Consular Services: What we can and can't do

We can

• issue emergency passports;
• contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets;
• tell you how to transfer money;
• in an emergency, cash you a sterling cheque worth up to ��100 if supported by a valid banker's card;
• as a last resort, and as long as you meet certain strict rules, give you a loan to get you back to the UK. This loan must be repaid. But there is no law that says we must do this. We must be sure there is no one else who can help you;
• help you get in touch with local lawyers, interpreters and doctors;
• arrange for next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures;
• visit you if you have been arrested or put in prison. In certain circumstances we can arrange for messages to be sent to relatives or friends;
• give guidance on organisations who help trace missing persons;
• speak to the local authorities for you, in certain circumstances.

Regrettably, we can't

• pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills;
• pay your travel costs, except in special circumstances;
• do work normally done by travel agents, airlines, banks or monitoring organisations;
• get you somewhere to live, a job or work permit;
• formally help you if you are a dual national in the country of your second nationality.