Loading…
In depth
A High Commission is the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth country in the capital of another Commonwealth country. It is equivalent to an embassy (the term used for non-Commonwealth diplomatic missions).
For CBD cases, High Commissions process citizenship applications, issue passports, and provide consular services for Commonwealth citizens abroad. For example, the South African High Commission in London processes South African CBD applications for UK residents.
Commonwealth countries share the British monarch as head of state (in most cases) and maintain special diplomatic relations, including the exchange of High Commissioners rather than ambassadors.
Related terms
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is the South African government department that processes citizenship applications.
The Ministry of Interior is the government ministry in many African and Middle Eastern countries that processes citizenship applications.
An adoul (or adil) is a Moroccan religious notary who records civil events (births, marriages) under Islamic law, and whose records are used in Moroccan CBD cases.
A tazkira is the Afghan national identity document, which serves as proof of Afghan citizenship.
A shenasnameh is the Iranian national identity document, which serves as proof of Iranian citizenship and family relationships.
Paternal filiation is the legal principle (common in Middle Eastern and North African law) that citizenship is transmitted primarily through the father.