reg 46 Procedure where service is to be through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities
(1) This rule applies where the applicant wishes to serve the application form through— (a) the judicial authorities of the country where the application form is to be served; (b) a British Consular authority in that country; (c) the authority designated under the Hague Convention in respect of that country; or (d) the government of that country. (2) Where this rule applies, the applicant must file— (a) a request for service of the application form by the method in paragraph (1) that he has chosen; (b) a copy of the application form; (c) any translation required under rule 43; and (d) any other documents, copies of documents or translations required by the relevant practice direction. (3) When the applicant files the documents specified in paragraph (2), a court officer will— (a) seal, or otherwise authenticate with the stamp of the court, the copy of the application form; and (b) forward the documents to the Senior Master of the Queen’s Bench Division. (4) The Senior Master will send documents forwarded under this rule— (a) where the application form is being served through the authority designated under the Hague Convention, to that authority; or (b) in any other case, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with a request that it arranges for the application to be served by the method indicated in the request for service filed under paragraph (2) or, where that request indicates alternative methods, by the most convenient method. (5) An official certificate will be evidence of the facts stated in the certificate if it— (a) states that the application form has been served in accordance with this rule either personally, or in accordance with the law of the country in which service was effected; (b) specifies the date on which the application form was served; and (c) is made by— (i) a British Consular authority in the country where the application form was served; (ii) the government or judicial authorities in that country; or (iii) any other authority designated in respect of that country under the Hague Convention. (6) A document purporting to be an official certificate under paragraph (5) will be treated as such a certificate, unless it is proved not to be. (7) This rule does not apply where service is to be effected in accordance with the Service Regulation.