Living Here
British High Commission - Consular SectionLast Updated 12 Sep 2022
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION – NICOSIA
Below is some useful information regarding the British High Commission based in Nicosia:
The British Consulate can assist:
- A British passport holder
But they do not assist:
- non-British nationals irrespective of how long they have lived in the UK or their connections to the UK.
- Dual nationals in the country of their second nationality (exceptions include minors and certain case types
The British Consulate can assist in the following situations:
- Consular Assistance is a global policy
- Provide appropriate help if you have been: arrested/detained, a victim of crime, or are ill in hospital.
- Provide details of local lawyers, interpreters, health providers and funeral directors
- Offer support and help in cases such as: child custody/abductions, death, missing people.
- Endeavour to contact you within 24 hours of notification of: arrest/detention, hospitalisation or death (family/NOK)
- With YOUR permission, contact friends and family on your behalf
- Issue emergency travel documents (ETDs)
- Provide information about transferring funds.
- Make special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances, or natural disasters.
The British Consulate cannot assist in the following situations:
- Get you out of prison, prevent the local authorities from deporting you, or interfere in criminal or civil court proceedings
- Get you better treatment in prison or hospital than ‘local’ nationals
- Give you legal advice, investigate crimes or carry out physical searches for missing people
- Get involved in private disputes: property, employment or commercial
- Help you enter a country if you do not have the appropriate visa, or your passport is not valid
The commission provides the following advice to help yourself:
- Register for a residency permit
- Inform the UK pension/benefit services of your move to Cyprus (any change in circumstance)
- Health Insurance
- Passport – Copy/Next of Kin/up to date
- Language – try to learn a little; “a little goes a long way”
- Become involved with NGO’s
- Keep emergency contacts lists next to your phone
- Make contacts and get to know your neighbours – look out for each other
In relation to passports the commission’s advice is:
- All applications are dealt with in the UK
- The British High Commission in Cyprus no longer has any responsibility for passport applications and cannot assist with enquiries.
- Applicants need to send the application directly to the UK. Supporting documents and new passport will be returned to their Cyprus home address from the UK.
- For information on how to apply visit: www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
- If you require an Emergency Travel Document please contact the High Commission
For crisis work:
Who do we help:
- British nationals
- Entitled family of British nationals
- Those brought in on a British registered mode of transport
Evacuation process
- Travel Alerts/Contacts
- Media
- Response/Evacuation process owned by the local authorities
Travel Advice: - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cyprus
Contact Details:
British High Commission, Alexander Pallis Street, PO Box 21978, 1587, Nicosia
Switchboard: +357 22861100 / 00903922283861 Fax: +357 22 861200
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/cyprus
Email: ukincyprus@fco.gov.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukincyprus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKinCyprus
BHC Office hours: Monday to Friday 07:30 - 14:45 Local Time
Consular Public Counter Hours – by appointment only
- 09:30 – 12:30 Tuesday Alexander Pallis Street
- 09:30 – 12:30 Wednesday Shakespeare Avenue
In addition, Consular Staff are on 24 hour call out from the FCO’s Global Response Centre in London