Key takeaways
- Save the local emergency number and your embassy’s before you leave.
- Report thefts and accidents to the local police and get a written report for your insurer.
- Call your travel insurance assistance line early: they can advance costs and find help.
- Your embassy or consulate can issue emergency travel documents, not pay your bills.
Problems feel bigger far from home: a different language, unfamiliar procedures, no one to call. Most issues travellers face (theft, lost documents, minor accidents, scams) can be handled with a few calls in the right order. A little preparation before the trip makes the difference.
Before you leave
- Save the local emergency numbers (see /blog/emergency-numbers-around-the-world/), your embassy’s phone number and your insurer’s assistance line.
- Keep copies of your passport, visa, licence and insurance, on paper and in a secure place online.
- Note your cards’ blocking numbers and your phone’s IMEI (see /blog/how-to-find-your-imei-number/).
- Share your itinerary with someone at home.
If you’re robbed
Get to a safe place, block your cards and phone (see /blog/phone-stolen-what-to-do/ and /blog/bank-card-fraud-what-to-do/), then report the theft to the local police. Ask for a copy of the report, even in the local language: your insurer and embassy will ask for it. If your passport was taken, see /blog/lost-or-stolen-id-card-or-passport/.
If you have an accident
Follow the same steps as at home: safety, emergency services, photos and details (see /blog/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident/). With a rental car, call the rental company’s emergency line straight away and follow its procedure: they usually require a police report or an accident form. Never sign a document in a language you don’t understand without a translation.
Tourist scams to know
- Unofficial taxis with no meter, or a “closed” hotel and a driver who takes you elsewhere.
- A friendly stranger who insists on guiding you, then demands money.
- Card terminals that “fail” and charge you twice, or payment in your home currency at a bad rate.
- Fake police officers asking to check your wallet. Real officers can show ID; ask to go to a station.
Who can help
- Travel insurance assistance: medical help, advancing hospital costs, repatriation, legal assistance depending on your contract.
- Your embassy or consulate: emergency passports, a list of local lawyers and doctors, contact with family, help if you’re arrested. They can’t pay fines or bills or interfere with local justice.
- Your bank: emergency cards or cash transfers in some cases.
Chameleon AI follows the country you’re in: it shows the local emergency numbers, works offline, and builds next steps from official sources of the country where the incident happened, in English, French or Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police report from abroad for my insurance?
Usually yes for theft and accidents. Get one before you leave the country if you can; it’s much harder to obtain afterwards.
The police report is in a language I don’t speak. Is that a problem?
Insurers generally accept foreign reports, sometimes with a translation. Ask the officer to note the key facts clearly, and keep your own written account in your language.
Can my embassy get me a lawyer?
Embassies usually provide a list of local lawyers but don’t pay for them or act as your lawyer. Ask your travel insurance whether it covers legal assistance.
General information to help you get organised, not legal advice. Procedures and numbers can change: confirm them with the office concerned, and in danger call your local emergency number first.
