Consular Protection
You’re taking the trip of a lifetime. Chances are you haven’t thought about what you would do if things went wrong. It might never happen, but it’s better to be prepared.
If you get into serious difficulties somewhere outside the EU, and your own country doesn't have an embassy there, you can get help from another EU country's embassy. This is your right as an EU citizen. One day it may be your lifeline.
90 million
Number of trips Europeans make each year outside the EU.
4
Number of non-EU countries in which all EU countries have an embassy.
7 million
Almost 7 million EU citizens go to or live in a place where their country is not represented.
This could be you
You can get help from another EU country's embassy in case of:
The embassy can issue emergency travel documents
Staff may contact family or friends back home
for you if you end up in hospital.
Someone from the embassy may come with you
to the police station.
Staff may help notify next of kin
and help you register a death.
The embassy may provide information on the local legal system,
or help you find a lawyer.
For example in case of a natural disaster or civil unrest.
The embassy can issue emergency travel documents
Staff may contact family or friends back home
for you if you end up in hospital.
Someone from the embassy may come with you
to the police station.
Staff may help notify next of kin
and help you register a death.
The embassy may provide information on the local legal system,
or help you find a lawyer.
For example in case of a natural disaster or civil unrest.
You and your family get assistance on the ground wherever you are in the world, even if your country isn't represented there.
You get the same treatment as a citizen of the country that is helping you. There is no discrimination.
Check if your country has an embassy or a consulate in the country you're going to
No embassy or consulate?
Make a note of the phone number