Lost ID, theft or damage to your belongings, feeling unwell, accidents, emergencies of all kinds… When something unexpected goes wrong on your trip to France, it’s not always easy to know what to do or who to call. From emergency numbers and useful contacts to multilingual online services set up by the authorities, here’s how to react quickly and make things simpler.
Incidents during recent protests in France
20 October 2026
Since the day of a nationwide mobilisation, on Saturday 17 October, disturbances has broken out in some neighbourhoods of several French cities. As a result, partial, local and temporary curfews will be put in place by prefects (the State’s representatives in each French department) at the government’s request.
Please note that there is no nationwide curfew. The rules vary from city to city: they cover specific areas and may apply to everyone or to minors only. The measures can be updated each evening as the situation develops.
Furthermore, all public transport is running as normal and, apart from a few rare and occasional exceptions, tourist sites are open and accessible.
For official information on the situation in a particular area of France, it is recommended to check the announcements from the relevant prefecture. International visitors are also advised to consult with their country’s embassy or consulate for the latest guidance issued to their citizens.
How can you use the “Ma Sécurité” app to contact the police or gendarmerie and make things easier during your stay in France?
The Ma Sécurité website and app give you quick, easy access to a range of handy services during your stay in France. You can report a crime or an incident and get instant answers in your own language through the multilingual chat with live translation. You can also find the nearest police or gendarmerie station and look up practical advice on what to do if your documents are lost or your belongings are stolen. It all makes things simpler, so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind. The platform is also accessible to visitors with disabilities.
Report a crime or an offence online
If one of your belongings has been stolen, lost or damaged, you can file a report online, with no need to visit a police station during your stay in France. You can also anonymously report certain serious offences, such as drug trafficking, illegal online content, dangerous street riding, animal cruelty and more. If you’re affected by violence, cyberbullying or discrimination, specially trained police officers and gendarmes are on hand to support you. Minors also have a dedicated space where they can talk in complete confidence and get advice suited to their needs.
Chat with a police officer or gendarme online, in your language
Not sure what to do after losing something, after a minor incident, or about anything else? You can contact a police officer or gendarme directly through the secure chat on the Ma Sécurité website or app. Available 24/7, the service puts you in touch with an officer in under two minutes, in more than 130 languages thanks to instant translation. It’s an easy way to find out what to do, even if you don’t speak French.
Find a police or gendarmerie station near where you’re staying
Whether you need to collect a copy of your report, complete a procedure or obtain an official document, the Ma Sécurité app helps you quickly find the nearest police or gendarmerie station. The interactive map shows the address, opening hours, accessibility information and directions to get there. In some cases, you can also book an appointment online to avoid waiting when you arrive.
Check the practical guides to make things easier
Lost passport, stolen bank details, online scams: the Ma Sécurité app has a series of guides to help you sort things out and know how to react if something unexpected happens during your trip to France. You’ll also find tips on recovering items lost on public transport, following the rules of the road and low-emission zones, and preparing for a safe stay in the mountains.
ID documents and credit cards: what to do if you lose them and what are the steps to take ?
A misplaced document, a lost bank card or a forgotten bag can quickly become a worry when you’re travelling abroad. Fortunately, there are useful numbers and simple online procedures to help you deal with it quickly, so it doesn’t spoil the rest of your stay in France.
Lost ID documents
Report the loss at a police station, where you’ll be given a receipt. Then contact your embassy or consulate.
Items lost in public places or on public transport
- In Paris, file a lost property report on the Préfecture de Police website.
- If it happens on a train or at a station, file a lost property report online, or call 3635 and then press #22.
- If it happens on the Paris metro, call 3246 or go to the dedicated website.
- At an airport, fill in a lost property form. Once you’ve been contacted, you have fifteen days to collect your item from the lost property office. If you think you left something on a plane or a transfer bus, contact the airline directly.
Can’t find your car?
Your own vehicle or hire car isn’t where you parked it? Don’t panic. It has most likely been towed to the car pound because it was parked illegally. To check, enter the vehicle’s registration number on the Service-Public website. To save time, you can also download a vehicle release form before heading there. If you think your car was moved by the City of Paris, enter its registration number on the dedicated website.
Lost bank card
If you’ve lost your credit card, cancel it as quickly as possible through your bank’s mobile app or by calling your bank’s card-cancellation line. Depending on your card, you can also call France’s interbank card-cancellation centre on 0 892 705 705, or +33 4 42 60 53 03 from abroad. If you notice any unauthorised payments, report them to the police.
Lost pet
If you’re travelling in France with a pet and lose track of it during your stay, contact the nearest animal pound. After 8 days (4 days in France’s overseas territories), animals are handed over to a shelter run by the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA), France’s leading animal welfare charity. You can find SPA-run animal pounds online.
Dispute with a hotel, restaurant or shop
If you have a dispute with a hotel, restaurant or shop, contact the consumer protection authority (DGCCRF) in the département where it happened.
Whatever the situation, you can always ask your country’s embassy or consulate for help.
What to do in an emergency ?
In an emergency, it’s vital to know how to react straight away. Be ready to answer three questions: Who are you? Where are you? Why are you calling?
Emergency numbers
If you’re involved in or witness an accident during your stay in France, here are the emergency numbers to call:
- 15: medical emergencies (SAMU, the emergency medical service)
- 17: police emergencies*
- 18: fire service
- 112: European emergency number
- 114: emergency number for deaf and hard-of-hearing people
- 196: emergencies at sea
- 191: aviation emergencies
Who answers when you call 17?
Calling 17 puts you straight through to the police or gendarmerie in an emergency, for example to report a theft, an assault or a burglary in progress, or someone in danger. An officer assesses the situation immediately and sends the right response if needed.
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
