British High Commission
Pretoria

Location:: South Africa
Part of:: Foreign & Commonwealth Office

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.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and current state of emergency, the consular section is only able to see customers by appointment.

Urgent assistance

If you’re travelling in South Africa, see how to Return to the UK during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If you cannot return at this time, see how to stay safely in South Africa during coronavirus.

See also our coronavirus travel advice for all our latest guidance on travel during coronavirus.

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.

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.

Our people

Nigel Casey MVO

British High Commissioner to South Africa

Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE

British Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa

Contact us