Lost or stolen passport
- Report the loss or theft to local police and request a written report.
- Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to request an emergency passport.
- Bring your photocopy or photo of the original passport, plus a passport photo if you have one.
- If you're enrolled in STEP, mention it — the embassy may already have your trip details.
- Notify your airline, since your ticket may need to be updated to match your new document.
Medical emergency
- Call the local emergency number for your destination (it's often not 911 — check before you go).
- Contact your travel insurance provider's 24-hour assistance line as soon as it's safe to do so; many can direct you to a vetted local hospital and coordinate billing directly.
- If evacuation to a better-equipped facility or home may be needed, ask the insurer's assistance team to start that process early — it can take time to arrange.
- Keep all receipts and paperwork for reimbursement claims.
- The nearest U.S. embassy can provide a list of local English-speaking doctors, though it cannot pay medical bills on your behalf.
Victim of a crime or safety incident
- Prioritize your physical safety first — get to a public, secure location.
- Report the incident to local police and get a copy of the report for insurance claims.
- Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate; consular officers can provide a list of local attorneys, contact your family, and explain the local criminal justice process.
- Contact your bank and credit card issuers immediately if cards were stolen.
- If you registered with STEP, the embassy already has a way to reach you.
Natural disaster or civil unrest
- Follow instructions from local authorities and your hotel or tour operator first — they typically have the most current local information.
- Check STEP alerts and the embassy's website or social accounts for official guidance.
- Avoid areas of protest or unrest, even if they seem calm; situations can change quickly.
- Contact family to confirm you're safe as soon as it's practical — networks may be congested, so a short text can work when a call doesn't.
- If evacuation assistance becomes necessary, the embassy can help coordinate, though transportation itself is generally the traveler's responsibility and cost.
Numbers and details worth saving offline
- The local emergency number for every country on your itinerary.
- The address and phone number of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Your travel insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line and policy number.
- Your bank and credit card issuers' international collect-call numbers for lost cards.
- A photo or copy of your passport's photo page and any visas.
Do this before you leave
Save these numbers in your phone's notes app (which works offline) rather than relying only on email or cloud storage you might not be able to reach without Wi-Fi or data.