In Brazil, call 190 for the police, 192 for an ambulance and 193 for the fire brigade. Calls are free. Save this page for offline reading before you travel, so you have it when your signal is weak.
Emergency numbers
| Number | Service | When to call |
|---|---|---|
| 190 | Polícia Militar | Robbery, assault, a fight, any threat to your safety |
| 192 | SAMU (ambulance) | Serious illness or injury |
| 193 | Corpo de Bombeiros | Fire, rescues, people trapped, drowning, accidents |
| 191 | Polícia Rodoviária Federal | Accidents and emergencies on federal highways |
| 199 | Defesa Civil | Floods, landslides and other natural disasters |
| 180 | Central de Atendimento à Mulher | Violence against women, advice and support |
| 100 | Disque Direitos Humanos | Human rights violations, including against children |
| 188 | CVV | Emotional support, any time of day |
What to say
Operators usually speak only Portuguese. Stay calm, speak slowly and give the address first.
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Help | Socorro |
| I need an ambulance | Preciso de uma ambulância |
| Call the police | Chame a polícia |
| I was robbed | Fui assaltado (man) / Fui assaltada (woman) |
| There is a fire | Tem um incêndio |
| Someone is hurt | Tem uma pessoa ferida |
| The address is… | O endereço é… |
| I don’t speak Portuguese | Não falo português |
If you cannot explain where you are, read out the street name and number from the nearest building, or the name of a shop or landmark.
After a robbery or theft
- Get to a safe place first. Hand over what is asked for; do not resist.
- Block your cards and phone from your bank’s and carrier’s apps or helplines.
- File a police report (boletim de ocorrência). Many states let you do it online for theft without violence. Your insurer and your consulate will ask for it.
- Lost or stolen passport: contact your country’s embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document.
Before you go
- Save your embassy’s or consulate’s emergency number in your phone.
- Keep a photo of your passport and entry stamp in a cloud folder.
- Note your insurer’s 24-hour assistance number and your policy number.
- Save this page for offline reading.
Check before you go: some cities run tourist police stations with English-speaking staff. Ask your hotel or pousada whether there is one where you are staying.
Questions
- What is the emergency number in Brazil?
- There is no single number. Call 190 for the police, 192 for an ambulance (SAMU) and 193 for the fire brigade, which also handles rescues.
- Do operators speak English?
- Usually not. Say the emergency and the address slowly in Portuguese, or ask someone nearby to call for you. The phrases on this page help.
- Should I go to the police after a theft?
- Yes, if you need a report for insurance or a new passport. In many states you can file a police report (boletim de ocorrência) online for theft without violence.
Was this page helpful?