U.S. Legat – Legal Attaché Worldwide – The FBI’s Overseas Offices – 2025

U.S. Legat – Legal Attaché Officers Worldwide – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Overseas Offices – 2025

FBI International Offices – Crime and terror have a global reach.

For more than eight decades, the FBI has stationed special agents and other personnel overseas. We help protect Americans back home by building relationships with principal law enforcement, intelligence, and security services around the globe. Now, at a time when virtually all major FBI investigations have a significant international nexus, these partnerships have never been more crucial.

Our legal attaché offices—commonly known as Legats—and sub-offices are located in key cities around the globe and provide coverage for more than 180 countries, territories, and islands. About 250 special agents and support personnel are stationed in FBI legats worldwide.

What is a Legat

A Legat (short for Legal Attaché) is an FBI representative assigned to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Legats serve as the primary liaison between the FBI and foreign law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies. Their role is to facilitate international cooperation on criminal investigations, counterterrorism, cybercrime, and other transnational threats.

Key Responsibilities of a Legat:

• • Coordination of Investigations: Assisting in joint operations, sharing intelligence, and coordinating with foreign counterparts on FBI cases that extend beyond U.S. borders.
  • Extradition and Legal Processes: Facilitating extradition requests, gathering evidence from foreign jurisdictions, and ensuring U.S. legal interests are represented abroad.
  • Information Sharing: Exchanging intelligence and criminal data to combat terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking, and cybercrime.
  • Crisis Response: Supporting U.S. citizens affected by terrorism or major crimes overseas and contributing to international crisis management.

Legats operate in over 60 countries and often cover multiple nations within a region. They report directly to the FBI’s International Operations Division in Washington, D.C.

Example:

If a cybercriminal based in Europe hacks a U.S. company, the Legat in the relevant embassy would work with local authorities to track down the perpetrator and assist in gathering evidence for prosecution.

FBI International Operations

Our legal attaché program is managed by the International Operations Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Through the legal attaché program and other efforts, the International Operations Division serves as a bridge to our overseas partners and a conduit for strengthening the global rule of law. It regularly works through elements of the international law enforcement community such as Interpol and Europol and numerous working groups, task forces, and training initiatives.

The office coordinates meetings with international leaders and keeps in close contact with other federal agencies, foreign police, and security officers in Washington, D.C., and national and international law enforcement associations.

Authorities and Jurisdiction

A number of U.S. federal laws give the FBI authority to investigate extraterritorial criminal and terrorist activity. The FBI, however, conducts investigations abroad only when invited by the host country. In most cases, our international partners gather evidence and make arrests on behalf of, or in close cooperation with the Bureau.

Each legat is established through mutual agreement with the host country and is located in that nation’s U.S. embassy or consulate. FBI personnel abroad serve under the authority of the Department of State, chief of mission at U.S. embassies, at the pleasure of ambassadors and host country governments.

International liaison and information sharing are conducted in accordance with executive orders, laws, treaties, attorney general guidelines, FBI policies, and interagency agreements.

The Role of the Legal Attaché Agent

The FBI agent who heads an international office is also called a legal attaché or legat. They serve as the FBI Director’s personal representative in the country where they have regional responsibilities.

Legal attachés are experienced, highly trained investigators who work directly and openly with their international colleagues. They do not conduct foreign intelligence gathering or counterintelligence investigations. Most legal attachés are supported by a deputy or assistant legal attaché and other staff.

Typical duties of a legal attaché include:

• coordinating requests for FBI or host country assistance overseas
• conducting investigations in coordination with the host government
• sharing investigative leads and information
• coordinating FBI training classes for police in their geographic areas
• briefing embassy counterparts from other agencies, including law enforcement agencies and ambassadors
• managing country clearances
• providing situation reports concerning cultural protocol
• assessing political and security climates
• coordinating victim and humanitarian assistance

How Legal Attaché Offices Help to Protect the United States

Relationship Building: Since FBI agents do not have traditional law enforcement powers overseas, they must rely on strong, mutually beneficial relationships with their foreign counterparts. Legal attachés maintain regular, often face-to-face contact with foreign officials and security agencies that enables the prompt and continuous exchange of information and reciprocal assistance in investigations. Legal attachés also provide critical and timely support in the defense of our homeland through direct coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of State, Interpol, and other law enforcement and security entities.

Physical Proximity: Legal attachés are positioned to enable agents to reach virtually anywhere in the world in a few hours, allowing the FBI to respond more quickly and effectively to terrorist attacks, cyber crime, fugitive sightings, crisis situations, natural disasters, and other global security matters.

Training/Rule of Law: Through international training facilitated by legal attachés, the FBI provides foreign law enforcement officers with skills in both basic and advanced investigative techniques and principles that promote cooperation and aid in the collection of evidence. These efforts help create more capable and democratic police institutions around the world, strengthening the global rule of law. Funded by the Department of State or Department of Defense, significant training programs include the International Law Enforcement Academies in Budapest, Hungary; Bangkok, Thailand; Gaborone, Botswana; and San Salvador, El Salvador, as well as bilateral training programs targeting anti-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and terrorist financing.

Detection and Prevention: By keeping their fingers on the pulse of criminal activity, national security threats, and emerging trends in the nations and regions they serve, legal attachés function as an early warning system to help keep crime and terrorism from reaching our shores.

FBI’s International Offices

Visit these Official FBI International Officer locations. If the contact information is not listed, visit the U.S. Embassy listing here: https://www.usembassy.gov/

AFRICA

Abuja, Nigeria

American Embassy: 011-234-9-461-4000
Nations covered: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria, Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-234-1-460-3400

Accra, Ghana

American Embassy: 011-233-30-2741-000
Nations covered: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Togo

Niamey, Niger, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-277-20-72-26-61

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

American Embassy: 011-251-11-130-6000
Nations covered: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan

Djibouti, Djibouti, Suboffice

American Embassy: 253-21-453-000

Dakar, Senegal

American Embassy: 011-221-33-879-4000
Nations covered: Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone

Nairobi, Kenya

American Embassy: 011-254-20-363-6000
Nations covered: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda

Pretoria, South Africa

American Embassy: 011-27-12-431-4000
Nations covered: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Rabat, Morocco

American Embassy: 011-212-537-762-265
Nations covered: Mali, Mauritania, Morocco

Tunis, Tunisia

American Embassy: 011-216-71-107-000
Nations covered: Algeria, Libya, Tunisia

Algiers, Algeria, Suboffice

American Embassy: 213-770-08-20-00

AMERICAS

Bogota, Colombia

American Embassy: 011-571-275-2000
Nations covered: Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

Brasilia, Brazil

American Embassy: 011-55-61-3312-7000
011-55-61-3312-7400 (after hours)
Nation covered: Brazil
Sao Paolo, Brazil, Suboffice

Bridgetown, Barbados

American Embassy: 1-246-436-4950
Nations covered: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, French West Indies, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Montserrat, Nassau (Islands of St. Barthelemy and French St. Martin), Netherland Antilles (islands of Bonaire and Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Dutch St. Maarten), St. Christopher, St. Kitts/Nevis (British West Indies), St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos

Nassau, Bahamas, Suboffice

American Consulate: 1-242-322-1181

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Suboffice

American Embassy: 1-868-622-6371

Buenos Aires, Argentina

American Embassy: 011-5411-5777-4300
Nations covered: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

Mexico City, Mexico

American Embassy: 011-52-55-5080-2000
Nation covered: Mexico

Guadalajara Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-52-33-3268-2100
Hermosillo Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-52-662-289-3500
Juarez Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-52-656-227-3000
Monterrey Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-52-81-8047-3100
Tijuana Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-52-664-977-2000

Ottawa, Canada

American Embassy: 1-613-238-5335
Nation covered: Canada

Toronto Suboffice
American Consulate: 1-416-640-8650
Vancouver Suboffice
American Consulate: 1-604-685-4311

Panama City, Panama

American Embassy: 011-507-317-5000
Nations covered: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua

San Jose, Costa Rica, Suboffice

Calle 98 Vía 104, Pavas
San José, Costa Rica
American Embassy: Telephone: [506] 2519-2000

San Salvador, El Salvador

American Embassy: 011-503-2501-2999
Nations covered: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

Guatamala City, Guatamala, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-502-2326-4000

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-504-2236-9320

Santiago, Chile

American Embassy: 011-56-22-330-3000
Nations covered: Bolivia, Chile, Peru

Lima, Peru, Suboffice

U.S. Embassy in Lima
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33, Peru
Telephone: (51-1) 618-2000

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

American Embassy: 1-809-221-2171 or 1-809-567-7775
Nations covered: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica

ASIA

Bangkok, Thailand

American Embassy: 011-66-2-205-4000
Nations covered: Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Thailand

Beijing, China

American Embassy: 011-86-10-8531-3000
Nations covered: Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, People’s Republic of China

Hong Kong, China, Suboffice

American Consulate: 011-852-2523-9011
Nations covered: Hong Kong, Macau

Jakarta, Indonesia

American Embassy 011-62-21-5083-1000
Nations covered: Indonesia, Timor-Leste

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

American Embassy: 011-60-3-2168-5000
Nation covered: Malaysia

Manila, Philippines

American Embassy: 011-63-2-5301-2000
Nation covered: Philippines

New Delhi, India

American Embassy: 011-91-11-2419-8000
Nations covered: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka, Suboffice

American Consulate: 011-94-11-202-8500
Nations covered: Maldives, Sri Lanka

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Suboffice

American Consulate: 011-880-2-5566-2000
Nations covered: Bangladesh, Nepal

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

American Embassy: 011-85-23-728-000
Nations covered: Cambodia, Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam, Suboffice

U.S. Embassy in Hanoi
7 Lang Ha Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84-24-3850-5000

Seoul, South Korea

American Embassy: 011-82-2-397-4114
Nation covered: Republic of Korea

Singapore, Singapore

American Embassy: 011-65-6476-9100
Nations covered: Brunei, Diego Garcia, Singapore

Taipei, Taiwan

American Embassy: 011-886-2-2162-2000
Nation covered: Taiwan

Tokyo, Japan

American Embassy: 011-81-3-3224-5000
Nation covered: Japan

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

Canberra, Australia

American Embassy: 011-61-2-6214-5600
Nations covered: Antarctica, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis, Futuna

Sydney, Australia, Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-612-9373-9200
Wellington, New Zealand, Suboffice
American Embassy: 011-64-4-462-6000

EASTERN EUROPE AND EURASIA

Ankara, Turkey

American Embassy: 011-90-312-455-5555
Nation covered: Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey, Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-90-212-335-9000

Astana, Kazakhstan

American Embassy: 011-7-3172-70-2100
Nations covered: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Athens, Greece

American Embassy: 011-30-210-720-2490
Nations covered: Cyprus, Greece

Nicosia, Cyprus, Suboffice

U.S. Embassy in Nicosia
Metochiou & Ploutarchou Street
2407, Engomi
Nicosia, Cyprus
Telephone: 357-22-393939

Belgrade, Serbia

American Embassy: 381-11-7064000
Nations covered: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Suboffice

U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo
1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000
SARAJEVO
tel: +387 33 704-000

Bucharest, Romania

American Embassy: 011-40-21-200-3300
Nations covered: Moldova, Romania

Budapest, Hungary

American Embassy: 011-36-1-475-4400
Nation covered: Hungary

Kyiv, Ukraine

American Embassy: 011-380-44-521-5000
Nations covered: Belarus, Ukraine

Moscow, Russia

American Embassy: 011-7-495-728-5000
Nation covered: Russia

Prague, Czech Republic

American Embassy: 011-420-2-5702-2000
Nations covered: Czech Republic and Slovakia

Riga, Latvia

American Embassy: 011-371-6710-7000
Nations covered: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Tallinn, Estonia, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-372-668-8100

Sofia, Bulgaria

American Embassy: 011-3592-937-5100
Nations covered: Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia

Tbilisi, Georgia

American Embassy: 011-995-32-27-7000
Nations covered: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

Warsaw, Poland

American Embassy: 011-4822-628-3041
Nation covered: Poland

EUROPE

Berlin, Germany

American Embassy: 011-49-30-238-5174
Nation covered: Germany

Frankfurt, Germany, Suboffice
American Consulate: 011-49-69-7535-0

Bern, Switzerland

American Embassy: 011-41-31-357-7011
Nations covered: Liechtenstein, Switzerland

Brussels, Belgium

American Embassy: 011-32-2-512-5519
Nations covered: Belgium, Luxembourg, U.S. Mission to NATO and the EU

Copenhagen, Denmark

American Embassy: 011-45-3341-7100
Nations covered: Denmark, Faroe Island, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-46-8-783-5300

London, England

American Embassy: 0-11-44-207-894-0007
Nations covered: United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey)

Madrid, Spain

American Embassy: 011-34-91-587-2200
Nations covered: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain

Paris, France

American Embassy: 011-33-1-4312-2222
Nations covered: France, Monaco

Rome, Italy

American Embassy: 011-39-06-4674-2710
Nations covered: Italy, Malta, San Marino, Vatican City

The Hague, Netherlands

American Embassy:  011-31-70-310-2264
Nations covered: Netherlands, U.S. Mission to Europol

Vienna, Austria

American Consulate: 011-43-1-313-39-2155
Nations covered: Austria, Croatia, Slovenia

MIDDLE EAST

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

American Embassy: 011-971-2-414-2200
Nation covered: United Arab Emirates

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Suboffice

011-971-4-309-4000

Amman, Jordan

American Embassy: 011-962-6-590-6000
Nations covered: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

Beirut, Lebanon, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-961-4-542-600

Baghdad, Iraq

American Embassy: 1-240-553-0590
Nation covered: Iraq

Erbil, Iraq, Suboffice

Cairo, Egypt

American Embassy: 011-202-2797-3300
Nation covered: Egypt

Doha, Qatar

American Embassy: 011-974-4496-6000
Nations covered: Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar

Kuwait City, Kuwait, Suboffice

American Embassy: 011-965-2259-1001

Islamabad, Pakistan

American Embassy: 011-92-51-208-0000
Nation covered: Pakistan

Karachi, Pakistan, Suboffice

American Consulate: 011-92-21-3527-5000

Muscat, Oman

American Embassy: 968-2464-3400
Nation covered: Oman

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

American Embassy: 011-966-1-488-3800
Nations covered: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Tel Aviv, Israel

American Embassy: 011-972-3-519-7575
Nations covered: Israel, Palestinian National Authority

Jerusalem, Israel, Suboffice
972-2-622-7127