British High Commission

Last updated

British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand British High Commission Wellington 2015.JPG
British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand

A British High Commission is a British diplomatic mission, equivalent to an embassy, found in countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Their general purpose is to provide diplomatic relationships as well as travel information, passports, dual-citizenship information, and other services between Commonwealth states.

Contents

Where some Commonwealth countries are not represented in another Commonwealth country, the British High Commission can assist such Commonwealth countries' citizens in some cases.

William Henry Clark served as Britain's first high commissioner (1928–1934), sent to Ottawa at the request of the Canadian prime minister in the aftermath of the King–Byng affair and the Balfour Declaration of 1926. Appointed by the Dominions Office, the High Commissioner to Canada assumed the governor general's role as agent of the British government. [1]

Some countries that were outside the Commonwealth, but have now returned to their membership of the Commonwealth, have replaced their embassies and ambassadors with High Commissions and High Commissioners.

List of British High Commissions and British High Commissioners

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Tonga</span>

Tonga, by a modification of its treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom in July 1970, is responsible for its own external affairs. It maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours and the United Kingdom. In 1998, it recognized the People's Republic of China and broke relations with Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High commissioner (Commonwealth)</span> Senior diplomatic position

In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.

Canadian High Commissions are Canadian diplomatic missions in the capitals of Commonwealth states. High Commissions are the equivalent of embassies in non-Commonwealth states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Commission of the United Kingdom, Dar es Salaam</span> British High Commission

The British high commission in Dar es Salaam is the diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in Tanzania. It is located on Hamburg Avenue in the Ilala District. The current British high commissioner to Tanzania is David Concar since August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policies of British Overseas Territories</span> Policies on permits required to enter the British Overseas Territories

The British Overseas Territories maintain their own entry requirements different from the visa policy of the United Kingdom. As a general rule, British citizens do not have automatic right of abode in these territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Kitts and Nevis–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

Saint Kitts and Nevis and the United Kingdom have a long history of colonial activity and later diplomatic relations.

References

  1. Lloyd, Lorna (Winter 2004–05). "Family Diplomacy: Canada and the Commonwealth Office of High Commissioner". International Journal . 60 (1). Canadian International Council: 111–128. doi:10.2307/40204032. JSTOR   40204023.
  2. "Change of British High Commissioner to Tanzania: August 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. "Change of British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone: Josephine Gauld". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  4. "British High Commission returns to Tonga". RNZ. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.