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Going abroad? Five reasons to take the British Embassy’s phone number with you:
If your passport is lost or stolen we can issue you with a replacement one or, in some situations, an emergency travel document
We do charge a fee for this but you should be able to claim it back if you have comprehensive travel insurance. Read more on passports
If you’re a victim of crime
We can help you get medical attention if you need it, contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened and give you a list of local lawyers and interpreters. Read more information for victims of crime.
If you have to be admitted to hospital
We can help you to liaise with your insurance company or a medical evacuation company and we can contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened. We can also help if someone dies. We can’t pay for your medical or repatriation bill though - which is why we tell everyone to take out comprehensive travel insurance. Read more information if you're sick or injured abroad.
If you run out of money we can give you information on how to transfer money from the UK
But we can’t pay your bills - so again, it’s important to take out comprehensive travel insurance.
If you’re arrested abroad, call us!
We can’t get you out of prison but we can contact your friends and family, and provide lists of lawyers and interpreters. In some countries you’re not entitled to call a lawyer, but you are legally entitled to call your nearest embassy wherever you are arrested.
If you’re a dual national and have two passports – think about which one you travel on. We can’t normally help you if you’re travelling on your other nationality passport or are in the country of your other nationality. Read more information if you or a relative or friend has been arrested abroad.
Embassy, High Commission or Consulate?
Our offices abroad are known by a variety of names:
- in Commonwealth countries they’re called high commissions and located in the capital city
- in other countries they are called embassies. These too are located in the capital city
- consulates are smaller offices in non-capital cities which offer assistance to British nationals
- honorary consulates are smaller versions of consulates in smaller cities and towns. Their prime task is to offer assistance to British nationals abroad.
- mission or delegation is the name usually given to our office attached to organisations like the UN or NATO
And finally…
In an crisis situation, we may want to contact you – register on our LOCATE service so that we can find you easily.