Statutory Instruments
Diplomatic Service
Made
26th March 2013
Coming into force
6th April 2013
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1(3) of the Consular Fees Act 1980(1), with the approval of the Treasury, makes the following Regulations.
1. These Regulations may be cited as Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2013 and shall come into force on 6th April 2013.
2.—(1) The Consular Fees Regulations 1981(2) shall be amended as follows.
(2) For Regulation 3(1) substitute the following:
“(1) Fees shall be paid—
(a)in currency at the place of payment, except that a consular officer shall have discretion to accept in lieu of such currency, a cheque, money order, or other means of effecting payment in that currency; or
(b)at the discretion of the consular officer, in sterling by debit or credit card.”
Mark Simmonds
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
25th March 2013
We approve these Regulations
Desmond Swayne
Stephen Crabb
Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury
26th March 2013
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Consular Fees Regulations 1981 (“the 1981 Regulations”). The 1981 Regulations prescribe the manner in which all fees taken by persons authorised by the Secretary of State to exercise consular functions, or functions in the United Kingdom which correspond with consular functions, shall be levied, accounted for and applied, and may be remitted.
These Regulations amend the 1981 Regulations to allow for consular fees to be paid in Sterling by debit or credit card at the discretion of a consular officer. Payment can still be made in currency circulating at the place of payment.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.
S.I. 1981/476 as amended by S.I. 2000/1017.