Passports, Residency & Healthcare

Passports & Visas

EU citizens must be in possession of a valid national identity card or passport to enter Portugal. It must be valid for the duration of their stay, which can be up to 90 days. A visa is not required.

Residency

Portugal does not require EU citizens (including British nationals) to have residence permits. They can, however, be useful in certain circumstances (when applying for a driver's licence, for example, or for tax purposes) as official proof of residence. 

A short-term residence permit is valid for stays between 90 days and a year. A long-term permit is valid for five years, after which it may be renewed automatically for a further five years. After that, applicants must apply in person for renewal.

Healthcare

Portugal’s national health service was founded in the late 1970s but poor facilities and long waiting lists tended to be the norm. Considerable improvements in both care and facilities have been made over the last few years, though hospital services are still limited in some rural areas. Private healthcare co-exists with public provision.

An agreement with the UK entitles holders of British passports to free in-patient care in standard wards of Portuguese state-run hospitals. Secondary examinations, X-rays and tests may have to be paid for. A nominal fee is charged for medical treatment at health centres, and there may be a charge for prescribed medicines. All dental treatment must be paid for.

There are many English-speaking doctors in resorts and major cities.

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