Consular assistance is help and advice provided by the diplomatic agents of a country to citizens of that country who are living or traveling overseas. The diplomats may be honorary consuls, or members of the country's

diplomatic service Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel obtains diplomatic immunity when they are accredited t ...

. Such assistance may take the form of: * provision of replacement travel documents * advice and support in the case of an accident, serious illness, or death * advice and support to victims of serious crime overseas, and arranging for next-of-kin to be informed * visitation contact with incarcerated nationals * liaison with local police officials in the case of nationals abducted or missing overseas * loans to distressed travellers * help during crises, such as

civil unrest Civil disorder, also known as civil disturbance, civil unrest, or social unrest is a situation arising from a mass act of civil disobedience (such as a demonstration, riot, strike, or unlawful assembly) in which law enforcement has difficulty ...

and natural disasters * facilitating the overseas payment of social welfare benefits * registering

citizen Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...

births abroad * providing a list of local doctors and lawyers for medical and/or legal issues * supervising their flag vessels in foreign harbours Such assistance commonly does not extend to: * storing luggage or valuables * intervening in commercial disputes on behalf of their nationals * providing travel agency, banking, or postal services * money changing * translation and interpreting services * legal advice or advocacy * negotiation of special treatment, bail, or early release from prison * criminal investigation * employment services

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

At Article 5, the

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

gives the most broad, detailed, and internationally accepted definition of 'consular functions':Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1973] ATS 7)

References

{{Diplomacy Consular affairs Passports

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

See also

References