Your finances when travelling abroad
How to avoid getting into financial difficulties abroad or get financial help abroad if something goes wrong.
It is your responsibility to make sure you can access enough money to pay for all your costs and to avoid getting into financial difficulties abroad.
Before you travel
Make sure that you can access enough money to cover all your costs when travelling abroad, including unexpected costs such as medical care.
Get comprehensive travel insurance
Check that your travel insurance provides enough cover for your needs and check any exclusions.
Without adequate insurance, you will need to pay any costs you are charged.
Make sure you have more than one way to pay
Take prepaid travel cards, local currency, credit and bank cards. Check which payment methods you can use at your destination.
Make sure you have enough money and know how to stop lost or stolen cards being used.
You may also need to tell your bank that you are travelling abroad.
Emergency financial assistance abroad
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide financial assistance or pay your bills. You may be able to get financial assistance by contacting your insurance provider, tour operator, bank or credit card company.
Contact your insurance provider
Confirm which costs your policy covers. Most insurers provide a 24 hour emergency number.
For medical care, your policy may only cover specific providers in your location.
Your insurer may also help you find legal, funeral or translation providers.
Contact your travel provider or tour operator
Your airline or travel agent may be able to help you rearrange your travel plans.
If your UK travel provider has gone into administration, check whether you are covered by ABTA or ATOL protection.
Contact your credit card company
Your credit card company may be able to help if you need assistance abroad.
If you paid for your trip by credit card, check whether the card includes travel insurance.
Contact your bank or building society
If your bank or credit card is lost or stolen, your bank may provide an emergency cash facility. This may allow you to access your account using an emergency code.
If you have your bank card but have run out of money, contact your bank to discuss options.
Ask family or friends for help
They may be able to use a commercial transfer service, deposit money into your account or buy you a ticket home.
Contact your employer
Your employer may offer a salary advance, employee assistance scheme or hardship fund.
You could also consider whether you can access pension funds.
FCDO emergency financial assistance
Depositing money with the FCDO
In exceptional circumstances, family or friends can deposit money with the FCDO. The FCDO will only consider this if no other transfer service is available. It usually takes longer than other options. You will need to visit the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate in person.
If the FCDO agrees to transfer money on your behalf, you will need to pay a consular service fee.
Returning to the UK: emergency loans for repatriation
In very exceptional circumstances, the FCDO may be able to provide an emergency loan to help you return to the UK.
We will only consider a loan after we have worked with you to exhaust all other options.
An emergency loan:
- is a last resort and can only cover basic costs, such as the cheapest one-way ticket to the UK or usual place of residence
- is not guaranteed even if you have no other way of returning home
- must be repaid within 6 months
An emergency loan cannot cover:
- medical or legal bills, or any other debt, such as visa fines and unpaid accommodation costs
- medical repatriations
If you are eligible for an emergency loan you will need to:
- sign an ‘undertaking to repay’ agreement, where you agree to repay the loan within 6 months
- give your passport to the FCDO, who will send it to HM Passport Office (HMPO)
- use the emergency travel document issued by the FCDO for a single journey to your country of residence
- pay the cost of the emergency travel document, which will be added to your loan
HMPO will return your passport after you have repaid the loan in full, if the passport is still valid. If it has expired, you will need to apply for a replacement.
If you are under 18, you may be eligible for additional support if no adult is available to sign an ‘Undertaking to Repay’ for you.
Contact the FCDO for help abroad
For help and advice, contact the:
- nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate by using our help for British people living and travelling abroad
- FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24hrs)
You should also read the FCDO privacy notice for consular services to see how the FCDO will process your data.
Other financial help to consider
Employment-based charities
Some employment-based and professional charities offer financial help based on your circumstances, employment or family history. These include:
- Charity for Civil Servants
- Confederation of Service Charities
- CSIS: Civil Service Charity Fund
- Doctors Help
- Education Support Partnership
- Police Charities UK
- Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
- Royal British Legion
- SSAFA: the Armed Forces charity
Charities with benevolent funds
Other charities, including those with benevolent funds, may be able to provide financial help.
Local authorities and charities abroad
If you are planning to stay abroad, check what support local authorities or charities can provide.
Fundraising
Depending on your circumstances, you could consider fundraising. You can set up an online fundraising page, also known as crowdfunding.
Other organisations offering financial support
Some organisations offer advice and support if you are in financial difficulty.
You may only be able to call some helplines from the UK. These organisations are independent of the FCDO and it is not responsible for their advice, decisions or the outcomes of any contact you have with them.
- Advice UK
- ABTA - The Travel Association
- Citizens Advice
- Civil Aviation Authority
- Money Advice Service
- The Money Charity
- Turn2Us – has a search for grants page to help search for charitable funds in the UK
- National Debt Line
- Step Change
Financial support after you return to the UK
You must have lived in the UK for a specific amount of time to be eligible for income-related UK benefits, usually 5 years.
If you have been living abroad, or travelling abroad for more than 3 months, you may not be eligible for UK benefits that are subject to the ‘habitual residence test’. Find more information about the habitual residence test and claiming benefits from Citizens Advice.
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
Or telephone +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Disclaimer
Read the disclaimer related to this guidance.