The British Embassy Washington maintains and develops relations between the UK and the United States.

Find out more on our USA and the UK news page

We deal with a wide range of political, commercial, security and economic questions of interest to the UK and the US. Our consular team in Washington provides consular assistance to British nationals in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

The ambassador is responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates. His tasks are to present UK policies to the American government and to Americans, to report and explain American policies and views to his own government in London, and to support UK interests. He is also responsible for press and cultural relations, and for consular services. He is based at the British Embassy in Washington but travels regularly throughout the United States.

British consulates champion trade and investment between the UK and US. They also keep the ambassador aware of political, economic and other developments in their consular districts. The consuls are also responsible for providing consular services to British nationals in their consular districts.

We are currently unable to process applications for White House Tours. Find out more.

We provide services to British nationals living in and visiting the USA.

You can access UK government services while in the USA.

Urgent assistance

If you’re in District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +1 202 588 6500. If you’re in the UK and worried about a British national in the USA, call 020 7008 1500.

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 due to travel in the next 24 hours, contact us as soon as possible.

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.

Once you have contacted us, you will be advised to book an appointment for an emergency travel document in Washington DC

Other consular services

Notarial and documentary services

See the full list of notarial and documentary services we provide.

White House tours

At this time, we are unable to process any White House tour applications for the general public. We understand that the White House website asks foreign citizens interested in a tour to contact their embassy. However, the US Department of State requires that foreigners be accompanied by a very senior diplomat. Unfortunately, due to the time and resource required, White House tours cannot be made available to the British public.

You may wish to consider tours of the US Capitol Building, where visitors are able to make tour reservations up to three months in advance or obtain same-day tour passes. Passports or other forms of ID are not required for entry into the U.S. Capitol. You can also book a Pentagon Tour. Non-US Nationals will need to submit the British Embassy’s address instead of their home address. Further assistance regarding the online booking process should be directed to the Pentagon Tour Office +1 703 697 1776. You can also take a virtual tour of the White House.