Move toward safety

If possible, move to a safe public place, shelter, community organisation, hospital, police station, embassy/consulate, trusted person, or recognised support service.

Ask for language support

You can ask for an interpreter, translated information, plain language, written instructions, or someone trusted to help communicate with services.

Protect key documents

If safe, keep copies of passports, visas, residence papers, ID, medical documents, school records, legal papers, and emergency contacts.

It may include

• Displacement, unsafe travel, or no safe place to stay
• Asylum, visa, residence, or legal uncertainty
• Family separation or fear for loved ones
• Language barriers stopping you from getting help
• Housing, food, healthcare, transport, or financial insecurity
• Trauma, panic, grief, culture shock, or isolation
• Fear of authorities, discrimination, racism, or exploitation

When it is urgent

• You are unsafe where you are
• You have nowhere safe to sleep tonight
• You are being threatened, exploited, trafficked, or controlled
• You cannot access food, medication, healthcare, or shelter
• You are at risk of harm because of legal, immigration, or family circumstances
• You feel unable to stay safe with yourself

Gentle content notice

This page discusses migration stress, displacement, asylum, refugee experiences, family separation, legal worries, safety concerns, racism, exploitation, housing insecurity, and crisis support. Please pause if needed.

Keep safer copies

• Passport, visa, residence permit, or immigration documents
• Birth certificates, marriage documents, school records, medical records
• Legal letters, appointment details, case numbers, and contact details
• Emergency contacts and support service numbers

Ask before signing

If possible, do not sign legal or immigration documents you do not understand. Ask for an interpreter, legal advice, migrant support, refugee support, or advocacy help.

Safety comes first

If keeping documents puts you in danger, focus on getting to safety first. A trusted support service may help you work out what to do next.

What can help

• Listen without judgement.
• Ask what language or communication support they need.
• Help them contact migrant, refugee, legal, housing, or crisis support.
• Respect privacy and safety, especially around documents and immigration status.
• Help them find food, shelter, transport, healthcare, and trusted support.

What to avoid

• Do not give legal advice unless you are qualified.
• Do not pressure them to share documents or immigration status.
• Do not contact authorities or services without consent unless someone is in immediate danger.
• Do not minimise racism, trauma, fear, grief, or displacement stress.

Helpful phrase

“You deserve safety and support. We can look for help in a way that respects your language, culture, privacy, and choices.”

Small wins count

• Finding a safe place for tonight
• Asking for an interpreter
• Saving an emergency number
• Keeping one document safe
• Calling a support service
• Eating, resting, or charging your phone

You deserve dignity

Your safety and wellbeing matter, regardless of migration status, language, culture, paperwork, money, housing, or where you are in the process.

Support can be practical

Support may include shelter, legal guidance, translation, food, healthcare, trauma support, school support, transport, community help, or safety planning.

New Zealand / Aotearoa

• Emergency: 111
• Immigration New Zealand: immigration and visa information
• Red Cross Refugee Support: refugee settlement support where available
• Community Law: legal information and local legal help
• Citizens Advice Bureau: local support and guidance
• 1737: free call/text emotional support

Australia

• Emergency: 000
• Department of Home Affairs: immigration information
• Refugee Council of Australia: refugee support information
• Legal Aid: check your state or territory
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Translating and Interpreting Service: interpreter support where available

United States

• Emergency: 911
• 988 Lifeline: call, text, or chat 988
• USCIS: immigration information
• UNHCR USA: refugee and asylum information
• 2-1-1: local housing, food, legal, and community support in many areas

Canada

• Emergency: 911
• 9-8-8 Canada: call/text crisis support
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: immigration/refugee information
• Settlement services: local newcomer support
• 211 Canada: community, housing, food, and support services

United Kingdom

• Emergency: 999 or 112
• GOV.UK: immigration and asylum information
• Refugee Council: refugee support pathways
• Citizens Advice: immigration, housing, benefits, and legal guidance
• Samaritans: 116 123

International / Global

• UNHCR Help: country-based refugee and asylum information
• IOM: migration and displacement support information
• Red Cross / Red Crescent: local crisis and emergency support where available
• Find a Helpline: search by country and topic

Language and translation support

Ask for an interpreter, translated information, plain language, or support from someone trusted when contacting services.

Text or chat support

Text and webchat can help when speaking feels unsafe, overwhelming, or difficult in a second language.

Culturally safe support

For cultural, language, discrimination, identity, privacy, rural, digital, or access barriers to getting help.

Crisis Support by Topic

Explore all crisis topic support pathways.

Legal & Personal Safety

For legal worries, threats, harassment, exploitation, or safety planning.

Homelessness & Housing Crisis

For emergency shelter, unsafe housing, relocation, or no safe place to stay.

Trauma, PTSD & Flashbacks

For trauma responses, flashbacks, panic, dissociation, or distress after difficult experiences.

Financial Crisis & Hardship

For debt, food insecurity, benefits, poverty, relocation pressure, or financial stress.

Crisis Support by Location

Find support by country or region.