Embassies and Honorary Consulates in Phuket: What They Can and Cannot Do

Full versus honorary

Guides report that Phuket has a small number of career consular offices, with an Australian consulate-general and offices for countries such as South Korea and Russia listed in past guides, and many honorary consulates for countries including Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Finland, Belgium, Norway and Brazil. Several countries have no permanent office. A US page on the island lists only an honorary or outreach presence, according to expat guides, so check your own country's site.

What honorary consuls can do

Honorary consuls are usually local businesspeople. Guides describe help with welfare checks, certifying some documents, liaison with police or hospitals and referral to the embassy. They typically do not process visas or most passport applications, as one national site states directly. Always call ahead and book.

When you need the embassy

Passports, emergency travel documents, notarial services and legalisation normally go through the embassy in Bangkok. Plan the trip, since embassies often require appointments. See the documents guide, the marriage guide, the death guide and the emergencies guide.

Prepare in advance

• Save your embassy's emergency number in your phone.
• Keep passport copies and a spare passport photo set.
• Register with your country's traveller registration service where one exists.
• Know the tourist police number 1155 and see the scams guide.
• Check passport validity well before renewals. See the leaving checklist.