Practical information

As an EU citizen, you can take simple steps to make consular protection more effective, for example:

• Following the travel advice issued by your country’s Foreign Ministry.

• When abroad, registering with your Embassy or Consulate and/or through dedicated platforms, if applicable. 

Other tips include keeping an electronic copy of your travel documents, subscribing to a travel insurance or saving crisis contact details. 

However, situations can arise in which you need consular protection.  Consular protection is the help an EU Member State can provide to its citizens in case they need assistance abroad. Typically, consular protection can include cases such as:

• A need for emergency travel documents;

• A serious accident or serious illness;

• Relief and repatriation in case of an emergency;

• Being a victim of crime;

• Arrest or detention;

• Death of a family member or other companion.

Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Italy and Romania are represented by Embassies, Consulates or Honorary Consuls who can offer consular protection.

• You can contact your resident Embassy (Consulate/Honorary Consul) able to provide consular protection).

• If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you can contact your Embassy, Consulate or Honorary Consul.
• If you are a citizen of another European Union country, you can contact one of the EU countries with an Embassy, Consulate or Honorary Consul in Burundi.

You need not worry if you are not covered by such specific arrangements: any EU citizen abroad whose own Member State has no local representation is entitled to consular protection from the diplomatic or consular authorities of any other EU Member State, under the same conditions as the nationals of that other EU Member State. So should you need consular protection, you are entitled to turn to any other EU Member State for consular protection. 

Please note however that the EU Delegation in Burundi cannot provide direct consular assistance.

The contact list of Embassies, Consulates and Honorary Consuls in Burundi can be downloaded here. 

For more information on consular protection, see the dedicated pages on the websites of the EEAS, the European Commission and the Council of the EU.

 

EU citizens whose passport or travel document has been lost, stolen or destroyed in a country outside the EU where their own EU Member State does not have an embassy or consulate are entitled to receive an EU Emergency Travel Document from any other EU Member State located in that country.

The EU Emergency Travel Document is issued for a single journey to the holder’s EU Member State of nationality or residence, or exceptionally, to another destination (such as a neighbouring country with an embassy or consulate of the holder).

The EU Emergency Travel Document is valid for a bit longer than the period required for completion of the journey for which it is issued. Normally, the validity will not exceed 15 calendar days. Persons receiving an EU Emergency Travel Document are strongly encouraged to complete the journey as quickly as possible, to follow any advice given by the consulate or embassy regarding the best route, and to immediately apply for a normal travel document. The EU Emergency Travel Document must be returned after arrival at the final destination.

EU citizens in need of an EU Emergency Travel Document must apply at the embassy or consulate of an EU Member State. The EU Emergency Travel Document will be issued after a verification of the applicant’s nationality and identity by the unrepresented EU citizen’s Member State of nationality. In normal cases, the issuance should not take longer than seven working days.

Member States may also choose to issue the EU Emergency Travel Document to other persons, such as their own nationals or EU citizens’ family members who already live in the EU. If an EU Emergency Travel Document is issued to a person who is not an EU citizen, a visa may be necessary.

Further reading

Consular protection - European Commission 

Directive on an EU Emergency Travel Document