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Portugal's Health Care system is international-standard. Learn more about pharmacies, dental clinics, and more.
Health care in Portugal is international-standard. It ranks by WHO as the 12th (out of 190) best system among UN-member countries.
Medical tourism is a growing industry in this country. Due to all cities and large towns having excellent hospital and health care facilities. In contrast, some remote areas may be several hours from full-service care.
Anyone considering Portugal as a retirement destination, must understand the health care system. Especially those coming from the United States.
Portugal has two separate health care systems. A publicly financed National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS). This is available to all citizens and functions in the same manner as any other nationalized European health care system. The other is a private health care network available on a fee basis.
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
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It’s your right to use the public health care system for free or with only modest co-payments if:
If you meet these requirements, your family can also receive the benefits.
EU citizens visiting on a short-term basis will need a European Health Insurance Card. Those intending to stay longer will need to apply for a health user’s ID number. So they need to register as residents with the local town hall. Also to have acquired a residence certificate for health care in Portugal.
Non-EU citizens intending to relocate to Portugal will need to provide a letter from a doctor. This should state that they are in good health and free from any communicable disease.
Turn this in with the visa application. You will need proof of adequate health insurance.
This could be an invoice or an annual statement showing:
Also proof of repatriation and evacuation coverage.
Portugal’s national health system tends to lean more toward the reactive than the proactive… when it comes to dealing with illnesses or medical conditions. Meaning that they put more emphasis on curing something than preventing it in the first place.
Doctors are generally trained to North American or European standards. Some are even foreign-born themselves. Many speak English, especially in the tourist destinations. Although that will not be the case in rural areas.
Most doctors divide their time between the SNS and private practices.
Some hospitals and health centers offer both private and state-provided health care. It is up to patients to inform them which service they need.
They often have separate surgery times for private patients and those treated under the state system.
Also, if they ask you to pay upfront, you are not being treated under the Portuguese health service. All hospital treatment in the state system requires referral from a doctor.
Pharmacies (farmácias), identifiable by their green cross, are available throughout Portugal.
They are usually open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm, and 3pm to 7pm. Likewise, on weekends they are open from 9am to 1pm. A list of pharmacies providing a 24-hour service is available from any regular pharmacy.
There is not one set prescription charge in Portugal. Subsidized prescription medicines are available from 15% to 90%. Which depends on their use and need. Even users of the state system often need to make co-payments when buying prescription medication.
Due to qualified pharmacists managing most of the pharmacies in Portugal, you can get many medicines without a prescription.
Only children between the ages of 3 and 16 and pensioners over the age of 65 registered with the state system have access to free dental care in Portugal. Therefore all other adults must make co-payments in the state system. Or avail themselves of the network of private dentists.
It is extensive and up to North American standards for the most part. A general consultation will cost 25 to 30 euros in most areas; a cleaning between 65 and 75 euros.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to this question.
Access to Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS—Serviço Nacional de Saúde) depends on a person’s immigration and registration status. For many non-EU citizens moving under a residency visa, full registration with the SNS happens after they have applied for or received Portuguese residency.
Processing times can vary considerably, particularly when immigration services are experiencing backlogs. New residents should therefore maintain appropriate private coverage while completing the residency and SNS registration processes.
Non-EU citizens applying for a Portuguese residency visa generally need to provide proof of valid travel or health insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent care and possible repatriation.
Other common residency-visa requirements include sufficient financial means, proof of accommodation, and a criminal-record certificate. Because requirements can depend on the visa and consulate, applicants should verify the current documentation required for their specific application.
Private health care can provide access to doctors, prescriptions, tests, and other treatment while a new resident completes the SNS registration process.
Consultation and prescription costs may be lower than those encountered in some parts of the United States, but prices vary according to the provider, location, insurance plan, medication, and whether a generic or name-brand drug is prescribed.
Before choosing a provider or insurance policy, ask for the consultation fee, applicable co-pay, coverage limits, waiting periods, and prescription benefits. This provides a more reliable estimate than assuming that every private appointment or medication will be inexpensive.
INFARMED manages Portugal’s official medication databases. Health care professionals and patients can use its online services to check authorized medicines, prices, reimbursement information, and guidance on their use.
Information about a specific medication can be found through INFARMED’s online services, including the Informed database and medication search.
A medical exploratory visit can be useful, particularly for anyone managing a chronic condition or taking medication that may not be available under the same brand name or dosage in Portugal.
During a visit to Portugal, it may be possible to arrange a self-pay appointment with a private physician to review your medical history, current prescriptions, and expected treatment needs before you move. Private providers should be contacted in advance to confirm appointment availability, required medical records, language support, and consultation fees.
This can help you identify suitable doctors, confirm whether your medications are available, understand likely costs, and plan for continuity of care. It does not replace advice from your current physician or confirmation from your chosen Portuguese provider.
Foreign citizens are assigned an SNS user number when they first access a public health care facility, such as a health center or hospital. However, having an SNS number alone does not automatically mean that the SNS will cover the cost of treatment.
For SNS coverage, the person’s record generally needs to include identification, a Portuguese tax number (NIF), a complete Portuguese address, and valid residency authorization. Foreign residents may also be able to request their NIF, NISS, and SNS number together at participating Citizen Spaces.
Check Official SNS-number guidance
Requirements can vary according to immigration status and the health center, but you should be prepared to present:
Valid passport: Your primary identity document.
Residency documentation: Your residence card or official documentation showing that you have applied for or received residency authorization.
Portuguese tax number (NIF): Preferably documentation showing your registered Portuguese address.
Proof of address: Such as a rental contract, utility bill, or an Atestado de Residência issued by the local Junta de Freguesia.
If you work or are self-employed in Portugal, also bring your Social Security number (NISS), if available.
To register for primary care, contact the Centro de Saúde serving the area where you live. You can confirm the appropriate center through local health services or your Junta de Freguesia.
Contact the health center before visiting to confirm its registration hours, whether an appointment is required, and which documents it will accept.
At the patient administrative services desk, request your número de utente. The staff will review your documentation and explain any additional steps required to register with that health center.
One important correction: I removed the promise that applicants will always receive a nine-digit number “right away.” The official guidance explains how the number is assigned, but it does not guarantee immediate issuance at every health center.
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
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– Visiting a GP in Portugal will set you back between 5 to 10 euros.
– Prescriptions in Portugal have an extra charge. But foreigners with an EHIC or GHIC can get a discount of 15%.
– Private consultations start at 40euros. However, EHIC and GHIC only cover public health expenses.
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