How to access public healthcare if you live in Portugal?

4 August 2021

Inês Bouhon

All residents in Portugal duly registered as such by the relevant authorities are entitled to subscribe to the Portuguese National Health System (Serviço Nacional de Saúde - SNS).

The registration must be made at the Health Centre of their address area. The specific documentation required, and the application procedure may vary depending on the Health Centre.

Once registered, the Health Centre issues the SNS Number (Número de Utente), which allows the citizens to benefit from the public healthcare system in Portugal, on the same basis as a Portuguese national. Patients need to show this number whenever they use medical services.

Healthcare costs are covered by the state, and citizens must pay standard fees, known as ‘taxas moderadoras’. For instance, an appointment with a general and family medicine doctor costs €4.50, while a specialist consultation costs €7.00. However, there are exemptions for pregnant women, children, and teenagers until the age of 17, patients with severe disabilities or with poor economic resources, unemployed people, among others. These citizens are required to present documents attesting their situation.

Most healthcare facilities have at least one English-speaking doctor, and there are physicians that can speak other languages such as Spanish, French, or German.

Please note that after becoming a Portuguese resident, you should not use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive healthcare in the country. The EHIC gives the right to access public medical assistance during a short-term visit to any European Union (EU) country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Instead, you must complete your Portuguese National Health System registration and obtain the SNS number.

This registration may also be crucial to conclude other relocation processes, such as the driving licence exchange, within the legal deadline after establishing residency in Portugal.

Another point worth noting is that if you are a resident in Portugal, you may apply for vaccination against COVID-19. When booking your appointment online here, you need to provide your SNS number.

If you require assistance with the Portuguese National Health Service registration, do not hesitate to contact us at info@lvpadvogados.com.