Emergency Numbers in Portugal: 112, SNS 24 and Other Lines

In Portugal, 112 is the single emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade, and it is free from any phone. For health problems that are not life-threatening, call SNS 24, the national health service line, on 808 24 24 24. For a suspected poisoning, call the CIAV poison line on 800 250 250.

The numbers and services below were checked against official sources as of November 2026. Keep them in your phone’s contacts, together with your SNS user number and the address of your home in Portuguese.

Which number do I call in Portugal?

When should I call 112?

Call 112 whenever life, health, property or the environment is in immediate danger: chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, unconsciousness, a fire, a serious road accident or a crime happening now. Medical calls are passed to INEM (the National Institute for Medical Emergency), which sends ambulances, and fire calls to the fire service.

1. Say where you are first: street, number, floor and parish, or a landmark. Lisbon addresses often include a floor and side, such as 3.º Esq. (third floor, left).
2. Say what happened and how many people are hurt.
3. Say early that you speak English and ask if the operator can continue in English.
4. Stay on the line and follow instructions; do not hang up until told to.

Do not call 112 for medical advice, a pharmacy or a lost wallet. Misuse delays help for others.

What is SNS 24 for?

SNS 24 is a 24-hour line staffed by health professionals who assess your symptoms by phone and send you to self-care, a health center or a hospital emergency department. A referral from SNS 24 to the ER means you do not pay the emergency user fee. Have your SNS user number ready; if you do not have one, see our guide to the SNS user number. The full process is in our guide to the SNS 24 helpline.

For medicines at night, see how the on-duty pharmacy system in Lisbon works.

How do I contact the police in Lisbon?

In Lisbon, policing is done mainly by the PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública, Portugal’s public security police), which runs neighborhood stations (esquadras). The GNR (National Republican Guard) covers rural areas and roads outside cities, and the Polícia Municipal de Lisboa (the city police) handles local matters such as traffic and public space. For emergencies always call 112.

For a crime that has already happened, go to any PSP station to file a complaint (queixa). Bring ID and any evidence. Ask for a copy of the complaint; banks, insurers and consulates may ask for it.

The PSP’s tourism police station in Lisbon (Esquadra de Turismo) helps tourists and foreign visitors who are victims of crime. According to the PSP, its service point is at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Doca Jardim do Tabaco (Edifício SW), open 08:00 to 23:00, phone 219 021 950, email [email protected].

Can I report a crime online?

Yes, for certain crimes, through the Ministry of Internal Administration’s Queixa Eletrónica portal. Portuguese and foreign nationals living in or visiting Portugal can use it, but you must identify yourself, for example with the Cartão de Cidadão or the Chave Móvel Digital (Portugal’s digital ID), and the complaint goes to the PSP or GNR only after your identity is confirmed.

The portal covers crimes such as theft (furto), robbery (roubo), damage to property, fraud (burla), extortion, simple assault, domestic violence, mistreatment, human trafficking, use of someone else’s ID document and aiding illegal immigration. It is not for emergencies or crimes in progress. The pages are in Portuguese, so non-Portuguese speakers may find a station easier.

How are weather and civil-protection warnings sent?

ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil, the national emergency and civil protection authority) sends SMS warnings to phones in affected areas, from the sender “AvisoPROCIV”. The messages are free and need no sign-up. They are used for events such as high wildfire risk, heat or storms.

IPMA (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal’s weather institute) issues color-coded weather warnings by district, from yellow to orange and red, for rain, wind, heat, cold and coastal agitation. Check ipma.pt for the Lisbon district when a storm is forecast, and follow ANEPC and municipal civil protection advice on closures and evacuations.

What other numbers are useful?

• Domestic violence: the CIG (Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality) runs a free, anonymous line, 800 202 148, 24 hours a day, plus SMS 3060 and email [email protected]. In danger, call 112.
• Poisoning: CIAV, run by INEM, 800 250 250, 24 hours.
• Your embassy or consulate: for lost passports and serious incidents involving your nationals. Save its emergency number from its official website.

Bottom line

Save 112, 808 24 24 24 and 800 250 250 in your phone today, and learn to say your address in Portuguese with floor and side. For a crime that has already happened, a PSP station or the Queixa Eletrónica portal gives you the written complaint that insurers and consulates ask for.

FAQ

Is 112 free from a mobile phone?

Yes. Calls to 112 are free, from mobile phones and landlines.

Should I call 112 if I find my flat was burgled?

Call 112 if the intruder may still be inside or someone is hurt. Otherwise, do not touch anything and report it at a PSP station or online, so the police can record the evidence.

Do I need to speak Portuguese at a police station?

It helps. Ask whether an interpreter can be arranged, or bring someone who speaks Portuguese, and write down the facts, dates and items lost before you go.