7 reasons you should take the FCO's number on holiday!

Practical information

1. If your passport is lost or stolen the FCO can issue you with a replacement one or, in some situations, an emergency travel document.
The FCO does charge a fee for this but you should be able to claim it back if you have comprehensive travel insurance. If your passport is lost or stolen they can issue you with a replacement one or, in some situations, an emergency travel document.

2. If you're a victim of crime
The FCO can help you get medical attention if you need it , contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened and give you a list of local lawyers and interpreters.

3. If you have to be admitted to hospital
The FCO can help you to liaise with your insurance company or a medical evacuation company and we can contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened. They can also help if someone dies. They can't pay for your medical or repatriation bill though-which is why they advise everyone to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

4. If you run out of money the FCO can give you information on how to transfer money from the UK, but they can't pay your bills-so again, it's important to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

5. If you're arrested abroad, call the FCO!
They can't get you out of prison but we can contact your friends and family, and provide lists of lawyers and interpreters. In some countries you're not entitled to call a lawyer, but you are legally entitled to call your nearest embassy wherever you are arrested. If you're a dual national and have two passports?think about which one you travel on. The FCO can't normally help you if you're travelling on your other nationality passport or are in the country of your other nationality.

6. If you need to find your nearest Embassy, High Commission or Consulate The FCO offices abroad are known by a variety of names: -in Commonwealth countries they're called high commissions and located in the capital city
-In other countries they are called embassies. These too are located in the capital city
-Consulates are smaller offices in non-capital cities which offer assistance to British nationals
-Honorary consulates are smaller versions of consulates in smaller cities and towns. Their prime task is to offer assistance to British nationals abroad
-Mission or delegation is the name usually given to our office attached to organisations like the UN or NATO

And finally

7. In a crisis situation, the FCO may want to contact you ? register on their LOCATE service so that they can find you easily in case your family are worried and are trying to find out if you are alright.

The full details you can find the above seven points on the FCO website

(Source: Foreign & Commonwealth Office website)

  All practical advice