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  2. While you’re away

While you’re away

When Australians travel, we're far from our regular support networks. Learn what you can do, and how and when consular services can assist you.

These pages in this section provide information on a range of topics. This includes:

  • What do do when when things go wrong overseas
  • What happens when you're a victim of a crime overseas
  • Advice if there’s a crisis or national emergency in your location
  • Consular services and emergency support overseas

These pages are for Australians who are already overseas. They include both urgent and non-urgent matters. If you’re looking for information about how to prevent problems in the first place, see our general advice before you go.

When things go wrong

In most cases when things go wrong, your immediate concern is to ensure your personal safety. You may need to contact local police, ambulance or other emergency services. We list these details in the travel advice for each destination.

Contact your friends and family back home – and your travel insurer. Most insurers have 24-hour emergency lines and processes to help you in a wide range of situations. Topics are:

  • how to  get medical assistance
  • What to do if you're arrested or jailed
  • dealing with money problems
  • passport services overseas
  • Dealing with lost or damaged property
  • What to do if someone is missing
  • What do do if someone has died

Victim of a crime overseas

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of a crime overseas, you may need urgent support. This can be from local police, medical professionals or consular services. You can also seek support from family and friends back home, as well as your travel insurer. 

We've prepared practical advice for what to do when there's a crime overseas. Learn what to do if you've been:

  • sexually assaulted
  • scammed
  • robbed or mugged
  • assaulted

Crisis and national emergencies

We’ve prepared general advice about what to do when there’s a crisis or national emergency. This includes what to do during, or immediately after, a crisis or emergency. We also explain how and when the Australian Government can help overseas.

See our general advice what to do if in your location there's a:

  • hurricane or cyclone
  • demonstration or civil unrest
  • terrorist incident
  • earthquake
  • volcanic eruption

Consular services overseas

We deliver a range of consular services for Australians through our embassies, consulates and high commissions overseas. We also provide urgent support through our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.

It’s important to understand when it is appropriate to seek support from us. It’s also important to understand the limits of consular support, and in what situations we can and can’t help you.

  • Read the Consular Services Charter to understand when and how we can help.
  • If urgent, contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
  • Learn about how to vote while overseas at an embassy, consulate or high commission.
  • Learn how to get Australian documents legalised (notarised) overseas.
  • See what to do if you have a lost, stolen or damaged passport.
  • Find contact details for Australian embassies, consulates and high commissions.

Returning to Australia

We provide advice on reducing your risk of experiencing problems when heading home to Australia. This includes information on customs and quarantine, and where you can find more information.

See our general advice on returning to Australia.

Related content

Staying safe when there are demonstrations or civil unrest

Civil unrest is conflict between different groups of people living in the same country. It can be peaceful or violent. Read more to learn how to stay safe in if there is civil unrest while you're travelling.

View details
I need urgent help

In the event of a natural disaster or other crisis in or near your location, you may require assistance. Read this page to see where to get help.

View details
There's been an earthquake or tsunami

Find out what to do if you're travelling overseas and there's been an earthquake nearby. Learn how and where to get help.

View details

Main navigation

  • When things go wrong
    • Arrested or jailed
    • Lost property
    • Medical assistance
    • Money problems
    • Someone is missing
    • Someone died
  • Crime overseas
    • Assaulted
    • Kidnapped
    • Robbed or mugged
    • Scammed
    • Sexually assaulted
  • Crisis or emergency
    • Demonstration
    • Earthquake
    • Severe weather
    • Terrorist situation
    • Volcanic eruption
  • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
    • COVID-19 portal

Contact us

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For non-urgent enquiries, visit the contact page

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

For more information go to about us.

Resources

View resources for travel industry and media.

Feedback

To provide feedback on our website or subscription service, email us at smartraveller@dfat.gov.au

To provide feedback on consular services that you have recently received, email consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Returning home
      • Staying overseas
      • Overseas financial assistance
      • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
      • General FAQs
      • Registration FAQs