What to Do in a Travel Emergency: Step-by-Step Safety Guide
Short answer: in a travel emergency, first get yourself and others safe, then call the local emergency number (112 works in the EU and many other countries; 911 in North America). Next call your travel insurer's 24-hour assistance line, contact your embassy or consulate if you need help with documents, arrests or a serious incident, and tell someone at home. Before you travel, save those numbers and keep copies of your documents so these steps take minutes, not hours.
Nobody plans for an emergency on holiday, but a little preparation makes a frightening situation much easier to handle. This guide covers what to set up before you leave, the general steps for any emergency, and specific steps for the most common problems: medical emergencies, a lost or stolen passport, theft, natural disasters, arrest and a missing travel companion.
Before you go: the 15-minute emergency setup
- Save key numbers in your phone and on paper: the local emergency number, your insurer's assistance line, your embassy or consulate, your accommodation and a contact at home.
- Store copies of documents (passport, visas, insurance policy, bookings, prescriptions) in a secure cloud folder, with a paper copy kept separate from the originals.
- Buy travel insurance with medical cover and emergency evacuation, and read what it excludes. If you rely on Medicare, check what Medicare does and doesn't cover abroad.
- Register your trip: US citizens can use the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP); many other countries have similar schemes.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home and agree on check-ins.
- Carry a backup: a second bank card and some cash kept separately.
- Write down medical information: blood type if known, allergies, conditions and medicines with generic names.
The five steps for any emergency
- Get safe. Move away from immediate danger: traffic, fire, water, an aggressive person. Don't put yourself at risk to save belongings.
- Call for help. Dial the local emergency number. 112 works from mobile phones across the European Union and in many other countries; 911 works in the US, Canada and Mexico. Say where you are as precisely as you can; your phone's map app can show your coordinates.
- Call your insurer's assistance line. For medical problems, call as soon as you can. Many insurers must approve treatment or will pay hospitals directly, and they can find English-speaking doctors.
- Contact your embassy or consulate if you have lost your passport, been arrested, been the victim of a serious crime, or are caught in a disaster. US citizens can call the State Department's overseas citizen services line, listed on travel.state.gov's emergencies page.
- Tell someone at home what has happened and keep them updated. Keep notes, receipts and reference numbers for insurance claims.
Medical emergencies abroad
- Life-threatening situations (chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, serious injury): call the emergency number immediately.
- Less urgent problems: a pharmacy is often a good first stop, and pharmacists in many countries can advise and refer you. Your insurer or hotel can direct you to a clinic.
- Bring your passport and insurance details to the hospital. Some private hospitals ask for a deposit or a guarantee of payment before treatment; your insurer can usually arrange this.
- Keep every document: medical reports, prescriptions and receipts, needed for your claim.
- For serious cases, your insurer decides with the doctors whether you need a transfer to another hospital or evacuation home.
EU residents travelling in Europe should also carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or the UK GHIC for UK residents, which gives access to state healthcare on the same terms as locals. It doesn't replace travel insurance.
Lost or stolen passport
- Report it to the local police and get a written report. You'll need it for the embassy and your insurer.
- Contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement or an emergency travel document. US citizens must also report a lost passport to the State Department, which cancels it.
- Bring what you can: passport photos, a copy of the lost passport, another ID, the police report and your travel bookings.
- Tell your airline if the replacement affects your flight, and check whether you need a new visa or entry stamp for your onward journey.
Theft of wallet, phone or bags
- Block your cards straight away through your banking app or the bank's emergency number.
- Lock or wipe your phone remotely and change key passwords (email first, then banking and social media).
- Report the theft to the police within the time your insurer requires (often 24-48 hours) and get a written report.
- Use your backup card and cash, or arrange an emergency money transfer from home.
Natural disasters and civil unrest
- Follow instructions from local authorities and your accommodation. They know the evacuation routes and shelters.
- Monitor local news, your embassy's alerts and STEP messages.
- Let your family know you are safe as soon as you can; phone networks are often overloaded, so a text or a social media "safe" check-in may get through when calls don't.
- Keep your passport, medicines, phone, charger, water and some cash in one bag you can grab.
- Avoid demonstrations, even peaceful ones. They can turn quickly, and in some countries foreigners taking part can be arrested.
If you are arrested or detained
- Stay calm and polite, and don't sign anything you don't understand.
- Ask for your embassy or consulate to be informed. Under international rules, most countries must notify it if you ask.
- The embassy can't get you out of jail or pay fines, but it can give you a list of local lawyers, check on your welfare and contact your family.
- Remember that local laws apply to you, including on drugs, alcohol, photography and behaviour at religious sites, and penalties can be severe.
If a travel companion goes missing
- Try their phone, social media and the places you last saw them or planned to go.
- Check with your accommodation and their friends at home.
- If you can't find them within a few hours, or there is any reason for concern, report it to the local police and contact their embassy.
- Agree on a meeting point and a check-in time at the start of every trip to make this less likely.
Emergency card: what to carry
| Item | Where to keep it |
|---|---|
| Local emergency number, insurer helpline, embassy | Phone contacts and a paper card in your wallet |
| Passport copy and insurance policy number | Cloud folder and a paper copy kept separately |
| Accommodation address in the local language | Phone and paper |
| Medical information and medicines list | Phone (emergency medical ID) and paper |
| Backup card and cash | Separate from your main wallet |
| Contact at home | Phone, paper, and set as an emergency contact |
Related guides
- Solo female travel safety tips: preventing problems before they happen.
- Northern lights in November: winter driving and cold-weather safety in the Arctic.
- Travel prayers for a safe journey: for travellers who like to start a trip with a prayer as well as a plan.
More practical advice is in our Solo Travel section.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number abroad?
It depends on the country. 112 works from mobile phones across the European Union and in many other countries, and 911 in the US, Canada and Mexico. Check the number for your destination before you travel.
What should I do first in a travel emergency?
Get yourself and others away from immediate danger, call the local emergency number, then call your travel insurer's assistance line. Contact your embassy if you have lost your passport, been arrested or been caught in a serious incident.
What can my embassy do in an emergency?
It can issue a replacement or emergency passport, give you lists of local doctors and lawyers, contact your family and check on you if you are detained. It cannot pay your bills, get you out of jail or override local laws.
What should I do if my passport is stolen abroad?
Report it to the local police and get a written report, then contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement or emergency travel document, bringing photos, a copy of the passport and your bookings.
