Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The foreign ministry. For residents, it runs the Legalisation Office (apostilles on UK documents) and consular help for British nationals abroad.
Directory of public bodies
Contact details of the public bodies behind each procedure: phone numbers, postal addresses and contact forms, taken from their official sources.
01 Certificates and civil registration (BDM)
General Register Office (GRO)
Keeps the birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death records for England and Wales and issues certificates from them.
General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI)
Registers births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and adoptions in Northern Ireland and issues certificates.
National Records of Scotland (NRS)
Keeps Scotland's birth, death, marriage and civil partnership records, runs the census and sells certificates through ScotlandsPeople.
02 Visas and immigration
Home Office
The government department responsible for immigration, passports, policing and security. Most public enquiries go through its agencies.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
Decides visa, settlement and citizenship applications and manages eVisas for people coming to or living in the UK.
03 Passports, ID and records
HM Passport Office
Issues and renews UK passports and runs the General Register Office for England and Wales.
04 Work and tax
AccessNI
Issues criminal record checks in Northern Ireland. It is a branch of the Department of Justice.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Issues criminal record checks (DBS checks) in England and Wales, often needed for jobs with children or vulnerable adults.
Disclosure Scotland
Issues criminal record checks in Scotland and runs the PVG scheme for people working with children or protected adults.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Collects taxes and National Insurance and pays Child Benefit. You deal with it for Income Tax, Self Assessment, PAYE and your tax code.
05 Benefits and pensions
Child Maintenance Service (CMS)
Works out and collects child maintenance when parents who live apart cannot agree a private arrangement.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Runs Universal Credit, State Pension, disability benefits and Jobcentre Plus, and issues National Insurance numbers.
Social Security Scotland
Pays Scottish benefits such as Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant.
The Pension Service
Part of DWP that deals with State Pension and Pension Credit claims and payments for people in Great Britain.
07 Housing and council tax
HM Land Registry
Records who owns land and property in England and Wales. You can get title registers and report suspected property fraud.
TV Licensing
Sells and manages the TV Licence on behalf of the BBC. You need one to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer.
08 Driving and vehicles
Driver & Vehicle Agency (Northern Ireland) (DVA)
Licenses and tests drivers and vehicles in Northern Ireland, including driving tests and MOTs. Vehicle tax is still handled by DVLA.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Holds driver and vehicle records in Great Britain: driving licences, vehicle tax, SORN and the V5C log book.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
Runs driving theory and practical tests, approves driving instructors and oversees MOT testing in Great Britain.
09 Schools and childcare
Department for Education (DfE)
Responsible for schools, childcare, apprenticeships and higher education policy in England. School places are handled by your local council.
Ofsted
Inspects schools, childcare, colleges and children's social care in England and publishes inspection reports.
Student Loans Company (SLC)
Pays student loans and grants on behalf of the UK nations and collects repayments with HMRC.
10 Voting and everyday life
Electoral Commission
Independent body that oversees elections and publishes guidance on registering to vote. Your council keeps the electoral register.
11 Business and self-employment
Companies House
Registers UK companies and keeps their public records, such as directors, accounts and confirmation statements.