British Embassy in Rome

The UK and Italy form one of Europe's busiest travel pairs — millions of British visitors to Italy each year, millions of Italian visitors back the other way, and one of Britain's largest settled European-origin communities, with roughly half a million Italian-born residents concentrated in London, Bedford and the post-war Italian migration corridors. The British Embassy at Via XX Settembre 80a in central Rome maintains the bilateral relationship with Italy, covers San Marino and hosts the UK representation to the UN agencies in Rome. UK visa and immigration applications, including Visit, Student, Skilled Worker, Family and status routes, are handled through UK Visas and Immigration and its designated application services rather than by the embassy. The post is the consular contact for the substantial British community resident in central and southern Italy and assists in emergencies; routine passport services are handled by HM Passport Office. For consular matters in northern Italy, the British Consulate-General in Milan provides more local coverage. In-person consular services are by appointment through the FCDO contact route.

The embassy does not issue visas or advise on individual applications. Italian citizens can use an Electronic Travel Authorisation for eligible UK visits of up to six months, unless they already hold another qualifying UK immigration status; work, long-term study, family migration and other non-visitor purposes require the appropriate permission. Check the current rules with UK Visas and Immigration before travel and use the designated application service when biometrics are required.

The embassy assists British nationals in Italy and San Marino during emergencies, including serious illness, arrest, crime and bereavement, and can arrange an emergency travel document when a passport cannot be used in time for travel. Routine passport applications are handled by HM Passport Office, while only the notarial and documentary services listed by the FCDO are available locally.

The embassy advances the UK–Italy relationship across foreign policy, trade and investment, defence, climate, science and innovation, migration, culture and education. The Department for Business and Trade provides the official route for British and Italian companies seeking market, investment or export support.

British Council Italy supports the academic-exchange flow with centres in Rome, Milan and Naples — its IELTS sessions, English courses and UK higher-education events are the practical first step for many Italian students who go on to British universities, particularly in art history, conservation, design and the medical sciences.

The embassy represents the United Kingdom throughout Italy, is also accredited to San Marino and hosts the UK representation to the Rome-based UN agencies. The FCDO contact service routes consular enquiries by location and urgency, with the Consulate-General in Milan providing regional support in northern Italy.

Public access is by appointment only. Contact the FCDO first so staff can assess the service required and provide instructions; visa applicants must use UKVI and the designated application centre rather than booking with the embassy.

Call 112 for an immediate police, medical or fire emergency in Italy, then contact the FCDO if British consular help is needed. A Schengen visa or Italian residence permit does not by itself grant entry to the UK, and embassy staff cannot influence UKVI decisions.