- Portuguese citizens or citizens of any other country with legal residence in Portugal - Citizens of the European Union / EEA / Switzerland with a European Health Insurance Card - Foreigners with valid residence authorization, including CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) - In some cases, people with a declaration of interest / ongoing AIMA process (with proof) - In emergency situations or for children, pregnant women, and public health diseases: the SNS provides care without questioning legal status If you do not yet have a residence authorization but are in the process, bring proof of the AIMA request — it varies from center to center, but they generally accept it.

At the Health Center in your area of residence (USF — Family Health Unit, UCSP — Personalized Health Care Unit, or traditional Health Center). The address of the rental contract determines which one corresponds to you — you cannot choose freely. To find the center in your area: - Go to [https://www.sns.gov.pt](https://www.sns.gov.pt) → "Find service" - Or call Saúde 24: 808 24 24 24 - Or ask at the parish council Order of the process: 1. Go to the registration desk (or schedule via SNS 24 / phone) 2. Submit the documents 3. Receive the number on the spot — 9 digits, printed on a simple paper or card 4. Request registration with a family doctor (it may take weeks to months to be assigned one, but the number activates immediately) Cost: Free.

When you move, you must update your address: 1. First at the Tax Office (online or in person) 2. Then request a transfer to the new health center 3. The user number remains the same — it is lifelong

How to Obtain the SNS User Number in Portugal

Q: What you need to bring

1. Identification: - Portuguese citizen: Citizen Card - Foreigner: passport + residence title (or proof of application) 2. NIF (Tax Identification Number) — see the [guide](/blog/como-tirar-nif-em-portugal) 3. Proof of address — rental contract, utility bill, or declaration of domicile (some parishes issue these) 4. NISS (Social Security Number) — not mandatory for everyone, but if you already have it, bring it 5. Proof of contributions (pay slip or Social Security contribution statement) — useful but not mandatory

Q: Family doctor — assignment

Important notice: having a user number does not mean having a family doctor. The assignment depends on the capacity of the health center in your area. In Lisbon and Porto, there are waiting lists of 6-18 months for some USF. While you do not have a family doctor: - Appointments: through the care availability of the health center (longer wait) - Chronic prescriptions: scheduled via SNS 24 - Emergencies: nearest public hospital - Alternatives: health vouchers, private doctors, consultations in pharmacies (CUF Pharma, Wells, etc.)

Q: Free support

If you need help with the process: - CNAIM (Lisbon, Porto, Faro) — multilingual support - SNS 24 — 808 24 24 24 (24h/day) - JRS Portugal — support for vulnerable individuals As always, at E-migrantes you can [search for support services in your city](/pesquisa?q=saúde) — there are associations and private family doctors who speak Creole, Brazilian Portuguese, Kimbundu, and other languages of the community.

The User Number (also called "SNS number") is your identifier in the National Health Service. Without it, you cannot have an appointment at the health center, you do not have a family doctor, and you cannot undergo tests with reimbursement. In Portugal, all legal residents have the right, and in specific situations (children, pregnant women, emergencies, contagious diseases), the SNS provides care even without a number.

Who is entitled

Portuguese citizens or citizens of any other country with legal residence in Portugal
Citizens of the European Union / EEA / Switzerland with a European Health Insurance Card
Foreigners with valid residence authorization, including CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries)
In some cases, people with a declaration of interest / ongoing AIMA process (with proof)
In emergency situations or for children, pregnant women, and public health diseases: the SNS provides care without questioning legal status

If you do not yet have a residence authorization but are in the process, bring proof of the AIMA request — it varies from center to center, but they generally accept it.

What you need to bring

Identification:
- Portuguese citizen: Citizen Card
- Foreigner: passport + residence title (or proof of application)
NIF (Tax Identification Number) — see the guide
Proof of address — rental contract, utility bill, or declaration of domicile (some parishes issue these)
NISS (Social Security Number) — not mandatory for everyone, but if you already have it, bring it
Proof of contributions (pay slip or Social Security contribution statement) — useful but not mandatory

Where to apply

At the Health Center in your area of residence (USF — Family Health Unit, UCSP — Personalized Health Care Unit, or traditional Health Center). The address of the rental contract determines which one corresponds to you — you cannot choose freely.

To find the center in your area:

Go to https://www.sns.gov.pt → "Find service"
Or call Saúde 24: 808 24 24 24
Or ask at the parish council

Order of the process:

Go to the registration desk (or schedule via SNS 24 / phone)
Submit the documents
Receive the number on the spot — 9 digits, printed on a simple paper or card
Request registration with a family doctor (it may take weeks to months to be assigned one, but the number activates immediately)

Cost: Free.

Physical vs digital card

The physical user card in paper/plastic is becoming obsolete. Today:

SNS 24 App — install it on your mobile, authenticate with the Digital Mobile Key, and have the number always at hand
Paper proof A4 — provided at the moment, you can save it as a PDF
Some pharmacies and health centers still use the physical card, but the number is sufficient

Family doctor — assignment

Important notice: having a user number does not mean having a family doctor. The assignment depends on the capacity of the health center in your area. In Lisbon and Porto, there are waiting lists of 6-18 months for some USF.

While you do not have a family doctor:

Appointments: through the care availability of the health center (longer wait)
Chronic prescriptions: scheduled via SNS 24
Emergencies: nearest public hospital
Alternatives: health vouchers, private doctors, consultations in pharmacies (CUF Pharma, Wells, etc.)

Change of center

When you move, you must update your address:

First at the Tax Office (online or in person)
Then request a transfer to the new health center
The user number remains the same — it is lifelong

For foreigners without residence authorization yet

If you are still in the AIMA process or have a declaration of interest:

Go to the health center with everything you have (passport, proof of application, NIF, proof of address)
Some USF issue a provisional user number — a fact you will want to renew when you have the residence card
In any case, emergency care is universal — they will not refuse treatment even without complete documentation

For children

Children born in Portugal automatically receive a user number at the maternity hospital (part of the "birth kit"). Children arriving from abroad are requested in the same way as adults, with the child's passport.

Free support

If you need help with the process:

CNAIM (Lisbon, Porto, Faro) — multilingual support
SNS 24 — 808 24 24 24 (24h/day)
JRS Portugal — support for vulnerable individuals

As always, at E-migrantes you can search for support services in your city — there are associations and private family doctors who speak Creole, Brazilian Portuguese, Kimbundu, and other languages of the community.