United Kingdom

Embassies and consulates in the United Kingdom

embassies in London

Diplomatic missions from 173 countries are based in the United Kingdom, 496 missions in all (168 embassies, 82 consulates, 228 honorary consulates and 18 other offices). Most embassies, 167 of 168, are in the capital, London. Consulates are also found in Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester.

Europe

United Kingdom

Capital
London
Population
69,487,000
Currency
British Pound (GBP)
Calling code
+44
Languages
English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic
  • 496missions
  • 168embassies
  • 82consulates
  • 228honorary consulates
Visa-free: 115 destinations#36 in the world

Map

All missions in the United Kingdom

Other cities in the United Kingdom

Show all 62

Outside London, missions are found in Edinburgh (45), Belfast (39), Manchester (30), Cardiff (19), Glasgow (17), Birmingham (16), Aberdeen (11) and Liverpool (9), among other towns; most of them are consulates general, consulates and honorary consulates.

By country

  1. France 23
  2. Italy 19
  3. Germany 18
  4. Finland 14
  5. Iceland 13
  6. Denmark 11
  7. Poland 11
  8. Romania 11
Show all 173

Visa rules for the United Kingdom

How the world’s passports enter the United Kingdom199 in total

  • Visa-free1
  • Electronic travel authorisation85
  • Visa required113

United Kingdom visa guide · 25 visa types

Visa rules

Of the 199 passports in the visa data, 1 can enter visa-free, 85 need an ETA and 113 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for the United Kingdom.

Visa statistics

Schengen visa applications in the United Kingdom

YearApplicationsVisas issuedRefusedRefusal rateMultiple-entry share
2023 405,631379,17822,7675.7% 49.0%
2024 (part of the year) 470,569432,90132,3906.9% 49.4%
2025 512,426451,82153,39810.5% 52.3%

By Schengen state, 2025

CountryApplicationsVisas issuedRefusal rate
Spain 138,195126,3366.0%
France 129,940118,5528.5%
Greece 36,08927,06424.5%
Germany 32,72531,2513.2%
Netherlands 25,71125,1991.0%
Portugal 21,01519,4827.3%
Italy 18,95617,8126.0%
Denmark 18,90012,17331.5%
Switzerland 16,12314,36210.6%
Iceland 15,80410,66132.0%
Belgium 12,13510,09514.7%
Norway 10,5998,60818.8%

Schengen consulates in the United Kingdom received 512,426 short-stay visa applications in 2025, the 7th highest number of any country, and issued 451,821 visas. 10.5% of applications were refused (worldwide: 14.6%). The refusal rate rose by 3.6 points from 6.9% in 2024. Applications rose by 9% compared with 2024 (470,569).

Most applications went to Spain (138,195), France (129,940), Greece (36,089) and Germany (32,725).

Among the states with at least 500 applications, the lowest refusal rate was the Netherlands’ (1.0%) and the highest Iceland’s (32.0%). The sharpest rise since 2024 was at the consulates of Bulgaria (+20.2 points), the largest fall at those of Estonia (−17.5 points).

Bulgaria and Romania began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, so their 2024 figures cover part of the year. The numbers include every nationality applying in the United Kingdom.

Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made

US visas issued to citizens of the United Kingdom

Visas issuedFY 2024FY 2025
Visitor (B)29,42324,804
Student (F, M)5,0035,203
Exchange (J)16,11916,660
Work and treaty (H, L, O, E…)22,66424,316
Transit and crew (C, D)7,4536,785
Diplomatic and official (A, G)7,0396,049
Fiancé(e) (K)1,197607
Other15
Total88,89984,429
B visa refusal rate (adjusted)18.0%20.4%

In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) the United States issued 84,429 nonimmigrant visas to citizens of the United Kingdom, the 17th highest number of the 206 nationalities listed. Visitor visas (B1/B2) made up 29%, work and treaty visas 29% and exchange visitor visas 20%. That is 5% fewer than in fiscal year 2024 (88,899).

From October 2025 to February 2026, citizens of the United Kingdom received 30,881, about as many as in the same months a year earlier.

For visitor visas (B1/B2) the State Department reports an adjusted refusal rate of 20.4% for citizens of the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2025 (fiscal year 2024: 18.0%).

Source: US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly nonimmigrant visa issuances up to February 2026 and adjusted refusal rates (public domain). US fiscal years run from October to September. How these figures are made

United States visa for citizens of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s own missions abroad

The United Kingdom’s embassies abroad (280)

In the other direction, the United Kingdom runs 280 missions in 168 countries. Its largest networks are in France (11), Germany (10), Spain (10), the United States (10) and India (9).

Upcoming closures

Public holidays in the United Kingdom

  • Christmas Day

    Friday

  • St. Stephen's Day

    Monday

  • Good Friday

    Friday

  • Early May Bank Holiday

    Monday

Good to know

Where the embassies are

Most embassies, 167 of 168, are in the capital, London. France has the most missions in the United Kingdom, 23, followed by Italy (19), Germany (18), Finland (14) and Iceland (13).

Travel advice for the United Kingdom

Foreign ministries’ advice on travel to the United Kingdom: the US State Department rates the United Kingdom at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 8 September 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for the United Kingdom (updated 13 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the most consulates in the United Kingdom?

France, with 23 missions, followed by Italy (19).

Do I need a visa for the United Kingdom?

Of 199 passports, 1 can enter visa-free, 85 need an ETA and 113 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for the United Kingdom; the visa rules page for your own passport has the answer for you.

When are embassies in the United Kingdom closed?

On the United Kingdom’s public holidays and on each mission’s own national day; the next public holiday is Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026.