When living or travelling outside the EU, you sometimes need help from your embassy/consulate but what if your country has no diplomatic mission in that country?

 

No problem - under EU law you're entitled to help from any other EU Member State's embassy/consulate - under the same conditions as their nationals.

 

You are eligible for consular protection if you are:

- A national of an EU Member State

- In distress in a country outside the EU where your country does not have an embassy or consulate.​

 

Typical situations where you may need help:

- Passport lost or stolen

- Serious accident or illness

- Violent crime arrest or detention

- Emergency relief / repatriation (natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict or other emergencies)

- Death while abroad

 

All assistance and notification of your relatives, friends, doctor and/or employer at home will be handled by the embassy/consulate you approached, through your own country's foreign ministry.