Consular Service standards For Citizens travelling or living Abroad

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The principles and policy basis, guiding our assistance extended to the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho living or visiting the UK. – What the citizens can expect from us and what we expect from the citizens in return.

MUST DO before you travel

The Consular office highly recommends that, citizens who have plans to travel to the UK, must familiarise themselves with the location of the offices of High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho UK before they start their journey.

They must also familiarise themselves with services which are and are not provided by the Consular Office.

consular affairs

Consular Service standards For Citizens travelling & living in the UK

The citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho, visiting or living in the UK are expected to take responsibility for themselves and their safety while abroad.

There are times when Basotho and Lesotho citizens may find themselves faced with complications and difficulties abroad.

The types of difficulties or complications may vary. As a result, the kind and nature of appropriate consular support, regarding those individual circumstances of specific difficulty, which office of the Consular Affairs may provide at its discretion shall only be to an extend deemed to be necessary.

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Provide information about the UK legal or judicial systems, and details for interpreters and other services. We cannot provide legal advice but can give you details of local solicitors and a list of charities or NGOs who can provide assistance where appropriate; are a victim of other crimes, are ill or in hospital.

We can provide documentary services such as consular birth or death registration, or arrange notarial services as appropriate;

Where citizens have been victims of crime, sexual or violent assault, we may provide general information about local police and legal procedures, medical services and solicitors who may be able to provide legal advice;

Where practical the Consular office may accompany citizens to the police station to report a crime.

When practically possible, in compliance with the local procedures, we will contact the citizens within 24, hours upon notification of their detention in police custody;

We may contact citizens’ family members or friends upon citizen’s specific request in letting them know of what has happened to the citizen abroad.

For the purposes of ensuring that the citizens are afforded due process as allowed under the UK judicial system and legal procedures, we can liaise with local authorities to acquire relevant information about deportation arrangements;

We may contact citizens’ family members or friends upon citizen’s specific request, to provide information about the detention as made available to us by the local authorities.

Where there is an incident of suspicious death, Consular office may contact the police and local judicial authorities on Lesotho national’s behalf to establish the official findings on the incident.

When deemed necessary, we can help the relevant local authorities on matters such as, properly identifying the body, obtain death certificate and autopsy report.

What are the Limiting factors for the kind of help and assistance we can provide

Although the Consular Office will strive to deliver the specified types of consular assistance, citizens have no legal right to consular assistance, therefore, it cannot be taken for granted that every form of assistance will be offered regardless of the circumstances.

A non-exhaustive list of limitations could be as follows:

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There are, however, situations in which the Consular Office may decide to limit help to its citizens if deemed appropriate; for instance, when actions taken by a citizen are illegal or if an individual demonstrates repeated reckless behaviour placing themselves or others at risk without regard for consequences. In cases where there has been a history of multiple instances requiring consular intervention before due to an established pattern of behaviours demanding further assistance — such circumstances would merit limiting the scope extended towards citizens.

We make every possible effort to assist in emergency situations; however, there are tasks that are beyond the consular office mandate, limited by either, legal and practical considerations or due to policy reasons. Some examples of these tasks are:

In situations such as major accidents, epidemics, natural disasters, war, riots, terrorist attacks, etc. all which may result in mass casualties or serious threats to citizens;
During political unrest which may usually lead the Consular office to advise citizens to leave the country. Incidentally these may require assistance in leaving or evacuating citizens if no commercial options exist;
Assign specialist teams to support affected citizens;
Maintain contact with the families of killed or injured citizens and assist in the repatriation of remains;
Mobilise a network of local volunteers to provide advice and assistance to affected citizens;
Cooperate with local authorities to support affected citizens;
Assist citizens trying to leave the area and help them get in touch with their families;
Provide travel advice and crisis updates;
Arrange special transportation arrangements for national evacuations, where reasonable and possible;

In return, we ask citizens affected by such crises or emergencies to:

Work with the citizens’ Consular Office to reduce exposure to hazardous conditions. It should be recognized that while our efforts will consider all eventualities, there may be limits to the assistance we can provide in a crisis or major emergency.

how to contact us for assistance

During business hours

(09am-16:00hrs) Monday to Friday

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email us

Call Us

+44 (0207)-235-1291

outside of office hours, or on a weekend

cALL us

1ST SECRETARY
+44 (073 8554 3873)

Vie Our service Charter Below

Consular service charter

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, through its High Commission in London UK, provides consular assistance to all Basotho and Lesotho citizens abroad.

The Consular office values serving all citizens of Lesotho visiting or living in the UK; in adherence to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations guidelines, our standards will always strive for the provision of services with consistency, fairness and empathy. We are committed to being responsive, professional and supportive. Yet the citizens need be aware of instances, whereby the Consular office may and may not be able to provide support in instances as outlined below.

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Must Do Before You Travel
What Consular Office Can Do
What Consular Office Can’t Do

In adherence to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations guidance.

Citizens must ensure to acquire from the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Country they intend to visit, an up-to-date information about the visa requirements.

Essential Travel Documentation

Ensure validity of their passports;
Obtain all appropriate visas, including transit visas where they are required;
Provide all required information when applying for visas;
Acquire an appropriate travel insurance;
Ensure your family members and friends are aware of your travel plans abroad.

Within legal, practical confines of the host nation jurisdictional systems and established policy practices.

Notably, must respect the host country’s systems, therefore we cannot interfere in their processes just as we would not accept such interference in the kingdom of Lesotho’s jurisdictional matters.

Generally:

We may be able to raise welfare concerns or other sensitivities with local authorities for consideration concerning your mis treatment in prison custody;
Provide tailored assistance in relation specific citizens individual needs.

For avoidance of, jurisdictional legal breaches and practical avoidence of risk exposure to our consulate members of staff.

There are cases where our help can be restricted as we must respect the host country’s systems. We cannot interfere in their processes just as we would not accept such interference in the kingdom of Lesotho’s jurisdictional matters.

Generally:

Intervene in the UK’s judicial proceedings or law enforcement matters. In criminal or civil court proceedings pertaining to either commercial, employment disputes, criminal law procedures, family law matters or child custody disputes, except to the extent permissible by the UK laws;
Get citizen out of prison or prevent the local authorities from deporting citizen following their prison sentence;
Provide citizens with medical advice or pay for their medical expenses.
Provide citizens with any form of assistance not specifically provided by UK laws or diplomatic mandate policies.

Our Aims & values:

Serving the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho abroad and their needs is at the core of what we do at our Mission in the UK. Any personal information provided to us in confidence shall be protected in accordance with the Kingdom of Lesotho Data Protection laws.

We are committed to providing efficient and cost-effective support to Basotho in the UK to the best of our abilities. Their enquiries will always be addressed courteously, promptly and efficiently.

We’ll always endeavour to communicate with clarity regarding what we can do to help, and how we can provide any help where applicable.

our service strives to be:

Confidential
Helpful
Informative
Educational

About the Consular Service Standards for Citizens Visiting or Living in the UK Page

The High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho UK provides UK level consular information and guidance for our citizens in the UK jurisdiction only.

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Personal information provided to the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho is protected by law, including the Data Privacy Act (DPA 2013). Our privacy policy is accessible at this website page: https://lesothohc.org.uk/privacy-policy/.

This information is provided as a public service by the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

While every care has been taken in compiling this information to ensure accuracy and currency of the content, the information is provided ‘as is’. Neither the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho nor its diplomatic and consular members of staff can accept liability for any injury, loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the statement contained herein.

This publication neither purports nor intends to provide legal advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. It is incumbent upon the reader to seek legal advice to supplement this information with independent research and professional advice.

The contents of this disclaimer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Kingdom of Lesotho. Any dispute arising from this disclaimer shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

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