The numbers to save before you ever need them — police, ambulance, fire and the English-speaking Tourist Police — plus Bangkok's 24-hour ER hospitals and exactly what to do in a medical emergency, a road accident, a theft or a lost passport.
Thailand doesn't use a single all-purpose emergency number, so put these in your phone today: 191 for police, 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 199 for fire and rescue. If your Thai is limited — as it is for most new arrivals — the number that matters most is 1155, the Tourist Police, staffed 24/7 with English-speaking operators who can then bring in whatever service you need. Below are the full nationwide numbers, Bangkok's best English-speaking 24-hour ER hospitals, and step-by-step guidance for the three situations foreigners hit most: a medical emergency, a road accident and a lost passport. For hospital quality, costs and insurance, pair this with the Bangkok healthcare guide; to avoid trouble in the first place, see the Bangkok safety guide.
The core lines are toll-free and answered around the clock. When in doubt as a foreigner, start with the Tourist Police (1155) — they will coordinate the rest.
| Service | Number | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Police (general emergency) | 191 | The universal police line for any crime or emergency. Operators may have limited English — for foreigners, 1155 is often the better first call. |
| Medical emergency / ambulance | 1669 | The national emergency medical hotline (24hr, free). Dispatches the nearest ambulance. English can be limited, so state your location clearly or have a Thai speaker help. |
| Tourist Police (English-speaking) | 1155 | The single most useful number for foreigners. Round-the-clock English (and other languages) — use it for any incident, from theft to a road accident to being scammed. |
| Fire & rescue | 199 | Fire, rescue and hazardous incidents nationwide. |
| Bangkok EMS (Erawan Center) | 1646 | The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's own medical dispatch centre, coordinating city ambulances across greater Bangkok. |
| Tourist assistance / TAT | 1672 | The Tourism Authority of Thailand call centre — general help, directions and guidance (not for life-threatening emergencies). |
| Highway / traffic police | 1193 | For accidents and incidents on expressways and inter-city highways. |
| Immigration Bureau hotline | 1178 | For visa, overstay and immigration questions (not emergencies). |
For a serious but stable emergency, going straight to a private-hospital A&E is often faster than an ambulance in Bangkok traffic. These leading hospitals run 24-hour emergency departments with English-speaking staff; save the one nearest your home. Bring your passport and insurance details — private hospitals expect payment or proof of cover.
| Hospital | Area | Main / emergency line |
|---|---|---|
| Bumrungrad International | Nana / Sukhumvit Soi 3 | +66 2 066 8888 |
| Samitivej Sukhumvit | Phrom Phong / Sukhumvit Soi 49 | +66 2 022 2222 |
| Bangkok Hospital | New Phetchaburi Rd (Phetchaburi) | +66 2 310 3000 / 1719 |
| MedPark Hospital | Rama IV Rd (Khlong Toei) | +66 2 090 3000 |
| BNH Hospital | Silom / Sathorn | +66 2 022 0700 |
| Praram 9 Hospital | Rama IX (Huai Khwang) | +66 2 202 9999 |
Numbers change — confirm your nearest hospital's current emergency line and save it. Several of these hold JCI international accreditation; see the healthcare guide for costs, insurance and how the system works.
For a life-threatening situation, call 1669 (or Bangkok's 1646) for an ambulance and state your exact location — a building name, nearest BTS/MRT station or a Google Maps pin helps enormously. If you can't get through in English, ask a Thai speaker nearby, hotel staff or your condo's front desk to call for you. For a serious but stable case, a Grab or taxi to a private-hospital A&E is frequently quicker than waiting for the ambulance. Carry your passport and insurance card, and if you have travel or health insurance, phone their 24-hour assistance line early — many will guarantee payment directly to the hospital so you avoid a large upfront deposit.
For any crime, accident or dispute, the Tourist Police on 1155 is your English-speaking first call; for a general police response, dial 191. After a road accident, get anyone injured help first (1669), then wait for police before moving vehicles — insurers and rental companies need the scene documented, so photograph the vehicles, positions, damage, plates and the other party's details, and never admit fault on the spot. For theft or a scam, file a police report (you'll need it for any insurance or replacement claim). Bangkok has a low rate of violent crime against foreigners, so most incidents are property- or scam-related — the safety guide covers the common scams and how to sidestep them.
Work through it in order. One: file a police report — visit a local station or call the Tourist Police (1155); you'll need the report for both a replacement and immigration. Two: contact your embassy to apply for an emergency travel document or a new passport (bring the police report, photos and any ID copy you have). Three: because your passport carries your visa and entry stamp, report to Thai Immigration so your visa details are transferred to the new document before you travel. The whole process is far faster if you keep a photo or photocopy of your passport photo page and visa stamp stored separately — do this before anything goes wrong. For visa and reporting matters, see the Bangkok immigration office guide.
There isn't one single number as in some countries — Thailand uses separate lines. Save these three: 191 for police, 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 199 for fire and rescue. As a foreigner, the number to call first is usually 1155, the Tourist Police, because it is staffed around the clock with English-speaking operators who can then coordinate the right service for you.
Dial 1669, the national emergency medical hotline — it is free, operates 24 hours and dispatches the nearest ambulance. Within Bangkok, 1646 (the Erawan Center) is the city's own medical dispatch line. English can be limited on both, so state your location as clearly as possible or ask a Thai speaker to help. In practice, many expats with a serious but stable condition take a Grab or taxi straight to a private-hospital A&E, which is often faster than waiting for an ambulance in traffic.
Yes. The Tourist Police hotline, 1155, is specifically set up for foreign visitors and residents, with English-speaking operators (and access to interpreters in other languages) available 24/7. It is the best single number to save if your Thai is limited — they handle theft, scams, accidents and general trouble, and will loop in the regular police, ambulance or fire service as needed.
First, file a police report (visit a local police station or call the Tourist Police on 1155) — you'll need the report to get a replacement and to satisfy immigration. Then contact your embassy to apply for an emergency travel document or a new passport. Finally, because your passport holds your visa and entry stamp, you must report to Thai Immigration to have your visa details transferred to the new document before you travel. Keep a photo or photocopy of your passport's photo page and visa stamp somewhere separate — it makes the whole process far quicker.
Yes — Bangkok's leading private hospitals such as Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital and MedPark run modern 24-hour emergency departments with English-speaking staff, and several hold JCI international accreditation. Care is excellent and, by Western standards, comparatively affordable, but private hospitals will expect payment or proof of insurance, so carry your insurance details. Public hospitals are cheaper but busier and less English-friendly. For a fuller picture of costs and insurance, see the Bangkok healthcare guide.
If anyone is injured, call 1669 for an ambulance. Call the police on 191 (or the Tourist Police on 1155 for English help) and wait for them — for insurance and any rental claim, do not move vehicles or leave the scene until police arrive and document it. Photograph everything: the vehicles, positions, damage, licence plates and the other party's details. If you were driving a rental, notify the rental company. Never admit fault on the spot; let the police and insurers determine liability.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
This guide is general information for relocation planning, not medical, safety or legal advice. Phone numbers and hospital details change — confirm current contacts with local authorities, your embassy and the Tourist Police, and in any emergency call the official lines above.
Emergency numbers saved — now sort your hospital and insurance, understand the neighbourhoods, and match a home to your budget.
Hero photo by Antonio Batinić on Pexels.