(1)Every British ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d’affaires, and secretary of embassy or legation exercising his functions in any foreign country, and every British consul-general, consul, vice-consul, acting consul, pro-consul, and consular agent [F1acting consul-general, acting vice-consul, and acting consular agent] exercising his functions in any foreign place may, in that country or place, administer any oath and take any affidavit, and also do any notarial act which any notary public can do within the United Kingdom; and every oath, affidavit, and notarial act administered, sworn, or done by or before any such person shall be as effectual as if duly administered, sworn, or done by or before any lawful authority in any part of the United Kingdom.
[F2(1A)In subsection (1), “notary public” includes a person who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007, is an authorised person in relation to any activity which constitutes a notarial activity (within the meaning of that Act).]
F2(2)Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed, or subscribed thereon or thereto the seal and signature of any person authorised by this section to administer an oath in testimony of any oath, affidavit, or act being administered, taken, or done by or before him, shall be admitted in evidence without proof of the seal or signature being the seal or signature of that person, or of the official character of that person.
Textual Amendments
F1Words inserted by Commissioners for Oaths Act 1891 (c. 50), s. 2
F2S. 6(1A) inserted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208(1), 211(2), Sch. 21 para. 13 (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (subject to arts. 6, 9)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2Power to apply s. 6 conferred by Evidence and Powers of Attorney Act 1943 (c. 18), s. 4 and Consular Relations Act 1968 (c. 18), s. 10(3)