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New Healthcare Legislation in Portugal: Impact on Migrants

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What is the National User Registry (RNU)?

The RNU is the national database used to identify people who access the SNS. Registration provides a Número Nacional de Utente (NNU), commonly known as the SNS user number or Número de Utente.

A user number identifies a person within the healthcare system. However, having a user number does not automatically mean that the SNS will cover all healthcare costs, or that the person will be assigned a family doctor.

What has Changed?

The main rules were established by Order No. 14830/2024 and Order No. 40/2025, and subsequently amended by Order No. 3118/2026. The latest changes took effect in June 2026.

The key points for migrants are:

  • Registration and healthcare access are distinct: a person may receive an SNS user number without meeting all the requirements for an updated registration.
  • Registration status matters: the type of RNU registration affects financial responsibility for treatment and eligibility to enrol in primary healthcare.
  • Incomplete records have consequences: if required information is not provided within 180 days, the registration becomes incomplete. This can affect eligibility for primary healthcare and whether the SNS covers treatment costs.
  • Family doctor allocation depends on availability: an updated registration makes a person eligible for enrolment in primary healthcare, but does not guarantee that a family doctor will be available.

Types of Registration

The National User Registry (RNU) includes different registration categories depending on the person's circumstances and the documentation provided.

  • Updated registration (Registo atualizado): Generally allows enrolment in primary healthcare, subject to eligibility requirements.
  • Registration in progress (Registo em curso): Applies when additional information or documentation is still required.
  • Incomplete registration (Registo incompleto): Usually occurs when the required documentation remains outstanding after 180 days, potentially affecting primary healthcare enrolment and responsibility for healthcare costs.
  • Updated registration for non-residents (Registo atualizado não residente): Applies to eligible Portuguese citizens living abroad.
  • Historical registration (Registo em histórico): Used for records of deceased individuals.

What Should Migrants Do?

  1. Contact an SNS healthcare facility to request registration or check your existing record.
  2. Bring your identification and relevant documentation, including residence or international protection documents where applicable.
  3. Ask which RNU registration category applies to you and whether any information is missing.
  4. Check your financial coverage before assuming that treatment will be free.
  5. Ask how to update your record if your residence status or documentation changes.

If you believe your access rights are not being respected, first ask the healthcare provider to clarify the situation. You can also contact the Regulatory Authority for Health (ERS) for information or submit a complaint.

What If I Do Not Have a Residence Permit?

Foreign nationals without regularised immigration status may still be registered with the SNS. However, registration alone does not guarantee that all healthcare costs will be covered.

Certain categories of care may be covered under specific rules or exemptions, including pregnancy and childbirth, healthcare for minors, vaccination under the National Vaccination Programme, and certain urgent or vital healthcare situations.

Eligibility depends on the individual's circumstances and the applicable legislation. Ask your healthcare provider to confirm your registration status and whether treatment will be covered.

What About Asylum Seekers and Refugees?

Applicants for international protection and recognised refugees may access healthcare under specific legal provisions. They should present the relevant documentation issued by the competent authorities and confirm their registration category and applicable exemptions with their healthcare unit.

Will I Have to Pay?

Not necessarily. Responsibility for healthcare costs depends on your registration status, the type of care required, applicable exemptions and any relevant international agreement.

Having an SNS user number does not, by itself, mean that treatment is free.

Where we are

Rua Carvalho Araújo 66-B
1900-140 Lisboa
Portugal

How to Get Here

  • Metro: Linha Verde (Green Line) - Alameda Station
  • Bus: 708, 730, 742, 794

Opening hours

Mon, Tue, Thu
10:00–12:30 & 14:00–17:30
Wednesday (Extended)
Until 19:30
Friday
Until 18:30
No appointment needed. Just walk in.

Contact info

+351 964 809 959