannot get required documents, contact us for further advice: Giving notice enquiry form. 

    If your name is different on any of the documents you bring

    If your name is different on any of your documents, you will need to show a link between the names, such as:

    • A marriage certificate(s)
    • Change of name deed/deed poll/statutory declaration

    If any of your documents are in a foreign language 

    All of the words on the document must be translated. This includes stamps and signatures. Anyone can translate the document, apart from you or your partner. 

    The person translating the document must write at the end of it: "I certify this to be a true and accurate translation", and add their name and address, date it and sign it. 

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