Help for British nationals

In this section you'll find information on the consular services we offer to British nationals living in, or visiting, Austria. This includes travel advice, to help if you are passing through or are here for a holiday or business trip, and general information and tips for British residents. You'll also find guidance on how we can assist in case of difficulties or emergencies.

The Consular Section at the British Embassy in Vienna provides the full range of consular services for British nationals in Austria. Additional support is also provided by a network of British Consulates located in Bregenz, Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg, who can offer Consular assistance in an emergency.

Help is also available for British nationals outside normal office hours who need urgent assistance which cannot wait until the Embassy opens. You can find the number to call on our contact information page. Please note that this is for genuine emergencies only, and we can only deal with other enquiries during office hours.

What kind of help the Consular Section can provide

We offer help which is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case, including:

issuing emergency replacement passports;
providing information about transferring funds;
providing appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are a victim of other crime, or are in hospital;
helping people with mental illness;
providing details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors and funeral directors;
doing all we properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained;
offering support and help in a range of other cases, such as child abductions, death of relatives overseas, missing people and kidnapping;
contacting family or friends for you if you want; and
making special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances or natural disasters

UK law says we have to charge for some services. Consulates display the current fees and the standards of service you can expect.

We cannot...

get you out of prison, prevent the local authorities from deporting you after your prison sentence, or interfere in criminal or civil court proceedings;
help you enter a country, for example, if you do not have a visa or your passport is not valid, as we cannot interfere in another country’s immigration policy or procedures;
give you legal advice, investigate crimes or carry out searches for missing people, although we can give you details of people who may be able to help you in these cases, such as English-speaking lawyers;
get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people;
pay any bills or lend you money;
make travel arrangements for you, or find you work or accommodation; or
make business arrangements on your behalf.