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FCO advice for British Nationals stranded overseas

19th April 2010 Further info and links: FCO website

Contacting the FCO
British nationals stranded overseas should stay in contact with their airline. If you are in distress you can contact your local embassy, high commission or consulate. Search for your nearest embassy.

If you are calling from the UK and are concerned about a British national stranded overseas please call the FCO advice line on 020 7008 0000 .

Package holidays
if you are on a package holiday contact your tour operator. Under EU legislation the organiser of a package holiday is responsible for getting passengers home and for their care and accommodation in the meantime.

Passengers travelling from an EU airport or on an EU airline
Contact your airline to confirm arrangements. Under EU legislation passengers are entitled to either a refund or to a later flight. Passengers accepting a refund will end their relationship with the airline and will have no further entitlements. Passengers who are re-routed onto a later flight will be entitled to assistance including reasonable meals and overnight accommodation. Passengers must confirm arrangements with their airline and should not assume that an airline will continue to pay for their existing accommodation.

Passengers travelling on flights from non-EU countries on non-EU airlines
Passengers should contact their airline. These flights are not covered by EU legislation and passenger rights will depend on the airline's conditions of carriage. Further information about passenger rights can be found on the website of the Air Transport Users Council and on the website of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Travel insurance
You should check with your insurance company. Some policies include cover for volcanic eruptions but many do not. Insurance taken out since the eruption will not include cover. For further information on travel insurance policies see the Association of British Insurers website. The ABTA website also provides useful information.

If you need to return to the UK urgently
Consider other travel options. Can you reach the UK by coach or train and ferry? Or fly to a country where you will be able to do this?

See our transport information page which lists ferry, coach and train companies.

If you have run out of money
Ask a relative or friend to transfer money via a commercial money transfer service. The British Embassy can advise you how to do this.

If you are running out of medication
See if this is available at a local pharmacy or go to a local hospital or doctor. If you need help to find a hospital or doctor check the website of the British Embassy for this information or call the Embassy. If you are admitted to hospital, contact the British Embassy.

If your visa has expired
Contact your tour operator or the British Embassy for advice.

For other visa information
See our passort and entry requirement pages for general advice and our travel advice pages for visa requirements for individual countries.

Airline assistance
If you think that you are entitled to assistance from your airline but you have had to pay for accommodation yourself keep the receipts to follow up later with your airline.

Further info and links: FCO website

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