Emergency Numbers Abroad: What to Dial in 9 Destinations

Many travelers assume 911 works everywhere. It doesn't. Australia's communications regulator notes that the number used by US emergency services can't be used to reach emergency services there. Before you land, it helps to know which number applies where you're going.

The short version

There is no single worldwide emergency number.
In the EU, 112 is free from any phone and works in all 27 member countries.
Several countries use different numbers for police, fire and ambulance.
Don't count on texting emergency services. Where it's offered, it's often only for registered deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired users.
Save your destination's numbers in your phone before you leave, and write them down too.

Emergency numbers in popular destinations

Destination	Main number(s)	Good to know
European Union	112	Free from any phone; works alongside national numbers
United Kingdom	999 or 112	Text-to-999 is only for registered deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired users
Australia	000	112 also works from a mobile phone; you can't text
New Zealand	111	Texting is only for registered deaf, hearing- or speech-impaired users
Japan	110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)	JNTO Visitor Hotline: 050‑3816‑2787, 24 hours
Thailand	191 (police), 1669 (medical), 1155 (tourist police)	Fire: 199
Vietnam	113 (police), 114 (fire), 115 (ambulance)	Ambulance line may be Vietnamese-speaking only; 112 national hotline since 2025
India	112	Brings police, fire and health helplines under one number
Mexico	911	Single national number, phased in from 2016

Numbers can change. This table was last reviewed on October 25, 2026. Confirm with official sources before you travel.

How 112 works

112 is the EU-wide emergency number. You can call it free from a mobile or landline anywhere in the EU. A trained operator either handles the call or passes you to the ambulance, fire or police service. In many countries, operators can answer in the national language, English or French.

112 doesn't replace national numbers in most countries. It runs alongside them. A few countries, including Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Malta, Estonia and Romania, use 112 as their only national emergency number.

The EU also says 112 is available on GSM mobile networks worldwide. In practice that varies by country, network and phone, so don't treat it as your only plan outside Europe. Look up the local number.

Things that catch travelers out

Australia: 000 is primary. 112 works from a mobile phone but goes to the same service and gets no priority. Australian authorities note you can't contact 000 or 112 by text. The communications regulator also says Triple Zero itself doesn't have translators: calls from non-English speakers are transferred to police, who then arrange one.

Texting isn't a safety net. The UK's emergency SMS service and New Zealand's 111 TXT are designed for deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people, and both require you to register before an emergency. Unregistered texts to 111 won't go through. Plan on making a voice call.

Different services, different numbers. In Japan, police are 110 while fire and ambulance share 119. Thailand and Vietnam also split services across numbers. Know which one you'd need.

Language can be a barrier. New Zealand's foreign ministry notes that Vietnam's ambulance line is for Vietnamese speakers only. Japan's national tourism organization runs a 24-hour Visitor Hotline in English, Chinese and Korean. In Thailand, the dedicated tourist police line is 1155, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's 1672 line offers English by pressing 9, according to the Government of Canada.

Vietnam and 112. In September 2025, Vietnam launched a nationwide 112 hotline for reporting accidents, natural disasters and other emergencies, handled by provincial military commands. It links with the existing numbers rather than replacing them, so for police, fire or an ambulance, 113, 114 and 115 remain the direct lines.

Before you go

Look up the numbers for every country on your route, including layovers where you'll leave the airport.
Save them in your phone and write them on paper. Phones die.
Keep your accommodation's name and address handy, ideally in the local language.
Remember that an embassy isn't an emergency responder. See what embassies can and can't do.
Don't call an emergency number just to test it. It ties up operators who may be handling real emergencies.

When you call

Say which service you need (police, fire or ambulance), where you are, and what's happening. Answer the operator's questions and keep the line free afterward in case they call back.

Where Farhaven fits

Farhaven shows the emergency numbers for the country you're in, alongside government advisories, local laws and entry requirements, so you aren't searching for them mid-trip. Farhaven is an information tool, not an emergency service. In an emergency, contact local emergency services directly.

Planning ahead? Our pre-trip checklist and guide to local laws that catch travelers out pair well with this one.

FAQ

Does 911 work outside the US?

Sometimes, but not universally. Mexico uses 911 nationally, while Australia's emergency number is 000. Check the number for each country you visit.

Does 112 work everywhere?

It's the emergency number across the EU. The EU says it's also available on GSM networks worldwide, but that varies, so confirm the local number.

Can I text emergency services abroad?

Usually not as a visitor. In the UK and New Zealand, text services are for deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people who register in advance, and Australia doesn't offer text. Plan to call.

Who can I call for non-emergency help as a tourist?

Some countries run tourist lines, such as Japan's Visitor Hotline (050‑3816‑2787) and Thailand's tourist police (1155).

Emergency Numbers Abroad: What to Dial in Popular Destinations