British Deputy High Commission Chennai
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-07)

The British Deputy High Commission in Chennai represents the UK government in Chennai.

Find out more on our UK and India news page (https://www.gov.uk/world/india/news).

We provide services to British nationals living in and visiting India. You can access UK government services while in India (https://www.gov.uk/world/india).

If you’re travelling in India, see our India travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india).

Getting help

If you cannot get the support you need from local services, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can help British people abroad.

We prioritise emergencies and people who are vulnerable, for example, if someone’s:
- ill, injured, or involved in a crime
- with a British person who’s died
Get help from FCDO (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-deputy-high-commission-chennai).

Get an emergency travel document

You can apply for an emergency travel document (https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document) if you’re abroad and your passport has been lost or stolen (https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport), damaged or expired, and you can’t get a new or replacement passport (https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) in time to travel.

Apply online for an emergency travel document (https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document).

If the person needing the emergency travel document is under 16, a parent or guardian should apply on their behalf.

If you are travelling in more than 3 weeks, check if you can get a new or replacement passport (https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) in time to travel.

If you are not a British citizen or have not had a British passport before

If you’re not sure, check if you’re a British citizen (https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen).

If you’re not a British citizen but think you may be eligible, contact us to apply for an emergency travel document (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-deputy-high-commission-chennai).

Official documents and services we provide

Commonwealth countries are not able to offer notarial services, like certifying a copy of a document or making an affirmation. If local authorities ask for proof of this, you can download a letter that confirms notarial services are not available (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/confirm-a-notarial-or-document-service-is-not-available).

You can find out about and apply for most official documents and document services online (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/documents-for-british-people-abroad).

Get a letter from a British high commission

The following letters are available from some high commissions in India. You can apply and pay for the letters online and collect them from specified offices:
- apply for an organ transplant letter (https://www.prove-eligibility-foreign-government.service.gov.uk/request-a-document/get-a-document-from-the-british-embassy?beforeYouStart.serviceType=India%20-%20organ%20transplant%20letter)
- apply for a no objection letter to adopt a child (https://www.prove-eligibility-foreign-government.service.gov.uk/request-a-document/get-no-objection-certificate)
- apply for a letter to access Indian state or national archives (https://www.prove-eligibility-foreign-government.service.gov.uk/request-a-document/get-a-document-from-the-british-embassy?beforeYouStart.serviceType=India%20-%20letter%20to%20access%20Indian%20state%20or%20national%20archives)
- apply for a letter of introduction for admission to an Indian university (https://www.prove-eligibility-foreign-government.service.gov.uk/request-a-document/get-a-document-from-the-british-embassy?beforeYouStart.serviceType=India%20-%20letter%20of%20introduction%20for%20admission%20to%20an%20Indian%20university)
Consular fees

See the full list of consular fees (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consular-services-fees).

We also provide services in:
- Ahmedabad (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-ahmedabad)
- Chandigarh (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-chandigarh)
- Bengaluru (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-bangalore)
- Goa (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-nationals-assistance-office-goa)
- Hyderabad (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-hyderabad)
- Kolkata (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-kolkata)
- Mumbai (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-mumbai)
- New Delhi (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-new-delhi)
Development work in India

The International Development Strategy (IDS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-governments-strategy-for-international-development) sets out a new approach to development. It does this through long-term partnerships tailored to the needs of each country the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office works with, built on mutual accountability and transparency. The Integrated Review Refresh (IR23) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/integrated-review-refresh-2023-responding-to-a-more-contested-and-volatile-world) reiterates that sustainable development is central to UK foreign policy and sets out how the UK will go further and faster to reduce poverty.

For information on how the IDS and IR23 are being implemented in India, view the UK-India development partnership summary (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-india-development-partnership-summary).

For up-to-date information on the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme work in India, view the Development Tracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/IN).

Report immigration or border crimes

If you wish to report someone who is working illegally, has no right to be in the UK or is involved in immigration crime or smuggling activity, visit this page (https://www.amsallegations.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=Lf62UB7cz4C).

Allegations made by email, post, or other means will not be processed.