Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: help for British nationals abroad

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and UK embassies, high commissions and consulates help British nationals in difficulty abroad, for example if they have lost their passport, been a victim of crime, been taken to hospital or been arrested. You can call the FCDO in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000 and choose the option 'Consular services for British nationals', or call the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. You can also send your query online.

Call +44 20 7008 5000 Visit their site ↗

Good to know

The FCDO says it does not charge for consular assistance, but some services, such as emergency travel documents, have fees. It says help is at its discretion, depends on the situation and the country, and goes first to people it assesses as vulnerable. It says you do not have a legal right to consular assistance and should not assume it will be provided. It does not give consular help in the British overseas territories, and usually cannot help nationals of other countries or a dual national in the country of their other nationality.

Before you call

They can

answer at any hour: you reach the 24/7 team in the global Consular Contact Centre, which works with consular teams at British embassies, high commissions and consulates
help you get an emergency travel document if you lose your British passport abroad (there is a fee)
with your consent, give information about your situation to family in the UK, and give you details of local lawyers and interpreters, and information about local medical facilities
if you are a victim of crime, give you contact information for local police and medical services; if you are arrested, visit or contact you; if you are in hospital, FCDO staff may be able to visit you, depending on location and timing
in very exceptional circumstances, and at its discretion, lend you the cost of the cheapest one-way ticket to the UK or your usual place of residence, as a last resort: you repay it within 6 months and give up your passport until you have repaid it (the FCDO's finances page)

They cannot

pay your bills or give you money (the consular page's own words); only a last-resort emergency loan to get home may be possible, and it is not guaranteed
accept passport applications or issue new passports: only emergency travel documents. New passports come from HM Passport Office in the UK
give legal advice, get you out of prison, help you enter a country or stop you being deported, investigate crimes or search for missing people
help in the British overseas territories, or (in most cases) help nationals of other countries
get involved in private disputes or arrangements over property, employment, travel, commercial or other matters

In the emergency guides: I'm stranded away from home →

Phone: +44 20 7008 5000
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consular-assistance-how-the-foreign-commonwealth-development-office-provides-support
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Languages: English
Last checked: October 10, 2026

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