Victim assistance offices (Oficinas de Asistencia a las Víctimas): what they do

Key rules

• Cost: Victim assistance offices are free and confidential.
• Foreign victims: You can use an office whatever your nationality or residence status.
• No report needed: You can get help even if you have not filed a report.
• Service range: What each office offers varies by region, so ask what is available to you.

The short answer

Victim assistance offices (Oficinas de Asistencia a las Víctimas) give you free information, support and updates on your case. You can use them if you are a foreigner, whatever your residence status. You do not need to have filed a report first.

Who can use them

Any victim of a crime committed in Spain can use an office. Your nationality and residence status do not matter. In general, close relatives can use it too. You have the right to be treated without discrimination and, if you need it, to have translation and interpretation.

Some specialised aid and compensation schemes have extra conditions. Ask the office what applies to you.

What they do for you

The help is free and confidential. Offices can give you:

• Information on your rights, how the court procedure works and what help exists.
• Legal guidance on the criminal process, compensation and aid. This is guidance, not a lawyer who represents you.
• Psychological support and crisis help.
• Company at court: a staff member can go with you to hearings.
• Coordination with the police, social services and other bodies.
• Risk assessment and a safety plan if you fear further harm.

Some offices also follow up after the trial and refer you to mediation. The range of services varies by region and office, so ask what yours offers.

Specialised units help victims of gender violence, sexual violence and terrorism.

How to find your office

Offices are usually inside the court building, often called the Ciudad de la Justicia or Palacio de Justicia. To find yours:

1. Use the directory of victim assistance offices by province on the Ministry of Justice website.
2. In regions that run their own justice services, such as Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia and the Basque Country, check your region's justice department.
3. If you cannot find it, call the national victim line, 116 006. The court clerk's office can also point you to the right office. If you are a victim of gender violence, you can also call 016.

You can contact the office by phone, email or in person. Many ask you to make an appointment first. Contact details change, so use the current directory.

Keeping up with your case

Ask the office to explain each step of the process and what is likely to happen next. The checklist below lists what to ask for, and the resources list shows where to follow your case online.

Checklist

• Find the victim assistance office for your province in the Ministry of Justice directory, or through your region's justice department.

• Contact the office by phone, email or in person, and ask for an appointment if needed.

• Ask for free information on your rights, the court procedure and the help available to you.

• Ask for legal guidance on the criminal process, compensation and aid.

• Ask about psychological support and whether a staff member can go with you to court hearings.

• Ask for a risk assessment and a safety plan if you fear further harm.

• Ask for translation or interpretation if you do not speak Spanish well.

• Ask whether the office offers follow-up after the trial and mediation referrals.

Where to find victim support and case information in Spain

Where to find victim support and case information

• Ministry of Justice national victim line (116 006): Call 116 006 for information and support after any crime. It runs 24 hours a day.

• Ministry of Equality gender violence line (016): Call 016 if you are a victim of gender violence. It is free, confidential, open 24 hours a day in more than 50 languages, and does not appear on the phone bill. You can also use WhatsApp on 600 000 016, the online chat or email.

• Emergency services (112), Policía Nacional (091), Guardia Civil (062): Call 112 if a crime is happening now. Call 091 or 062 to report a crime.

• ANAR helpline for children and young people: Call 900 20 20 10 if a child or young person needs help.

• Victim assistance office (Oficina de Asistencia a las Víctimas del Delito) in your judicial area: Go in person for free help, and ask for updates on the case or on the offender's release or prison status. In Ceuta and Melilla the Ministry of Justice runs the offices.

• Regional justice department (Consejería de Justicia): Find your local office in your region's own list. Most regions run their own offices, including Andalucía, Cataluña, Madrid, Comunidad Valenciana, Galicia and País Vasco.

• Carpeta Justicia on the Ministry of Justice electronic headquarters: Check the status of your case and notifications online. You need an electronic certificate, Cl@ve or the electronic DNI. It only shows cases already in the system, and some regional courts have their own portals.

• Your lawyer and procurador, or the court's Letrado de la Administración de Justicia: If you have joined the case, your lawyer and procurador receive the court notifications. If you have not, ask the court in person for information and to be told of key decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a victim assistance office if I never filed a report?

Yes, you can use a victim assistance office even if you never filed a report (denuncia). Support is open to all victims of crime in Spain, whatever their nationality or residence status. Relatives can generally use it too.

Will I get an interpreter at a victim assistance office?

Yes, if you need translation or interpretation, you have the right to it, and you must be treated without discrimination. Foreign and non-resident victims have the same access as residents.

Where is the victim assistance office for my court?

Offices are usually inside the court building, such as the Ciudad de la Justicia or Palacio de Justicia. The Ministry of Justice website lists offices by province. In regions that run their own justice system, such as Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia and the Basque Country, use the regional justice department.

Do I need an appointment to visit a victim assistance office?

Often yes, because contact is by phone, email or in person and many offices work by appointment. Call or email first to confirm.