Australia and Germany have always had a warm and significant bilateral relashionship. The Australian embassy based in Berlin provides consular assistance to Australian citizens and permanent residents travelling or living in Germany. The current ambassador at the Australian Embassy is H.E Lynette Wood ,and she has done a superb job ensuring that every Australian living abroad needs have been satiated.Australia’s embassy in Berlin is concurrently accredited to Liechtenstein and Switzerland .In addition to the Embassy in Berlin ,Australia has a consulate general in Frankfurt am Maim. This embassy is one of 849 foreign representations in Germany and one of 170 Foreign representation based in Berlin.
- Services provided
Every Embassy is liable to provide assistance which is appropriate to its nationals regarding the circumstances of each case. Some of the services provided by the Australian Embassy in Germany include;
- Issuing of visas
- Facilitating renewal of passports
- Issuing emergency travel certificates
- Providing information about transferring funds
- Providing appropriate help if ill or in hospital
- Assistance when detained in a foreign country
- Offering support and aid in cases such as; child abductions, death of relatives oversees, missing people and kidnappings
- Contacting family and friends for you on request
- Providing notarial services as appropriate
- Australia-Germany Relationship
The Australian –Germany relationship is a symbiotic one where both parties mutually benefit. This relationship is strengthened in areas such as trade and investments, strategic dialogue and collaboration, science and education, exchange on diversity, migration, integration and refugees, cultural and sporting links among others.
Australian businesses are continually expanding into the European market and strengthening its business connections. Currently negotiations between EU and Australia are underway for a Free Trade Agreement [FTA] of which Germany is an important participant.
Another major priority for the Australian Embassy is to bolster the strong Research connections it has with Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to address upcoming global challenges such as the recent Corona Virus [COVID-19] Crisis. In 2018 an Australian-German research network was developed to facilitate information sharing and boosting the strengths of Australians research connection with Germany.
The Australian cultural landscape is thriving and successfully expanding into Europe and this has contributed to the vast increase in Australian art, dance, theartre and musical organizations in Germany. This cultural integration between the two countries can be highly attributed to the large number of Australians visiting Germany for work purposes or just merely for adventure.
Last but not least, the embassy has a wide ranging dialogue and cooperation with Germany which ranks among Australia’s leading trading partners for many years. They also have a strongly founded and expanding investment relationship where Germany is a major source of foreign direct investment to Australia and also one of Australia’s largest investment destinations.
Every Foreign embassy has a responsibility to its citizens to protect and cater for their needs and also give aid where necessary to ensure their nationals have the best experience overseas.
