Your emergency medical information pack for Spain

Key rules

• Official ID: Spain has no single national medical ID card, so you need your own pack.
• Language: Write the pack in Spanish with an English copy, and have a clinician check it.
• Emergency number: The emergency number in Spain is 112, free from any phone.
• Medicine names: List medicines by generic name with dose and times.

Does Spain have an official medical ID card?

No. Spain has no single national medical ID card or emergency data scheme for newcomers or visitors. So carry your own pack.

What exists instead depends on your situation:

• Residents in the public system get a regional health card (tarjeta sanitaria). Regional health services keep digital records that clinicians in the public system can use. These schemes differ by region.
• EU visitors use the EHIC.
• Phone medical ID and medical alert items (a bracelet or pendant) are widely used. Set up the medical ID on your phone and make sure it can be opened from the lock screen.

Ask your local health service which regional options apply where you live.

What to put in your pack

Keep it short, ideally two pages. Write everything in Spanish, with an English copy beside it. The documents list below shows each item. In short, the pack covers who you are, your medical summary, your medicines, your contacts, your insurance, and any treatment wishes.

Two points make the pack work:

• Medicines: use generic (active ingredient) names, not brand names, as brands differ between countries. Give the dose and the times.
• Translation: have a clinician check the medical details and the Spanish. A translated letter from your home doctor adds weight.

Where to keep it

• A printed copy in your wallet or bag, and one at home where others can find it, such as on the fridge door.
• A photo or PDF on your phone, shared with your emergency contacts.
• A copy in the car or with your carer, if you have one.

Tell your contacts where the pack is.

Calling for help

Call 112, free from any phone. It covers police, ambulance and fire services. Operators in most regions can take calls in English, though this varies by region, so say your location first and speak slowly. Some regions also use 061 for health emergencies. Emergency services can see limited location information from your call, but do not rely on it: state your address.

Hand your pack to the paramedics or give it to the person who goes with you to hospital. The FAQ below covers language and location apps.

Documents you need

• Identity details page: full name, date of birth, nationality and passport or NIE number, written in Spanish with an English copy.

• Medical summary: blood group, diagnoses, allergies, implanted devices and vaccination history, written in Spanish with an English copy.

• Current medicine list with generic names, doses and times, written in Spanish with an English copy.

• Contact sheet with your treating doctor's details and your emergency contacts with phone numbers.

• Insurance details: EHIC, S1 or private policy number, plus the insurer's helpline.

• Advance directives or treatment preferences, if you have them.

• Short summary letter from your home doctor, ideally translated into Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

Does Spain have an official medical ID card for visitors?

No, Spain has no single national medical ID card or emergency data scheme for visitors. Residents in the public system get a regional health card (tarjeta sanitaria), and EU visitors use the EHIC. A phone medical ID feature or a medical alert bracelet can fill the gap.

Can emergency operators speak English when I call?

Yes, operators in most regions can handle calls in English and often other languages, but availability varies by region. Interpretation services can be used for other languages. Your Spanish pack helps if the call taker or crew struggles.

Is there an app that sends my location in an emergency?

Yes, the ALERTCOPS app can send your location to the police. Some regions also use 061 for health emergencies, so ask your local health service which numbers apply where you live.