Embassies and Consulates in China
Your embassy's emergency line, grouped by country, plus the honest version of what consulates can and cannot do for you — and what to have ready before you call.
The short version
Save your embassy's emergency number before you need it — that's the whole assignment. Embassies replace lost passports, visit you if you're arrested, and notify family in a crisis. They will not pay your bills, get you out of jail, or override Chinese legal decisions. For routine services you need an appointment; security will turn away walk-ins. In immediate danger, call 110 first, then your embassy.
What your embassy can and cannot do
CAN help with
- Emergency Travel Document for a lost or stolen passport (usually 24–48 hours)
- Visiting you in detention, providing a list of English-speaking lawyers, notifying family
- Hospital referrals and family notification in a medical emergency
- Evacuation guidance during natural disasters or civil unrest
- Notarization and document authentication (by appointment)
CANNOT help with
- Getting you out of jail or interfering with Chinese legal proceedings
- Paying medical bills, fines, legal fees, hotel costs, or your flight home (repatriation loans exist but must be repaid)
- Acting as your lawyer or giving legal advice
- Lifting an exit ban from a business or legal dispute — that needs a Chinese lawyer
Before you call
Have ready
Embassy and consulate directory
Which office handles you
Consulates serve geographic districts: roughly, Shanghai consulates cover east China, Guangzhou the south, Chengdu or Chongqing the southwest, Shenyang the northeast, and the Beijing embassy everything else. If you call the wrong office they'll redirect you, but starting with the consulate nearest you is faster. Country not listed? Nearly every nation keeps an embassy in Beijing — search "your country + embassy Beijing" and save the number before your trip.
Common questions
Access
Can I just walk into my embassy?
No — security requires an appointment for routine services. Genuine emergencies (arrest, safety threats, lost passport before a flight) get handled without one, but call first either way.
Should I register my trip?
Yes, especially for stays over a month. US: STEP at step.state.gov (re-register if you used the old system — it now needs a login.gov account). UK: FCDO travel advice alerts. Australia: Smartraveller. NZ: SafeTravel. Registration is how they find you in a disaster.
What happens when I call after hours?
Emergency lines route to a duty officer, often in your home country, and a callback can take 30–60 minutes for non-life-threatening issues. For immediate danger, call 110 first.
Services
How fast can I get an emergency passport?
An Emergency Travel Document usually takes 24–48 hours with a police report and proof of citizenship. A full passport replacement runs 2–4 weeks.
I was arrested — will my embassy get me released?
No. They can visit you, monitor your treatment, hand you a list of English-speaking lawyers, and tell your family. The legal process itself is entirely Chinese jurisdiction.