Prepare for and deal with crises abroad
How British people can prepare for and deal with a crisis abroad and the support available from the UK government.
If you need urgent help overseas, call the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 24/7 on (+44) (0)207 008 5000.
Preparing for travel abroad
A few simple actions can help prepare you in the event of a crisis. Before travelling you should:
- read FCDO travel advice for the country you’re visiting to understand the risks, entry requirements, and local laws
- sign up for email alerts for your destinations so you know if travel advice changes before or during your trip
- make a note of the emergency service phone numbers for your destinations (equivalent to 999 in the UK) – find emergency contact numbers for your destination in our travel advice
- make sure you have appropriate travel insurance for yourself and those you’re travelling with, including medical evacuation – make a note of the insurance company’s contact details and your policy number
- find out if your holiday, or travel, is financially protected, and what your rights are if your travel provider goes into administration before or during your holiday
In a crisis, passport or visa services may be unavailable. This may make it difficult to travel if you do not have the correct documents. Keep travel documents for you and your family up to date and in a safe place where you can access them easily.
What to do in a crisis
If a crisis happens, or you think one is likely, you should:
- try to stay in touch with your family and friends – tell them if you’re safe or if you need help
- follow the advice of the local authorities
- contact your airline or tour operator and insurer to find out what help is available
- find out what the emergency procedures are for where you’re staying (for example, rented accommodation or hotel)
- if you’re working abroad, familiarise yourself with your employer’s evacuation and contingency plans, particularly in high-risk locations – make sure your employer has your next of kin’s details in case of an emergency
- decide whether to leave the area or country, if it’s safe to do so – if you decide to stay, the UK government cannot guarantee we will be able to help you
- follow FCDO travel advice and subscribe to email alerts for updates
- avoid crowds, demonstrations or large gatherings
- prepare to leave quickly if you need to, including packing a grab bag
Make sure you have the basic supplies you need to keep yourself safe, including:
- any prescription medication you need
- enough food and water for several days
- a first aid kit
- a torch and batteries
- fuel for your vehicle or power generator, if you have one
Preparing for different types of crises
Natural disasters
Check FCDO travel advice for information about the risk of natural disasters in the country you’re visiting.
Read our advice on what to do if you’re affected by extreme weather or a natural disaster abroad.
Terrorist attacks
The FCDO regularly updates travel advice with information on risks to British nationals abroad, including from terrorism.
If you’re caught up in a terrorist attack overseas:
- RUN to a place of safety – this is a far better option than to surrender or negotiate
- HIDE – barricade yourself in if you can, and turn your phone to silent and off vibrate
- TELL the police by calling the local emergency number
If you plan to travel by sea, read guidance on piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Conflict
Conflict or civil unrest can begin or get worse quickly, even in places which were previously peaceful. Check FCDO travel advice for your destinations and any countries you’re travelling through during your trip.
The FCDO may advise against all travel to a region or country if the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high.
If unrest breaks out in the region or country you’re in, you should:
- follow local authorities’ advice
- make sure you’re aware of the emergency alert systems for the country you’re in, for example sirens or mobile phone alerts
- stay away from areas around security or military facilities
- keep your departure plans under review and ensure your travel documents, including visas, are up to date
- sign up to receive FCDO travel advice email alerts – we may advise British nationals to leave a country, if it is safe to do so
- check local and international media for the latest information
If it is not safe to leave the area you are in, you may be advised to shelter in place. You should:
- follow instructions from the local authorities
- stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter
- stay away from windows – if you can, find an interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible to shelter in
- if you’re in a high-rise building and buildings are under attack from the air, go to the lowest floor possible – for example a basement or underground car park
- when it is safe to do so, stock up on water and food to reduce your need to leave shelter
Who the FCDO can help in a crisis
The FCDO is responsible for consular assistance in a crisis. We make decisions about who we can help based on the specific circumstances of the people involved.
The Home Office makes decisions about entry to the UK.
If there is a crisis abroad, we can usually help:
- British nationals
- British nationals who also have another nationality (dual nationals)
In some circumstances, we can also help:
- non-British immediate family members travelling with a British national, for example a partner or dependent children under 18 – family members travelling to the UK must have permission to enter the country, such as a valid UK visa. In a crisis, the Home Office generally requires dependants of British nationals to have existing permission to enter the UK that was originally granted for more than six months
- nationals of other Commonwealth countries, where their country does not have a local embassy or consulate
We cannot usually help nationals of other countries, even if you normally live in the UK.
How the FCDO can help you in a crisis
Crises are usually difficult to predict. Our ability to help may be very limited, particularly in countries or regions where we advise against travel. We can provide information about the risks of travelling to your destination, but we cannot make decisions about your travel for you.
We have a duty of care to our staff, and we will not keep them in a location where we judge that their safety could be seriously at risk. This means that in some situations, we may need to close UK government operations and withdraw staff, including from our embassies.
If there is a crisis affecting a significant number of British nationals, we may:
- open a dedicated hotline for people to contact us about British nationals who need help
- open an online registration service for you to give us your details and location so that we can provide you with the latest information
- share your data with other organisations, such as travel companies or local authorities, to provide additional support
- send additional FCDO staff to provide consular support, when it is needed and safe to do so
- help you access advice and services from airlines, airports and travel companies
- recommend speaking to The British Red Cross for emotional support
In extreme situations, where commercial travel is not available, we may:
- help you leave a country, for example by organising a charter flight for British nationals (you may be charged a fee for this)
- send military aircraft or vessels to evacuate eligible people
You should not expect the UK government to evacuate you in a crisis. Make sure you have your own plans to leave a country should you need to.
Support for victims of terrorist attacks abroad
If you’re affected by a terrorist attack abroad, you may be able to get extra support through our Exceptional Assistance Measures. This can include emergency medical costs, medical evacuation and help returning to the UK. You cannot get this support if you travelled to a country against FCDO’s travel advice.
You may be able to get financial help and compensation through organisations like the British Red Cross and the Victims of Terrorism Overseas Compensation Scheme. Read about other help available for British people affected by terrorist attacks abroad.
If you have returned to the UK, you can contact the Terrorism Survivor Hub for support.
$C Terrorism Survivor Hub Telephone: +44 8 08 16 89 111 $C
You may be able to get financial help if you are:
After a crisis: support in the UK
If you or your family are affected by a crisis abroad, you may need further help when you return to the UK. Find where to get mental health support in the UK.
At some airports, we work with organisations to support British people who have been affected by crisis when they arrive:
If you’re feeling unwell, or overwhelmed and unable to cope as a result of your experience, speak to your GP or when in the UK call NHS 111. Tell them that you were affected by a crisis abroad. Health professionals may also provide details of other organisations that can help.
Cruse Bereavement Care offers support when someone you know dies. You can contact their free helpline on +44 (0)808 808 1677 (opening hours apply). Cruse also provides specific support for young people who are bereaved.
Feedback
We welcome your views on the support we provide, to help us to identify what we do well and what we could do better. Contact us using our feedback contact form.
Alternatively write to us:
Consular Feedback Team
Consular Directorate
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
Disclaimer
Read the disclaimer relating to this guidance.