Consular Protection

When living or traveling 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.

So exactly what help can you get in such situations?

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/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.

For more information visit: http://ec.europa.eu/consularprotection/