Emergency Telephone Numbers in Spain

Contact information for emergency services such as general emergencies, your embassy, police, fire department, ambulance, domestic abuse, credit card theft and catering/pizza. A short guide to Spain's emergency services.

112: Before we go any further, please memorize this number. 112. For general emergencies throughout Europe, call 112. It’s NOT 911 in Spain or Europe,  it’s 112.

Besides common sense prevention strategies, preparation can be your best weapon against misfortune. But if disaster ever does strike your Spanish paradise (and like anywhere else in the world chances are that it won’t, but hey, stuff does happen), take a good deep breath and try not to panic. This list of emergency phone numbers for Spain that you’re about to read and your local Páginas Amarillas (Spanish telephone directory) should do wonders to help you get to fixing whatever it is that comes your way.

Keep in mind that some Spanish emergency services have English-speaking staff, but others don’t. The best idea would be to find a Spanish-speaker you trust who can call for you. However, in an emergency that may not always be an option. So if you find your Spanish skills lacking, you may want to memorize these Spanish phrases, just in case:

Quiero hacer una denuncia./Quiero denunciar un crimen.=I’d like to report a crime.
Necesito una ambulancia./Necesito que me envíen una ambulancia.=I need you to send me an ambulance.
Mi casa está ardiendo.=My house is burning down.
Vivo en…=I live at…
Quiero pedir una pizza pequeña/mediana/grande.=I’d like to order a small/medium/large pizza.

These emergency phone numbers are for use within Spain (although 112 works throughout Europe as well). To call from outside Spain, you must first dial: 00 34.

Your Country’s Embassy
Reporting a Crime in Spain
Calling the Police in Spain (Policía)
Calling the Fire Department in Spain (Bomberos)
Calling an Ambulance in Spain (Ambulancia)
Violence Against Women in Spain
Credit Card Theft in Spain
Cooking Emergency (Pizza Delivery in Spain)
Your Experiences Using Emergency Services in Spain

Your Country’s Embassy

If you ever get into a real bind like needing emergency funds sent from home, it may be time to call in the professionals. But don’t worry, your country’s embassy is there to help. (That said, it’s best to keep in mind what consuls generally can and cannot do.)

Most countries have several consular offices throughout Spain. However, emergency consular services to citizens are generally provided by the main embassy only:

• United States Madrid Tel: 91 587 2240 “For emergency assistance after hours, American citizens may call 91 587 2200 and ask to speak to the duty officer.”
• United Kingdom Madrid Telephone: 91 524 97 00 Outside of normal working hours, the duty officer “will respond to any calls within one hour,” as needed.
• Ireland Madrid Tel: 91 436 4093 In an emergency outside of normal working hours, call the number above and leave a message. Messages are regularly monitored.
• Canada Madrid tel: 91 423 3250 Barcelona tel: 93 204 2700 Málaga tel: 95 222 9533 24/7 emergency toll-free number to Ottawa: 00-800-2326-6831
• Australia Madrid Tel: 91 353 6600 24/7 emergency tel: 900 996 199
• South Africa Madrid Tel: 91 4363780 In an emergency outside of normal working hours, call the number above. A recording will provide you with the phone number of the guard on duty that day who will be able to assist.

Reporting a Crime in Spain

Tel: 902 102 112

If you’ve been the victim of a crime, accident, or assault, you “must report the incident to the Police. This is called making a denuncia, and is required by law for all cases, ranging from bag snatching to more serious crimes and accidents,” according to the British Embassy in Madrid. 

“Denuncias can be made by phone in Spanish and English, by calling 902 102 112, as well as on the Internet in Spanish” at http://www.policia.es under the section Area del Ciudadano, Denuncias. “Otherwise, they can be made at the nearest Comisaría de Policía. (In Madrid, for example, at C/ General Pardiñas, 90.)” Though if you go in person, be prepared to wait a while.

“Some crimes, especially serious crime involving violence will usually have to be reported in person. If necessary, and in major incidents, the Police will provide an interpreter.”

Calling the Police in Spain (Policía)

National Police (Policía Nacional) tel: 091
Local Police (policía local) tel: 092
Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) tel: 062

The Spanish police are there when you need them. A Madrid informant tells us that exactly fourteen minutes from the time he called the police, there were four agents at his door.

And if you see the police on the street, do you know how to tell them apart? The Guardia Civil generally wear green and sometimes their characteristic black tricorn hat, while the Policía Nacional generally wear navy blue. Local police uniforms vary from province to province, from light blue in Madrid to the red of the Ertzaintza in the Basque Country.

To report a crime (make a denuncia), call 902 102 112.

Calling the Fire Department in Spain (Bomberos)

In case of fire, call 112, 080, or 085.

Rest assured that fire service in Spain should be fast and efficient. For example, Madrid’s fire service promises to arrive at the scene of a fire in an urban zone in less than 10 minutes from the time they received the call.

In case you were wondering, according to surveys from Spain, Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, England, and the United States, firemen are considered to be the sexiest group of men. Is this true? Only you can be the judge.

Calling an Ambulance in Spain (Ambulancia)

In case of a medical emergency, call 112 or 061.

Your embassy should be able to provide you with the same list of English-speaking doctors we have (it’s from the embassy).

Violence Against Women (Malos tratos contra las mujeres) in Spain

If you have suffered any kind of physical abuse and need medical attention, please call 112 or go to your nearest hospital or health center.

For free emergency consultations for abused or battered women in Spain, contact:

Comisión para la investigación de malos tratos a mujeres
(Research Comission for Violence Against Women)
Tel: 900 100 009  
Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 21:00

For a list of regional telephone numbers in Spain that assist abused or battered women, click here. Note that most of the numbers are attended 24 hours a day.

(You can also make a donation to help fight violence against women at the Madre Organisation’s site.)

Credit Card Theft in Spain

If your credit cards get stolen and you don’t feel like making a donation to the bastards who stole them, call your bank or credit card company right away. They should be able to cancel your cards in no time and help you make arrangements to get new ones.

Here are some of the major players:

• American Express Telephone Service Center: 902 375637 Emergency Card Replacement: 917 437000
• Mastercard Emergency Services: 900 97 1231
• Diner’s Club Tel: 902 40 11 12
• JCB Tel: 900 314 027 (Toll Free) or 91 540 0910 Monday through Friday 9:00-14:00 and 15:00-17:30

Cooking Emergency (Pizza Delivery in Spain)

When you’ve burnt the paella…again, it may be time to declare a food emergency and call out for pizza.

Telepizza
Tel: 902 122 122

And remember, in case of fire call 112.

Your Experiences Using Emergency Services in Spain

If you have used any of the above emergency services in Spain, please feel free to share your experience and leave a comment.

Last updated 27 08 2007

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