Healthcare and family doctors
How to access the National Health Service (SNS) and get a family doctor in Portugal.
- STEP 1
Go to the health centre for your address
You do not choose your health centre — it is the one that covers the parish where you live. Find yours at sns24.gov.pt.
Bring:
- An identity document (passport)
- NIF — Tax Identification Number
- Full proof of address
- Residence permit (or a valid residence visa)
No residence permit yet? With a certificate from the Parish Council (Junta de Freguesia) proving you have lived in Portugal for more than 90 days, you can get provisional registration, with access to urgent and life-saving care.
- STEP 2
Ask for your SNS user number
It is free and usually issued on the spot by the health centre’s administrative staff. You use this number throughout the SNS (appointments, pharmacy, hospital).
- STEP 3
Registering for a family doctor
Having a user number is not the same as having a family doctor — that depends on the capacity of the Family Health Unit (USF) in your area. In high-demand areas (Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve) it can take weeks or months. While you wait, you still have access to walk-in appointments and A&E.
CPLP and other nationalities — is there a difference?
Registering as a resident is the same for every nationality. The difference lies in bilateral agreements: Brazilian citizens who pay into INSS can request the CDAM (formerly PB4) free of charge on gov.br before travelling; it gives access to the SNS on the same terms as a Portuguese citizen, paying only the user charges. Cape Verde has a similar agreement with Portugal. Once you have residence, you register with the SNS like any other resident.
Still have a question about healthcare and the SNS?
Ask the community — other immigrants have been through the same, and you will get an email when someone replies. Most answers are in Portuguese.