What protection does a British Passport actually afford you in a foreign country?

Question

In a british passport it says:
"Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary."

So if i was to enter a British Embassy on foreign soil with a person wanting to rob me at gunpoint chasing after me, would the embassy give me any protection apart from calling the local police?

Answer 1

This is a largely symbolical phrase which can be found on most passports issued by different states today. In effect it means, that if you encounter any difficulties abroad, you may seek assistance from the representatives of your own Government in that particular country (in this case - from a British Embassy). It very much depends what kind of 'protection' you need. If you were to smuggle drugs into one of the South-East Asian countries and were caught by their authorities, and then sentenced to death, the British Embassy could not bring you out of prison, but they would certainly mediate with the Government of the host country asking to replace the sentence with a more lenient one (such kind of mediation would count as 'protection' outlined in your British passport).

You do not have to take the meaning of 'protection' literally, as the one you provided in your question (a robber chasing you).

In order to give a more in-depth answer to your question, please have a look what a consul CAN and CANNOT do for you when you are visiting a foreign country:

He/she *can* :

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

However, the consul *cannot* offer you the following protection:

*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 they cannot interfere in another country’s immigration policy or procedures;
*give you legal advice, investigate crimes or carry out searches for missing people, although they 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 give you money (in very exceptional circumstances they 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.

It is noteworthy, that should you find yourself in a country where there is no British diplomatic presence, then you can claim protection from any other EU embassy, and - according to the EU law - that embassy will have to treat you as if you were their own citizen, and would have to offer the same sort of protection as the one they would normally offer for their nationals.

Answer 2

If you ran into a British Embassy you are going onto British soil and if you were pursued by an armed man particularly in the present security situation your assailant would be arrested or if he doesn't surrender he likely end up shot but most British embassy's are guarded by local police who would likely get him before he makes it to the entrance and for the info of the person who says they'd rather have a EIRE passport they dont have embassys or consulates in many countrys and use the British ones by agreement with the UK .

Answer 3

I don't believe the sentiments of a couple of centuries ago apply in the same manner today in the 21st Century.

I would be afraid to travel abroad using a british passport, mainly because I believe the UK Govt of today has brought the country into such disrepute that foreign countries no longer have the respect it once had for "Her Britannic Majesty".. and her "bearers".

So I think the most you can expect from any british embassy today is "one phonecall"... and be grateful for that ! It all comes down to finances and priorities.. it won't be a question of the Ambassadors staff not wanting to help, but, like Judges today in UK.. "they're hands are tied" by thier political masters.

Give me an Eire passport any day.

Answer 4

WELL my friend, I'm afraid there is only one party that will put an end to this insanity. and that is the British National Party. and if the British people don't wake up to it by the next general election then by the time the election after that comes along it will be too late. Britain will be an Islamic country, and a terrible hate fuelled violent night mare. not a very nice future to hand your children.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

A lot of the above is standard wording written on Passports by authorities. It mostly depends on the Embassy you arrive in. In general though, I have found Brit Embassies quite forthcoming with assistance, but to what extent, I don't know.

Answer 7

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We should never have joined the EU.We even pay Saddam's family and a couple wanted for mass murderer in Rwanda.We allow terrorists to stay breeding more.Criminals who won't give their country of origin preventing deportation.Labour are a joke only for the country it isn't funny.David Cameron should promote us getting out of the EU in his manifesto.

Answer 8

It gives you the right to seek assistance from the British Embassy of the country you are in. It might also get you some respect and envy.

Answer 9

Without Let Or Hindrance

Answer 10

you get complete protection from the British Embassy unless you yourself commit a crime in the country that you are visiting.