Emergency numbers & what to do when things go wrong in Argentina
If you need help in Argentina, dial 911 for police, ambulance, or general emergencies in Capital Federal and Greater Buenos Aires. Outside Buenos Aires, police respond at 101, and a set of national numbers covers fire, medical, and other emergencies wherever you are.
What number do I call for an emergency?
- 911 – police, ambulance, general emergencies (Capital Federal & Greater Buenos Aires)
- 101 – police (cities outside Buenos Aires)
- 100 – firefighters (all cities)
- 103 – Civil Defence
- 105 – environmental emergencies
- 106 – nautical emergencies
- 107 – SAME ambulance/medical emergencies (Ciudad de Buenos Aires and localities of Buenos Aires province)
- 144 – gender-based violence helpline (24 hrs)
- 135 – suicide prevention line (24 hrs)
- 142 – missing children/youth service (24 hrs)
What if I lose my passport or documents?
File a police report in parallel with contacting your embassy or consulate — this is required regardless of where you are in the country.
In Buenos Aires (CABA), you can file a lost document complaint online through the Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA portal, or call the free 24-hour line 0800 33 FISCAL (347225). The Tourist Police's Buenos Aires Te Cuida service, (+549) 115050-9260, assists with lost passport cases 24/7.
To reduce the damage if this happens: keep photocopies of your passport/DNI with you while traveling, store originals securely, and keep documents, money, and bank cards separated. It's also worth saving your embassy or consulate's contact details somewhere other than your phone, in case the phone itself is lost or stolen — embassies can issue emergency travel documents and offer practical support.
Where can tourists get in-person help in Buenos Aires?
The Tourist Police (Comisaría del Turista) is based at Avenida Corrientes 436 in Buenos Aires. You can reach them via WhatsApp (+54 911 5050 9260), direct phone (+54 911 6740 4370), email (turista@policiafederal.gov.ar), or by filing a complaint online.
What about emergencies abroad or on the road?
Argentine citizens abroad (or their relatives in Argentina) can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' on-call consular emergency service at +54 (011) 15 44113057, +54 (011) 48198169, or +54 (011) 43229997 — available 8 pm to 9 am on business days, and 24 hours on weekends and holidays.
For roadside trouble on national concessioned routes, call Vialidad Nacional at 140, or toll-free 0800-222-6272 / 0800-333-0073. For mechanical breakdowns, the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA) runs a nationwide network reachable at 0800-777-2894 or *222 from a mobile — note that ACA membership is required for roadside assistance coverage.
When taking taxis, stick to marked vehicles, confirm the meter is running, and check the driver's visible license; for airport transfers, a contracted 'remise' service is recommended.
FAQ
Is 911 the only emergency number in Argentina? No — 911 covers Capital Federal and Greater Buenos Aires, but other cities use 101 for police, plus national numbers like 100 (fire) and 107 (ambulance in CABA/Buenos Aires province).
What's the first step if my passport is stolen? File a police report and contact your embassy or consulate at the same time; in CABA you can also use the Ministerio Público Fiscal portal, 0800 33 FISCAL, or the Tourist Police WhatsApp line.
Do I need ACA membership for roadside help? Yes, ACA roadside assistance coverage requires membership; for national route issues you can also call Vialidad Nacional at 140 or its toll-free numbers.
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