Australian Embassy
United Arab Emirates

Consular Assistance

The Consular Services Charter outlines the consular services and assistance that may be provided to Australians, by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There will be circumstances in which our ability to provide consular support may be limited. 

We strive to

  • Empower Australians to help themselves overseas.
  • Effectively prepare for and manage overseas crises.
  • Deliver a consular service focused on Australians most in need.

Who we can assist

We only provide consular services to Australian permanent residents in the event of a crisis overseas. This may include government-assisted evacuations when provided to Australian citizens.

If you’re a dual national, we will only be able to assist you in your country of other nationality in exceptional circumstances.

Seeking legal advice in the UAE

The legal and judicial system in the UAE differs significantly from Australia.  Civil and criminal laws and systems can seem complicated and cases can take a long time to resolve.   While the Australian Embassy and Consulate-General cannot provide legal advice to Australians in the UAE, the following lists of lawyers may be able to assist you:

For more information about laws, see our travel advice. 

Your privacy

Personal information provided to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. DFAT’s privacy policy can be accessed at dfat.gov.au/privacy

Feedback

We welcome your comments on our services. Both positive and negative feedback helps us to identify areas that need improvement or where changes would make sense. Sharing your experiences may also help other Australians to avoid difficulties overseas and understand what level of assistance we can provide.

You can comment on our services by:

Letters of No Objection

The Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai do not issue personalised letters of no objection for individual Australian citizens in the United Arab Emirates.

Instead, Australian citizens in need of a letter of no objection can download our universal letter of no objection in English and Arabic, free of charge.  This letter applies to all Australian citizens and should be used in place of personalised letters confirming the Australian Government has no objection to:

  • An Australian citizen travelling to or through any country permitted under Australian law, or apply for a relevant visa;
  • An Australian citizen sponsoring an Australian or non-Australian family member for visa purposes;
  • A residency permit for the United Arab Emirates being transferred from a foreign passport to an Australian passport.

Australian citizens do not require the approval of the Australian Government for any of the above.

Relevant authorities in the United Arab Emirates are aware of this policy. 

Useful Information for Australians Living in the UAE

Returning to Australia

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Services for Australians

Australian citizens and permanent residents that have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the UAE and carry UAE-issued Sinopharm vaccination certificates can download an Embassy issued letter, to present to your health professional in Australia for recording on the Australian Immunisation Register. 

Please see below general information for travellers.