• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
The Golden Portugal

The Golden Portugal

The Partner on Your Journey in Portugal

  • Portugal Golden Visa
  • Golden Visa Investment Products & Services
    • Initial Consultation
    • Portugal Golden Visa Properties
    • Portugal Golden Visa Investment Funds
  • Why The Golden Portugal
  • News & Articles
  • Contact us
  • ENEN
    • ENEN
    • 繁體繁體
    • 简体简体
    • PTPT
  • Show Search
Hide Search
baby born in hospital

The Ultimate Guide on Portugal’s Healthcare System

Whether your plan is to retire or to raise a family elsewhere, we understand that the healthcare system of a country might be a top consideration when you are deciding on the next place you call home.

Here, we will give a detailed summary of the health care system in Portugal.

Table of Contents

  • Health care system in Portugal
  • Public Healthcare System
    • Who Can Benefit From The Portuguese Healthcare System In Portugal?
    • Registering For The Public Healthcare System In Portugal
    • Costs In The Public Healthcare System
  • Private Healthcare System
    • Private Healthcare Insurance
    • Other Important Information About Private Insurance In Portugal:
  • Other Info
    • Emergency Situations
    • Healthcare Service For Women In Portugal
    • Healthcare Service For Children In Portugal
    • Is It Easy To Contact Medical Professionals As An Expat?
    • Healthcare For Portugal Golden Visa Applicants
    • Learn more about the Portuguese Golden Visa and see how you can get your Portugal residency and citizenship!
  • Portugal Golden Visa Properties – Hotel Buy Back Projects
    • – 350k Golden Visa options
    • – 280k Golden Visa options

Health care system in Portugal

Portugal has strong public and private health care systems. Portugal’s healthcare system was ranked as the 12th on the 2019 World Health Report by The World Health Organization (WHO). Medical staff are qualified and the hospitals are equipped with the latest technology. Compared to other European countries, life expectancy in Portugal is higher.

Portugal has a mixed healthcare system, with both public and private services. Hospitals, medical centres, and other institutions are usually either public or private—not both. Public healthcare is managed by Serviço Nacional de Saúde(SNS), the Portuguese national healthcare system.


Public Healthcare System


Who Can Benefit From The Portuguese Healthcare System In Portugal?

Everyone who is a legal resident of Portugal can have access to healthcare and benefit from the national health system in Portugal.

This means that expats can also benefit from the Portuguese healthcare services if they obtain legal residency.

Registering For The Public Healthcare System In Portugal

you must first registered with the local healthcare centre, centro de saúde with your residence card (título de residência). After registering with the health center, you will be given your healthcare number, Número de Utente. You will need to show this number whenever accessing public healthcare services.

In Portugal, the health services of public hospitals include:

  • Emergency treatment;
  • Outpatient treatment;
  • Nursing;
  • Psychiatric care;
  • Care for people with fatal diseases;
  • Post-operative care;
  • Maternity care.

Costs In The Public Healthcare System

Public healthcare in Portugal is mainly free for all citizens and legal residents. In some instances, such as visiting emergency rooms or family doctors, having a medical emergency, doctor’s appointments, and diagnostics exams, there may be some fees to be paid. It differs between €5-20. For exams, the fee will not be more than €40. On the other hand, dental care and cosmetic surgery in Portugal are excluded from the state’s help.

| The Golden Portugal

Private Healthcare System


Private healthcare is more expensive than public healthcare in Portugal. An average GP’s consultation fee is around €40-60. However, there are some advantages to private healthcare over public healthcare. To begin with, there are shorter waiting lists in private healthcare, and you can access more services in private hospitals than in public ones. Furthermore, you are more likely to encounter staff who speak English.

Private Healthcare Insurance

Private insurance is common among expats. It is also increasingly chosen by locals in Portugal, mainly due to shorter wait times.

There are various private health insurance companies/ plans in Portugal for you to choose the one that best meets your needs. While hospitalization and surgery are the most common perks of private insurance, you can add the following services and other special treatments to your insurance:

  • Ambulatory services
  • appointments with doctors/specialists,
  • exams and tests,
  • physical therapy
  • Childbirth
  • Dentistry
  • Ophthalmology
  • Prosthetics

Other Important Information About Private Insurance In Portugal:

It is possible to add your other family members to the same insurance plan.

Most health insurance plans charge you a fixed amount. However, if you exceed the specified claim amount, you may need to pay more money in addition to the fixed amount.

Until the insurance is activated, you may need to wait for around 60 – 90 days.

You can apply for private health insurance with your bank or other insurance company in Portugal.

The average cost of private health insurance in Portugal is €600 a year per person, and if you choose a more comprehensive one, it may cost you around €1500.


Other Info


Emergency Situations

In Portugal, if you have an emergency, you will be treated. It doesn’t matter if you are a resident or if you have any insurance. However, for the covering of costs, you should later show proof of residency or health insurance.

In Portugal, the primary emergency number is 112. This number is directed to the ambulance, police, and fire services.

| The Golden Portugal

Healthcare Service For Women In Portugal

In Portugal, both public and private services are available for women’s healthcare. Women can receive prenatal care in hospitals. Please note that the prenatal classes in hospitals are not always subsidized via public health insurance.

You can access gynaecologists through your GP. Gynaecologists are available in health centres and clinics in Portugal.

Healthcare Service For Children In Portugal

Children have free access to healthcare in Portugal. From birth, they have regular checks, and records of their progress. They have access to services such as vaccination, examinations, and nutritional healthcare in Portugal.

Is It Easy To Contact Medical Professionals As An Expat?

Portuguese healthcare is very advanced in terms of language. Almost all doctors in both the public and private sectors speak English, so as an expat, you can comfortably rely on Portuguese healthcare in terms of communication.

Healthcare For Portugal Golden Visa Applicants

If you are a Golden Visa holder in Portugal, you do not automatically get healthcare. If you do not decide on living in Portugal full time, then you are required to get private healthcare insurance that covers your healthcare in Portugal.

If you decide to live in Portugal for more than half the year and become a full-time resident, then you may be covered by the public healthcare system.

Learn more about the Portuguese Golden Visa and see how you can get your Portugal residency and citizenship!


  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share via Email Share via Email

Portugal Golden Visa Properties – Hotel Buy Back Projects

– 350k Golden Visa options

– 280k Golden Visa options

Get your Golden Visa by investing 350k or 280k for a hotel unit and the developer will buy-back in 5 years, or upon residency received with 100% of your investment returned (taxes and legal fees excluded).

The developer is a reputable group and has already signed with an International hotel brand for the operation of the hotel.

The 350k option also offers a 3% year return!

More information
  • | The Golden Portugal
  • | The Golden Portugal
  • | The Golden Portugal
Join Our Mailing List
Get the latest updates on golden visa and related investments opportunities, and everything else about living in Portugal.

  • | The Golden Portugal
    Portugal Golden Visa Update – Biometric Appointments Opened for January to March 2023
  • | The Golden Portugal
    Portugal Golden Visa Approval 2022!
  • | The Golden Portugal
    SEF has resume their portal for online application submission!
  • | The Golden Portugal
    A Tale of Twin Citizenships
  • Portugal Golden Visa 2022
    Now What With the New Portugal Golden Visa 2022 Investment Options?
  • lisbon
    The Future of Portugal’s Golden Visa – 2022 and after

Written by:
Joao Villa-Lobos
Published on:
2021-03-22

Categories: Portugal's System - Tax, Health, Education, etcTags: benefits of Portuguese resident, healthcare

Join Our Mailing List
Get the latest updates on golden visa and related investments opportunities, and everything else about living in Portugal.

Explore more

Subscribe to our newsletter Contact us Get investment info
Golden Visa Portugal Consultant

Footer

The Golden Portugal

Avenida da Liberdade 245 – 3 piso, 1250-143, Lisbon, Portugal
+351 933 106 667 · +351 963 788 168
[email protected]

Copyright © 2023 · The Golden Portugal · Powered by Supeca Golden Lda · All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

Keep In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo