South African High Commission
Embassy South African High Commission, South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP, United Kingdom:
220 reviews
of visitors, the most complete information about the address, business hours, location on the map, photos, phone number, website and other contacts.
Address: South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP, United Kingdom
Website: southafricahouseuk.com
Phone number: +44 20 7451 7299
GPS coordinates
Latitude: 51.5068470Longitude: -0.1272132
Location on the map
Get directions
reviews
Enrique Santos
Its going in for six months on a simple request to make an appointment for passport renewal. In the UK the government is deemed essential service yet phones are not answered, no auotomatic replies to emails. No replies on emails to which I have sent ten follow ups for a response. What are the staff being paid for?? You would think the SA taxpayers money would be wisely spent on a world class self service website!!
Come on SA embassy step up, you are not operating in a third world country!
1 month ago
Gwyneth Salesky
Took a chance today based on the other reviews. Passports can be collected between *14:00 and 15:00*, and not after 15:00 as stated on another review here. The staff on duty were really helpful with our passport collection, so it wouldn’t be fair to mark them down for the failings of the DHA.
Take your own pen, as they will not let you use one of theirs due to infection concerns.
I’ve added photos of the notices in their window, as well as adjusted “scans” of those photos to help other South Africans looking to use their services... I hope it comes out clearly enough to be useful.
With their site (still) being down, it’s impossible to find out what you can do without actually being there... They are not just issuing passports - you can still request services by post, and by applying for an appointment by sending an email to civic.appointments@dirco.gov.za - see the attached photos for details.
1 week ago
T Banacek
Honestly - I wish I could give this 5 stars but sadly awful experience. I got all my papers together to only be told to make another appointment. My ID photos were apparently not good enough “Done at Boots” they couldn’t see my eyes. And then then I wasn’t told about a letter from the British consulate to show I can hold a British passport.
Nonetheless, South African soil in London. Truly awful...
4 weeks ago
Chelsea Byers
I renewed my passport there in August 2020 and contrary to what I had read I had excellent service from the staff that worked there. They were friendly, helpful and bent over backwards to ensure that my renewal application was correct. I did not see one surly person behind the counters and I found the whole experience to be a positive one. I was fortunate that I had all my documents filled out correctly and had complied with the instructions that I had received in the emails that I had confirming my appointment. I was first in the queue and was out of the door 30 minutes later.
I expected that I would only get my new passport in 2021 but I received an email at the beginning of December that it was ready for collection. I took the postal option to had get it, and my local post office knew more about what envelopes were required than I did and a week later I had my new passport. Just over 3 months from making the application. The staff there were amazing and I would like to express my thanks for what turned out to be much less of a hassle than I had heard.
6 months ago
Brianna Meng
Never fails to disappoint. Closed and the website seems to have been hijacked. Apparently you need to make postal application for passport renewal. Here is all the information I found blue tacked to the doors at 15 Whitehall
9 months ago
Cassidy Rottino
Why is there even a high commision if they can't answer our calls? We can't afford to travel all the way to London just to ask a question. That's why theyre supposed to have a working telephone line?! Tried selecting every extension on the voice machine and it just rings a few times then the call cuts itself. Atleast the SA embassy in China answered the telephone.
3 weeks ago
Mark Shoemake
Today my new South African passport arrived. Delivered to me personally at my door through the mail. It is 10 weeks since I applied. What a fantastic turn around time. I wish to commend them for their efficiency and service. My only complaint was that I had to drive from Poole in Dorset to Bristol for fingerprints. That is a 3 hour journey there and another 3 hours back. It would have been so much better to have had a local police officer take my finger prints. One word of advice. Follow the South African High commission's detailed instructions to the letter, you will not be disappointed.
6 months ago
Suzanne Lafever
Quick and most of the staff were pleasant, helpful and efficient
3 weeks ago
Reza Love
Sometimes I am so disappointed to be an South African. Been struggling for more than 4 months to get through to the offices. When I did get through to them twice, I actually got cut off twice while I was on the phone call. Terrible services!!!
1 month ago
Dana Canada
I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency during the limited one hour passport collection slot. Staff were friendly, managed the queue well and controlled everything in a Covid safe way. Well done guys. Great job.
7 months ago
B Page
Very helpful, friendly staff and painless collection of passports. Pretoria just need to speed up processing times and fix the website! And maybe consider an online application/renewal process..
1 week ago
Jahfree Harp
I had lost my passport, as travelling back home was going to be impossible, visited South Africa House, thankfully just before they closed and they were quite willing to help me out and issued me an emergency passport to travel back home. Their service was quite exceptional back then. Seeing the reviews now, doesn't appear to fantastic.
5 months ago
Sherri Alden
Trying to get my passport renewed. Half the time the website doesn't work, NOBODY answers the phone and I've written countless emails, tweeted, tried every resource I can think of to get someone, ANYONE to help me. Three weeks in and still zero contact or response from anyone at the embassy. Utterly appalled by the lack of interest and lack of service. No wonder their Google rating is so low.
1 month ago
Justin Miller
Literally cannot get through to anyone. Website is down, emails bounce back and no one ever answers the phone.
3 months ago
Amaya Singh
Please call between 15:00 -17:00 and the phone not ringing - its still set to automated answer. Alternatively email - then I get an out of office - how do I actually speak to anyone to get help?
2 months ago
Andrew Mass
Passport Application
Pointless calling in despite the recording saying to do so between 3-5pm as none of the phone options are attended.
Instructions in pic would help if you need assistance and direction with applying for a passport.
7 months ago
Shake Moe
Applied for a passport in February and tried to collect it today - got told that they only hold passports for those who applied last year and this year's passports aren't there due to covid delaying the processing. They couldn't even put up a notice to notify people of this and save unnecessary queueing. Got told that they would email when passport arrives, no indication of when given.
9 months ago
Renee Clark
If there was an zero as an option that's what I think. The website is not functional, the voice recorder sings through the options as if rushing to a train, and she is not even audible! There is no option except the beep of the disconnected line! Haibo! This is not it Mzansi!????
10 months ago
Jolene Beeson
It is possible to send a proxy for collection. They need a letter of authorisation as well as old passport with them.
Old passport will be cancelled and handed to them with new one.
Staff are actually VERY helpful and unfortunately as fruistrated as we are -remember they just doing their job and if it "chaos" in Pretoria there nothing they can do... so no point in being angry with them.
6 months ago
Isabella Lane
Waist of time trying to get hold of anyone, serviceabsolutely useless
4 months ago
Howie Stefansky
The service at this office is the worst ever. It's very typical of South Africans, no decent customer service at all. No one tells you anything, telephone lines are not being answered. I wish as South Africans we could do better for ourselves and our people. Thank you
10 months ago
Damien Earl
One can't get through on the phone via any avenues (I've been trying for months now). There is no response, even via emails. I've been stranded overseas since March 2020, and I can't even find out important information as a citizen of SA. It seems very unprofessional and unacceptable. I feel very disappointed.
9 months ago
S Rombow
The sa high commission in London, have limited hours due to covid.phone them can be costly.as I have waited a long time to get through. If you do get through their service levels for documents to be sent to you is not very good. In the oast they were reasonable at this. Its best to go in and see them. Get their early about 8.30. They are very helpful when you are their. All documents go back to sa for passport purposes unless you aooly for a temporary. It takes 6 weeks for a assort to arrive at embassy. They will. Notify you to collect hone or email. Or oost it is best to make the trip to embassy. Don't forget I'd.
8 months ago
Matt Sanford
Not helpful information online, hardly understood what I am supposed to do on my inquiry. Not sure what to do!
8 months ago
Pamela Eugley
Hung up on me twice before being as unhelpful as ever. These guys get paid to do stuff all in that office!
6 months ago
SH Joy
does anybody know if you can send in someone as a proxy to collect your passport
7 months ago
Azizam Jessica
For the last 4 weeks I have send an email to make an appointment and they don't even bother to reply! Such bad service
9 months ago
Noe Vences
Service levels are low and you have to queue in the road for hours to get in.
1 week ago
Pamela Nishizawa
Applied for documents and it takes forever. No one answers the phones and the website doesn't even open. So frustrating.
1 month ago
Roger Williams
terrible service, so embarassing.Its an acurate representation of the SA goverment.
And trust me, they dont care about your reviews either.
10 months ago
Michael Sobel
Can some advice I you get hold of the SA embassy - I have emailed and tried to call on numerous occasions since June but it does not seem like there is anyone working there? As no responses, email bounce back and calls never answered - HELP PLEASE - I urgently need to travel home!
9 months ago
Dima Ruz
Some staff fantastic but others either hate their jobs or minorities. Generally staff could learn something from namibian consulate who are polite and willing to help. One of the senior diplomats even helped me with paperwork twice. Go do work experience the the namibians to see how it is done on limited resources. Still waiting for my passport 8 months down the line.
1 month ago
Ahmedullah Aziz
No information is shared with the reception staff, making a visit there useless for all practical reasons. The not very up to date website is slightly more useful.
11 months ago
Steve Schaefer
I wanted to give a zero but no zero option given. With regards to passport renewals, no service available at all, heartless unhelpfull department.
10 months ago
Aaron
I went to the embassy yesterday for my passport renewal. The offices are closed apparently they open from 3-4pm only for passport collection.
For everything else you have to send through the post and request the forms you need, you need to specify whether you need a form for a new passport, ID, birth certificate etc, include a self addressed stamped A4 size envelope then they will post the form back to you. What pisses me off is WHY IS THIS INFORMATION NOT POSTED ON THE EMBASSY WEBSITE? Why do people have to travel from as far as Leeds to London just to read the notice on the door?
9 months ago
Virgilio Abdulio
I have been waiting 18 months for my SA passport renewal, I have had no responses to any emails. Unbelievable.
10 months ago
Jaelle Payoute
The lady at the counter was friendly and quick. Thank you
10 months ago
Jesse Smith
It is a pity that you can't give negative stars. No response to emails and calls are just cut after saying call between 3 and 5 pm. I call at around 4pm every day and the same thing happens. Then they say email and this is what you get every day. The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now.
9 months ago
Deepak Kumar
Service is non existent, waited months for my forms, no response for my appointment via email
5 months ago
AVERY CARWILE
I went to renew my passport on the 13th May 2019. I'm still waiting. And now their website is down.
9 months ago
WONDERLAND DOLL
Dirty an neglected inside. Bad reflection on South Africa. Hostile and dismissive atmosphere from staff in general.
11 months ago
Andrew Brama
Very efficient and helpful once we received an appointment.
2 months ago
Lydia Crow
I visited this place with a colleague who was sorting out her passport. Staff were polite and helpful. There was a member of staff who kept checking and ensuring that everyone in the waiting area was okay. The gentleman who very professionally introduced himself and assisted my colleague was outstanding. I really can't fault the service. South Africa is now on my 'To visit list' after such a positive experience. To all the staff who worked on 04/04/2019...thank you.
2 weeks ago
Khanh Mai
The gentleman giving out forms in the line and the lady who helped us process our application were great ????????
The forms we were sent said 1 copy of certain documents, when we got there they said we needed 2 copies, so we lost 10 places in the line and the lady that told us that at the 1st window had a bad attitude. The wait was well over and hour outside in the cold ( they don’t let moms (my wife) and babies in out the cold) and also an hour or so inside.
Clearly they don’t care, there are 9 windows, only 3 are operational. There is not nearly enough seating for the number of people who are applying, and the seats are broken or stained.
Not a good “face” of our country
1 month ago
Lila Nadelmann
With a feeling of trepidation I went to get my passport renewal done. What a pleasant experience! I found all the staff, from entering to departing, to be friendly and super helpful, not in the least impatient with my own lack of understanding towards what paperwork is required. I did have to sort that out, which I quickly did, and with guidance got sorted. I would recommend the experience. Perfect! The advise I got regards options was factual and correct and left me to make decisions...Well done!
8 months ago
Bruce Maclean
Despite not being to help me, they where very helpful in explaining what I need and where very patient during the covid situation.
9 months ago
brian rumohr
I was NOT looking forward to doing this trip, as people are often extremely negative about their experience at the High Commission. It didn't start off too well either, as we requested the forms to be sent to us via mail and they sent photocopies! This meant we had to fill in everything when we were there. However, we found the staff extremely helpful, even when we made several mistakes or missed certain sections. Yes, there are problems that need sorting out. Documents are taking way too long to come back from SA. They can't expect people to wait 6-12 months for a passport renewal. But I can guarantee you, if you are nice to the staff, they will be nice to you.
3 months ago
Karen Welch
Oh my god. This place is a joke. I applied for a new SA passport more than 6 months ago. I have emailed like 10 times, no response. I have called them for a week in a row between 3 and 5 pm - no answer and I get cut off after 2 minutes while it is ringing. I am so ashamed of being South African. This place is just the worst experience.
1 month ago
Tammy Higgins
I started the process of renewing my passport 12 months ago. There were delays due to finger prints not being satisfactory and then additional documents required 4 months after the initial application. I am still without a passport and no answers. I have called several times with either the lines being busy or no answer and no reply to emails. I just want answers as to where my passport is. I have had to miss a trip abroad for work nevermind not being able to plan a family holiday or being able to travel to SA.
1 month ago
N KB
After reading so many bad reviews, I was surprised to have found the opposite. We went in to renew my sons passport, and had all the supporting documents that we needed with us, and found the staff that we were dealing with friendly (especially Barbara who helped us at the counter, bless her) and both security and the front desk man was also friendly and helpful. We had everything done in under 2 hours. Overall a very good experience.
4 months ago
