- 112 is the single emergency number. In Catalonia it is answered by CAT112, part of the Departament d'Interior: it locates the incident and dispatches an ambulance, the Mossos d'Esquadra, the fire brigade or Protecció Civil [1].
- The call is free and works from landlines and mobiles, without a PIN and without your own operator, as long as there is network coverage from any company nearby [2].
- Operators answer in Catalan, Spanish, English, French and German; other languages go through an interpreter. Russian and Ukrainian are on the list [2].
- If it is urgent but concerns your health with no threat to life, call 061 Salut Respon. Police: 091 (Policía Nacional) and 062 (Guardia Civil) [2][5][6].
- False calls and calls with questions are penalised: in serious cases, with a fine of €15,001 to 60,000 [3].
What is 112 in Catalonia and who answers the call?
112 is the Europe-wide emergency number. In Catalonia it is answered by the Centre d'Atenció i Gestió de Trucades d'Urgència 112 Catalunya (CAT112), a public body attached to the Generalitat’s Departament d'Interior i Seguretat Pública [1].
CAT112 receives calls about medical help, fires and rescue, public safety and civil protection. The operator establishes the location, classifies the incident and dispatches the right service: the ambulance service (SEM) for medical emergencies, the Mossos d'Esquadra for security, the Bombers for fires and rescue [1]. The centre works around the clock, 365 days a year [1].
When should you call 112 and when not?
Call if you have been hurt or have witnessed a situation that needs immediate help from the police, an ambulance or the fire brigade. CAT112 advises calling even when in doubt [2]. Examples from the official description: accidents, fires, thefts, assaults, violence against women, rescues, disasters [1].
Do not call 112 for information, as a joke or with a false report. For information on roads and weather, CAT112 refers you to 012 (the Generalitat information line) [2]. Misuse can lead to penalties: in serious cases, a fine of €15,001 to 60,000 [3].
What will the operator ask and in what language will they answer?
The operator will ask where it happened (street, square, town), your phone number and your name in case they need to call you back. Answer all the questions and do not hang up until you are told to [2]. If you are waiting for an answer, do not call again: it will delay the service [3].
Operators speak directly in Catalan, Spanish, English, French and German. In other languages the conversation goes through an interpreter, and CAT112 says it provides service in 50 languages. Russian and Ukrainian are named in the list of languages with an interpreter [2].
Dial 112 without a prefix. If many people have already reported the same incident, the operator may simply ask whether you have any additional useful information [3].
How is 112 different from 061, 091, 062, 092 and 010?
Spain has several numbers, and they are not interchangeable. The table is based on the authorities’ pages:
| Number | Who answers | When to call | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | CAT112, single service | Threat to life, fire, crime, accident | [1][2] |
| 061 | Salut Respon (CatSalut) | Health questions, urgent care, home doctor visit, ambulance | [5] |
| 091 | Policía Nacional | Reporting a crime, a missing person | [6] |
| 062 | Guardia Civil | Emergency assistance, answered around the clock | [7] |
| 010 | Ajuntament de Barcelona | City information, procedures (not for emergencies) | [8] |
| 900 900 120 | Gender-based violence helpline | Round-the-clock help | [8] |
| 900 703 030 | Centro de Urgencias y Emergencias Sociales, Barcelona | Social emergencies | [9] |
061 is Catalonia’s health line: it works around the clock, and through it you can get advice, find out your CAP, call a doctor to your home or call an ambulance. CatSalut states plainly that for urgent medical help the first step is 061, while in an emergency you should call 112 [2][5]. You do not need to prove insurance cover to use 061 [5]. How to book a doctor’s appointment once you have your card: booking with a family doctor; who is entitled to public healthcare: public or private healthcare. About the 010 city line and Ajuntament offices: OAC in Barcelona.
About 092 (Guàrdia Urbana): the Ajuntament’s directory “Teléfonos de emergencias” gives the single number 112 for both the Guardia Urbana and the fire brigade, and the Guàrdia Urbana page lists 112, 010 and 900 900 120 as useful numbers [8][9]. A separate city number, 932 915 092, appears in the Ajuntament directory only for releasing blocked cars, from 8 h to 23 h [10]. For social emergencies in Barcelona the same directory gives 900 703 030 (Centro de Urgencias y Emergencias Sociales) [9]. If there is a threat to life or safety, call 112 in any case.
What to do if there is no signal or you cannot hear?
112 works from a mobile without a PIN and without your operator’s network, but you need coverage from some other company. About 15% of Catalonia has no mobile coverage at all, mainly high mountains and remote areas: CAT112 marks signposts with coverage along trails, and from the signpost number the operator can tell where you are calling from [2][11].
For people with hearing impairments there is the 112 app, SMS and video calls in Catalan Sign Language [4]. If you are moving with your family, the first steps are collected in the family route card, and the general order of residence grounds is described on the page residence permit in Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Catalonia?
Can I call 112 in Russian?
Do you need a SIM card or your operator’s network to call 112?
When should I call 061 and when 112?
What is the difference between 091 and 062?
What happens if you make a false call to 112?
Official sources
- 112 Generalitat · Què és el 112 ↗
- 112 Generalitat · Preguntes freqüents sobre el telèfon 112 ↗
- 112 Generalitat · Quan has de trucar al 112 ↗
- 112 Generalitat · Atenció a persones sordes ↗
- CatSalut · 061 Salut Respon ↗
- Policía Nacional · Plan Mayor Seguridad (091 y 062) ↗
- Guardia Civil · Emergencias 062 y atención a la ciudadanía ↗
- Ajuntament de Barcelona · Guàrdia Urbana: useful phone numbers ↗
- Ajuntament de Barcelona · Guía de servicios: Teléfonos de emergencias ↗
- Guía Barcelona · Telèfons d'urgències de la Guàrdia Urbana (112, 932 915 092) ↗
- 112 Generalitat · Cobertura del telèfon 112 ↗
Sources reviewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and government reference pages are for information only: applying the law depends on official publications, amendments and the specific circumstances. Reviewed by lawyer Francisco Romero Jiménez (ICAB 33641) on 21.10.2026.
Turn the information into questions.
The navigator helps you gather topics for an individual review. It does not determine your right to a residence permit and does not submit an application.
Build your checklistHow ReloVictory works: a 15-minute consultation is free, a full consultation costs €121 for 45 minutes; case handling is priced by quote, and fees and translations are paid separately. The legal side is handled by the team’s lawyer, tax and administrative matters by a graduada social. More: about the team.
Prefer to do it yourself? Step-by-step guides: residence permit in Barcelona: from empadronamiento to TIE and route cards by residence ground.
Related articles
ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.