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  1. Home
  2. I need urgent help

I need urgent help

Last Updated
Wednesday, 04/05/2022

There are limits to how and when the Australian Government can help. Read this information in conjunction with the Consular Services Charter.

If you’re a dual national, there may be limits to the level of assistance we can provide in the country of your other nationality.

Emergency consular assistance

If you’re in a life-threatening situation or need immediate assistance, contact the local emergency authorities. You can find local emergency numbers under ‘Local contacts’ in the travel advisory for your destination.

If you, or someone you know, needs urgent help, emergency consular assistance is available 24 hours a day. Call the Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra on:

  • 1300 555 135 (within Australia)
  • +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas)

Do not contact the emergency centre with general enquires. Contact the Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for the destination you're in or contact us online instead. 

Emergency information

We've prepared the following pages with practical advice on what to do if you are in a crisis overseas.

  • Demonstration
  • Armed conflict
  • Earthquake or tsunami
  • Severe weather
  • Terrorist situation
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Bushfire

We’ve prepared the following pages with practical advice for what to do if you’re a victim of a crime overseas.

  • Assault
  • Sexual assault
  • Scams
  • Robbed or mugged
  • Piracy
  • Kidnap

We’ve prepared the following pages with practical advice for what to do if something else has happened when you’re overseas.

  • Arrested or jailed 
  • Lost or damaged property
  • Passports
  • Medical assistance
  • Money problems
  • Someone has died
  • Someone is missing

Related content

Terrorism

Terrorism remains a threat to Australians living and travelling overseas. Before you travel overseas, it's important to understand the risk of terrorism worldwide.

View details
Protests and civil unrest

Protesting can range from a few people at a small local rally to a large demonstration with thousands of people. Read more to learn how to stay safe if there are protests or civil unrest while you're travelling.

View details
While you’re away

Most Australians have a great time overseas, however, sometimes things don't go as planned. See our page for general advice when things go wrong overseas.

View details

Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

To report a vulnerability you’ve identified on this website or to find out more about the department’s Vulnerability Disclosure Policy visit the DFAT website

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For more information go to about us.

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  • Home
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Europe and the Schengen Area
      • Getting a foreign visa
      • Travel insurance
      • CHOICE travel insurance buying guide
    • Who you are
      • Academics
      • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
      • Dual nationals
      • Journalists
      • LGBTQIA+
      • Mature and older travellers
      • School leavers
      • Travelling with children
      • Travelling with a disability
      • Travelling with pets
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Antarctica and the Arctic
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Retiring overseas
      • Sports and adventure
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
        • Travel overseas for Anzac Day
      • Religious events
        • Travel overseas for Ramadan
        • Travel overseas for Hajj
      • Sporting events
        • Rugby League Las Vegas 2025
    • Health
      • Infectious diseases
      • Going overseas for a medical procedure
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medication and medical equipment
      • Mental health
      • Organ transplant tourism
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health care agreements
      • What happens if you die overseas
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Protests and civil unrest
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • Pacific
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent help
  • Our services
    • Consular State of Play
      • Data
      • Case studies
      • Images
      • Videos
      • Audio
      • Historical data
    • Consular Services Charter
      • ميثاق الخدمات القنصلية (Arabic)
      • 领事服务章程 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 領事服務章程 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Panduan Layanan Konsuler (Indonesian)
      • 領事サービス憲章 (Japanese)
      • 영사 서비스 헌장 (Korean)
      • กฎบัตรว่าด้วยบริการต่าง ๆ ของกงสุล (Thai)
      • Quy định về Dịch Vụ Lãnh Sự (Vietnamese)
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • 한국어 (Korean)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Crises
    • News and updates
    • Notarial services
      • Documents we can legalise
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
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    • Resources
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
    • Subscription
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