Patients' Rights

Some foreign citizens may access healthcare services provided by the National Health Service (SNS) under similar conditions as Portuguese citizens, based on international agreements signed by Portugal:

European Union citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are a citizen of a European Union country, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you can access necessary healthcare through the SNS during your stay in Portugal by presenting a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card ensures access to the SNS under the same conditions as Portuguese citizens, including the payment of user fees, where applicable.

Bilateral health cooperation agreements

Portugal has health agreements with the following countries and regions: Andorra, Brazil, Cape Verde, Quebec, Morocco, and Tunisia. If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you may access healthcare services from the National Health Service (SNS) under conditions similar to those of Portuguese citizens, whether temporarily staying or residing in Portugal. To do so, you must present a certificate of entitlement issued by your home country. Without this certificate, healthcare services may be charged. Learn more here. 

Agreements with Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP) in the health sector

Portugal has health cooperation agreements with the PALOP countries (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe), allowing for the evacuation of patients for treatment in Portuguese public hospitals. In these cases, hospital care and examinations in the SNS are funded by Portugal, while other expenses, such as accommodation outside the hospital, outpatient medications, and transportation, are the responsibility of the country of origin. If you are an evacuated patient and face difficulties during your journey under this agreement, you can request support from the social worker at the health service where you are being treated. (Circular Normativa Nº: 11/DQS/DGIDI/DMD, de 28/07/09 e Circular Normativa Nº: 04/DCI, de 16/04/04)

Asylum seekers or individuals under subsidiary protection (and their family members) are entitled to an exemption from user fees for healthcare under the SNS (prescribed medication co‑payment is on the same terms as a resident national). To obtain this entitlement, the person must hold a “declaration proving the submission of an international protection request,” issued by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), until a final decision is made  [Cf. artigo 52.º da Lei 27/2008, de 30 de junho and Circular informativa conjunta da ACSS e da DGS n.º 13/2016/CS/ACSS, de 12 de maio]. 

Registration for primary healthcare (with an active patient number and family doctor) is only possible after the international protection request is approved—that is, when the person obtains refugee status or subsidiary protection. 

Children and adolescents in an irregular situation, who have been in Portugal for more than 90 days, have access to the National Health Service (SNS) under the same conditions as resident national minors. This includes the right to active registration in primary healthcare and exemption from user fees (Decreto-Lei n.º 67/2004, de 25 de março).

To access these rights, they must present either a residence certificate issued by the local parish council (Junta de Freguesia) proving that they have lived in Portugal for over 90 days, or a document issued by AIMA confirming the Registration of a Minor in an Irregular Situation (Registo de Menor em Situação Irregular). This latter document can be requested at an AIMA office or via the email address: registo.menores@aima.gov.pt. The document is valid for two years and can be renewed until the age of 18.

The vaccines included in the National Vaccination Program (and the Covid-19 vaccination) are free for all people, regardless of legal status or length of stay in the national territory.