How does Portuguese healthcare work for Brits?

Portugal has a national health service, the SNS, and registered residents can use it on the same basis as Portuguese citizens. You need to register as a resident first, then get a health user number at your local health centre.

How the system works

The Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) runs health centres (centros de saúde), where you see a family doctor, and public hospitals. You must be registered as a resident to use it. Everyone registered as a resident can join on the same basis as a Portuguese citizen, whether employed, self-employed or not working. Dental care is not usually covered, so most people pay a private dentist. Madeira and the Azores have their own SNS 24 numbers (below).

Getting your número de utente

1. Get your residence document and your tax number (NIF). See How much tax will I pay in Portugal?
2. If you work, get your social security number (NISS) from your employer or social security
3. Go to your local health centre with your residence certificate, passport, NIF and, if you work, your NISS
4. You get a health user number (número de utente). Show it whenever you use the SNS

Ways in for UK nationals

Insurance for your visa

The consulate asks residence visa applicants for valid travel insurance covering necessary medical expenses, urgent medical care and repatriation. A registered UK S1 can replace this. Students admitted to a recognised Portuguese university can be exempt. You must also show proof of healthcare cover before you can register as a resident. Private health insurance is popular for faster access to specialists, but you don’t need it once you are registered with the SNS, and you should still register. Compare the cost with the cost of living calculator and see Which Portuguese visa do I need?

What you pay

• There is no user fee for health centre appointments, planned hospital appointments, prescribed tests, surgery or hospital stays
• You may pay a fee if you go straight to a hospital A&E (urgência) without a referral and aren’t admitted. To avoid it, call SNS 24 first, or go through your health centre or INEM (the emergency medical service)
• You pay part of the price of prescribed medicines; the share depends on the medicine. See Can I bring my medicines?

When you are unwell

For an emergency, call 112. If it isn’t an emergency, call SNS 24: 808 24 24 24 on the mainland (press 9 for English), 800 24 24 20 in Madeira and Porto Santo, and 808 24 60 24 in the Azores. SNS 24 can assess you and refer you to the right place. Pharmacies are the place for most medicines; some non-prescription products are sold in supermarkets.

GHIC and the NHS

A UK GHIC or EHIC covers necessary state healthcare on a visit to Portugal. It isn’t a replacement for travel insurance and doesn’t cover living there, unless you are a UK student or a State Pensioner or frontier worker with a registered S1. Because the NHS is residence-based, you may lose free NHS care in the UK once you move permanently, unless you have, for example, a registered UK-issued S1 and lived in the EU before 2021.