Urgent · 24/7Consular protection
Consular assistance in distress
Support during arrest, detention, hospitalisation, bereavement or crisis while abroad.
Service standard: 24/7 emergency responseLast updated: June 2026Available in: EN · SW
Who this is for
Kenyans abroad facing a serious emergency - arrest or detention, hospitalisation or serious accident, the loss of a family member, or being caught up in a natural disaster or civil unrest.
Your mission is the first point of contact. For life-threatening emergencies always call local emergency services first, then notify the consular emergency line.
In immediate danger, call local emergency services first. The consular line supports you alongside, but cannot replace local police, ambulance or fire response.
At a glance
- Who can apply
- Any Kenyan citizen abroad, or a family member or friend reporting an emergency on their behalf.
- What to bring
- The person's full name and passport details, their location, and a clear account of what has happened and what help is needed.
- Cost
- Free. Consular emergency support carries no charge.
- How long it takes
- Immediate. The emergency line operates 24 hours a day, every day.
- Where
- By phone to the consular emergency line, then coordinated through your mission.
What happens after you apply
The step most sites skip - so you know what to expect and don't need to call.
- Call the consular emergency line and describe the situation clearly.
- An officer assesses the case and confirms the citizen's identity and location.
- The mission liaises with local authorities, hospitals or police as needed.
- You and your family are kept informed until the situation is resolved.
If something goes wrong, or you need help
If you are detained, hospitalised, or in immediate danger, do not wait for the form - call the consular emergency line. For questions about an application already submitted, contact the mission directly.
One template, every missionThis page runs on a single service spine - who it's for, what to bring, cost, time, where, what happens next. Nairobi and all 60+ missions fill the same fields with their local facts (fee, address, hours, emergency number). Fix the spine once and every mission improves; only the local data changes.