Welcome from the British consular network in Japan. Some of you may have used our services, some of you may have heard of us, and some of you may have no idea who we are or what we do. I hope we can help clarify!
The British consular network in Japan is made up of staff from the Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate-General in Osaka. We also have a network of “wardens” (volunteers) across the country who support our work.
So what do we do? We handle enquiries from British nationals requiring passports (in Tokyo), notarial and other services, or from British nationals in distress who require assistance. We can offer support and advice if, for example, you find yourself in hospital or detention, if you are the victim of a crime, in cases of missing persons, or following the death of a relative in Japan. We will also provide consular support to British nationals following any major catastrophe—which, in Japan, could mean a serious earthquake. There is a limit to what we can do—for example, we can’t fund an emergency flight, and we have to fully respect the laws and procedures in Japan. But we will always try to point you in the direction of people who will be able to help if we can’t.
I encourage you to take a look at our website — http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk — which we hope can act as a first port of call for any questions you have. It also gives fuller information on the range of services we provide. Just click on “Help for British Nationals”.
We encourage British nationals, either resident in Japan or travelling here, to register with us on LOCATE. This is a database designed to help us contact you in the case of an emergency, such as a major earthquake. You can access it through our UKinJapan website (above or http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe/Locate). I hope you will find time to register. You’ll need your passport and personal details handy.
You might also be interested in helping us, including in the event of a major emergency. If so, please contact us to find out about our volunteer warden system—we’re always keen to strengthen our network.
And finally … at the risk of sounding like a recorded customer service message: your feedback is genuinely important to us! We are proud of the service we offer. But knowing what you think about it is key to helping us continue improving it. If you have comments — whether about the information we have on our website, a service we have provided to you, LOCATE, or something else — please do let us know. Feedback forms are available on our website, or you can send specific points directly to us at:
consular.tokyo@fco.gov.uk consular.osaka@fco.gov.uk
