Our Guide To Filing A Police Report In Spain

Falling victim to crime can be shocking and leave you feeling scared and angry, no matter what country you’re in. But if you’re in a country that isn’t your home country, or where you don’t speak the local language, then it can also make you feel particularly unsafe and vulnerable.

We hope you’re never a victim of crime in Spain. But if you are, then you will need to complete a ‘denuncia’. This is the Spanish equivalent of a police report.

Sometimes having to relive the crime by completing those forms can only exacerbate the stress of the situation. So to help make the process as smooth and easy as possible, we’ve created this guide to filing a police report in Spain. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is A Denuncia?

The simple translation of a denuncia is a police report, but it’s actually a little more complicated than that. In Spain a denuncia is a legal complaint that is made to the police department, and all victims of crime in the country have to complete one.

It doesn’t matter how minor or serious the crime that is committed against you, you will still have to complete the form. This is true even if you have reported a crime by calling the police, or if the police have visited your home.

This can be confusing if this isn’t a system you’re used to. The official denuncia canot be completed until a police investigation has been completed. Often you can’t complete the denuncia until the police have sent someone round to get fingerprints and other scientific evidence. It may be a couple of days after the crime is committed before the form can be completed.

Why Is A Denuncia So Important?

A denuncia is an important part of the police process, and the police need this in order to progress your case. But from a practical point of view, you also can’t make an insurance claim for anything stolen or any damaged property without one.

For this reason, denuncia’s are considered particularly important in the case of theft or home robbery. You will use this to list every item that was stolen and how much each item is worth.

How To File A Denuncia

The good news is that you no longer have to file a denuncia in person for minor crimes. In some cases it is now possible to file a police report in Spain online. You will be told if this applies to you and to the crime you are reporting.

If you are able to file your report online then you can find the online form here. Generally crimes that can be reported online include lost or stolen documents and belongings, car theft or items stolen from a car, and robbery in either a workplace or in the home.

However if you are victim to any other crime then you will need to submit your report in person and go to your nearest police station. These include a robbery where you were physically attacked in the process, you would like to present a witness who saw what happened, you are under 18, are a victim of gender violence, or know the perpetrator of the crime against you.

To complete the online form you’ll need to know where your nearest police station is. You’ll also need to share your personal details, and as much information about the incident as you can. This includes where and when it took place, and what happened.

If you choose to complete your denuncia in person then you can do this in any police station in Spain any time, any day. You can do this 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Be prepared to have to wait in the station, and you may even be asked to make an appointment to come back for minor crimes and during particularly busy periods.  

What Documents Do I Need To File A Denuncia?

If you file a denuncia in person the you will need to make sure you take the right documentation with you. First, make sure you have a valid form of ID. This could be your passport, green residency card if you’re from the EU or TIE if you’re non-EU.

If the police visited you at the location where the crime took place when you first reported it, then you will also need to have the crime reference number that they gave you at this time. In the case of a theft or robbery, it will also speed up the process if you could bring  a list of stolen items and their approximate value. If you have the receipts for any of these items that would be especially helpful, though it’s appreciated that this isn’t always possible.

If you have any photographic or video evidence of the crime then bring this too. This could be a photo of a smashed car window, or a broken door lock, for example.

Once your report has been completed, the police may call you for any follow up questions or to ask for any extra evidence. If you saw the perpetrator of the crime then you may also be invited to identify them.

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