UK Embassy Durban Contact Details

There is no British consulate in Durban, and none anywhere in KwaZulu-Natal. The United Kingdom runs two offices in South Africa and gov.uk lists both: the British High Commission in Pretoria, passport enquiries +44 300 222 0000, and the British Consulate-General in Cape Town on the same numbers. Anyone in Durban is served remotely, by telephone and online form, and travels to Pretoria only if an appointment genuinely requires attendance.

The word embassy is also technically wrong here. Between Commonwealth countries the mission is a high commission and the head of it is a high commissioner, not an ambassador. It makes no practical difference to the service you get, but it does change what to look for.

UK embassy Durban contact details: the two offices that serve you

British High Commission, Pretoria

• Address: 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002
• Passport enquiries: +44 300 222 0000
• Visa enquiries: +44 203 481 1736, open Monday to Friday, 24 hours
• Enquiries and emergencies: the online contact form at contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk

British Consulate-General, Cape Town

• Address: 15th Floor, Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek Street, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8000
• Postal address: British Consulate General, PO Box 500, Cape Town, 8000
• Passport and visa enquiries: the same +44 numbers as Pretoria
• Enquiries and emergencies: the online contact form for the Cape Town post

Two things to know before you call

Both published numbers are United Kingdom numbers beginning +44, not South African ones, so a call from a South African line is an international call charged at your operator international rate. The online contact form is free and is the route the Foreign Office itself points you to first. Consular support is described as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for routine enquiries as well as emergencies, so an out-of-hours crisis does not have to wait.

Public access to both offices is by appointment only. You cannot walk in, and travelling to Pretoria or Cape Town without a confirmed appointment achieves nothing.

What Durban residents actually need

• A British passport renewal is applied for online and posted; it is not done over a counter in South Africa
• A UK visa application is made online and the biometrics appointment is at a commercial visa application centre, which is a separate operation from the high commission and does have offices in more South African cities
• Emergency help for a British national, such as a lost passport, hospitalisation, arrest or a death abroad, goes to the consular numbers or the online form regardless of where in the country you are

A caution

• The UK government charges published fees for passports and visas and nothing else; nobody legitimate will ask you to pay an agent to secure an appointment
• Appointment slots at visa application centres are free to book; anyone selling them is running a scam
• Verify any number claiming to be the high commission against gov.uk before calling back or paying anything

Frequently asked questions

Is there a UK embassy in Durban?

No. There is no British consulate in Durban or anywhere in KwaZulu-Natal. The two UK offices in South Africa are the High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate-General in Cape Town, and both serve Durban remotely by phone and online form.

What number do I call from South Africa?

Passport enquiries go to +44 300 222 0000 and visa enquiries to +44 203 481 1736. Both are United Kingdom numbers, so the call is charged at your operator international rate. The online contact form is the free route.

Where is the British High Commission in South Africa?

The British High Commission is at 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002. Public access is by appointment only.

How do I renew a British passport from Durban?

Apply online and the passport is posted; it is not done over a counter in South Africa. For emergencies such as a lost passport, use the consular numbers or the online form.