British National Stranded Abroad
Get physically safe, establish what has failed, then rebuild a route home.
If you have lost your phone, wallet or passport, assume some accounts or documents may also be exposed and secure them when it is safe to do so.
Do this in order.
Do not try to solve everything at once. Start with immediate safety, then move forward one step at a time.
Get to a safe, staffed place
Airport, hotel, police station, hospital, transport hub or another staffed location is usually a better starting point than remaining isolated.
Work out what actually failed
Separate the problem: passport, money, phone, accommodation, cancelled transport, arrest, illness, crime or a wider crisis. Different problems need different routes.
Use local authorities for immediate safety
The authorities in the country you are in are responsible for emergency policing, rescue and medical response.
Contact travel providers and insurer
For transport, accommodation, medical or financial disruption, contact the airline / operator, travel insurer and relevant card provider.
Contact UK consular services when needed
For urgent consular help, contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the FCDO 24/7 consular service.
Do not assume the embassy can simply fly you home
Consular support depends on the circumstances. The FCDO cannot guarantee your safety abroad, pay normal bills or replace ordinary travel-provider responsibilities.
Take only what matters now.
Do not.
- Do not hand your passport or unlocked phone to an unknown person offering unofficial help.
- Do not send money to an unverified contact claiming they can arrange consular assistance.
- Do not ignore local emergency instructions during a wider crisis.
- Do not assume consular assistance is a substitute for travel insurance or local emergency services.
Use the route that matches the problem.
External pages require an internet connection. Emergency phone numbers are shown separately where appropriate.
