Emergencies in Porto

Good to Know

• 112 is the ONLY emergency number that works in Portugal — dialing 911 or 999 will not connect you.
• Save the Porto Tourism Police number (+351 222 081 833) separately; officers there speak multiple languages and are the easiest route for filing an in-person police report as a foreigner (crime reports generally must be made in person, not by phone).
• For non-urgent health questions, use the Health Line 24 (808 24 24 24) instead of tying up the 112 line.
• If you have a hearing or speech impairment, the official MAI112 app connects you to 112 via video/chat with a sign-language interpreter.
• Dial 112 for any life-threatening emergency in Portugal — most operators speak some English if you speak slowly and clearly.
• Public hospital emergency rooms (Santo António, São João) are free at point of care for legal residents via the SNS; non-residents/tourists can still be treated but should carry travel health insurance or be prepared to pay.
• Portuguese ERs use the Manchester Triage System (colour-coded wristbands) — you'll be seen by clinical urgency, not arrival order, so non-urgent cases can face long waits.
• For genuine major trauma, ambulances default to São João or Santo António as the region's main referral hospitals rather than smaller private clinics.