Calling emergency services (112)

Overview

112 is the single emergency number covering the whole of Spain and the EU, connecting you to medical, police and fire services as needed. It's free to call, works from any phone (including without credit or a SIM), and operators can typically assist in multiple languages.

Requirements

• Available to anyone in Spain, regardless of nationality, residency status, or which phone network you use

Step-by-step process

• Call 112 from any phone
• State clearly which service you need: medical, police, or fire — or say you're not sure and let the operator help direct your call
• Give your exact location as precisely as possible, since this is usually the most important detail for a fast response
• Describe the situation clearly and answer the operator's questions, which help them send the right kind of help
• Stay on the line until the operator confirms they have what they need, and follow any instructions given while help is on the way

Required documents

• None — no ID or health card is needed to call 112 or receive emergency care

Common mistakes

• Hanging up too early, before the operator has confirmed your location and situation clearly
• Not knowing your address in Spanish format, which can slow down giving your location — knowing your street name and number in advance helps

Practical tips

• 112 operators can typically connect you with an interpreter if you're not comfortable in Spanish — don't let a language barrier stop you from calling
• 112 works even if your phone has no credit or active plan, and even if it's locked, as long as it can get network signal

How Tuchati can help

112 is always your first call in a genuine emergency. For anything after the immediate emergency — understanding a hospital letter, following up on treatment — Tuchati can help.