Save these before you leave. You will not have the headspace to search for them if something goes wrong.

112: The EU-Wide Emergency Number

112 is the emergency number across all EU countries and works in most other European countries including Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. It connects to police, ambulance, and fire services. It works from any mobile, including on networks with no signal or a blocked SIM.

In practice: if someone is in danger, call 112 immediately. For non-life-threatening situations, use the local non-emergency number instead, as 112 in most countries means immediate emergency response.

Local Police (Non-Emergency)

For reporting a theft, filing a denuncia, or getting a crime reference number, you want the local police station rather than the emergency line.

Useful numbers:

  • Spain: 091 (Policia Nacional)
  • France: 17 (Police)
  • Italy: 113 (Polizia di Stato)
  • Germany: 110 (Polizei)
  • Netherlands: 0900-8844
  • Portugal: 21 864 6400 (PSP Lisbon non-emergency)
  • Greece: 100

In most cases, walking into a central police station is faster than calling.

Your Travel Insurer's 24-Hour Emergency Line

Every reputable travel insurer has a 24-hour emergency assistance line. This is different from the claims number. The emergency line can authorise hospital treatment, arrange repatriation, and direct you to approved medical providers.

Find this number in your policy documents before you travel. Screenshot it or write it in your notes app. The claims number is useless in a medical emergency at midnight.

The British Consulate

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office runs a global network of consulates and embassies. For emergency passport help, arrest, hospitalisation, or death abroad, the consulate is your contact point.

Find the nearest British consulate at gov.uk/world/embassies. Most have an out-of-hours emergency number on their website. For immediate 24-hour help from anywhere, call the FCDO from the UK on +44 20 7008 5000.

Save the specific consulate number for wherever you are travelling. A Barcelona trip needs the British Consulate General Barcelona number, not the general FCDO line.

Your Bank's Card Cancellation Line

Card stolen or lost? You need the 24-hour cancellation number for your specific bank. This is printed on the back of your card, but you obviously will not have the card if it has been stolen.

Save these numbers on your phone before you travel:

  • Monzo: handled entirely in-app, freeze the card immediately
  • Barclays: +44 1604 230 230
  • HSBC: +44 1442 422 929
  • Lloyds/Halifax: +44 1733 347 007
  • NatWest/RBS: +44 1268 508 020
  • Starling: handled in-app

If you bank with someone not listed, call the number on the back of your card now, note it down, and save it.

One Note on Preparation

Screenshot or write these numbers down and save them somewhere accessible without mobile data: a note on your lock screen, a paper card in your wallet, or a screenshot saved offline. If your phone is stolen or dead, you still need to make calls.