Consular conventions and mandatory notification obligations

This document contains:

• a table showing the countries that have signed bilateral treaties with the UK for the mandatory notification of consular officials when a foreign national is arrested or detained
• contact details of the foreign diplomatic missions of those countries in the UK
• a list of countries that have ratified the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR)

These bilateral treaties are agreements governing the treatment of citizens in the countries that have signed the treaty.

‘Mandatory notification obligations’ mean that when a foreign national is arrested or detained, their embassy or consulate must be informed automatically, even without their request. This ensures a country’s citizens receive consular assistance when detained abroad.