How to Address a High Commissioner
High Commissioner, Diplomat
How to Address a High Commissioner
A high commissioner is a high-ranking appointed official (diplomat) with the rank of ambassador. Within a Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner rather than an ambassador is sent by one member nation to another as the highest diplomatic representative. At the United Nations, high commissioners head commissions on various topics such as human rights or refugees. Adapt the forms below:
—-Official envelope:
—-—-His/Her Excellency
—-—-(Additional honorific(s) if held) (Full Name), (Post nominals if held)
—-—-High Commissioner for (Full Name of Country)
—-—-(Address)
—-—-His/Her Excellency
—-—-(Additional honorific(s) if held) (Full Name), (Post nominals if held)
—-—-United Nations High Commissioner for (portfolio)
—-—-(Address)
—-Salutation:
—-—-Your Excellency:
—-—-Dear High Commissioner:
How to address a high commissioner
High commissioners are (virtually) the same as ambassadors. Within the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomats with the title of high commissioner are exchanged rather than diplomats with the title of ambassador. Here are two examples:
—-#1) As members of the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia exchange high commissioners rather than ambassadors.
—-#2) A high commissioner is the highest representative of the French president to New Caledonia, a territorial collectivity of France.
–- Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.