Emergency contacts
Consular emergency assistance
The Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) provides 24-hour support for Australians with serious and urgent needs. It is also for the friends and family of Australians overseas.
For urgent consular assistance, contact the CEC on:
- phone +61 2 6261 3305
- SMS +61 421 269 080
- phone 1300 555 135 within Australia
Don't contact the CEC for non-urgent help. If you need consular assistance for a non-urgent matter, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
The Consular Services Charter outlines how and when we can help Australians overseas.
Local emergency assistance
Each destination’s travel advisory lists local contact numbers for emergencies. This includes contact details for:
- local police if you're a victim of a crime
- ambulance for medical emergencies
- fire and other emergency services
- the nearest Australian embassy or consulate
Australian embassies and consulates overseas
Australia has embassies and consulates in many countries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, our embassies are known as high commissions. In some countries we are represented in several major cities.
Where we don't have official representation, our partner nations can assist Australians through consular service sharing agreements.
We deliver a range of services at our embassies and consulates. We can provide help and consular emergency assistance, as well as overseas passport and notarial services.
See the list of Australian embassies and consulates overseas.
Passport contacts
If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate during business hours. Also report it to the police immediately. This may help you get your passport back, with insurance claims and prevent identity theft.
If it's outside business hours, contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
- phone +61 2 6261 3305
- SMS +61 421 269 080
- phone 1300 555 135 within Australia
If you're overseas with a non-urgent passport need, contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate during business hours.
If you're in Australia, and for all other enquiries, contact the Australian Passport Office during business hours.
If you need more information on notarial services contact us on 1300 935 260.
Smartraveller on social media
We use social media to keep Australian travellers informed while overseas. We also provide practical advice for people planning their travel.
- Follow us on Twitter to receive critical information in times of crisis.
- Like us on Facebook and stay connected with like-minded people by joining the conversation.
Learn more about how we use and moderate our social media channels.
Subscription help
You can subscribe for updates about the destinations you're travelling to, or through. When we update the destination's travel advisory or advice level, we'll email you. You can also opt in to receive SMS ‘critical alerts’ for crises overseas. This service supplements our standard travel advice subscription sent via email. We may choose to send you an SMS 'critical alert' for urgent information in the event of a crisis.
If you need help subscribing, or managing your subscription, email smartraveller@dfat.gov.au.
Travel insurance contacts
If you need to contact your travel insurer, first look for their contact details in the policy documents they sent you. Most have 24-hour emergency assistance phone lines.
The Insurance Council of Australia also lists contact details for travel insurers in Australia on their Find an Insurer website.
Feedback
Consular services feedback
We welcome your comments on our consular services. This helps us to identify areas that need improvement, or where changes would make sense.
Sharing your experiences may help other Australians avoid difficulties overseas. It may also help others appreciate how and when consular services can help.
You can comment on our services by emailing consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au, or writing to us.
First Assistant Secretary
Consular and Crisis Management Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
RG Casey Building
BARTON ACT 0221
If you’re dissatisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman's Office in Australia.
Learn more about what and when we can help Australian overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.
Smartraveller website feedback
You can help other travellers, by helping us improve this website. If you find any issues, bugs, errors or opportunities to improve, let us know.
Email your feedback about our website to smartraveller@dfat.gov.au.
Media enquiries
For media enquiries, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Read more
- See our advice of what you can do when things go wrong overseas.
- For how and when we can help you overseas, see the Consular Services Charter.
- See country-specific contact information for each destination.
- Be the first to know official government advice when travelling, subscribe to our travel advice.
- Learn how we protect your privacy.
See also
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains the Smartraveller website.
- See the list of Australian Government embassies, high commissions, consulates, multilateral missions and representative offices overseas.
- Look up contact details for travel insurance providers on Find an Insurer.