What We Can and Cannot Do

Australian Consulate-General

Shanghai, China

Consulate-General address: Level 22, Citic Square, 1168 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai - Telephone: 5292 5500 (DFAT & DEST) - Fax: 5292 5511

Consular Services

Consular officers help Australians in trouble, working across 24 time zones, sometimes in countries where local facilities and systems differ enormously from those in Australia.

Our staff make the best of things in the face of poor medical or transport facilities in remote or less-developed locations. There can be real communications challenges when phone lines are poorly maintained, or when political or economic conditions are unstable. Differing climates, cultures and local religious beliefs may limit the options available to consular officials, particularly when they are handling cases of death or dispute over child custody involving an Australian parent.

Consular staff cannot use their position to influence unduly or bypass local laws or processes, even when these would appear by Australian standards to be unfair or unnecessarily arduous. While consular staff can sometimes use their knowledge and understanding of the local environment to facilitate support, they must work within the legal and administrative constraints applying in their host country. In carrying out their duties in other countries, our staff are bound by a set of international rules governing consular work. These are set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963. Most countries, including Australia, are parties to the Convention.

What Australian consular officials can do for you

Australian consular officials:

• can issue emergency passports or travel documents
• can provide assistance in the case of an accident, serious illness or death and can arrange for next of kin to be notified
• can provide limited financial assistance in real emergencies - small loans which are repayable
• can provide assistance to you if you are arrested, notify next of kin, provide a list of local lawyers, conduct prison visits, and ensure an Australian receives the same treatment as could reasonably be expected by the host country's own citizens.
• can provide assistance to you during emergencies such as natural disasters and civil uprisings
• can provide the latest travel advice
• can witness and certify signatures
• can provide a list of doctors and lawyers
Consulates headed by an Honorary Consul provide only some of the above services.

What Australian consular officials cannot do for you

Australian consular officials:

• cannot arrange any of your travel or hotel bookings or store your luggage
• cannot pay your hotel, medical or any other bills including the cost of returning lost luggage to Australia
• cannot provide funds to pay your legal costs, represent you at legal proceedings or give legal advice
• cannot get you out of prison or obtain special treatment for you in prison
• cannot provide interpreter, telephone or photocopy services
• cannot investigate crimes
• cannot pay your pensions or arrange your social security payments
• cannot obtain a work permit for you
• cannot obtain visas for other countries for you
• cannot perform marriage ceremonies