The National Healthcare Number, also known as “número de utente” ou NSNS, is crucial for anyone requiring health assistance in Portuguese public units. This number allows the user’s medical data to be linked to all public health units of the country so that the best service is provided at all times. In this guide, we will be getting to know the National Healthcare Number in more detail.

What is the National Healthcare Number?

The National Healthcare Number, also known as the NSNS, is a means of identification for anyone included in the National Healthcare System (SNS) database. This number allows access to the user’s personal file containing all their health-related data, and it is needed whenever you go to a hospital or healthcare center, request a medical appointment, to obtain prescriptions, go through check-ups and examinations, and to buy medicine.

How do you Obtain a National Healthcare Number?

Portuguese citizens automatically obtain their National Healthcare Number when applying for a Citizen’s Card. Foreigners citizens, however, need to apply in order to receive this number.

If you are a foreign citizen and are looking to apply for a National Healthcare Number, you should keep in mind that it is crucial to first have a Portuguese address, a Tax Number (NIF) with a Portuguese address associated, and a valid Residence Permit or Work Visa. If you have been living in Portugal for less than 90 days without a permanent residence, you should apply for a certificate of residence at your local municipality. This will allow you to register provisionally and access a provisional National Healthcare Number.

Application Process

• The national healthcare number must be applied to at the local Health Center that is assigned to your area of residence. If you change areas of residence, you need to update your address to maintain the system’s correctness.

Is Portuguese Healthcare free with the NSNS?

Public healthcare is mostly free in Portugal. Some fees, the “taxas moderadoras”, are charged in certain services, and even those have mostly been eliminated since 2022. These fees exist to help support the healthcare system and to control the irresponsible and excessive use of its services. As of today, these fees are paid only when accessing the urgent services at the hospital without being referred by the SNS first, or when it isn’t an actual emergency.

In any case, Portuguese healthcare is completely free for pregnant women, minors, people with a disability degree of 60% or greater, users in situation of economic insufficiency and their dependents, firefighters, transplant patients, military and ex-military personnel that became permanently incapacitated as a result of their service, registered unemployed users and their spouse and dependents, blood donors, cells, tissues and organs donors, asylum seekers and refugees, as well as their spouses and descendants, fire victims, users looking to voluntary terminate a pregnancy, and most young people under child protection services, precautionary custody and foster care institutions.

Couples can create a custom property regime by combining features from other regimes, as long as it complies with the limits of the Law. This also requires a prenuptial agreement.

Additional Information

Portugal has been modernizing their healthcare system, and one of the many functionalities available nowadays is access to the SNS Portal and the SNS app. These allow you to digitally access medicine and test prescriptions without carrying around printed documents, your vaccination report, check the calendar for future appointments, and request consultations, either at your local healthcare center or remotely.

Your National Healthcare Number won’t be used without your permission, as its use is restricted to you and any authorized professionals that provide health services for you. If you lose the document containing your NSNS, inform the healthcare center where you are registed to protect your information and obtain a new card / document. Whilst the National Healthcare Number is specific for accessing the public health system in Portugal, some information can be shared with private services, with the user’s permission.

Ensuring you have a National Healthcare Number is essential for accessing healthcare services in Portugal efficiently. If you need any further assistance in obtaining a National Healthcare Number or understanding your rights as a user of this service, do not hesitate to reach out to us to clarify all your doubts!