Yes. Pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Basis 21 of the Health Basis Law (Law No. 95/2019 of 4 September) and to Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 52/2022 of 4 August, all Portuguese citizens, as well as foreign citizens with permanent residence or in a situation of temporary stay or residence in Portugal, are beneficiaries of the SNS. This includes nationals of European Union Member States and equivalent, third-country nationals or stateless persons, applicants for international protection, and migrants, irrespective of their legal status, in accordance with the applicable legal framework.

[See  Law No. 95/2019 of 4 September (Health Basis Law)  and  Decree-Law No. 52/2022 of 4 August] 

The RNU is the national database for the identification and registration of users within the National Health Service (SNS). It is through the RNU that the SNS user number (NNU) is issued, which is required in order to access healthcare within the SNS.

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December and the Regulation of the National User Registry]

The NNU (or SNS user number) is obtained through the registration of the individual in the National User Registry (RNU).

This registration is carried out when the citizen first comes into contact with a National Health Service (SNS) healthcare unit.

For this purpose, the citizen must provide a minimum set of mandatory information, namely:

• Full name;
• Sex;
• Date of birth;
• Country of nationality;
• Country of birth;
• District, municipality and parish, when the place of birth is in Portugal.

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December and the Regulation of the National User Registry]

Registration in the RNU may take four forms:

1. Updated registration – requires the completion of a mandatory set of information in the user’s record within the RNU.

2. Registration in progress – applies where not all the necessary information fields for an “updated registration” have been completed within 180 days of the creation of the record in the RNU.

3. Incomplete registration – applies where, after 180 days from the creation of the record in the RNU, the citizen has not provided the mandatory data required for an updated registration.

4. Historic registration – applies to records classified as deceased.

For further information on the different types of registration in the RNU, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions on Access to Primary Health Care (Primary Health Care Units). 

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December  and the  Regulation of the National User Registry]

Yes.

Foreign citizens with permanent residence in Portugal and holding a valid residence permit are assigned the status of “updated registration”. The condition of “updated registration” requires a national address.

Foreign nationals without a valid residence permit are assigned the status of either “registration in progress” or “incomplete registration”.

For further information on the different types of registration in the RNU, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions on Access to Primary Health Care (Primary Health Care Units).

In the context of the application of exceptional and temporary measures, Decree-Law No. 85-B/2025 of 30 June established the extension of the validity of residence permits, as follows:

• “Residence permits expiring between 22 February 2020 and 30 June 2025 shall remain valid, under the same terms, until 15 October 2025.”
• “After 15 October 2025, residence permits shall be accepted upon presentation by the holder of proof of payment of the renewal application, issued by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, I.P. (AIMA, I.P.), valid for 180 days from the date of issue.”

(Please note: The translations of the preceding excerpts are unofficial and for informational purposes only. Only the original legal texts in Portuguese are legally binding.)

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December, the Regulation of the National User Registry and Decree-Law No. 85-B/2025 of 30 June

Financial responsibility for healthcare costs:

For foreign nationals with “updated registration”, financial responsibility is generally assumed by the SNS, regardless of entitlement under any public subsystem.

For foreign nationals with “registration in progress” or “incomplete registration”, the responsibility for costs lies with the individual or a third party financially liable, except for healthcare specifically provided under paragraph 7 of Informative Circular No. 12/DQS/DMD of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), namely:

• • Maternal and child healthcare and reproductive health services, including access to family planning consultations, voluntary termination of pregnancy, monitoring and supervision of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, and healthcare for newborns;
  • Healthcare for minors residing in Portugal, as defined in Decree-Law No. 67/2004 of 25 March;
  • Vaccination, according to the current National Vaccination Programme;
  • Foreign nationals in family reunification situations, when a household member makes duly verified Social Security contributions;
  • Individuals in situations of social exclusion or proven economic hardship, as certified by Social Security Services.

For this set of healthcare services, foreign nationals have access on the same terms as the general population and are subject to the same principles and general rules regarding payment and exemption from co-payments, in accordance with the applicable legislation.

Enrolment in primary healthcare:

Enrolment in primary healthcare requires an updated registration in the RNU and is carried out at a health centre of a local healthcare unit.

For further information on the different types of registration in the RNU, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions on Access to Primary Health Care (Primary Health Care Units).

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December, Order No. 40/2025 of 2 January, the Regulation of the National User Registry, the Regulation of the National User Registry – Enrolment in Primary Healthcare and the Informative Circular No. 12/DQS/DMD of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS)]

Yes.

However, if a foreign citizen without a residence permit presents a declaration issued by the Parish Council (Junta de Freguesia) confirming that they have been residing in national territory for more than 90 days, they may access urgent and life‑saving healthcare with financial responsibility assumed by the National Health Service (SNS).

This declaration must be presented each time the individual accesses a SNS healthcare unit, in order to confirm their status at the time of healthcare access. It ceases to be used once the individual presents a valid residence permit and this information is recorded in their RNU user record.

In the case of foreign nationals who neither hold a residence permit nor a declaration from the Parish Council confirming residence in national territory for more than 90 days, Informative Circular No. 12/DQS/DMD of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) establishes that, for the specific set of healthcare services referred to in Frequently Asked Question No. 6, foreign citizens have access on the same terms as the general population, being subject to the same principles and general rules regarding payment and exemption from co-payments, in accordance with the applicable legislation.

[See the Regulation of the National User Registry and the Informative Circular No. 12/DQS/DMD of the Directorate-General of Health(DGS)]

If a foreign national’s registration in the RNU is not complete, the record will be classified as:

 “Registration in progress”: for a maximum duration of 180 days, whenever the conditions for “updated registration” are not met.

“Incomplete registration”: occurs after the 180-day period if the missing information is not provided.

In these cases:

Financial responsibility is no longer assumed by the SNS;

Enrolment in primary healthcare becomes impossible.

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December and the Regulation of the National User Registry]

No. A foreign minor, up to 17 years and 364 days of age, does not require a residence permit or a Tax Identification Number (NIF) to obtain an updated registration. After this age, an additional period of 90 days is granted to regularise their situation.

[See Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December e Regulation of the National User Registry]

A foreign citizen should contact a National Health Service (SNS) healthcare unit for guidance and assistance.

[Cf. Order No. 14830/2024 of 16 December and the Regulation of the National User Registry]

If, for any reason, a foreign citizen encounters difficulties in exercising their rights and their access to healthcare is restricted, they should first seek clarification from the healthcare provider concerned.

If doubts persist, the individual may submit an information request to ERS using the  online form. 

Should the obstacles remain unresolved, a complaint may also be submitted directly to ERS. 

For further information, the following entities may also be consulted:

• The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA)
• The Directorate-General of Health (DGS)