"I’ve Made a Huge Mistake": What Are Your Options If You Get in Trouble Overseas?

The possibility of something straight-up nasty happening generally puts a dampener on people’s vacay vibes, but surprise, bad things do tend to happen.

In recent weeks we’ve heard of the case of Cassandra Sainsbury, a 22-year-old from South Australia who has been jailed for allegedly attempting to leave Colombia with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage. While we don’t know if she’s guilty or not, it’s definitely not a situation to be envious of.

And there have also been a few other high-profile cases in recent years of people getting into trouble with the authorities, from Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine to the now infamous Budgie Nine, just to name a few.

Last year, there were 15,740 cases of Australians overseas who requested consular help. That sounds like a lot, but to put it in perspective, there were 10.2 million departures, meaning that only 0.15 per cent of all departures resulted in something a bit iffy.  

So, what options do you have when your perfect little 'grammable getaway turns into the holiday from hell?

Here's what the government can do to help you out, and how travel insurance (if you've purchased it) can get you out of sticky situations.

What happens when…

... you lose your passport.

Losing your passport or having it stolen is probably one of the more daunting things that can happen while overseas. It could mean delays in travel, or even staying in the current country in perpetuity… (okay, that second part was mostly a lie).

Once you’ve realised that you’ve done the unthinkable, you will need to report it here to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). If you don’t, they can slap you with a pretty hefty fine, which will make your lil’ boo boo even worse.

So, now you’re in a foreign country without a passport? Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you can do quickly, which is why you’ve got to be super careful with your passport in the first place. Treat it like a human baby.

What you can do is delay all your travel plans for a week or so, complete an overseas passport application form, attend an interview at the local Australian embassy or consulate, pay the priority service fee and cross your fingers that your new passport comes as quickly as possible.

Before you leave for your trip, it’s actually a good idea to listen to your parents’ nagging and take photocopies of your passport. Put the copies in different places like your daypack and luggage.

... you permanently 'misplace' your wallet with your bank cards and can’t access your money.

If you’ve been unlucky enough to lose your wallet overseas, the important thing to do is find your bank’s phone number and cancel all your cards immediately.

The Australian government can’t really help you out much with this.

Assuming that your bank account hasn’t already been emptied, call your bank and ask for their emergency bank card service. Depending on the bank, they can give you advice as to what options you have within the country you're in. Also, many banks offer features like 24/7 transaction monitoring to ensure that any dodgy transactions that come through are flagged with you.

The great thing about 2017 is that a lot of things can be done on the internet. If you have a friend with you or someone you trust, you could transfer them a bit of your money and they could withdraw it from an ATM for you.

If you’re travelling solo, or are not sure whether your hostel’s shifty occupants will withdraw and pocket your money and then mysteriously check out, look into picking up an emergency Visa or emergency Mastercard. They may incur some fees, but it could mean being able to afford your food that night.

... you break a leg, literally.

Australia has reciprocal health care arrangements (RHCA) with 11 countries, including Italy, Norway, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. If you are in one these European countries (plus New Zealand), you might be entitled to health care for varying lengths of time (usually about six months) as long as you’ve brought along your Australian passport (it would suck if you lost it and had to go to hospital) and a valid Medicare card. They will usually treat you for emergencies and illnesses that require treatment before you can return to Australia. It's important to note, however, that these RHCAs shouldn't replace travel insurance as they can be limited in service.

If you’re not in one of these countries, you will need to rely on pre-purchased travel insurance. Yes, there’s no avoiding it. Yes, it can be worth it especially if you’ve suddenly broken something or have come down with an intense, rare fever… or both.

Make sure you check what your travel insurance covers so you don’t get any nasty surprises. Most of them will pay for your medical emergencies, but some policies might not cover you if it’s related to a pre-existing condition.

... you get a bit too familiar with the local law authority.

So, this is the big one. Perhaps you’ve done something considered illegal in another country and have been arrested for it.

The Australian government can help in a few ways, but largely, if you’ve done the crime, you’ll do the time.

According to Smartraveller, DFAT can assist you with a list of English-speaking lawyers in the country, as well as help you out with understanding visitor’s procedures. What they can’t do is quite obvious.

According to a handy DFAT document, they can’t get you out of jail (bummer), and they can’t generally provide you with legal fee assistance (although, exceptions are sometimes made) or provide translation services.

Many countries have laws that wouldn't normally apply in Australia so it's very adult to look those up before you arrive in the country.

You're now slightly more woke, but you've still got to be careful.

Obviously, the best way to avoid getting in trouble overseas is to know the law of the land and be responsible. However, some things can still happen outside of this. Checking Smartraveller for the latest travel warnings and general advice about your destination is a good first move.

The next best thing to do is try your best to avoid high-risk situations, like not immunising yourself before going to a country, doing extreme activities you might avoid in Australia or buying 18 headphones from a random Colombian man. It might mean the difference between spending time in your crusty but cosy hostel bed and an old, hard hospital bed (or even a cold, concrete prison floor).

Photo: Fox