What Your Embassy Can and Can't Do for You Abroad

Your embassy or consulate can help in many difficult situations abroad, from a lost passport to an arrest or a natural disaster. But there are clear limits on what it can do, and the UK government says plainly that it expects travelers to take responsibility for themselves. Knowing where those limits are before you go makes it much easier to plan.

This guide is based on what the US State Department and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) say about their own services.

Embassy vs consulate: what's the difference?

An embassy is a country's main diplomatic office in another country, usually in the capital. A consulate is a smaller office, often in another major city. The UK calls its embassies in many Commonwealth countries high commissions.

For travelers, the distinction matters less than you might think. Help for citizens abroad is called consular assistance, and it's usually available from consulates as well as embassies. Both the US and UK talk about getting help from "the nearest embassy or consulate." The UK also has honorary consuls in some places, local representatives who can offer some help to British nationals.

What your embassy or consulate can usually do

The exact help depends on the situation, the country you're in and, for the UK, how vulnerable you are. In general, US and UK consular staff can:

Lost or stolen passports

US: issue a replacement passport at the embassy or consulate. If you need to travel urgently, it can issue a limited-validity emergency passport.
UK: issue an emergency travel document, usually valid for a single journey or a return journey. Full replacement passports come from HM Passport Office, not from embassies.

Arrest or detention

Visit or contact you if you're arrested or detained.
Give you a list of local lawyers and a general overview of the local legal system.
With your permission, contact your family or friends.
Raise concerns with local authorities if you're mistreated. The US says it can also ask officials to provide adequate medical care.

Medical emergencies and crime

Help you find local doctors and hospitals. Both governments can point you to lists of local doctors and medical facilities.
Give you contact details for local police if you've been the victim of a crime. The UK says it may sometimes be able to go with you to report it.
With your permission, keep your family informed.

Emergency money

Neither government will simply give you money, but both have options when you're stuck:

Money transfers: both can, in some circumstances, help family or friends send you money through the embassy or consulate.
Loans: the US offers repatriation loans in specific cases for destitute US citizens who need to return home, and the UK may, in very exceptional circumstances, offer an emergency loan to get you home. Both must be repaid, and the UK describes its loans as a last resort.

Crises, deaths and missing people

Crises: during a natural disaster, unrest or a major incident, share information and help citizens leave. When commercial options aren't available, either government may arrange transport out. You'll usually have to repay the cost, and you shouldn't count on an evacuation.
Deaths abroad: inform the next of kin, explain local procedures, and provide lists of funeral directors.
Missing people: the US says its embassy or consulate can work with local authorities, check reports of citizens who have been hospitalized or arrested, and try to pass on a message.

What it usually can't do

Both governments list clear limits. Your embassy or consulate generally cannot:

Pay your bills. The State Department says the US government doesn't pay medical bills abroad, and the FCDO says it can't pay your bills or give you money. That includes medical costs and legal fees.
Get you out of jail. Neither can get you released or interfere in local criminal or civil court cases.
Get you better treatment than locals. You're subject to local laws, and the UK notes that local authorities won't treat you differently because you're British.
Act as your lawyer. They can't give legal advice, represent you in court or pay for a lawyer.
Act as interpreters. Neither provides official translation or interpreting services.
Investigate crimes or search for people. The UK says this is the job of local authorities, though it can help in other ways.
Help you enter a country or stop a deportation. Every country decides who it lets in.
Make travel bookings for you. Flights and accommodation are generally up to you. Even after an assisted departure in a crisis, the US says citizens usually arrange their own lodging and onward travel.
Settle private disputes. The UK says it won't get involved in private disputes, for example with a hotel, tour operator or landlord.
Guarantee help everywhere. The UK says its help is limited where it advises against all travel or has no diplomatic presence. For the highest US advisory level, the State Department says it may have very limited or no ability to help. Our guide to travel advisory levels explains what those warnings mean.

Where US and UK help differs

The services broadly overlap, but a few differences are worth knowing:

Passports: US embassies and consulates can issue a new passport abroad. UK embassies issue emergency travel documents, and full passports come from the UK.
Money transfers: the US runs a standing system for family to send funds through the State Department. The UK will only consider transferring money in exceptional circumstances, when no other transfer service is available.
Who is eligible: the UK sets out in detail who it can help, and gives priority to people it judges most vulnerable.

A note for dual nationals

If you hold two nationalities, help can be much more limited in the country of your other nationality. The FCDO says it would not normally support British dual nationals there, though it may make exceptions in serious cases. The State Department warns that local authorities may not recognize your US nationality, may not tell the US embassy if you're detained, and may not allow US consular officials to see you. If this applies to you, check the rules for both countries before you travel.

What to do before you go

A few minutes of preparation makes your embassy much easier to reach if you need it:

Save your nearest embassy or consulate's address and phone number, including any emergency or after-hours line.
Register for alerts: US citizens can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which also helps the embassy reach you in an emergency. UK travelers can sign up for FCDO email alerts on their destination's travel advice page.
Keep copies of your passport separate from the original, and leave a set with someone at home.
Check your travel insurance covers medical care and evacuation. Your embassy won't pay these costs.

For the full list of what to check before you leave, see our pre-trip travel safety checklist.

If something goes wrong

In an emergency, call local emergency services first. The State Department advises calling local authorities first if you need immediate help, then contacting your embassy or consulate.
Contact your embassy or consulate. The FCDO runs a 24/7 consular contact center, and US embassies and consulates have after-hours duty officers for life-or-death emergencies.
If your passport is lost or stolen, report it. Both governments let you cancel it online. The State Department notes that a police report isn't mandatory but can help confirm what happened.
Call your insurer, especially for medical problems or if you need to change travel plans.
Cancel lost or stolen cards with your bank or card company.
Let family or friends know where you are and whether you need help.

Keeping the details close

When something goes wrong, you don't want to be searching for an embassy address. Farhaven shows the nearest embassy or consulate for both your current location and your destination, along with embassy alerts from the US and UK, alongside the rest of your trip essentials. It can't replace your embassy, but it helps you know where to turn. If you have questions, our Support & FAQ page is a good place to start.

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