News story

FCO launches new consular appointment booking service

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) launches online appointments booking service for British nationals requiring paid-for services abroad.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Appointments booking service screengrab

This month the FCO established a new online booking service, so that British nationals can make appointments in advance for paid-for services at British embassies, high commissions and consulates in most countries.

The new service enables British nationals living or travelling abroad to make an appointment at their most convenient embassy, high commission or consulate overseas - at their preferred date and time - for non-urgent services.

Services available for online booking include emergency travel documents, certificates for marriage, and notarial services such as legalising a document. Customers requiring urgent help or an emergency travel document for travel within 24 hours are advised to call or visit in person instead.

The new appointments booking service is accessible on mobile devices including smartphones and tablets as well as desktop computers. The service is part of the FCO’s wider strategy to improve online information about its consular services and make it easier for customers to access services. Customers without access to the internet will be supported on the telephone by staff in the FCO’s consular contact centres.

Minister for Consular James Duddridge said:

In 2013, the FCO helped over 17,000 British nationals overseas and provided over 40,000 emergency travel documents.

The new consular appointments booking service will make it easier for British nationals to access routine, transactional services and will enable consular staff to focus on supporting British nationals in difficulties who need urgent help.

This is just one of the ways in which the FCO is improving how it provides services to our customers, including through digital means.

Further information

Published 27 March 2015