A family member is missing: first steps and the 24-hour myth

Key rules

• No waiting period: There is no waiting period before you report a missing person, so report it immediately.
• Emergency numbers: Call 091, 062 or 112 to start the police response.
• Family support: The free line 116000 supports and guides families, but it does not open a case.
• Lost child: Alert staff nearby, call 112, and leave one adult at the place where the child was last seen.

Report it now, do not wait

There is no waiting period. The idea that you must wait 24 or 48 hours is a myth. Report the disappearance immediately, and even more urgently if the person is a child, vulnerable or possibly in danger. This applies to anyone in Spain, including foreigners.

Who to contact first

Call 091 (Policía Nacional), 062 (Guardia Civil) or 112. Any of them opens the case.

Then file a denuncia at any Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station. Bring:

• a recent photo
• a description of the person
• the clothes they were wearing
• any medical details

The police enter the case into the national missing-persons system, run by CNDES. CNDES is the Ministry of the Interior's national centre. It coordinates police data, but it is not a helpline. Go through the police to open a case.

Where to get support

• 116000: the free European helpline for missing people, run by the SOS Desaparecidos association. It is open 24 hours and gives families support and guidance.
• 116111: Fundación ANAR's free 24-hour line for minors. ANAR also helps in cases of missing children.
• Other organisations: Fundación Mari Luz Rodríguez and the Fundación Europea para niños desaparecidos (QSDglobal) also work on missing-person cases.

These organisations support you. They do not replace the police report. Their hours and remits can change.

A child is lost in a public place

Stay calm and act at once. Do not wait to see if the child turns up.

1. Alert nearby staff. On a beach, that means lifeguards. In a shopping centre, it means security or the information desk. They can seal exits and use the public address system.
2. Give a clear description: name, age, height, clothing, and where and when you last saw the child.
3. Call 112 straight away. You can also call 091, 062 or local police on 092.
4. Leave one adult at the spot where the child was last seen. Others search.

On beaches, lifeguard posts and Cruz Roja handle lost-child procedures. Some beaches give out wristbands with a parent's phone number. If the child could be near water, say so to 112 immediately.

The timeline, checklist and questions below go through these steps again in order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Report the disappearance to the police by calling 091, 062 or 112: immediately, as there is no waiting period

• File a denuncia (formal police report) at any Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station, with a recent photo and description: as soon as you have called, the same day

• Police enter the case into the national missing-persons system: after your report is filed

Checklist

• Call 091, 062 or 112 to report the person missing right away

• Bring a recent photo, a description, the clothing the person wore and any medical details

• Call 116000 for free support and guidance for your family

• If a child is missing in a public place, alert nearby staff such as lifeguards or shopping centre security so they can use the public address system and seal exits

• Give staff and the emergency operator the child's name, age, height, clothing, and where and when the child was last seen

Frequently asked questions

Which helpline can support my family while the police search?

Call 116000, the free European number run by the SOS Desaparecidos association, which is open 24 hours and gives families support and guidance. It does not open a police case, so keep 091 or 062 as your route for that.

Who helps if the missing person is a child?

Call Fundación ANAR on 116111, which is free, open 24 hours and also assists on missing children. Report the case to the police on 091 or 062 as well.

Can I contact CNDES directly to report a missing person?

No, CNDES is not a helpline, so it cannot take your report. It is the Interior Ministry's national centre that coordinates police data, and the police enter your case there once you file a report.

What if my child goes missing on a beach?

Tell the lifeguards straight away and call 112, and mention it at once if the child could be near water. Cruz Roja and lifeguard posts handle lost-child cases, and one adult should stay at the spot where the child was last seen.