Embassies and Consulates

If you find yourself in an emergency while travelling, your country's embassy or consulate may be able to provide advice, support and practical assistance. However, embassies and consulates do not replace travel insurance and will not normally pay private expenses such as medical treatment, accommodation or travel home.

Many countries have embassies, consulates or other diplomatic representation around the world. The assistance available varies between countries, so it is useful to know where your nearest embassy or consulate is located before you travel.

In Case of an Emergency

Before travelling, save the address and telephone number of your nearest embassy or consulate at your destination. This can save valuable time if you need assistance during your trip.

Embassies

An embassy represents its country in another country and may be able to assist its citizens if they lose their passport, become victims of crime, are involved in an accident or find themselves in another serious situation.

Embassy staff can provide advice and guidance and may be able to help you contact authorities, healthcare providers, relatives or other relevant organisations.

Consulates

Many countries also have consulates in major cities and other locations. They can often assist with routine consular matters and provide advice to travellers.

Larger consulates, often known as consulates-general, usually provide a broader range of consular services.

Honorary Consulates

Some countries also have honorary consulates. These are usually headed by an honorary consul and generally have more limited resources, services and opening hours than an embassy or consulate-general.

Some matters may need to be referred to the responsible embassy or consulate-general, which can mean that assistance takes longer to arrange.

If Your Country Has No Embassy or Consulate

If your country has no diplomatic representation at your destination, check before travelling which embassy or consulate is responsible for providing assistance there.

EU citizens: If your own EU country has no embassy or consulate in a country outside the EU, you are entitled to seek consular protection from the embassy or consulate of another EU Member State under the same conditions as that country's own nationals.

What Can an Embassy or Consulate Help With?

  • Provide advice and support in an emergency.
  • Help you contact relatives or other people at home.
  • Provide information about replacing a lost or stolen passport or obtaining an emergency travel document.
  • Provide advice on arranging access to money from home.
  • Provide information about local doctors, hospitals, lawyers or interpreters.
  • Provide assistance in certain serious emergencies, depending on your nationality and the consular rules of your country.

What Can They Not Normally Do?

  • Pay your medical expenses.
  • Pay for hotels, fines or other private expenses.
  • Pay for repatriation following illness or an accident.
  • Replace lost money or valuables.
  • Act as a travel agency or insurance company.
  • Override local laws or interfere with legal proceedings in another country.

Before You Travel

Check the official travel advice issued by your country's foreign ministry or other relevant authority before departure. Make a note of the contact details for the embassy or consulate responsible for your destination and save any official emergency contact numbers on your mobile phone.

Also make sure that you have adequate travel insurance and keep your insurance company's international emergency assistance number easily accessible throughout your trip.


Senast uppdaterad 2026-09-02