Paperwork Tips - Consular Service

CONSULAR services aim to consuls act to protect the welfare and interests of citizen overseas. This services sets out the standards of service you can expect to receive from the Department of Foreign Affairs and network of overseas offices. The Charter signifies our commitment to providing effective, prompt and courteous consular services, delivered in an equitable way, to citizen requiring them.

How do they help you?
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular services to you through the Embassy, High Commissions or Consulates established in many, though not all, foreign countries. In a number of locations Consulates are headed by Honorary Consuls.

Its aim is to meet the needs of consular clients, including their families in your home country, to the maximum extent possible within the limits of the resources available to us. They will provide consular services and make every effort to assist you to obtain solutions for problems you may experience overseas.

How can you help their to help you?
You can prevent many problems by making advance preparations for your trip and by taking sensible precautions while overseas. For example, they recommend that you should always take out travel insurance before leaving your country. Overseas medical and hospital costs can be very high and hospitals may require proof of insurance or pre-payment before providing any treatment.

Before departure check with the Embassy of the country concerned about whether you need a visa. You should also hold a return ticket and ensure you have sufficient funds for your expected stay. If upon arrival the local authorities decide not to allow you to enter Indonesia for any reason, there may be little they can do to assist you.

What the consular can do for you
They provide a wide range of consular services to his citizens overseas, for example: • Issue passports (applicant must provide relevant documentation and comply with procedures required by law), including emergency passports
• Provide advice and support in the case of an accident, serious illness or death, or if you are a victim of a serious crime, and arrange for next-of-kin to be informed
• Visit or contact you if you are arrested and arrange for your family to be informed if you wish
• Contact relatives and friends on your behalf to ask them to assist you with money or tickets
• Provide limited financial assistance in real emergencies
• Provide a list of local doctors and lawyers
• Help during emergencies, such as civil disturbances and natural disasters
• Witness and certify signatures and provide certain other notarial services (specified fees apply)
• Provide the latest consular travel advices, which include information about security and health conditions in many parts of Indonesia


What they cannot do for you
Consular functions are governed by international agreements and there are limits to the extent they can intervene on your behalf with foreign governments or authorities. You are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which you are travelling. Consular assistance cannot over-ride local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust.

The following are services they cannot provide: • Arrange visas, work or residence permits for other countries, or help you to obtain them
• Give legal advice, intervene in court proceedings or provide funds to pay your legal costs or fines
• Get you out of prison or obtain special treatment for you in prison
• Pay or guarantee payment of your hotel, medical or any other bills, including the cost of returning lost luggage to your country
• Act as a travel agent, bank or post office, or store your luggage
• Become involved in commercial disputes or take up complaints about local purchases etc
• Provide interpreter, telephone or photocopy services
• Pay pensions (although they can provide you with contact details of government authorities to help you to resolve payment difficulties)
• Help find you a job overseas
• Investigate crimes in foreign countries


How fast can they help you?
This will depend on the nature of the problem and how easy or difficult it is to find a solution. All cases are different and while some problems can be resolved on the spot, others may require ongoing consular assistance over an extended period. In a genuine emergency, they will do all they can to help you for as long as their help is needed, including after hours or during a weekend or public holiday.

With most problems they can 'help you to help yourself', by providing information, advice or guidance, or they will act on your behalf if that is required. They will do whatever they can to assist in the shortest possible time.

You have a right to privacy and a right to be provided with all available information relevant to your case. They will respect your right to privacy in accordance with privacy legislation. They will provide you with all available relevant information that they obtain about your case - if in doing so they do not violate the rights of anyone else whose interests they may also have a duty to protect.