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Emergencies and key laws in Portugal

For anyone at any step. Save these numbers in your phone before you fly.

112All emergencies: police, fire and ambulance. Also call it if you see a wildfire
808 24 24 24SNS 24 health line: advice from a nurse and referral to the right place, 24 hours. Press 9 for English, and option 4 for free psychological counselling. Madeira 800 24 24 20, Azores 808 24 60 24
800 250 250CIAV, the national poison information centre run by INEM: advice from doctors, free, 24 hours
800 202 148Domestic violence information line: free, anonymous and confidential, 24 hours. Or text 3060
144Social emergency line (Segurança Social): free, 24 hours, for urgent social situations such as an older person left without support
116 111SOS Criança e Jovem (Instituto de Apoio à Criança): free and confidential support for children and young people on working days. WhatsApp 913 069 404
800 20 35 31Linha do Cidadão Idoso, the Ombudsman’s free line for older people: rights to health, social security and housing support, and help with abuse
808 200 520GNR SOS Ambiente e Território: report environmental offences and fire risks, 24 hours. For a fire you can see, call 112
+351 21 392 4000British Embassy Lisbon, 24 hours a day for emergencies. From the UK, family can call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000

If something goes wrong

Car accident
  1. If anyone is hurt or there is danger, call 112, and ask for the police if there are injuries
  2. Make the scene safe and move people away from traffic. Photograph the scene and the damage
  3. If you agree with the other driver on what happened, fill in and both sign one accident report form (Declaração Amigável de Acidente Automóvel): date, place, both vehicles, insurers, the circumstance boxes and a sketch. If you don’t agree, each driver fills in their own
  4. You can also report it together on the insurers’ e-SEGURNET app, if both vehicles are insured in Portugal
  5. Tell your own insurer within 8 days, even if you filled in the form
Wildfire, heat or storm warning
  1. IPMA (the weather service) warnings use colours: green, no risk; yellow, be aware; orange, moderate to high risk, follow the advice of Civil Protection (ANEPC); red, extreme risk
  2. In high fire risk, ANEPC sends SMS alerts in Portuguese and English to every phone in the area. Follow them: the use of fire may be banned
  3. The FCDO says wildfire risk is higher from April to October. Starting a fire, even by accident, is illegal and can bring a fine or prison
  4. If you see a fire, call 112 and give the location, size and quickest way to reach it
Lost or stolen UK passport
  1. Report the loss or theft to the police and keep a copy of the report
  2. If you need to travel urgently, apply online for an emergency travel document: £125, usually ready 2 working days after you apply. Paying usually cancels your old passport
  3. Don’t go to collect it until the consulate emails you. The British Embassy is in Lisbon, with a Vice Consulate in Portimão: +351 21 392 4000
Unwell but not an emergency
  1. Call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24 (press 9 for English): it can assess you and refer you
  2. Book your family doctor at your health centre (centro de saúde)
  3. Going straight to hospital A&E (urgência) without a referral from SNS 24, a health centre or INEM can mean paying a user fee, unless you are admitted
  4. At night and at weekends, use a duty pharmacy (farmácia de serviço): they are listed by district online
  5. For possible poisoning, call 800 250 250. For chest pain, breathing trouble or signs of a stroke, call 112 straight away

Laws and customs to know

Carry photo IDYou must show photo ID if a police officer asks, and the police can hold you until they confirm who you are. It is compulsory when driving. Once resident, carry your residence card. Read more
Drink-driving limits are lower for new driversThe limit is 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood, and 0.2 g/l for drivers in their probationary period and professional drivers, with fines from €250. Read more
Get your NIF firstYour tax number (NIF) is free. Banks, landlords, employers and the health service all ask for it, so get it before or as soon as you arrive. Read more
Call SNS 24 before A&ERegister at your health centre once resident. If you go to hospital A&E without a referral from SNS 24, a health centre or INEM, you may have to pay unless you are admitted. Read more
UK prescriptions aren’t valid in PortugalBring your medicines in original packaging with a prescription and a doctor’s letter. Check controlled medicines with INFARMED before you travel. Read more
Deposits are cappedA landlord can ask for a deposit (caução) of no more than 2 months’ rent, and no more than 2 months’ rent in advance. A deposit isn’t compulsory. Read more
What rules catch Brits out in Portugal?How does Portuguese healthcare work for Brits?

General guidance. In an emergency, follow the instructions of the police, ambulance or fire service.