Calling 911 While Traveling Abroad

What are the emergency response telephone numbers in foreign countries – police, ambulance, etc.?

If there is an emergency that requires an ambulance, firefighters or police, Americans know that help is only three telephone digits away, at 9-1-1. These numbers are not the standard in many other countries, so calling dialing 911 from a hotel room in Germany won’t get you the emergency services you need. Many countries use multiple emergency numbers, depending on who you need to reach.

I have compiled a list of popular tourist destinations (countries) abroad, and have provided contact numbers for each of the three primary emergency services.

If you have a GSM cellular phone, they are typically “smart enough” to redirect a “911” call to the appropriate number in the country you are visiting. But, this isn’t foolproof, and you should make yourself aware of these emergency numbers. If you’re in a bind, remember that “112” and “999” are the most used of these foreign combinations.

If the country to are visiting is not listed in the chart below, you can download a complete list of emergency telephone numbers (PDF file) from the U.S. Department of State.