Emergency and helpline numbers in Portugal

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Save 112 – police, fire and medical emergencies

   112 is the single European emergency number. It connects you to the police, the fire brigade or the medical emergency service (INEM). It is free and available 24 hours a day, every day.

2. 2

   Step 2: Save SNS 24 – 808 24 24 24 for health advice

   When you feel ill and it is not an emergency, call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24. The line provides triage, advice and referral, for example to a health centre or a hospital emergency department. Clinical calls are answered 24 hours a day; administrative calls from 8:00 to 22:00. The call is charged at the rate of a call to a landline. A referral through SNS 24 also means you do not pay the hospital emergency user fee.

3. 3

   Step 3: Save the poison centre – 800 250 250

   The INEM poison information centre (Centro de Informação Antivenenos, CIAV) answers on 800 250 250, free of charge, 24 hours a day. Doctors specialised in toxicology advise on medicines, household and industrial products, plants and animals. Have the packaging with you and be ready to say who was exposed, to what, how much and when. If you cannot get through, call 112.

4. 4

   Step 4: Know the social and protection lines

   • 144 – National social emergency line: for people in a situation of social emergency, for example without shelter or protection; 24 hours a day.
   • 800 202 148 – Domestic violence information and support: 24 hours a day; an SMS line is available on 3060.
   • 116 006 – APAV victim support line: free, on working days from 8:00 to 23:00, for victims of any crime and their families. APAV also runs 800 219 090 for crime and illegal content online.
   • 116 111 – Child helpline (Linha de Apoio à Criança): free, 24 hours, for children to talk about their problems.
   • 116 000 – Missing children: free, 24 hours.
5. 5

   Step 5: Know where to find emotional support

   SOS Voz Amiga offers an anonymous listening line for people in emotional distress or with suicidal thoughts, every day from 15:30 to 0:30, on 213 544 545 (landline) or 912 802 669, 963 524 660 and 930 712 500 (mobile). Calls are charged at normal national rates. In an immediate crisis, call 112.

6. 6

   Step 6: Know who to call for non-urgent police matters

   For a theft that has already happened, a lost document or a noise complaint, contact your local police station (PSP or GNR, depending on the area) instead of 112. For noisy neighbours, the police can order the noise to stop immediately between 23:00 and 7:00; during the day they can set a deadline for it to end.

Language

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Going directly to a hospital emergency department for minor problems, then waiting for hours and paying a user fee.

Tips

• Save 112, 808 24 24 24 and 800 250 250 in your phone and in your children's phones.
• Keep your SNS user number and residence document with you; hospitals ask for them.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Save Portugal's emergency and health numbersAdd to plan
• Get your SNS user number at your health centreAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 6 Apr 2027.