As well as giving advice on passports, visas, trade and investment we also help in emergencies. Below are some of the things we do on a daily basis.

• giving practical advice, assistance and support to the ever-increasing number of British nationals who travel or live overseas

• dealing with requests for visas

• dealing with requests for passports

• using our local knowledge to assess the risks to British nationals, which range from terrorism to natural disasters

• looking after the UK's commercial interests

• supporting UK firms who want to trade and export in overseas markets

• encouraging non-UK companies to invest in the UK

• being the eyes and ears of the UK Government abroad. Embassies are linked directly into UK government departments providing vital information on developments abroad, and on the effects in the UK of decisions made abroad, and vice-versa.

• talking regularly to decision-makers and promoting the UK's strengths of integrity, creativity, and openness which helps to boost trade, inward investment, tourism and the influence of UK foreign policy.

You can also take a look at Support for British nationals abroad  which answers many of the questions you might have about the kind of help an Embassy or High Commission can give.  It is available in a number of languages including Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and Chinese.

Emergency Consular Assistance
For emergency consular help please call 03 2170 2200. During normal office hours you can also email: consular.mail@fco.gov.uk