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Abroad · France
Updated September 2026

🆘 I am in trouble abroad — when and how do I call consular help?

Direct answer

Consular help is for emergencies: serious illness or accident, a death, an arrest, a lost passport, a crisis or disaster, being a victim of crime — and it exists 24/7 through Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères — Centre de crise (01 43 17 53 53). It does not pay bills, book flights or intervene in private disputes, but it tells you who can, contacts family, and issues documents. For immediate danger, the local emergency number — 112 — emergency (112) — works in every EU country and most others. Money problems (medical bills, repatriation) are what travel insurance is for; Médiation de l'Assurance (mediation-assurance.org) if it refuses.

Call firstMinistère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères — Centre de crise
Report to112 — emergency
If that failsMédiation de l'Assurance

🗣️ What to say

"I am a citizen of France in [city, country]. [What happened: accident / illness / victim of crime / lost documents / crisis]. I need [help with…]. I am at [place] and can be reached at [number]."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Danger now: 112Or the local number; the operator connects you to the right service in English in most places.
  2. Consular line: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères — Centre de criseThey know the local hospitals, police procedures and lawyers, and can contact your family.
  3. Insurance assistance lineOn your policy card; they arrange and pay for medical care and repatriation. Call them early, not after.
  4. DocumentsLost passport: see that page. Keep a photo of your documents in your phone and with someone at home.
  5. Crisis or disasterRegister with your foreign ministry's travel-registration service so they can reach you; follow their travel advice.

📇 All contacts

Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères — Centre de criseConsular assistance, emergencies abroad, 24/7In an emergency abroad📞 01 43 17 53 53🔗 www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs
112 — emergencyPolice, fire and ambulance, any EU country, freeDanger to life, fire, gas smell, someone hurt📞 112
Médiation de l'AssuranceFree mediation with insurersAfter the insurer's written refusal🔗 www.mediation-assurance.org
France Victimes — 116 006Victim support, free, accompaniment and compensationAfter any crime📞 116 006🔗 www.france-victimes.fr

❓ Frequently asked

Can the consulate lend me money?

In genuine emergencies, a repayable loan for a ticket home may be possible as a last resort. Family transfers via the consulate are more common.

I am a victim of crime abroad

Local police report, then the consulate, then victim support at home — see that page; EU rules let you report at home too.

Someone died abroad

The consulate helps with the local procedures, the documents and repatriation; the insurer usually pays the transport.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “consular help abroad France”
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  • “victim of crime abroad help”
  • “death abroad what to do”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

🛂Passport lost abroad→🔓Arrested abroad→

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