Emigrating? Protect yourself

Emigration has unfortunately returned to Ireland with a vengeance. Many young people are now leaving our country to try and find a better life abroad. Though the Fianna Fail/Green coalition government are actively supporting emigration, and no doubt see it as a means of calming public spending, they are giving these young people no information or support as they leave.
If you need help or advice while abroad it is your right as an Irish citizen to call on the Irish embassy or consulate in that country. There are 40 Irish embassies and 70 consulates-general located in countries throughout the world. If you are in a country where there is no embassy or consulate, you may look for advice and assistance from embassies or consulates of other European Union countries.

Embassies and consulates can be of assistance if:


You need an emergency passport


You have been the victim of crime or illness or have had a serious accident


You have been arrested or imprisoned while abroad


You need help in transferring funds from home where more conventional means are not available


There is a death abroad and the remains need to be returned to Ireland.
 
There are of course limits to the services that the embassy can provide for you, but if you are in trouble it is your right to go to them for help.
In very exceptional circumstances, where the health or security of an Irish citizen abroad is at risk and there is no way of dealing with the situation satisfactorily locally, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland may agree to repatriate the person to Ireland.

This will be done at the sole discretion of the Department. In addition, repatriation in this instance is subject to strict conditions which will be set out and explained clearly in each individual case. The conditions include a written undertaking to repay all the expenses incurred as well as a statutory fee for this service.

Some useful Irish Embassy addresses;
According to recent surveys, the majority of young Irish emigrating are going to Australia, USA and England, so we have provided the contact details for the Irish embassy's in these countries here. Other embassy contact details can be found at www.dfa.ie

Australia
Address: Embassy of Ireland

20 Arkana Street
Yarralumla A.C.T.
2600 Canberra
Telephone: +612 6273 3022
Fax: +612 6273 3741
Website: www.embassyofireland.au.com


USA
Address: Embassy of Ireland

2234 Massachusetts Avenue
N.W
Washington D.C. 20008-2849
United States
Telephone: +1 202 462 3939
Fax: +1 202 232 5993
Website: www.embassyofireland.org

England
Address: Embassy of Ireland

17 Grosvenor Place
London SW1X 7HR
Telephone: +44-20-7235-2171
Fax: +44-20-72012- 515
Website: www.embassyofireland.co.uk