First week
Time
10 min to read and save the numbers
Cost
Free
Difficulty
Easy
What to bring
Your phone, with the numbers below saved
Not needed: Fluent Portuguese (112 operators handle English routinely)
Our pick
Compare all 4 →Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Stop and assess
Check yourself and anyone with you for injuries before doing anything else. Move somewhere safe if you can.
- 2
Call 112
Give your location first, that's the detail responders need most, then what happened, then how many people are hurt.
- 3
Let them triage
Dispatchers route the right service, ambulance, police, or fire, and can switch to English if you ask early. Don't skip the call because it "probably doesn't count."
- 4
Follow up properly
Note the time, location, and what happened while it's fresh, photograph anything relevant, and ask for a "declaração médica" if you'll need it for insurance or work.
Common questions
Is 112 free and does it work without a Portuguese SIM?
Yes, free from any phone, even with no credit or a foreign SIM, that's an EU-wide rule, not a Portuguese one.
What if I don't speak Portuguese?
112 operators handle English routinely. Say "I need English" early and they'll route you accordingly.
When should I call SNS24 instead of 112?
Whenever it's not immediately life-threatening, a bad fever, a non-urgent injury, or advice on whether to go to a hospital at all. They'll tell you straight if you actually need 112.
Read more
Healthcare 101: SNS, private, and insurance
Full guide · 6 min read
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Lisbon.