How to Call Police in a Foreign Country (2026)
Calling police in your home country is intuitive. Calling police in a foreign country โ possibly without the right number, possibly without the local language โ is one of the most stressful things a traveler can face. This guide removes that uncertainty entirely.
โก Quick answer: In an emergency right now?
Try 112 (Europe + most countries) ยท 911 (USA/Canada/Mexico) ยท Or check allemergencynumbers.com for your specific country.
Step 1: Save the Local Police Number Before You Land
The single most effective thing you can do is look up and save the local police number before you board your flight. In a crisis, you won't have time to search the internet โ especially if your data is slow or your battery is low.
How to save the right number (takes 2 minutes):
- 1.Go to allemergencynumbers.com
- 2.Find your destination country
- 3.Tap "Save" on the police number โ it saves to your phone's local storage (works offline)
- 4.Also add it as a named contact in your phone: "๐จ Police [Country]"
- 5.Save 112 separately as "๐ Emergency Europe" as a fallback
Police Emergency Numbers by Region
| Region / Country | Police Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (EU) | 112 or local number | 112 mandatory in all EU countries |
| USA | 911 | Works in all 50 states |
| Canada | 911 | Works in all provinces |
| Mexico | 911 | National since 2017 |
| UK | 999 or 112 | Both connect to same dispatch |
| Australia | 000 | Also 112 from mobile |
| New Zealand | 111 | Police, fire, ambulance |
| Japan | 110 | Police only; ambulance = 119 |
| China | 110 | Police only |
| India | 100 or 112 | 112 is the new national number |
| Brazil | 190 | Military police |
| South Africa | 10111 | SAPS emergency |
| UAE | 999 | Police and emergency |
| Saudi Arabia | 999 | Police; ambulance = 911 |
| Russia | 102 | Police; general = 112 |
For the specific, verified police number in any of 150+ countries, with sources and verification dates, visit the country's page on allemergencynumbers.com.
What to Say When You Call Police Abroad
When you're scared, the right words are hard to find. Prepare this script mentally now:
WHAT TO SAY (in this order):
1. "I need police."
2. "My location is [street address / landmark / GPS coordinates]."
3. "I am a tourist from [your country]."
4. "[Describe the emergency in 1โ2 sentences]."
5. "I speak [language]. Do you have an interpreter?"
โ DO:
- โข Give your location FIRST
- โข Speak slowly and clearly
- โข Stay on the line
- โข State that you're a tourist
- โข Ask for an interpreter if needed
โ DON'T:
- โข Hang up if they don't understand immediately
- โข Shout or speak very fast
- โข Give lots of details before giving location
- โข Assume they speak English
Language Barrier Solutions When Calling Police Abroad
Even if the dispatcher doesn't speak English, help can still be sent โ especially if you can communicate your location. These strategies maximize your chance of getting help quickly:
Give your GPS coordinates
Open Google Maps, press and hold your location dot, and read out the latitude/longitude numbers. These are universal โ no translation needed. Example: '48.8566, 2.3522' (central Paris). This is the most language-proof way to communicate your location.
Emergency words in the local language
Learn 5 words before every trip: help, police, ambulance, fire, and the name of your hotel. Even one correct word signals urgency and confirms you need emergency services. Our country pages list emergency phrases with pronunciation for every country.
Use Google Translate conversation mode
Hold your phone between you and a bystander, or keep it on speaker while you listen. Translate speech in near-real-time. Download the offline language pack before you travel.
Call your travel insurer's assistance line
Most travel insurance assistance lines provide live phone interpretation โ they'll translate between you and the local police or medical staff in real time. This is the most reliable solution for complex communication.
Ask a bystander to translate
'English? Please help me call police.' In most tourist areas, someone nearby will step up. Don't hesitate to make this request of a stranger โ most people will help.
Your Rights as a Foreign National When Calling Police
Right to call your embassy or consulate
Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, if you are arrested or detained, you have the right to be informed of your right to contact your home country's consulate. Request this explicitly: 'I want to contact my embassy.' Your consulate can provide legal referrals, translator assistance, and notify your family.
Right to an interpreter
In most countries, if you are arrested or need to provide a statement, you have the right to an interpreter at no cost. This is separate from the language barrier when calling โ this applies specifically to official police interactions and legal proceedings.
Right to remain silent (in most countries)
You generally have the right to refuse to make a statement until you have legal representation. If detained, say clearly: 'I would like to speak to a lawyer and my embassy before answering questions.'
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I call police in a foreign country?
Look up the local police number before you travel at allemergencynumbers.com. Save it as a contact. As a fallback, dial 112 in Europe or 911 in North America. Speak slowly, give your location first, and stay on the line.
What is the international police number?
112 is the closest equivalent to a universal emergency number, working in all EU countries and many others. 911 covers the USA, Canada, and Mexico. There's no single global number โ local numbers vary significantly. Find the verified number for any country at allemergencynumbers.com.
Can I call 911 abroad?
911 works in the USA, Canada, and Mexico only. In Europe, 911 will not connect to emergency services. Use 112 instead. In other regions, use the local emergency number for the specific country you're visiting.
What if there's a language barrier when calling police abroad?
Call anyway and stay on the line. Give your GPS coordinates (universal) or address. Use a bystander to translate, or use Google Translate conversation mode. Your travel insurer's assistance line can also provide live phone interpretation.
Does 112 work to call police everywhere?
112 works in all 27 EU member states, EEA countries, Switzerland, and Turkey. It also works in many non-EU countries, but reliability varies outside Europe. When in doubt, try 112 first, then look up the local number.
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