Emergency Numbers in Costa Rica

Information verified and updated: August 28, 2026

If you have an emergency in Costa Rica, call 911. This is the national emergency number for police, ambulance, fire services and other immediate emergencies.

What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?

911 is the main emergency number throughout Costa Rica.

Call 911 if you need:

* Police
* An ambulance or emergency medical assistance
* Fire services
* Help after a traffic accident
* Assistance with a crime in progress or any immediate danger

You do not need to remember separate numbers for police, ambulance or fire services.

Does 112 work in Costa Rica?

Yes. If you dial 112 in Costa Rica, the call is redirected to the 911 emergency system.

This is useful for visitors from the UK, Germany, Spain and other European countries who are accustomed to dialing 112. In Costa Rica, however, the number to remember is 911.

Other emergency numbers you may see:

Costa Rica changed many special telephone numbers from three to four digits years ago. As a result, some websites and travel guides still publish **old or incorrect emergency numbers**.

You may also see:

1128 → Costa Rican Red Cross / ambulance. Redirects to the 911 emergency system.

1118 → Costa Rica Fire Department. Redirects to the 911 emergency system.

For either service, you can simply call 911 directly.

Reporting information about a crime to the OIJ

800-8000-645 → OIJ Confidential Tip Line.

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) provides this free and confidential number for people who want to provide information about a crime.

It is not a substitute for 911 during an emergency. If you are in immediate danger or need police assistance, call 911.

U.S. citizens requiring consular assistance

U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica: (506) 2519-2000

U.S. citizens can use this number for consular emergencies such as an arrest, death or other situations requiring assistance from the U.S. Embassy.

For immediate police, ambulance or fire assistance, call 911 first.

About this information

These numbers are checked against official Costa Rican and institutional sources, rather than copied from other travel websites or online phone lists.

We include the verification date because outdated Costa Rica emergency numbers are still widely published online.