Culture & emergencies · Everyone
Emergency numbers in Canada — and when to use each
The short answer
In Canada, dial 911 for any life-threatening emergency to reach police, fire, or an ambulance, 24/7, free from any phone. For a suicide or mental-health crisis, call or text 988. For non-urgent needs there are separate lines: 811 for health advice, 211 for community and social services, and 311 for city services. Know which one before you need it.
On this page
Canada has one number for real emergencies, 911, and a small set of three-digit lines for everything that matters but isn’t life-or-death. Learn them before you land. In a bad moment you don’t want to be searching.
The numbers that matter
911 is the only one you dial when a life is at risk. The rest are for a crisis, a health question, or a city problem, and each has its own number so the emergency line stays free for emergencies.
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- 988 for the Suicide Crisis Helpline
- 811 for the health advice line
- 211 for community and social services
- 311 for city services (non-emergency)
By the numbers
When it is (and isn’t) a 911 call
Call 911 when a life, a home, or public safety is at immediate risk, and not for anything less. For a health question, a crisis, or a city complaint, one of the other lines is the right door, and it keeps 911 open for the person whose seconds count.
Call 911 now
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of a stroke
- A fire, or someone trapped or unconscious
- A crime in progress, or anyone in danger
- A serious road accident or a bad injury
Not 911, so use another line
- A minor illness or a 'should I see a doctor?' question: 811
- Feeling suicidal or in a mental-health crisis: call or text 988
- Need food, housing, or settlement help: 211
- A pothole, noise, garbage, or bylaw issue: 311
You can call 911 in your language
When you reach the call-taker, tell them the language you prefer and they will work to bring an interpreter onto the line. Start by naming your city and whether you need police, fire, or ambulance, because that routes you fastest.
Dialled 911 by mistake? Stay on the line
If you call 911 by accident, stay on the line and tell the call-taker it was an error. If you hang up, they have to call you back or send an officer to check you are safe, so a quick word saves everyone time.
Indian consulates in Canada
India has three missions in Canada: the High Commission in Ottawa, and Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver. Between them they cover the whole country by region. They issue and re-issue passports, grant emergency travel documents, and help Indian nationals in genuine distress, such as a hospitalisation, an arrest or a death in the family. They are not emergency responders, so in any life-threatening situation you dial 911 first, then contact the mission.
By the numbers
Find the mission whose region covers your province and use its own website for current contact details and appointment booking. Most passport and document services now run through its appointed service centre rather than a walk-in counter.
If you lose your wallet or passport
Report it, freeze your cards, and for a passport go to your Indian mission. Do the steps in order; the police report is what a bank and a consulate both ask for.
Get yourself safe first
If you were robbed or hurt, or you feel in danger, call 911. A theft in progress is a 911 call; a loss you notice later is not, so report that to the local police non-emergency line instead.
File a police report
Report the loss to the local police and get a report or file number. It names you and, for a passport, the passport number. Banks, the consulate, and your insurer will all ask for it.
Freeze your bank and credit cards
Call your bank right away to block lost debit and credit cards and watch for fraud. Do this before anything else financial, because a blocked card can't be misused.
For a lost passport, contact your Indian mission
Apply to the High Commission (Ottawa) or the Consulate General (Toronto or Vancouver) for your region to re-issue the passport. You will need the police report and a letter explaining how it was lost.
Need to travel before it's ready? Ask for an Emergency Certificate
If you must return to India before a new passport is issued, the mission can grant an Emergency Certificate, a one-way travel document home, once your nationality and identity are confirmed.
Keep colour photocopies or phone photos of your passport, study or work permit, and cards in a separate place. A copy turns a frightening loss into a quick errand.
What to do next
- Planning the move as a student? See how we handle Canada study permits end to end.
- Talk to a licensed RCIC if a status document is lost or your situation is urgent.
Common questions
What is the emergency number in Canada?
911. It is Canada's single emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance, and it works 24 hours a day, free of charge, from any phone. When the call-taker answers, tell them your city and whether you need police, fire, or ambulance. Call 911 only for a real emergency: a life at risk, a fire, or a crime in progress.
What number do I call for a mental health or suicide crisis in Canada?
Call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline. It launched on 30 November 2023 and reaches trained responders 24/7, free and in English or French, anywhere in Canada. Use it if you are thinking about suicide or are worried about someone who is. If a life is in immediate danger, call 911 instead.
What is 811 in Canada?
811 is a free provincial health-advice line, available where your province or territory offers it. A registered nurse or health professional helps you decide whether a symptom needs a clinic, a hospital, or simply rest, which is useful at night or when you have no family doctor yet. It is health advice, not an emergency line; for anything life-threatening, call 911.
Which cities have an Indian consulate in Canada?
India's diplomatic presence in Canada is three missions: the High Commission of India in Ottawa, and Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver. Between them they cover the whole country by region. They handle passports, emergency travel documents, and help for Indian nationals in distress, but they are not emergency services, so call 911 first in any life-threatening situation.
How do I replace a lost or stolen Indian passport in Canada?
First file a police report that names you and the lost passport number. Then contact the nearest Indian mission, whether the High Commission in Ottawa or a Consulate General in Toronto or Vancouver, and apply for a passport re-issue. If you must travel to India before a new passport is ready, the mission can issue an Emergency Certificate for a one-way journey home.
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