Emergency Numbers by Country (2026): 47-Country List + eSIM Guide

Nobody plans to need an ambulance on holiday. But when something goes wrong abroad, the worst moment to search for "what is the emergency number in Turkey" is when you are standing next to someone who needs help. This guide gives you the police, ambulance and fire numbers for 47 popular destinations, explains what works on a phone with a travel eSIM, and shows the 5-minute setup that makes your phone ready for an emergency before you fly.

Key facts

• The number is different in every country. 911 does not work everywhere, and in some countries police, ambulance and fire each have their own number.
• 112 is the European emergency number. It is free and works in every EU country, from mobiles and landlines, alongside each country's own numbers. Operators in many countries can answer in English.
• Emergency calls go through the local mobile network. They do not use your eSIM's data allowance, and they are free.
• A data-only travel eSIM does not stop you calling for help. Keep your home line switched on, and your phone can place emergency calls through local networks.
• WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet calls cannot reach emergency services. WhatsApp's own terms say it does not connect to police, fire or ambulance services.
• Your phone can send your location automatically. In many countries, iPhones and Android phones share your location with the emergency centre when you call from the Phone app.

Emergency numbers by country (2026)

"Main number" is the one to dial when you are not sure. A dash (—) means the country has no single number, so call the specific service. Numbers were checked on 22 October 2026.

Middle East and North Africa

In Egypt, the tourist police can be reached on 126.

Europe and Turkey

In Greece, the tourist police number is 1571. In every EU country, 112 also works for all three services.

Asia and the Pacific

In Thailand, the tourist police answer on 1155, with English-speaking officers.

The Americas

Africa

Our free destination guides, such as the Turkey guide and the UAE guide, list these numbers with other local tips, and the TripoSIM app has an Emergency page with the numbers for 48 countries built in.

Can you call 112 or 911 with a travel eSIM?

Yes. This is the question we are asked most, so here is how it works.

A travel eSIM like ours is data-only. It gives your phone mobile internet for maps, messages and apps, but it does not come with a phone number. That sounds like it might be a problem in an emergency, but it is not, because emergency calls never use mobile data. When you dial an emergency number in your phone's Phone app, the phone places a normal voice call to the emergency centre through a local mobile network.

Here is what happens in practice:

• With your home line switched on (what we recommend): your phone calls the emergency number through a local partner network of your home carrier. Emergency calls are free in the EU and in most countries, even when you are roaming.
• If your phone shows "SOS" or "SOS only": your phone cannot use your own carrier, but it can still try emergency calls through other networks. Apple says this works in the US, Canada and Australia, and warns that some networks do not accept emergency calls from a phone that is not activated or has no SIM.
• If the only active line is a data-only eSIM: your phone will still try to place the emergency call on any network it can find, and in many countries it gets through. Because some networks refuse emergency calls from phones without an active voice line, keep your home line switched on for the whole trip.

The simple rule: travel eSIM for data, home line for calls. Turn off data roaming on your home line so it does not use expensive roaming data, but leave the line itself on. You also keep receiving SMS codes from your bank. Read how to use a travel eSIM and keep your number for the full setup.

Why WhatsApp cannot call emergency services

WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, Telegram and similar apps make calls over the internet. They do not connect to emergency centres, and WhatsApp's own terms of service say so directly. Your location is not sent automatically either, because location sharing for emergency calls only works through the phone's built-in dialer.

The same applies to internet phone numbers, including virtual US numbers such as our US Number: they cannot call 911 or any other emergency service. Always use the Phone app and the local emergency number.

There is a second reason to know this when you travel. In some countries, such as the UAE, WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are restricted on local networks anyway (see where WhatsApp calling is blocked). A normal emergency call is not affected by these restrictions.

112 or 911: which number works where?

• 112 is the emergency number across the EU, and it also works in Turkey, Switzerland, India, Kuwait, Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria and many other countries. On most mobile phones, 112 is stored as an emergency number and in many countries it is forwarded to the local service.
• 911 is used in the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and in many Latin American countries.
• 999 is used in the UK, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia and Kenya. In the UK, 112 also works.
• 000 is Australia's number, and 112 works from mobiles there too.
• Japan, China and South Korea split the services: 110 (Japan, China) or 112 (South Korea) for police, and 119 or 120 for ambulance and fire.

Some phones forward 112 or 911 to the local number automatically, but do not count on it. The fastest way to get help is to dial the local number from the table above.

Will emergency services know where you are?

In many countries, yes. When you call from the Phone app, modern iPhones and Android phones can send your location to the emergency centre automatically, using GPS, Wi-Fi and the mobile network. In Europe this is called Advanced Mobile Location (AML), and on Android it is Google's Emergency Location Service. Google says its service is fully deployed in the US, the UK, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Two things help it work:

• Keep Location Services available. On Android, the Emergency Location Service setting should be on. Android can switch location on just for the call.
• Still say where you are. Location data can be off by a few hundred metres, especially indoors. Give the street, hotel name or a nearby landmark.

No signal at all? Satellite SOS

If you are hiking, skiing or driving somewhere with no mobile coverage, newer phones can contact emergency services by satellite. iPhone 14 and later offer Emergency SOS via satellite in about 20 countries, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. You need a clear view of the sky, and it is meant for places with no mobile or Wi-Fi coverage. Some newer Android phones also offer satellite SOS in selected countries. Check your phone maker's page for the countries covered before you rely on it.

How to set up your phone for emergencies before you travel

1. Save the emergency numbers for every country on your trip in your contacts, for example "Turkey Emergency 112". Use the tables above or the Emergency page in the TripoSIM app.
2. Turn on Emergency SOS. On iPhone, go to Settings > Emergency SOS. On Android, open Settings > Safety and emergency. Add one or two emergency contacts, who are told when you call for help.
3. Fill in your Medical ID (iPhone Health app) or Emergency information (Android), with allergies, medicines and blood type. Paramedics can read it from the lock screen.
4. Install your travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, and keep your home line switched on for calls and SMS. Turn off data roaming on the home line only.
5. Save your embassy's number and your travel insurance 24/7 assistance line. The insurer often arranges hospitals and payment, and the embassy helps with lost passports and serious cases.
6. When you arrive, check that your phone shows signal, and that your travel eSIM is selected for mobile data so maps, taxi apps and translation work.

What to say when you call

Emergency operators follow a script. Stay calm and answer their questions in this order:

1. Where you are: the address, hotel name, road or a landmark. This matters most.
2. What happened, and whether anyone is badly hurt or not breathing.
3. How many people need help.
4. Your phone number. Keep your phone on and the line free afterwards.

Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. If the operator does not speak your language, say "English" clearly: in many countries, operators can switch to English or call an interpreter.

The word "help" in 10 languages

Why mobile data matters in an emergency abroad

A phone call reaches the emergency centre, but most of what you do next needs mobile data:

• Share your live location with family or your tour group on WhatsApp or Google Maps.
• Translate what the doctor or police officer says with Google Translate or your phone's camera.
• Call a taxi or find the nearest hospital or pharmacy on Google Maps.
• Contact your travel insurer and embassy by email or chat, and send photos of documents.
• Keep calling home on WhatsApp or FaceTime without roaming charges.

Hotel Wi-Fi is not much help when you are on the road or in a hospital waiting room. A travel eSIM gives you data from the moment you land, at local prices. Popular choices are our eSIMs for Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the USA and Europe. Install it before you fly, and it starts only when it first connects to a network at your destination.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call 911 or 112 with a data-only eSIM?

Yes. Emergency calls go through the local mobile network as a normal voice call, not over your eSIM's data. Keep your home line switched on, and dial the local emergency number from your phone's Phone app.

Is it free to call emergency numbers abroad?

Yes. 112 is free in every EU country, and emergency calls are free in most countries, including when you are roaming on your home SIM.

What is the emergency number in Europe?

1. It works in every EU country, from mobiles and landlines, alongside each country's own numbers. It also works in the UK, Switzerland, Turkey and Norway.

Does 911 work in Europe?

Do not rely on it. Some phones forward 911 to 112 automatically, but the European emergency number is 112, and the UK also uses 999.

What is the emergency number in Dubai and the UAE?

999 for police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire service. If you are not sure, call 999.

What is the emergency number in Turkey?

112 for all emergencies, including ambulance, police and fire. The police can also be reached on 155.

Can I call emergency services on WhatsApp?

No. WhatsApp and other internet calling apps cannot reach emergency services, and your location is not shared. Always use the Phone app and the local number.

Do emergency services see my location when I call?

In many countries, yes. iPhones and Android phones can send your location automatically when you call from the Phone app. Always say where you are as well, because location data is not always exact.

Can I make an emergency call without a SIM card?

Sometimes. In some countries, including the USA, Canada and Australia, phones can make emergency calls through any network even without service from your own carrier. Some networks do not accept calls from phones with no SIM, so keep your home line active.

The bottom line

Emergency numbers change from country to country, but your phone can call them wherever you are, even when you travel with a data-only eSIM. Save the local numbers before you fly, keep your home line switched on for calls, use the Phone app instead of WhatsApp, and use your travel eSIM for the maps, translation and messages you need afterwards. Find your destination's eSIM on our destinations page, and check that your phone supports eSIM on our compatibility page.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026:

• European Commission: 112, the EU's emergency phone number
• Your Europe: Single emergency number 112
• Apple: If you see SOS, No Service or Searching on your iPhone
• Apple: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
• Android: How Emergency Location Service works
• WhatsApp Terms of Service
• Washington State 911: International visitors