Living in South Africa

This page gives advice what help we can provide if you do get into difficulty. We offer help which is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case, including:

issuing replacement passports;
providing information about transferring funds;
providing appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are a victim of other crime, or are in hospital;
helping people with mental illness;
providing details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors and funeral directors;
doing all we properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained;
offering support and help in a range of other cases, such as child abductions, death of relatives overseas, missing people and kidnapping;
contacting family or friends for you if you want; and
making special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances or natural disasters

UK law says we have to charge for some services. Consulates display the current fees and the standards of service you can expect.

Registering with us

The FCO have set up a new improved online registration service called LOCATE. British nationals can now register their details online.

What happens when you retire

Useful information to help you plan your future

Marriage and birth in South Africa

Consular officers in Commonwealth countries have no general powers, under the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889, to do notarial acts

How to register a death

Information on deaths involving British nationals in South Africa

How to legalise a document

Information on legalising your documents for use in the UK

Notarial services

As South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth, the British High Commission in Pretoria is not permitted to perform notarial duties.

Certification of UK Driving Licenses

The British High Commission no longer issues letters which explain entitlements and/or categories of UK license

Overseas voter registration

Information on how to register to vote if you are living or working abroad

UK police check

How to apply for a UK police record check

British Citizens Applying for South African Citizenship

The South African Department of Home Affairs now requires proof that foreign nationals looking to naturalize as South Africans are permitted to hold dual nationality