Acting high commissioner refers to the diplomat who acts as the head of a high commission during the high commissioner’s temporary absence or pending the arrival of a new high commissioner. The receiving state’s foreign ministry must be informed of the appointment of an acting high commissioner by the high commissioner or, if that is not possible, by the sending state’s foreign ministry. As is implied, the term chargé d’affaires ad interim is not used in high commissions.

Where a high commissioner is non-resident in a particular capital, but an office of the high commission is maintained there, its head is likely to be designated acting high commissioner.