The numbers to save before you ever need them — police, ambulance, fire and the English-speaking Tourist Police — plus Pattaya and Jomtien's 24-hour ER hospitals and exactly what to do after a motorbike accident, a theft or scam, a sea or beach emergency, 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 bring in whatever service you need. Below are the full nationwide numbers, Pattaya and Jomtien's best 24-hour ER hospitals, and step-by-step guidance for the situations foreigners hit most here: a motorbike accident, a sea or beach emergency, a theft or scam and a lost passport. For hospital quality, costs and insurance, pair this with the Pattaya healthcare guide; to avoid trouble in the first place, see the Pattaya 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, and staffed Tourist Police boxes sit along Pattaya and Jomtien beaches.
| Service | Number | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Police (general emergency) | 191 | The universal police line for any crime or emergency. English can be limited — for foreigners in Pattaya, 1155 is usually the better first call. |
| Medical emergency / ambulance | 1669 | The national emergency medical hotline (24hr, free). Dispatches the nearest ambulance across Pattaya, Jomtien and Chonburi. 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) for any incident — theft, a road accident, a scam or a dispute. Pattaya and Jomtien also have staffed Tourist Police boxes on the beachfront. |
| Fire & rescue | 199 | Fire, rescue and hazardous incidents nationwide. |
| Tourist hotline (TAT, 24h) | 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 Sukhumvit Road, Highway 7 (Motorway) and inter-city routes to Bangkok. |
| Jomtien Immigration (Pattaya) | 038 252 750 | Pattaya's immigration office at Soi 5, Jomtien — for visa, overstay, 90-day and lost-passport reporting (not emergencies). |
| Marine / coastal police | 1196 | For incidents at sea, on boats or at the islands such as Koh Larn. |
For a serious but stable emergency, going straight to a private-hospital A&E is often faster than waiting for an ambulance in Pattaya traffic. These 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Hospital Pattaya | North Pattaya (Sukhumvit Rd) | +66 38 259 999 / 1719 |
| Pattaya International Hospital | Central Pattaya (Soi 4) | +66 38 428 374 |
| Bangkok Hospital Jomtien | Jomtien | +66 33 115 999 |
| Pattaya Memorial Hospital | Central Pattaya (Pattaya Klang) | +66 38 488 777 |
| Sukhumvit Hospital Pattaya (Sawang) | Central / Naklua area | +66 38 421 823 |
Numbers change — confirm your nearest hospital's current emergency line and save it. For costs, insurance and how the system works, see the Pattaya healthcare guide.
Road accidents — overwhelmingly motorbikes — are the biggest real emergency risk in Pattaya. If you take one thing from this guide, make it this checklist:
As a beach city with island trips to Koh Larn, Pattaya has its own set of water emergencies. Know who to call and how to stay out of trouble:
For any crime, dispute or scam, the Tourist Police on 1155 is your English-speaking first call; for a general police response, dial 191. Pattaya's trouble is overwhelmingly property- and scam-related rather than violent — bar-bill disputes, jet-ski "damage" claims, rental-deposit traps and pickpocketing in the nightlife zones. For theft or a scam, file a police report (you'll need it for any insurance or replacement claim), and visit the nearest Tourist Police box on the beachfront if you need in-person help. The Pattaya safety guide details 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 it for both a replacement and immigration. Two: contact your embassy (most sit in Bangkok, roughly two hours away) to apply for an emergency travel document or new passport, bringing the police report, photos and any ID copy. Three: because your passport carries your visa and entry stamp, report to Jomtien Immigration so your visa details transfer to the new document before you travel. It is all far faster if you keep a photo or copy of your passport photo page and visa stamp stored separately — do it before anything goes wrong.
Thailand doesn't use a single all-purpose number — save these: 191 for police, 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 199 for fire and rescue. As a foreigner, the best number to call first is usually 1155, the Tourist Police, staffed around the clock with English-speaking operators who can then coordinate the right service. Pattaya and Jomtien also have Tourist Police boxes along the beach for in-person help.
Dial 1669, the national emergency medical hotline — free, 24 hours, and it dispatches the nearest ambulance across Pattaya, Jomtien and Chonburi. English can be limited, so state your location clearly (a hotel name, Soi number or Google Maps pin helps) or ask a Thai speaker to call. For a serious but stable case, many expats take a Grab or taxi straight to a private-hospital A&E, which can be faster than an ambulance in Pattaya traffic.
Motorbike crashes are the single most common serious emergency for foreigners in Pattaya. If anyone is injured, call 1669 for an ambulance and 1155 or 191 for police. Do not move the vehicles or leave until police document the scene — insurers and rental shops require it. Photograph the vehicles, positions, damage, plates and the other party's details, notify your rental company, and never admit fault on the spot. Check that your insurance actually covers motorbike riding, as many policies exclude it.
Pattaya has several international-standard private hospitals with 24-hour A&E and English-speaking staff: Bangkok Hospital Pattaya in North Pattaya, Pattaya International Hospital and Pattaya Memorial Hospital in the centre, and Bangkok Hospital Jomtien to the south. Save the one nearest your home and carry your passport and insurance details — private hospitals expect payment or proof of cover. For costs, insurance and how the system works, see the Pattaya healthcare guide.
Work through it in order. First, file a police report — visit a local station or call the Tourist Police on 1155; you'll need it for a replacement and for immigration. Second, contact your embassy (most are in Bangkok, about two hours away) to apply for an emergency travel document or new passport. Third, because your passport carries your visa and entry stamp, report to Jomtien Immigration in Pattaya so your visa details are transferred to the new document before you travel. Keep a photo or copy of your passport and visa stamp stored separately.
Yes. The Tourist Police hotline, 1155, is set up specifically for foreigners, with English-speaking operators and access to interpreters 24/7. Pattaya and Jomtien also have staffed Tourist Police boxes on the beachfront where you can get help in person. They handle theft, scams, accidents and general trouble, and will bring in the regular police, ambulance or fire service as needed.
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.
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.
Emergency numbers saved — now sort your hospital and insurance, learn the neighbourhoods, and match a home to your budget in Pattaya.
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