Emergency Abroad: What to Do and Who to Call

If someone’s life or safety is at risk, call local emergency services first. Save the number for each country before you travel, and know that your hotel front desk, cruise ship or safari camp manager can also summon help quickly.

US embassies and consulates can replace a lost or stolen passport, often with an emergency passport for urgent travel, help you find local doctors, hospitals and lawyers, contact family on your behalf, and visit you if you’re arrested. In crises, they share safety information and coordinate departure options.

They can’t pay medical or hotel bills, act as your lawyer, get you released from jail or override local law. If you can’t reach the local embassy, the State Department’s emergency line is 1-888-407-4747 from the US and Canada, or +1 202-501-4444 from overseas.

Get care first, then call your insurer’s assistance line as soon as you can. They can recommend facilities, sometimes guarantee payment and arrange evacuation if needed. Expect many hospitals abroad to ask for payment or a deposit, so carry a credit card with room on it.

Keep every bill and medical report for claims. If you’re unsure what your plan covers overseas, read our guide to health insurance abroad before you travel, not during an emergency.

Report the crime to local police and get a copy of the report for insurance and passport replacement. Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate to replace your passport, cancel any stolen cards and change passwords if devices were taken.

Our travel safety tips cover how to replace a lost passport step by step and how to avoid common scams in the first place.

Follow instructions from local authorities, stay where you are if it’s safe, and let family know you’re okay. If you’ve enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, the embassy can send alerts and reach you. Check the State Department travel advisory for the latest guidance.

Don’t count on government evacuation flights. The State Department typically provides departure assistance on a reimbursable basis, and commercial flights remain the main way out. Insurance with security evacuation coverage, where available, adds another option.

A few minutes of preparation saves hours in a crisis. Save local emergency numbers and your insurer’s assistance line in your phone, share your itinerary with someone at home, keep a digital copy of your passport, and enroll in STEP.

Companies should have a plan for reaching travelers in a crisis; our travel emergency response plan template is a starting point. If you booked with Empyrean, on-trip help with rebooking and changes comes through the Virtuoso and Andavo support network.