The Consular Fees Order 2005

Statutory Instruments

2005 No. 1465

DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

The Consular Fees Order 2005

Made

7th June 2005

Coming into force

1st July 2005

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 7th day of June 2005

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 1(1) of the Consular Fees Act 1980(1) is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

1.  This Order may be cited as the Consular Fees Order 2005 and shall come into force on 1st July 2005.

2.  In this Order—

“Crown Dependencies” means the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man;

“consular officer” means any person authorised by the Secretary of State to exercise consular functions, or functions in the United Kingdom which correspond with consular functions (including persons who are not, as well as persons who are, consular officers);

“consular employee” means any person in the administrative or technical service of the consular post or diplomatic mission;

“consular premises” means the building or parts of buildings used for the purposes of the consular post or diplomatic mission;

“entry clearance” means a visa, entry certificate, entry permit or other document which, in accordance with the applicable immigration laws or rules, is to be taken as evidence of a person’s eligibility for entry into the United Kingdom, a Crown Dependency, a British overseas territory, or any other country or territory, as the case may be (but does not include a work permit);

“fast-track service” means an application made in person, either by the applicant or another person acting on behalf of the applicant, which is to be processed within seven days of that application having been made;

“premium service” means an application made in person, either by the applicant or another person acting on behalf of the applicant, which is to be processed within twenty-four hours of that application having been made;

“fast-track collect service” means an application made in person, either by the applicant or by another person acting on behalf of the applicant, which is to be processed within seven days of that application having been made, and which permits the applicant or another person acting on behalf of the applicant to collect the passport in person.

3.  The fees set forth in the table in the Schedule to this Order are prescribed to be levied by consular officers and by marriage officers under the Foreign Marriage Act 1892(2) and the Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906(3) in the execution of their duties, and the said table shall be construed as part of this Order.

4.  The Consular Fees (No. 2) Order 1999(4) is hereby revoked.

A. K. Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULE TABLE OF CONSULAR FEES

PART I NOTARIAL AND KINDRED MATTERS

Fee	£
1.  Preparing any certificate, declaration or document not otherwise provided for—
(a) in standard form, per copy	23.50
(b) not in standard form, per 100 words—
(i) in English	29.50
(ii) in any other language	47.00
2.  Preparing or signing, or both, a declaration of existence Except in connection with pay or pensions payable by a department of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom or of any other Government within the Commonwealth	11.50
3.  — (1) Attesting or legalising a signature or seal except where—	19.00
(a) the signature or seal is on a certificate or survey of foreign passenger ships running to or from the United Kingdom, or
(b) the signature or seal is on a document required for the deposit or withdrawal of money in or from any British Post Office or other Government Savings Bank, or
(c) the signature or seal is in connection with stocks or bonds on the registers of the Post Office, with Savings Bank annuities or with annuities granted direct by the National Debt Commissioners
(2) Administering an oath or receiving a declaration or affirmation except where—	35.00
(a) the oath, declaration or affirmation is made under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(5) or in connection with the loss of a passport, or
(b) fee 17, 22, 23, 25, 34 or 35 is to be taken
4.  Supplying witnesses, for each witness	14.00
5.  Initialling alterations in any document not prepared by the consular officer or marking exhibits, for each initialling or marking	7.00
6.  Making or verifying (including certifying where necessary) a copy of a document—
(a) in typescript or made by photographic process outside the consular premises, for each page	23.50
(b) by photographic process, if the copy is made in the consular premises, for each page (with a minimum charge of £17.50)	3.50
7.  Uniting documents and sealing the fastening (except where fee 35 is applicable), or affixing a photograph to a document not prepared by the consular officer and if necessary certifying it (except where fee 17 is applicable)	14.00
8.  Obtaining a legalisation or other certification from another authority upon any document in addition to costs, if any	29.50
9.  Supplying certified copies of documents forming part of the records of a court which is, or was formerly, established under the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts 1890(6) and 1913(7)—for every page	41.00
10.  Making or verifying (including certifying where necessary) a translation in writing of a document or part of a document, for each 100 words or characters (or part thereof) in the foreign language—
(a) from or into Amharic, Chinese, Japanese or Korean (three Japanese Kana being counted as one character when used independently)	47.00
(b) from or into any other language	29.50
except where fee 25 or 37 is to be taken
11.  Translating and interpreting viva voce (except where necessary for the performance of official duties)—
for every 15 minutes	21.00

PART II PASSPORTS, VISAS AND KINDRED MATTERS

Fee	£
12.  Issuing a passport of not more than 32 pages which includes replacing an expired passport, issuing a new passport of full validity when an original passport of restricted validity is unavailable, and, for applications made in the United Kingdom only, issuing a new passport with amended personal details—
(a) for applications made by post in the United Kingdom
(i) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over	42.00
(ii) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) (b) for applications made in person in the United Kingdom	25.00
(i) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over using the fast-track service	70.00
(ii) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the fast-track service	60.00
(iii) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over using the fast-track collect service	83.50
(iv) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the fast-track collect service	70.50
(v) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over using the premium service	89.00
(vi) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the premium service	71.00
(c) for applications made abroad
(i) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over	69.00
(ii) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years)	45.00
13.  Issuing a passport of 48 pages which includes replacing an expired passport, and issuing a new passport of full validity when an original passport of restricted validity is unavailable, and, for applications made in the United Kingdom only, issuing a new passport with amended personal details—
(a) for applications made by post in the United Kingdom	54.50
(b) for applications made in person in the United Kingdom
(i) using the fast-track service	71.00
(ii) using the fast-track collect service	84.50
(iii) using the premium service	95.50
(c) for applications made abroad	82.00
14.  Issuing a collective passport—
(a) for applications made by post in the United Kingdom	39.00
(b) for applications made in person in the United Kingdom	54.00
15.  Amending or extending an existing passport where the application is made abroad	57.00
16.  — (1) Receiving an application for entry clearance (other than for the United Kingdom or for the Crown Dependencies)	30.00
(2) Preparing or forwarding, or both, any letter, certificate, declaration or other document which may be required by an authority in any country or territory in connection with an application for or the issue or renewal of an entry clearance (for a country or territory for which the consular officer does not himself have authority to issue entry clearance), a residence permit or identity card or forwarding any other certificate or document (except a Home Office travel document and applications for registration and naturalisation)	41.00
(3) Preparing or forwarding, or both, an application for registration or naturalisation to the Home Office	41.00
17.  — (1) Issuing and, where required, preparing an Emergency Passport or other document not otherwise provided for in lieu of a passport	43.50
(2) Issuing a Temporary Passport valid for not more than one year	55.00
18.  — (1) Receiving, outside the United Kingdom, an application for
(a) a visa for passing through the United Kingdom without entering it (b) entry clearance for passing through the United Kingdom (c) entry clearance	30.00 30.00
(i) as a visitor, in each case for single, double and multiple entries valid for up to six months from the date of issue	50.00
(ii) for settlement	260.00
(iii) for marriage	260.00
(iv) for any purpose other than those listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) and sub- paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) listed above	85.00
(d) a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode	85.00
(2) The fees prescribed in paragraph (1) apply in relation to entry clearance for the Crown Dependencies as they apply in relation to entry clearances for the United Kingdom
(3) Receiving in the United Kingdom an application made in the United Kingdom for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode	20.00
19.  Renewing a Travel Certificate, a certificate of identity or other travel document on behalf of a Commonwealth country or of a dependency of a Commonwealth country	41.00
except where fee 21 is to be taken
20.  Renewing a Travel Certificate, a certificate of identity or other travel document on behalf of a dependency of the United Kingdom	41.00
except where fee 21 is to be taken
21.  Revalidating or renewing a Seaman’s Certificate of Nationality and Identity or a Seaman’s Identity Book	41.00
in addition to fee 16 where applicable

PART III Marriages, Births and Deaths

Fee	£
22.  Receiving notice of an intended marriage	41.00
23.  Solemnising or attending a marriage under the Foreign Marriage Acts 1892(8) and 1947(9), administering oaths to the parties and registering the marriage	88.00
24.  Issuing in English or in the local language a certificate that no impediment to an intended marriage has been shown to exist	41.00
25.  Transmitting a record of a marriage under the local law to the appropriate Registrar General in accordance with Article 7(1) of the Foreign Marriage Order 1970(10), including the provision of any necessary certification	23.50
26.  Issuing a “certificate de coutume” for an intended marriage in accordance with the local law	41.00
27.  Registering a birth or death	64.50
in addition to fee 29 where applicable
28.  Making an addition to or correction in the consular register of births, deaths or marriages at the request of the parties concerned	23.50
29.  Furnishing a certified copy of an entry in the consular register of births, deaths or marriages	41.00
in addition to fee 30 or fee 27 where applicable

PART IV Searches

Fee	£
30.  Making a search in—
(a) the consular registers of births, deaths or marriages where the number or date of entry is not provided	41.00
(b) the records of the United Kingdom Passport Agency where the request originates in the United Kingdom	10.00
(c) any other records or archives of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom	72.00
in addition to fee 29 where applicable
31.  Having a search made for, or obtaining copies of, or both, entries in the local registers or records not kept by a consular officer— for an entry in a local register of births, deaths or marriages or for any other document in addition to costs exceeding £5.00	84.50

PART V Estates

Fee	£
32.  Administering in full or in part, safeguarding, or arranging the transmission of all or part of the personal effects and other estate of a deceased person or proceeds thereof, excepting the wages and personal effects of a seaman and except where the gross current market value is less than £1,000, on the amount of the gross current market value	2% rounded to the nearest £10.00
but with a fee, where a local lawyer is employed and the matters or things to be done by the consular officer are nominal, of	53.00

PART VI Attendances

Fee	£
33.  Attending (except in connection with commercial enquiries) for each hour or lesser period, including if appropriate the time taken in proceeding from a reasonable point of departure and in returning to a reasonable point—
(a) at the consular premises or elsewhere during customary business hours except that where the attendance is for the purpose of supervising an examination and two or more persons are sitting examinations at the same time the fee may be apportioned between them	84.50
(b) at the consular premises or elsewhere outside customary business hours	84.50
with a maximum in any one period of 24 hours for each consular officer of	610.00

PART VII Matters Relating to Legal Proceedings

Fee	£
34.  Presiding at the taking of evidence under a commission or order from a Court, including any matter or thing done by the consular officer as examiner—
(a) for the first two hours or less on the first day	168.50
(b) for each additional hour or less	84.50
35.  Providing evidence of service or attempted service	84.50
in addition to fee 33 or 36
36.  Providing the services of a consular officer or consular employee—
(a) to assist the consular officer in the taking of evidence under a commission or order from a Court, for each such person—
for each hour or less	84.50
(b) to effect or endeavour to effect service of a document, for each hour or shorter period elsewhere than at the consular premises—
during customary business hours	84.50
outside customary business hours	105.50
37.  Forwarding a request to a local authority for the taking of evidence or the service of a document, where necessary, certifying the accuracy of a translation accompanying the document	84.50

PART VIII Repatriation and Financial Assistance

Fee	£
38.  Arranging the repatriation of a person or a group of persons of the same family and travelling together	84.50
39.  Arranging for currency to be made available against the payment of a sterling cheque or against the deposit elsewhere of funds with or to the order of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom	42.50
in addition to fee 33 where applicable

PART IX Shipping, Seamen and Kindred Matters

Fee	£
40.  Granting or considering whether to grant a provisional certificate of registry, whether the owner is a private individual or body corporate	246.00
41.  Receiving a return of the birth or death of any person on board a ship and endorsing the agreement with the crew accordingly	35.50
42.  Examining or arranging for the examination of provisions or water, payable by the party who proves to be in default	35.50
in addition to the cost, if any, of survey
43.  Noting a marine protest and furnishing one certified copy if required	29.50
for every further copy	29.50
44.  Extending a marine protest, filing the original and furnishing one certified copy if required—
(a) for any number of words up to 200, excluding the declaratory clause	70.50
(b) for every subsequent 100 words or less	29.50
in addition to fees 1 and 3 where applicable
45.  Making a request, or issuing or arranging for the issue of a document, in connection with a survey of a ship—
(a) for the purposes of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS) or of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 as modified by its Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL)	47.00
(b) for any other purpose	84.50
in addition to fee 6 where applicable
46.  Issuing a bill of health	29.50
47.  Preparing or signing, or both, any document, whether required by the Merchant Shipping Acts or by the local authorities, relating to the master or the members of the crew of a ship, to their numbers, names or other details, or to their engagement, discharge, desertion or death	47.00
except where—
(a) fee 41 is taken in addition to fee 33, or
(b) a death inquiry is held under section 271 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(11)
48.  Signing and, if required, sealing any documents at the request of the master of the ship	47.00
except where—
(a) this is required under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, or
(b) fee 47 is taken
49.  Inspecting—
(a) a ship’s papers when required to enable a consular officer to do any matter or thing in respect of a ship	35.00
except where fee 47 is taken in addition to fee 33
(b) the marking of a ship, irrespective of the number of visits	35.00
in addition to fee 33

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and replaces the Consular Fees Order (No 2) 1999.

The Order sets out fees to be charged for consular services. The overall effect is to continue full recovery of costs for fee-bearing consular services by revising charges levied for these services.

This Order consolidates and re-categorises some of the fees that have previously been charged. The Order increases fees for notarial services, estate administration, attendances, matters undertaken relating to legal proceedings and repatriation and financial assistance. The Order raises fees for consular assistance in births, deaths, marriages and shipping, seamen and kindred matters. The Order also increases fees for certain passports and visas and for certain searches undertaken by consular officials.

Where consular fees have been raised then, in most cases, these fees have been raised by between 10 and 20%. Overseas passport fees are raised from £56.50 to £69 (standard passport for those 16 years or over), from £36.50 to £45 (standard passports for those under 16) and from £67.70 to £82 (48 page passport). The fee for amending an existing passport abroad will be increased from £46.90 to £57. The Order also raises the fee for issuing emergency passports from £35.50 to £43.50 and temporary passport fees are increased from £45.60 to £55.

Fees for multiple entry visas valid for between one and ten years that ranged from between £60 and £150 have been consolidated in this Order to one fee of £85. This Order increases the fees for six month multiple entry visas from £36 to £50. The Order also raises previously anomalous fees for returning residents, working holiday-makers, au pairs and those in employment or self-employed under six months from £36 to £85. The fee for receiving an application for entry clearance (other than to the United Kingdom or the Crown Dependencies) is raised from £22 to £30 and entry clearance for students is increased from £36 to £85.

This Order reduces the fees for a certificate of entitlement to right of abode from £110 to £85. Following the introduction of photo vignette visas the fee for a declaration of identity became obsolete and has been removed. This Order also deletes provision for gratis visas to be issued to citizens of the former Soviet Union following the abrogation of a bi-lateral agreement with Former Soviet Union States.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs for business.

(1)

1980 c. 23.

(2)

1892 c. 23.

(3)

1906 c. 40.

(4)

S.I. 1999/3132.

(5)

1995 c. 21.

(6)

1890 c. 37.

(7)

1913 c. 16.

(8)

1892 c. 23.

(9)

1947 c. 33.

(10)

S.I. 1970/1539.

(11)

1995 c. 21.