Welcome to the website of the British Embassy in Libya.  Here you can read about the services which the Embassy provides to Libyan and British citizens. As an introduction, this is a summary of the current state

Libya/UK relations. Relations between our two countries are stronger now than at any time in the last 40 years.

Libya’s decisions to renounce terrorism and, in 2003, to give up its weapons of mass destruction led directly to Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Libya in early 2004.  They Prime Minister and Libyan Leader Mu’ammar Qadhafi remain in regular touch by telephone and by letter, and will meet again when opportunity permits.  This constructive relationship at the top has improved working relations between the two governments across the board, including key areas such as counter-terrorism and defence.

Examples:

Education – There are more Libyan students in the United Kingdom than from any other Arab state.  The British Council, the educational/cultural agency of the British Government, is starting English language teaching in Tripoli in the autumn of 2006, at its new premises in Gargaresh.  Please see the British Council Libya website for more information.

Trade and Economic Development - Patience and persistence are virtues in doing business in this oil-rich country. The market is Increasingly opening up as foreign oil and gas companies enter Libya at government invitation.  British consultants and suppliers of goods and services such as architects, engineers, lawyers and financial services specialists enjoy a high reputation.  Some are resident in Libya and have joined the growing British Businessmen’s Group. If you are interested in doing business in Libya, please contact the Embassy’s UK Trade and Investment team (you can email us on: trade.libya@fco.gov.uk). To learn more please visit UKTI website. We are here to help.

Visa and Consular Services – The Embassy responds positively to over 90% of Libyan visa applications within 24 hours of receipt.  More British tourists are coming to enjoy Libya’s great cultural heritage. British Airways flies daily to Tripoli. Visitors to Libya should please read our Libya travel advice page before setting off.  In addition to Libya's world-class heritage sites and its fabulous desert scenery some come to commemorate the sacrifice of British and Commonwealth sailors, soldiers and airmen at the cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in Tripoli, Benghazi and Tobruq. To learn more please visit cwgc website.

Foreign Policy  – Emerging from the years of isolation under UN sanctions, Libya's main foreign policy focus is on the African continent.  Libya is also developing co-operative relations with southern European states in the context of the 5+5 group which links states on the northern and southern sides of the Mediterranean.  Libya and the European Union are considering together how to develop their relationship:  there have been important initiatives on migration and AIDS.  Libya has strong bilateral ties with several EU states – the UK among them.

It is our job in the Embassy to explain the British Government’s policies in the Middle East and Africa, and to seek Libyan understanding and support wherever possible.

I hope that you enjoy reading this information and that the links here to British information sources prove useful.  Thank you for visiting us!

Vincent Fean
British Ambassador