This application provides a call method and a terminal device. The method includes: when roaming from a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) to a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), a terminal device obtains a first emergency number list of the VPLMN, and the emergency number corresponds to at least one emergency service type; the terminal device obtains a first number, and when the first number is an emergency number in a second emergency number list of the HPLMN and the first number is not an emergency number in the first emergency number list, determines a second number based on the first number, where the second number is the emergency number in the first emergency number list, and the second number and the first number correspond to a same emergency service type; and the terminal device initiates an emergency call based on the second number.