A new initiative has been announced that will see US citizens who lose their passports or encounter other difficult situations in Austria being able to access help from fast-food giant McDonald's.

A new initiative will see Americans who lose their passports in Austria being able to access help from McDonald's. Image by FatCamera/Getty Images

The move comes thanks to a new partnership announced by the US Embassy in Vienna. American citizens who need to contact the embassy can now go into any of the 194 McDonald's in Austria, where they'll be given a a 24/7 number and a phone to make the call, if needed. Speaking on its Facebook page, the embassy said that the new partnership was signed into agreement by US ambassador to Austria, Trevor D. Traina, a former technology entrepreneur.

Ambassador Trevor Traina and Isabelle Kuster, the managing director of McDonald’s Austria, after signing a “memorandum of agreement.” Image by US Embassy Austria Facebook

In a post on its Facebook page, he was pictured signing a "memorandum of agreement" with Isabelle Kuster, the managing director of McDonald’s Austria. "American citizens traveling in Austria who find themselves in distress and without a way to contact the U.S. Embassy can enter any McDonald's in Austria," the post said. "Staff will assist them in making contact with the U.S. Embassy for consular services (e.g. report a lost or stolen passport, or seek travel assistance).

McDonald's in Innsbruck in Austria. Image: Tim Graham/Getty Images