British nationals

The FCDO and our embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide provide consular assistance to British nationals abroad. YouYou’re are a ‘BritishBritish national’national if youyou’re are a:

• British citizen
• British Overseasoverseas Territoriesterritories citizen
• British overseas citizen
• British national (overseas) (BN(O))
• British subject
• British protected person

If you’re not sure about your status, read the guidance about types of British nationality.

As a British national, you can receive our assistance even if you do not normally live in the UK. However we cannot help British nationals (overseas) of Chinese ethnic origin travelling or living in China, Hong Kong or the Macao Special Administrative Regions.

We do not provide consular assistance in the British overseas territories. If you’re visiting or living in the British overseas territories, contact the local authorities if you need help.

Other nationals we may be able to help

In some circumstances we can also help:

• nationals of other Commonwealth countries, in places where their country does not have a local embassy or consulate
• during a crisis or large-scale incident, non-British immediate family members (eg spouse or partner and children under 18) travelling with a British national

We make decisions about who we can help based on the specific circumstances of the person or people involved.

We cannot usually help:

• nationals of other countries, even if you have been living legally in the UK
• British nationals with dual nationality if youyou’re are in the country of your other nationality

Dual nationals

If you have a connection to a country in addition to the UK, you may be a national of that country as well as being a British national. A connection could be, for example, by birth, by descent through either parent, by marriage or by residence. You may have this nationality even if you have only ever held a British passport.

It is your responsibility to check your status with the authorities of any other country youyou’re are connected with. Being or becoming a British national may mean you lose your original nationality, because some countries do not recognise or allow dual nationality.

If youyou’re are a dual British national living or travelling in the country of your other nationality, for example, a dual French-British national in France:

• we would not normally support you or get involved in dealings between you and that country’s authorities. We cannot help you avoid any responsibilities there, such as compulsory military service
• we may decide to make an exception and provide support if we consider that you are particularly you’re vulnerable because of your specific circumstances, orand there are special humanitarian or human rights reasons. These circumstances might include, but are not exclusive to, people affected by death through murder or manslaughter, safeguarding and child protection, forced marriage, or who are facing charges or are convicted of an offence which carries the death penalty
• we can consider issuing Emergencyemergency Traveltravel Documentsdocuments, (ETDs), and providing notarial and document services to dual nationals, including in the country of their second nationality. However this depends on the rules of that country (for example whether they recognise dual nationality)

If youyou’re are a dual British national in a third country where youyou’re are not a national, (for example a dual French-British national in Germany), we can usually provide the same support we provide to British nationals. You do not need to be travelling on your British passport to seek support from the local British embassy, high commission or consulate.

Travelling abroad if you live in the UK but are not a British national

WeIf doyou’re nota provideforeign assistancenational, towe foreigncannot nationalsassist outsideyou theabroad, UK, even if you usually live in the UK.

To Ifget you need help youabroad, should contact the local authoritiesauthorities. orYou can also contact the embassy or consulate of the country relatingthat toissued your passport or identity document.

IfYou you usually live in the UK but you are not a British national and cannot get a passport from another country, you may be eligibleable to travel with a a Home Office Traveltravel Documentdocument. Ifif youyou’re areeligible.

Read travellingwhat outsideto thedo UKif and lose your Home Office Traveltravel Document,document youis willlost, needstolen, toexpired applyor for a visa to return to the UK.damaged.

Disclaimer

You can read the disclaimer relating to this guidance.