If a family member, partner or friend has gone missing abroad, it can be an overwhelming and frightening experience. Being far from the country where they disappeared can make it difficult to know who to contact, what support is available, and where to turn for help.
You do not have to face this alone.
At Missing People, we provide emotional and practical support to families in the UK when someone they care about is missing abroad. We work alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), police services, and other organisations to help ensure families receive the support they need throughout the uncertainty of a missing person situation
We can support:
Report the Person Missing
If your family member or loved one is missing abroad, you should report them missing to your local UK police force as soon as possible. The police can liaise with the relevant authorities in the country where the person disappeared.
Contact the FCDO
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide consular support when a British national is missing abroad. Families can contact the FCDO at any time and do not need to wait until they have spoken to the police.
The FCDO may be able to:
Getting help if someone goes missing abroad
Report or find a missing person
FCDO 24-hour contact number: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Having someone missing abroad can affect every part of your life. Many families describe living with uncertainty, struggling to access information, and feeling isolated from the process taking place overseas.
Our helpline is open 7 days per week, between 10am – 10pm if you are missing, thinking of going missing, or someone you know is missing.
Our Family Support team are here between 10am and 6pm Monday – Friday, for free and in confidence, to support anyone who is missing a loved one or someone they care for.
Our specialist Family Support team can provide:
Emotional Support
A dedicated, compassionate space to talk about what you are experiencing and the impact the situation is having on you and your family.
Practical Advice and Guidance
We can help you understand what support may be available, explain relevant processes, and help you navigate services both in the UK and internationally.
Advocacy
Where appropriate and within our remit, we can help families understand their options and advocate on issues connected to the missing person situation.
Publicity Appeals
Subject to assessment and eligibility, we may be able to share appeals through the Missing People website and social media channels to help raise awareness.
Peer and Specialist Support
Where helpful, we can connect families with other relevant support services, specialist organisations, and peer support opportunities.
Missing People and the FCDO work together to ensure families can access both practical consular assistance and specialist emotional support.
Families may be:
This partnership helps ensure families receive support from the right organisation at the right time.
If someone you care about is missing abroad and you would like support, please get in touch.
Phone: +44 20 8392 4545
Email: 116000@missingpeople.org.uk
Please note that the short code 116 000 may not connect to Missing People when dialled from outside the UK, as it connects callers to the local missing helpline in the country they are calling from.
If your separation is linked to conflict, migration, or a natural disaster, the British Red Cross and international Red Cross/Red Crescent family tracing services may be able to help reconnect family members.
For families seeking support outside the UK, local embassies, consulates, government departments and specialist missing-person organisations may also be able to provide assistance.