Consular Services Charter
How can we help you?
There are legal limits to what we can do on your behalf.
DFAT seeks to extend to all its citizens, including dual
nationals, the full range of consular assistance.
However, under international law, countries are not obliged
to recognise dual nationality.
- A country may not permit Australian consular assistance
to be given to Australian citizens who, according to its
laws, it considers and treats as its own nationals.
- Or, a person might not be regarded as being an Australian
if that person is not travelling on their Australian
passport, which may also limit the provision of consular
assistance.
While we will always try to assist to the greatest extent
possible, under such circumstances the extent to which we are
able to help you will typically be determined by the host
government.
When you are overseas, be aware that local laws and
penalties, do apply to you.
Consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where
local laws may appear harsh or unjust by Australian
standards.
What we CAN DO to help Australians overseas:
- help during crises, such as civil unrest and natural
disasters
- issue passports (applicant must provide relevant
documentation and comply with procedures required by law),
including emergency passports*
- provide advice and support in the case of an accident,
serious illness or death, or if an Australian is a victim of
a serious crime, and arrange for next-of-kin to be informed
(if they wish)
- visit or contact Australians who are arrested and arrange
for their family to be informed (if they wish)
- contact relatives and friends on an Australian’s
behalf and ask them to assist with money or tickets
- provide some limited financial assistance in real
emergencies (subject to very strict criteria) to Australians
in need*
- provide information on a government scheme under which
eligible Australians can apply for financial assistance in
limited circumstances to help with legal costs overseas*
- witness and authenticate signatures and provide certain
other notarial services
- provide a list of local doctors, lawyers and, if
available, interpreters
- provide the latest consular travel advisories, which
include up-to-date information about the risks Australians
might face overseas
- provide voting facilities for federal and some state and
territory elections.
Consulates headed by an honorary consul provide only some of
the above services.
*We CANNOT provide this support to other
countries’ nationals, even if they may have been lawfully
living in Australia.
More about the Consular Services Charter
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