A scooter clips a pedestrian outside your hotel, and the people around you look at each other, phones in hand. The number you would dial at home may not be the right one here, and an emergency is the worst moment to look it up.
This guide lists emergency numbers abroad by country for popular destinations, grouped by region: 112 across the EU, 911 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, 999 or 112 in the UK, and local numbers elsewhere. It also covers what to say when you call and what to do if you cannot get through.
Key facts for emergency numbers abroad
- EU countries: 112 reaches emergency services in every EU country
- United States, Canada and Mexico: 911
- United Kingdom: 999 or 112
- Elsewhere: numbers differ, often by service, so save the local ones before you travel
- When you call: say where you are, what happened and how many people are hurt
Emergency numbers abroad by country: Europe
112 reaches emergency services in every EU country, and it also works in the UK, Switzerland and Turkey. Several countries keep their own numbers as well:
- Spain: 112 for all emergencies; National Police 091, Guardia Civil 062, medical emergencies 061.
- France: 112; medical emergencies 15, police 17, fire 18; 114 is a text service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
- Italy: 112; the older numbers 113 (police), 115 (fire) and 118 (medical) also work.
- Germany: 112 for fire and ambulance; police 110.
- Greece: 112; police 100, ambulance 166, fire 199; tourist assistance 1571.
- United Kingdom: 999 or 112.
- Switzerland: 112; police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144.
- Turkey: 112 for all emergencies; 911 also connects to it.
The Americas
911 is the number in the United States, Canada and Mexico; Brazil has a separate number for each service.
- United States: 911, with text-to-911 in many areas.
- Canada: 911 for police, ambulance and fire.
- Mexico: 911.
- Brazil: police 190, ambulance 192, fire 193.
Middle East and Africa
Each country on this list has its own numbers, so check them before you go; note that in the United Arab Emirates, 999 is the police.
- Egypt: police 122, or 112 from a mobile; ambulance 123, fire 180; tourist police 126.
- Morocco: police 19, ambulance and fire 15.
- United Arab Emirates: police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997.
- South Africa: police 10111, ambulance 10177; 112 from a mobile phone.
Asia-Pacific
Most of these destinations use separate numbers for the police and for an ambulance, and the same digits can mean different things: 112 is the police in South Korea, and 119 calls the fire service in China but an ambulance or the fire service in Japan and South Korea.
- Thailand: police 191, ambulance 1669, fire 199; Tourist Police 1155.
- Japan: police 110, ambulance and fire 119.
- South Korea: police 112, ambulance and fire 119.
- China: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119.
- India: 112; police 100, ambulance 108, fire 101.
- Australia: 000; 112 also works from a mobile.
- New Zealand: 111.
When you call, and if you cannot get through
Say where you are, with an address or a landmark, what happened and how many people are hurt. If you do not speak the local language, ask someone nearby to make the call or to help you explain.
A data-only travel eSIM has no phone number, so keep your home SIM or eSIM switched on in the phone for calls. If your phone cannot get through, ask someone nearby to call for you, or go to a hotel reception, a shop or a police station.
How Telcomia helps
On the Telcomia safety page, choose your nationality and destination to see the emergency numbers there, together with your embassy or consulate, an official 24/7 consular emergency line verified against official sources, directions to the embassy and travel recommendations from your government. The app adds emergency phrases with audio, in the local language where available, ready to show the people helping you.
Before you travel
- Save the emergency numbers for each country on your route in your contacts, under a name you will find quickly.
- Write them down on paper as well, with the address of where you are staying.
- Save your embassy's 24/7 consular emergency line from the safety page.
- Carry a power bank on long days out.
Questions travellers ask about emergency numbers abroad
Does 112 work outside Europe?
In some countries. Among the destinations in this guide, 112 works in India, and from a mobile in Australia and South Africa; in Egypt it reaches the police from a mobile, and in South Korea it is the police number. Elsewhere, save the local numbers rather than relying on 112.
What is the emergency number in the US?
911, which is also the number in Canada and Mexico. Text-to-911 works in many areas of the United States, but not all, so call if you can.
Can I call 112 without a SIM or credit?
Do not count on it, but in an emergency, try anyway. To be ready, keep a line that can make calls switched on in the phone: with a data-only travel eSIM, that means your home SIM or eSIM. If you cannot get through, ask someone nearby to call for you.
Which number do I call for the police in Thailand?
191 for the police, and 1155 for the Tourist Police. For an ambulance, call 1669; for the fire service, 199.
The short version
Call 112 in every EU country, 911 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and 999 or 112 in the UK; elsewhere the numbers differ, so save the local ones before you travel. Keep a line that can make calls switched on, and when you call, say where you are, what happened and how many people are hurt.
See emergency numbers for your destination →
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