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How to Call 000 Without a SIM Card in Australia

You can call 000 in Australia without a SIM card, but a compatible phone and coverage from an Australian mobile network are still required.
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Yes. In Australia, you can call 000 from a mobile without a SIM card or phone passcode. The phone must still be able to make emergency calls and connect to an available Australian mobile network. If no network has coverage where you are, a mobile phone cannot reach 000; dialling 112 does not get around that limit.

What you need for a SIM-free emergency call

  • No SIM card is required: Australian Government guidance says a mobile can call 000 or 112 without a SIM card or phone passcode. Using other emergency numbers.
  • A mobile network must be reachable: the call may connect through an available Australian network, even if your usual provider has no coverage. If no provider has coverage at your location, the mobile call cannot connect. How to call Triple Zero (000).
  • The handset must support emergency calling: a missing SIM and a phone’s ability to place an emergency call are separate issues.

Does 112 work without a SIM?

Yes. In Australia, 112 connects to the same emergency services as 000 and can be called from a mobile without a SIM card. It is not a faster or higher-priority number, and it still needs mobile service to proceed. If there is no network coverage, switching from 000 to 112 will not help. Australian Government guidance on other emergency numbers.

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How to make the call and what to tell the operator

  1. Move to a safe place if you can do so without delaying the call.
  2. Dial 000 or 112 and say whether you need police, fire or ambulance.
  3. Give your location as clearly as possible, including the state and town if asked. On a mobile, the operator needs to ask because you may not be at a fixed address associated with the service.
  4. Stay on the line and do not hang up until the operator tells you to do so.

Telstra answers calls to 000 and 112, asks which emergency service is required, and transfers the call. ACMA emergency-call guidance.

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What if the mobile cannot connect?

If no Australian mobile network has coverage at your location, a mobile cannot reach Triple Zero. Try another available way to contact emergency services if one is accessible: ACMA says 000 can also be called from fixed phones, certain VoIP services and satellite services, including handheld satellite phones. Which option is usable depends on the service and coverage available to you; these alternatives are not available everywhere. ACMA emergency-call guidance.

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Can you text 000 or 112?

No. Ordinary SMS cannot be used to contact 000 or 112. ACMA identifies 106 as a text-based emergency service for people using a teletypewriter (TTY), not as an SMS number. The National Relay Service can also transfer certain relay calls to Triple Zero. ACMA information on emergency calls and accessibility.

Check that your phone can make emergency calls

Australia’s 3G network closures can affect some phones’ ability to call 000. ACMA describes requirements for telcos to identify and manage phones that cannot access emergency calling, but general guidance cannot establish whether a particular handset will work on a particular network. For a device-specific answer, check current ACMA or carrier guidance for your phone and service. ACMA information about the 3G network closure.

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Does this apply outside Australia?

This guidance is specific to Australia’s 000 and 112 arrangements. Emergency numbers, SIM-free calling rules and network requirements vary by country, so check the relevant local authority when travelling.

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