I am a foreign national. I need consular assistance.
stra-NYEH-roh — three syllables; the 'ie' is a single glide sound.
Use if you are arrested or detained as a foreign national. Italian law and the Vienna Convention require that you be informed of your right to consular notification.
Article 36 of the Vienna Convention guarantees foreign nationals the right to contact their country's consulate if arrested or detained. Italian police are obligated to facilitate contact upon request.
Voglio contattare la mia ambasciata.
I want to contact my embassy.
Direct request — triggers the legal obligation to facilitate contact.
Ho diritto all'assistenza consolare.
I have the right to consular assistance.
Asserting the right explicitly — more direct than requesting.
Qual è il numero dell'ambasciata britannica?
What is the number of the British embassy?
Specific request for contact details — police must provide these.
The Australian, British, and American embassies in Rome all have 24-hour emergency lines for detained citizens. Embassies can provide translators and recommend lawyers, but cannot secure release.