Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls

Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles in Afghanistan The FCO’s network of offices across the world are led by our senior diplomats. These include Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consuls, Governors and Heads of Delegation, depending on the type and location of the office. They work on behalf of the whole of UK Government and the British people.

Who works where?

In capital cities our office is usually called an Embassy and is headed by an Ambassador. In the capitals of Commonwealth countries the office is called a High Commission and is headed by a High Commissioner. We also have other offices in non-capital cities which have different names depending on the type of work they do. For example Consulates and Consulates-General mainly provide assistance to British nationals as well as visa and passport services. Trade Offices work to promote trade with the UK.

We also have offices that represent the UK in international organisations such as the United Nations, European Union and NATO. For example UKREP Brussels is the UK Representative office at the EU; UKMIS New York is the UK Mission to the UN.

The UK is responsible for the security and governance of 14 Overseas Territories and in these places the FCO has a network of offices headed by Governors, Commissioners and Administrators. Overseas territories are under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but are not part of the United Kingdom itself.