This page gives advice what help we can provide if you do get into difficulty. We offer help which is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case, including:

We can:

• issue emergency passports;
• provide information about transferring funds;
• provide appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are a victim of other crime, are ill or in hospital;
• provide details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors and funeral directors (see note 1 below);
• do all we properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained;
• offer support and help in a range of other cases, such as child abductions, death of relatives overseas, missing people and kidnapping;
• contacting family or friends for you if you want;
• make special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances or natural disasters.

We cannot:

• get involved in private disputes over property, employment, commercial or other matters;
• get you out of prison, prevent the local authorities from deporting you after your prison sentence, or interfere in criminal or civil proceedings;
• help you enter a country, for example, if you do not have a visa or your passport is not valid, as we cannot interfere in another country’s immigration policy or procedures;
• give you legal advice, investigate crimes or carry out searches for missing people, although we can give you details of people who may be able to help you in these cases, such as English-speaking lawyers;
• get you better treatment in hospital than is given to local people;
• get you better treatment in prison than local prisoners, although we may raise concerns with local authorities if treatment fails below internationally recognised standards;
• pay any bills or give you money from public funds;
• make travel arrangements for you, or find you work or accommodation;
• make business arrangements on your behalf;
• make sure you will be safe in another country – safety and security are matters for the government concerned;
• provide compensation if you are affected by a major catastrophe or terrorist attack.

Note 1:

Neither the Government nor the British Embassy or Consulate in Belgrade can make any guarantee in relation to the professional ability or character of any person or company on the lists, nor can they be held responsible in any way for you relying on and advice you are given.  We welcome feedback on the people and companies listed.

Last Updated: July 2009