What kind of help we can provide

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

• issuing replacement passports;
• providing information about transferring funds;
• providing appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are the victim of other crime, or are in hospital;
• helping people with mental illness;
• providing details of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors and funeral directors;
• doing all we 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, the death of a relative 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.

We also carry carry out statutory services which are not included in the consular guide.  These include:

• consular birth and death registrations;
• notarial services, including "affirmations of freedom to marry" for British people getting married in Thailand; and
• providing standard letters required by the Thai authorities, such as when renewing a Thai visa, opening a bank account or applying for a driving licence.

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 Thailand, for example, if you do not have a visa or if 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 in these cases, such as English-speaking lawyers;
• get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to Thai nationals;
• pay any bills or give you any money (in very exceptional circumstances we may lend you some money, from public funds, which you will have to pay back);
• make travel arrangements for you, or find you work or accommodation; or
• make business arrangements on your behalf.