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Is Helping a Stranger mandatory in your country?

The 2026 map of where Helping a Stranger is mandatory or partly required, aired Oct 23, 2026.

Mandatory (33)Partly (8)Not required

Is it mandatory where you live? Check your country

Mandatory in 33 countries

• ItalyMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison or a EUR 2,500 fine for not helping.

• SpainMandatory

  A fine of 3 to 12 months of day-fines for not helping.

• PortugalMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison or 120 day-fines for not helping.

• BelgiumMandatory

  Still a crime in the new Penal Code, in force 1 Sep 2026.

• NetherlandsMandatory

  Up to 3 months in jail if the person you didn't help dies.

• AustriaMandatory

  Up to 6 months in prison, or 1 year if the person dies.

• SwitzerlandMandatory

  Up to 3 years in prison or a fine for not helping.

• PolandMandatory

  Up to 3 years in prison for not helping.

• CzechiaMandatory

  Up to 2 years in prison for not helping.

• HungaryMandatory

  Up to 2 years in prison, 3 if the person dies.

• RomaniaMandatory

  3 months to 1 year in prison, or a fine.

• CroatiaMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison for not helping.

• DenmarkMandatory

  A fine or up to 2 years in prison for not helping.

• NorwayMandatory

  A fine or up to 6 months in prison for not helping.

• FinlandMandatory

  A fine or up to 6 months in prison for not helping.

• LatviaMandatory

  Probation, community work or a fine if the person dies.

• UkraineMandatory

  Up to 5 years in prison if the person you didn't help dies.

• GeorgiaMandatory

  Not helping a person in mortal danger is a crime (art. 129).

• TürkiyeMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison, or 1 to 3 years if the person dies.

• ArgentinaMandatory

  A crime to not help, or not alert the authorities (art. 108).

• PeruMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison or 30 to 120 day-fines.

• Costa RicaMandatory

  Not helping is a crime, punished by a fine (art. 144).

• AlgeriaMandatory

  3 months to 5 years in prison for not helping.

• SenegalMandatory

  Up to 5 years in prison. A midwife was convicted in 2025.

• GabonMandatory

  Up to 5 years + 1 million CFA francs for not helping.

• VietnamMandatory

  Up to 2 years in prison if the person you didn't help dies.

• IndonesiaMandatory

  Up to 6 months in prison if the person dies. New 2026 code.

• GermanyMandatory

  Up to 1 year in prison or a fine for not helping.

• FranceMandatory

  Up to 5 years in prison + EUR 75,000 fine for not helping.

• BrazilMandatory

  1 to 6 months in jail, tripled if the person dies.

• MexicoMandatory

  10 to 60 days of community service for not helping.

• ThailandMandatory

  Up to 1 month in jail + a 10,000 baht fine for not helping.

• ColombiaMandatory

  Up to 6 years in prison for not helping someone in danger.

Everywhere not listed here, Helping a Stranger is not required.

Partly mandatory in 8 countries

• United StatesPartly

  No federal duty. Vermont's fine for not helping: max $100.

• CanadaPartly

  Only Quebec: its Charter says you must help a person in peril.

• AustraliaPartly

  Only the Northern Territory: up to 7 years for not helping.

• ChilePartly

  Only in remote places: a fine of 1 to 4 tax units.

• GuatemalaPartly

  Only in uninhabited places: 20 to 60 days of arrest.

• PhilippinesPartly

  Only in uninhabited places: up to 6 months in jail.

• QatarPartly

  Only in a public disaster: up to 3 years + QAR 10,000.

• IraqPartly

  Only in a disaster, or to help a victim of a crime.

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