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  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

    There’s an armed conflict

    Armed conflict can escalate rapidly, making the security situation volatile and becoming a threat to your safety. Read our advice on how to stay safe.

    View details
    Crisis or emergency overseas

    Find out what to do if you’re travelling overseas there's a disaster, terrorist incident, demonstration or other crisis nearby.

    View details
    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

    Was this information helpful?

    Your feedback will help us improve your experience.

    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

    For information about Australian visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

    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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    Main navigation

    • HomeHome
    • Before you go
      • The basics
        • Planning to travel during COVID-19: step by step
        • Destinations
        • Passport services
        • Visas
        • Insurance
        • Schengen
        • Travel advice explained
      • Who you are
        • Children
        • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
        • Dual nationals
        • LGBTI++
        • Mature
        • School leavers
        • Women
      • Activities
        • Adoption
        • Adventure
        • Backpacking
        • Business
        • Living and working overseas
        • Marriage
        • Studying
        • Surrogacy
        • Volunteering
      • Major events
        • Cultural events
        • Religious events
        • Sporting events
      • Health
        • Mental health
        • Disability
        • Infectious diseases
        • Medical assistance overseas
        • Medical tourism
        • Medication
        • Pregnancy
        • Reciprocal health
        • Vaccinations
        • Death
      • Staying safe
        • Armed conflict
        • Assault
        • Cyber security
        • Demonstrations
        • Earthquakes and tsunamis
        • Kidnapping
        • Natural disasters
        • Partying safely
        • Piracy
        • 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
      • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
      • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
      • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
      • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
      • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
      • PacificBrowse all destinations in the 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
        • Kidnapped
        • Robbed or mugged
        • Scammed
        • Sexually assaulted
      • Crisis or emergency
        • Demonstration
        • Armed conflict
        • Earthquake
        • Severe weather
        • Terrorist situation
        • Volcanic eruption
        • Bushfire
        • Nuclear incident
      • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
    • Urgent helpLinks to help
    • Our servicesLinks to services
      • Consular Services Charter
        • ميثاق الخدمات القنصلية (Arabic)
        • 领事服务章程 (Chinese Simplified)
        • 領事服務章程 (Chinese Traditional)
        • कांसुलर सेवाओं का चार्टर (Hindi)
        • Panduan Layanan Konsuler (Indonesian)
        • 領事サービス憲章 (Japanese)
        • Karta ng Mga Serbisyo sa Konsulado (Filipino)
        • กฎบัตรว่าด้วยบริการต่าง ๆ ของกงสุล (Thai)
        • Hiến Chương về Dịch Vụ Lãnh Sự (Vietnamese)
      • Travel advice explained
      • Subscription
      • Crises
      • Passport services
      • Notarial services
        • Documents
        • Documents in Australia
        • Documents overseas
        • Certificate of No Impediment
        • Notarial forms
      • Voting overseas
      • Communities
        • العربية (Arabic)
        • Bahasa Indonesia
        • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
        • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
        • 日本語 (Japanese)
        • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
        • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
        • Filipino community
        • Indian community
      • Resources
        • Consular State of Play
        • CHOICE travel insurance guide
        • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
        • Fact sheet: Missing overseas
        • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
        • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
        • Fact sheet: Death overseas
        • Consular Privacy Collection Statement