Before you contact an embassy or high commission
- Confirm which government or diplomatic mission has responsibility for your request.
- Use the official mission contact listing; telephone numbers and operating hours can change.
- Check passport, nationality, residence and appointment rules relevant to the service you need.
- For a UK Student visa, use the official UKVI process rather than assuming a foreign embassy can issue it.
- Do not transfer money to unverified intermediaries or send identity documents through social media.
Emergency and consular help
For an urgent emergency in the UK call 999. If you are a foreign national, contact your own country’s diplomatic mission for country-specific consular services. If you are a British national overseas, look up the responsible British embassy or consulate on GOV.UK.