Your trusted source for embassy addresses, phone numbers, visa information, and consular services in every country. Find exactly what you need before your trip or appointment.
Browse UK Embassies AbroadAllThingsEmbassy is a comprehensive directory designed to help travellers, expatriates, and international professionals find accurate embassy and consulate information quickly. Whether you need to apply for a visa, renew your passport while living overseas, legalise important documents, or seek emergency assistance abroad, our directory brings all the essential information together in one place.
Navigating embassy services can be confusing. Different countries have different requirements, different opening hours, and different appointment systems. Some embassies require bookings weeks in advance. Others have walk-in hours for emergencies. Our guides walk you through the practical details so you can focus on what matters rather than spending hours searching government websites for basic contact details.
Every listing in our directory includes the embassy or consulate address, telephone number, and a link to the official website where you can find the most up-to-date information. We organise embassies by region and country, making it easy to find exactly what you need. Our additional guides cover visa applications, passport renewals, document legalisation, and what to do in an emergency abroad.
Start by choosing the directory most relevant to your situation. If you are a British citizen travelling abroad and need to find the nearest British embassy or consulate, visit our UK Embassies Abroad page. If you are a foreign national in the United Kingdom looking for your country's embassy or high commission, head to our Embassies in London directory. For specific countries, we have detailed guides covering visa types, appointment booking, and the full range of consular services available.
Embassies and consulates provide a wide range of services to their citizens abroad and to foreign nationals seeking entry. Understanding what services are available and where to access them can save you considerable time and frustration.
Most embassies and consulates process visa applications for foreign nationals wishing to visit, work, study, or settle in their country. The types of visa available vary by country but typically include tourist visas, business visas, student visas, work permits, and family reunion visas. Many embassies now use external visa application centres to handle the volume of applications, so it is worth checking whether you need to apply at the embassy directly or through a partner organisation.
If you are a citizen living abroad, your country's embassy or consulate can help with passport renewals, replacement of lost or stolen passports, and in some cases, issuing emergency travel documents. Processing times vary considerably. The British FCDO passport service for overseas applications can take up to ten weeks, so plan well ahead of any travel.
Embassies can certify documents, administer oaths, witness signatures, and in some cases perform civil marriages for their citizens. These notarial services are particularly important for legal and business documents that need to be recognised across borders. Fees and availability vary by embassy.
In serious emergencies, your embassy or consulate can provide critical support. This includes help if you are arrested, hospitalised, or become a victim of crime. They can contact family members on your behalf, provide lists of local lawyers and doctors, and in extreme cases, assist with repatriation. However, it is important to understand that embassies cannot get you out of jail, pay your bills, or override the laws of the country you are in.
Visa applications, American citizen services, passport renewals, and emergency assistance at the US Embassy in Nine Elms.
Full Guide →Tourist and business visas, OCI card applications, passport services via BLS International, and attestation services.
Full Guide →Visa applications, Nigerian passport services, consular registration, and attestation for documents.
Full Guide →Visa services, NICOP and passport applications, consular registration, and document attestation.
Full Guide →Find British embassies, high commissions, and consulates in over 30 countries across every continent.
Browse Directory →Complete directory of 40+ foreign embassies and high commissions in London with addresses and contact details.
Browse Directory →Many people only think about embassies when they need a visa, but there are numerous situations where knowing your nearest embassy or consulate is essential. Before travelling internationally, you should always note the address and emergency telephone number of your country's embassy in your destination. Here are the most common reasons people contact embassies:
Before your trip: Applying for a visa, checking entry requirements, verifying passport validity rules (many countries require at least six months' validity), and getting documents legalised or apostilled for use abroad.
During your trip: Lost or stolen passport, arrest or detention, serious illness or accident, becoming a victim of crime, civil unrest or natural disaster, and running out of money with no way to get home.
Living abroad: Registering births and deaths, getting married, voting in elections from abroad, renewing your passport, notarising documents, and maintaining your consular registration.
It is always better to have this information and not need it than to need it in an emergency and not know where to turn. We recommend saving your embassy's emergency contact number in your phone before any international trip.
An embassy is the main diplomatic representation of one country in another, located in the capital city. A consulate is a smaller office, usually in a major city outside the capital, providing administrative and citizen services. Both can help with visas and citizen services, but only embassies handle high-level diplomatic matters. Read our full guide.
Most embassies require appointments for visa applications and passport services. Some offer walk-in hours for emergencies or general enquiries. Always check the specific embassy's website before visiting. Wait times without an appointment can be very long, and some embassies will not see you at all without a prior booking.
Processing times vary significantly by country and visa type. Tourist visas typically take 5 to 15 working days. Work and student visas can take 4 to 12 weeks. Some countries offer express processing for an additional fee. Always apply well in advance of your planned travel dates. See our visa guide.
Contact your country's nearest embassy or consulate immediately. They can issue an emergency travel document to get you home. You will need to provide proof of identity (a photocopy of your passport, driving licence, or other ID) and passport photos. Report the loss to local police and get a police report. Read our emergency guide.
Your embassy can visit you in detention, provide a list of local lawyers, and contact your family. However, they cannot get you released, pay for legal fees, or interfere with the local justice system. You are subject to the laws of the country you are in. Embassies will ensure you are treated fairly and have access to legal representation.
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a document for use in another country that is a member of the Hague Convention. You need one when using official documents (birth certificates, degrees, court orders) in a foreign country. In the UK, apostilles are issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Read our apostille guide.