This is alist of diplomatic missions of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,excluding honorary consulates. The UK has one of the largest global networks ofdiplomatic missions.UK diplomatic missions to capitals of otherCommonwealth of Nationsmember countries are known asHigh Commissions(headed by 'High Commissioners'). For three Commonwealth countries (namely India, Nigeria, and Pakistan), theForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office(FCDO) still uses the term "Deputy High Commission" for Consulates-General (headed by Deputy High Commissioners), although this terminology is being phased out.[1]British citizens may get help from the embassy of any othercommonwealthcountry present, when in a country where there is no British embassy, including New Zealand and Australia, to help British nationals in some countries.
In 2004, the FCDO carried out a review of the deployment of its diplomatic missions, and subsequently over a two-year period closed its missions inNassau(in the Bahamas),Asunción(Paraguay),Dili(East Timor),Maseru(Lesotho),Mbabane(Swaziland),Antananarivo(Madagascar),Nuku'alofa(Tonga),Tarawa(Kiribati), andPort Vila(Vanuatu). Additionally several consulates and trade offices were also closed, including those inFukuoka(Japan),Vientiane(Laos),Douala(Cameroon),Porto(Portugal), along withFrankfurt,Leipzig,andStuttgartin Germany, andPhoenix,San Juan,andDallasin the United States. Other consulates in Australia, Germany, France, Spain, New Zealand, and the US were downgraded and staffed by local personnel only.[2]In 2012,Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hagueannounced the opening of embassies inLiberiaandHaiti,the re-opening of embassies in Laos, El Salvador, and Paraguay, and the opening of a Consulate-General inRecife(Brazil). He also said that by 2015, the UK would have opened up to eleven new embassies and eight new Consulates or Trade Offices.[3]In 2013, a UK government office was established inSeattle.[4]In 2014, all services at the former UK Consulate inOrlandowere transferred to the nearby UK Consulate-General inMiami.[5]In 2015, the UK Consulate-General inDenverwas reclassified as a UK Government Office.[6]
In 2018 theForeign, Commonwealth and Development Officehas announced that new High Commissions will open inAntigua and Barbuda,Bahamas,Grenada,Lesotho,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Samoa,Swaziland,TongaandVanuatuand a British office inSomalilandlike the one in Taipei,Taiwan[7]
TheForeign, Commonwealth and Development Officeemploys approximately 13,200 staff in the UK and in more than 260 Posts overseas. Approximately one-third of these employees are UK-based civil servants (including members ofHM Diplomatic Service) and two-thirds are employed locally by Posts overseas.[8]
The United Kingdom is one of two countries, the other beingThailand,that usediplomatic flagsabroad. These special flags are flown at the chanceries of their embassies and consulates. ForHigh Commissions,theUnion Flagis used. In addition, there is a flag in use for British consularvesselsininternationalorforeignwaters.
^The British Embassy to the Holy See is located outside Vatican territory in Rome.
^The embassy closed down on 24 April 1975, in the midst of theFall of Saigon,which marked the end of theVietnam Warand the start of a transition period to the formal reunification of Vietnam.
1Diplomatic posts only with no consular facilities. 2Consular posts only with no diplomatic functions. 3The United Kingdom and Her Majesty's Government do not recognise or have formal bilateral intergovernmental, diplomatic or consular relations with the (generally unrecognised)Government of the Republic of Chinain Taipei. Functions in Taiwan as an accredited informal and unofficial representative post and a semi-official informal consular post.