What we do

The FCO promotes the United Kingdom's interests overseas, supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe.

FCO is a ministerial department, supported by 11 agencies and public bodies.

Read more about what we do

We work on these topics

  1. Foreign affairs

    The government works to promote and protect UK interests internationally, and works with other countries to make progress on issues of mutual concern like trade, climate change, security and economic development. Read more

  2. Europe

    The government is working with allies to reform the European Union to make it more open, competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, for the benefit of the UK and the whole of Europe. Read more

  3. Climate change

    The government is working at home and abroad to adapt to the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by investing in low-carbon energy sources, improving fuel standards in cars and increasing energy efficiency wherever possible. Read more

  4. National security

    The government works to identify the most pressing risks to our security, and put in place the ways and means to address them. Read more

  5. International aid and development

    Around 1.4 billion people around the world still live in poverty. The government is working with international organisations and the governments of poorer countries to help end poverty. Read more

Our policies

  1. Keeping the UK safe in cyber space

    Improving cyber security to make cyber space safer for people and businesses and more resilient to cyber attacks and crime.

  2. Creating a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

    Making sure the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games continue to benefit the whole country for many years.

  3. Establishing stability in Afghanistan

    How the UK is helping Afghanistan to become a more secure nation with international support.

See all our policies

Documents

Our announcements

  1. Bangladesh's Rana Plaza Tragedy: High Commissioner's speech

    • 24 April 2014
    • Speech

  2. Travel advice: Eurovision Song Contest 2014

    • 23 April 2014
    • News story

See all our announcements

Our consultations

  1. EU enlargement: review of the balance of competences

    • 27 March 2014
    • Open consultation

  2. Subsidiarity and proportionality: review of the balance of competences

    • 27 March 2014
    • Open consultation

See all our consultations

Our publications

  1. FCO Priority Outcomes for 2014 to 2015

    • 23 April 2014
    • Policy paper

  2. Azerbaijan: Political application form

    • 23 April 2014
    • Form

See all our publications

Our statistics

  1. Retention and closure statistics for all of the colonial administration files

    • 24 April 2014
    • Statistics

  2. China Economic Focus 2013

    • 25 October 2013
    • Statistics

See all our statistics

Our ministers

Our management

Special representatives

Contact FCO

Office address

King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Media enquiries

Legalisation and apostille service

Foreign & Commonwealth Office
PO Box 6255
Milton Keynes
MK10 1XX

If you need to use British documents for business or personal matters abroad.

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations.

Lancaster House

Senior Events Manager
Stable Yard
St James’
London
SW1A 1BB

Make an FOI request

  1. Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request
  2. Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question
  3. Make a new request by contacting us at:

Freedom of Information requests

FOI and DPA Team
Information Management Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Room K4.10 – K4.13
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Corporate information

Jobs and contracts

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