UK recruiting Honorary Consul in Baden‑Württemberg
If you know Baden‑Württemberg well and care about helping people, the British Embassy Berlin has opened applications for an Honorary Consul based in the state. It’s voluntary, averages 4 hours a week, pays a small annual honorarium, and was published on 1 December 2025 with applications due by 23:55 on Thursday 15 January 2026, according to the Embassy’s notice on GOV.UK.
What is an Honorary Consul? Think of a trusted local who represents UK interests in places without a full‑time consulate. This role exists in international law under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the Embassy confirms the post is voluntary within that framework.
What you actually do day to day is practical and people‑focused. You help British nationals who find themselves in difficulty and you may support the Embassy during a crisis. That can mean liaising with local services, signposting people to the right help, and keeping a cool head when things are stressful-work that sits alongside your main job. The FCDO’s own guidance sets out the types of assistance posts provide in emergencies.
Where this fits: you would work under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Mission and the Consul‑General in Berlin, and you would collaborate with consular, internal politics and public diplomacy teams. In other words, you are plugged into the FCDO’s 24/7 consular network rather than working alone.
Time and terms are designed to be realistic. The initial appointment runs for one year and can then be renewed for a further three years if required by the Embassy. The post is unsalaried and carries no pension or other benefits, though a small annual honorarium is paid. The expectation is no more than 4 hours’ work in an average week.
Important ground rules apply. You will need FCDO security clearance. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office must issue an exequatur (the host state’s formal recognition of the appointment). You must avoid conflicts of interest with UK government work, and if you are standing for election or are an elected party representative, you cannot apply.
Who tends to be a good fit? People with deep local knowledge and an established network across Baden‑Württemberg-business, universities, public services, arts, and community groups. The Embassy explicitly asks for “a very good understanding and knowledge of Baden‑Württemberg” to help advance UK interests and support citizens.
Why this matters for the wider UK consular network: in a typical year the FCDO and its posts support around 20,000 to 25,000 British nationals and their families, including crises, hospitalisations and cases of crime. Honorary Consuls extend that support where it is most needed, quickly and locally.
What this means for you if you live, study or run a business in the state: having a named, trained local point of contact can speed up help on a bad day and build stronger ties between Baden‑Württemberg and the UK-cultural, educational and commercial ties that benefit both communities.
How to apply: send a CV of up to 2 pages and a covering letter of no more than 2 pages (both in English) explaining your motivation and how you meet the criteria. Email HR.Germany@fcdo.gov.uk or post to British Embassy Berlin – HR, Wilhelmstraße 70‑71, 10117 Berlin. The deadline is 23:55 on Thursday 15 January 2026.