Portugal (PT)

Portugal is a parliamentary republic on the southwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, bordered by Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west — a nation of fado music, Age of Discovery seafaring heritage, golden beaches from the Algarve to the Silver Coast, world-famous port wine and Douro Valley vineyards, and a warm, welcoming culture that has made it one of Europe's most beloved expat destinations.

Capital: Lisbon

Region: Europe

Language: Portuguese

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 55)

Emergency: 112

Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers before you need them.

General Emergency

112

Police

112 (emergency) / 217 654 141 (PSP Lisbon non-emergency) / 808 200 520 (GNR national)

Fire Brigade

112 (Bombeiros — fire brigade)

Ambulance

112 (INEM — Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica)

Poison Control

Centro de Informação Antivenenos (CIAV): 808 250 143 (24/7, free)

Mental Health

SOS Voz Amiga: 213 544 545 / 912 802 669 / 963 524 660 (daily 16:00–24:00, free). Conversa Amiga: 808 237 327. Linha de Apoio Psicológico COVID/general: contact your health centre.

Domestic Violence

APAV (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima): 116 006 (free, Mon–Fri 9:00–21:00). Linha de Emergência para Vítimas de Violência Doméstica: 800 202 148 (free, 24/7)

Child Protection

CPCJ (Comissões de Proteção de Crianças e Jovens): contact local CPCJ. SOS Criança: 116 111 (national child helpline, free, 24/7)

Road Assistance

ACP (Automóvel Club de Portugal): 213 771 500 (24/7). ANSR emergency on motorways: 112. Your car insurance breakdown assistance is usually included — check your policy.

Serviço de Urgência do Centro de Saúde / Hospital

808 24 24 24 (SNS24 nurse triage line)

Call SNS24 (808 24 24 24) first for non-life-threatening issues — a nurse triages you and directs you to the nearest appropriate care. Out-of-hours urgent care: go to the UCSP/USF (health centre with extended hours) or Hospital Urgências. Life-threatening: call 112.

24/7 at hospital Urgências. SNS24 operates 24h/day.

How to call emergency services in Portugal

Dial 112 from any phone (free, no SIM or credit needed, operates on all networks). In English: operators speak English at 112. State your location (address or nearest landmark), nature of emergency. SNS24 (808 24 24 24) for non-emergency medical queries — Portuguese and some English-language triage.