The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

[F1Service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authoritiesE+W

6.25—(1) Where a claim form is to be served on a defendant in any country which is a party to the Hague Convention, the claim form may be served—

(a)through the authority designated under the Hague Convention in respect of that country; or

(b)if the law of that country permits—

(i)through the judicial authorities of that country, or

(ii)through a British Consular authority in that country.

(2) Where—

(a)paragraph (4) (service in Scotland etc., other than under the Hague Convention) does not apply; and

(b)a claim form is to be served on a defendant in any country which is a party to a Civil Procedure Convention (other than the Hague Convention) providing for service in that country,

the claim form may be served, if the law of that country permits—

(i)through the judicial authorities of that country; or

(ii)through a British Consular authority in that country (subject to any provisions of the applicable convention about the nationality of persons who may be served by such a method).

(3) Where—

(a)paragraph (4) (service in Scotland etc., other than under the Hague Convention) does not apply; and

(b)a claim form is to be served on a defendant in any country with respect to which there is no Civil Procedure Convention providing for service in that country,

the claim form may be served, if the law of that country so permits—

(i)through the government of that country, where that government is willing to serve it; or

(ii)through a British Consular authority in that country.

(4) Except where a claim form is to be served in accordance with paragraph (1) (service under the Hague Convention), the methods of service permitted by this rule are not available where the claim form is to be served in—

(a)Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands;

(b)any Commonwealth State; [F2or]

(c)any United Kingdom Overseas Territory[F3.]

F4(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F5(5) This rule does not apply where service is to be effected in accordance with the Service Regulation.]]

Textual Amendments

F3Rule 6.25(4)(c): full stop substituted for word (31.5.2001) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/1388), rules 1(c), 6(a)(ii)