British travelers have asked embassy staff for help with everything from blonde highlights in Jordan to finding a parked car near the Eiffel Tower, prompting the UK Foreign Office to remind holidaymakers what consular services are actually for before the peak summer travel season.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office shared a list of unusual requests received by consular staff overseas as millions of Brits prepare to travel abroad. The examples are lighthearted, but the message behind them is serious: travelers should check official advice, understand local rules, buy suitable insurance and keep important documents safe before leaving the UK.
Among the more surprising requests was a British holidaymaker in Jordan asking where they could get blonde highlights, a caller in Paris asking how much duck pâté they could bring back to the UK, and someone in France seeking help locating a car they had parked near the Eiffel Tower. Another Brit in Georgia asked whether two pets could be granted British citizenship to guarantee diplomatic protection.
Other calls included a holidaymaker in Egypt asking the embassy to deal with the temperature of hotel showers, a traveler in Nigeria seeking help getting a refund for an unsatisfactory restaurant meal, and a caller asking how to contact their postman while away. Embassy staff also received football-related questions, including one request in Italy about where to watch a Scotland match in Milan.
The FCDO said consular staff handled more than 328,000 enquiries and requests for help over the past year, equal to nearly 900 calls a day. While most cases involved genuine problems, the unusual examples show that some travelers still misunderstand the role of embassies, high commissions and consulates.
What Consular Staff Can Actually Help With
The UK government said consular teams can provide support in serious situations, but they cannot act as travel agents, hotel complaint desks, restaurant refund services or local lifestyle concierges. Their role is to help British nationals facing real difficulty overseas.
That support can include issuing Emergency Travel Documents when passports are lost or stolen. The FCDO issued more than 29,500 of those documents in the last year, helping people return home or continue their journey. Consular staff can also provide information and advice to travelers who become victims of crime or need medical assistance. Last year, 8,573 people contacted the department while receiving medical care abroad.
Embassies can also support British nationals who are arrested overseas by explaining local processes, providing lists of English-speaking lawyers and translators, and, with consent, keeping family informed. However, officials cannot interfere in another country’s legal system, secure better treatment outside local rules or overturn court decisions.
The FCDO is urging travelers to take basic steps before departure. That includes checking travel advice for each destination, signing up for email alerts, understanding local laws and cultural differences, arranging appropriate travel insurance and keeping passports secure.
The reminder comes at a time when more travelers are heading overseas and expecting fast support if something goes wrong. The unusual requests may be funny, but they also underline a practical travel lesson: preparation matters. Embassies can help in a crisis, but they are not there to solve every holiday inconvenience.
