Emergencies
Spain has a well-functioning emergency call system. The most important number:
Emergency Numbers
- 112: General emergency number (police, fire, ambulance) — Europe-wide, multilingual (English, French, German). Always the first choice!
- 091: Policía Nacional (criminal police, theft, assault)
- 092: Policía Local (city police, traffic, local matters)
- 062: Guardia Civil (rural areas, highways, coast guard)
- 061: Ambulance service (Ambulancia)
Police — Who is Responsible?
- Policía Nacional: In cities with over 30,000 inhabitants. Responsible for theft, passport/ID issues, filing reports (Denuncia). Sometimes speaks some English
- Guardia Civil: In rural areas, on highways, and coasts. Recognizable by olive green uniforms. Professional, sometimes a bit strict
- Policía Local / Municipal: City police for traffic and local order
- Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalonia) and Ertzaintza (Basque Country): Regional police forces that largely replace the Policía Nacional in these regions
In Case of Theft
File a Denuncia (report) with the Policía Nacional — necessary for insurance. In tourist cities, there are special "SATE" offices (Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero) with multilingual staff. Online reporting possible at denuncias.policia.es
Achtung
In case of passport loss, immediately file a Denuncia and contact the German Embassy in Madrid (Tel: +34 91 557 90 00) or the Consulate in Barcelona. With the Denuncia and a passport photo, the consulate will issue an emergency travel document.