The British High Commission in South Africa maintains and develops relations between the UK and South Africa.

Find out more on our UK and South Africa news page.

We provide services to British nationals living in and visiting South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. You can access UK government services while in South Africa.

Urgent assistance

If you’re travelling in South Africa, read our South Africa travel advice.

Public access to the High Commission is by appointment only. See below options for contacting us online or by phone if you need our help.

If you’re in South Africa, Eswatini or Lesotho and you need advice, which is not covered by reading our travel advice then you can contact us online

If you’re in South Africa, Eswatini or Lesotho and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +27 12 421 7500 or +27 21 405 2400 or +44 1908 516666. If you’re in the UK and worried about a British person in South Africa, call 020 7008 5000 (24/7, 365 days a year).

Get an emergency travel document

You can apply for an emergency travel document if you’re abroad and your passport has been lost or stolen, damaged or expired, and you can’t get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.

Apply online for an emergency travel document

If the person needing the emergency travel document is under 16, a parent or guardian should apply on their behalf.

If you are travelling in more than 3 weeks, check if you can get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.

If you are not a British citizen or have not had a British passport before

If you’re not sure, check if you’re a British citizen

If you’re not a British citizen but think you may be eligible, contact us to apply for an emergency travel document.

Other consular services

Notarial and documentary services

For legal reasons, we’re unable to carry out notarial acts in Commonwealth countries. This includes certifying documents as true copies of originals, administering oaths or taking affidavits. For these or other notarial acts, you should contact a local notary. A standard letter is available to confirm we do not offer these services in South Africa.

We offer a limited range of documentary services. See the list of documentary services we provide.

Consular fees

We charge fees for some of our services. See the full list of consular fees in South Africa.

Development work in South Africa

The International Development Strategy (IDS) sets out a new approach to development. It does this through long-term partnerships tailored to the needs of each country the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office works with, built on mutual accountability and transparency. The Integrated Review Refresh (IR23) reiterates that sustainable development is central to UK foreign policy and sets out how the UK will go further and faster to reduce poverty.

For information on how the IDS and IR23 are being implemented in South Africa, view the UK-South Africa development partnership summary.

For up-to-date information on the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme work in South Africa, view the Development Tracker.

Our people

British High Commissioner to South Africa
Antony Phillipson
  • British Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa

Contact us


British High Commission, Pretoria

British High Commission
255 Hill StreetArcadia
Pretoria
Gauteng
0002
South Africa

24/7 Telephone - General and consular enquiries
+27 12 421 7500 / +27 21 405 2400 / +44 1908 516666 / +44 20 7008 5000

Telephone - Passport enquiries
+44 300 222 0000

Visa enquiries from within South Africa - Monday to Friday, 24 hours. Calls cost £1.37 per minute on top of your standard network charges.
Telephone: +44 203 481 1736

Public access to the consular section is by appointment only.

24/7 consular support is available by telephone for all routine enquiries and emergencies. Please call +27 12 421 7500 or +27 21 405 2400 or +44 1908 516666 and follow the prompts.

Alternatively, use our contact form for online enquiries:
www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-pretoria

Access and opening times

Corporate information