GOV.UK
Her Excellency Menna Rawlings CMG
British High Commissioner to Australia
British High Commission
Canberra
The British High Commission in Australia maintains and develops relations between the UK and Australia.
We represent the British government in its relations with the Australian government and present British policies to the Australian government and to Australians. We report and explain Australian policies to the British government and support British interests as well as co-ordinating the political, economic, environmental and commercial activities of the British government.
Find out more on our UK and Australia news page. We provide services to British nationals living in and visiting Australia. You can access UK government services while in Australia.
Urgent assistance
If you urgently need consular assistance outside normal office hours you should call your nearest consulate and follow the prompts for emergency assistance.
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:
Other consular services
Register a same-sex marriage
We register same-sex marriages in all our consulates around Australia. See getting married abroad. We no longer register new civil partnerships in our consulates.
You will need to have been living in Australia for seven clear days before you can post notice of your intended marriage, and you must have lived in Australia for 21 clear days in total before your marriage can be solemnised.
What to bring with you:
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your original passport and your partner’s original passport
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proof of residence – such as your driving licences, employer’s letters, or bank statements/utility bills
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the correct fee – see the list of fees
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proof that your partner is free to marry, if your partner is not a British national
If either of you have been divorced, widowed or in a civil partnership before, you’ll also need either:
See getting married abroad for full details.
Bookings are by appointment only. Please don’t make formal arrangements until our staff have confirmed the date and time.
Convert a civil partnership into a marriage
We can convert an existing civil partnership into marriage.
You must have been living in Australia for 28 days.
You don’t have to convert your civil partnership into a marriage in the country you formed it in.
What to bring with you:
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your original passport and your partner’s original passport
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original civil partnership certificate
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proof of residence, such as your driving licences, employer’s letters, or bank statements/utility bills
You must pay fees - see the list of fees.
See convert a civil partnership into a marriage for full details.
Bookings are by appointment only. Please don’t make formal arrangements until our staff have confirmed the date and time.
Notarial and documentary services
Our consulates around Australia are unable to carry out notarial acts under the Commissioner of Oaths Act 1889, and on instruction from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London.
This includes certifying documents as true copies of originals, administering oaths or taking affidavits. For these or other notarial acts, or the legalising of documents, please contact a notary public.
Consular fees
We charge fees for some of our services. See the list of fees.
We also provide services in:
Our people
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Ingrid Southworth
Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission Canberra
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Michael Ward
British Consul General and Director General UK Trade & Investment Australia and New Zealand
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Brigadier Andrew Harrison DSO MBE
Defence Attaché, Australia
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Christopher Holtby OBE
British Consul General, Melbourne
Contact us
British High Commission Canberra
Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 12.30pm/1.30pm to 5.00pm
Consular counter hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Switchboard hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
British Consulate-General Sydney
Consul-General and Director General UK Trade & Investment: Mr Michael Ward
Level 16, Gateway Building, 1 Macquarie Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Telephone: +61 2 9247 7521
Consular counter hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Switchboard hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
British Consulate-General Melbourne
Consul-General: Mr Chris Holtby
17th Floor, 90 Collins St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)3 9652 1600
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Consular counter hours:
Monday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm
Switchboard hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
British Consulate Perth
Head of Office and Senior Trade Development Manager: Mr Andrew Beveridge
Level 12
251 Adelaide Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9224 4700
Opening Hours Mondays to Friday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Consular counter hours: 10.00am to 1.00pm
Switchboard hours: 9.00am to 4.30pm
British Consulate Brisbane
Head of Office & Head of Institutional Investment (Aus & NZ): Mr Craig O'Kane
Level 9
100 Eagle Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)7 3223 3200
Opening Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Consular counter hours: 10.00am to 1.00pm
Switchboard hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Corporate information