AnkyroTravel insurancePortugal
Travel insurance for Portugal.
Public care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
The rules
What Portugal asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- EHIC and GHIC: SNS care only
The card works in Portugal’s SNS health centres and hospitals, on the mainland and on Madeira and the Azores.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - SNS 24 before A&E
Being sent to A&E by a health centre or the SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24) avoids the standard A&E fee. Under 18s and pregnant women never pay it.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - The islands have their own lines
Madeira and Porto Santo use 800 24 24 20 for health advice, and the Azores 808 24 60 24.
Source: gov.uk - No refunds in Portugal
If you pay for care, you cannot claim it back while in Portugal. You claim from your own health system when you get home.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Strict rules on medicines
UK prescriptions are not recognised, and antibiotics are tightly controlled. Bring enough of your own medicine, in the original box.
Source: gov.uk
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- Public doctors: usually free
Public healthcare is generally free for EHIC holders. Emergency ambulance transport is included in hospital care.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - A&E fee without a referral
Walk into a hospital A&E on your own and a standard fee may apply. Portugal’s EHIC guide gives no fixed amount.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Medicines: 10% to 85% paid by the state
For listed medicines, the state pays between 10% and 85% of the price. You pay the rest at the pharmacy counter.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for Portugal.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Private clinics paid directly
The EHIC and GHIC don’t work in private clinics. Check your insurer pays them directly, so you don’t pay upfront.
- Air ambulance from the islands
Private air ambulances operate in Portugal, but the card pays for none of them. Going to Madeira or the Azores? Check the policy covers a flight to the mainland or home.
- Pharmacy bills
You pay part of every medicine. A plan that refunds pharmacy costs helps on a long stay.
- Water sports
Surfing and diving are often extras. Add them if you plan to do them.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Call 112
Dial 112 for an ambulance. The trip to a public hospital is part of your hospital care, with no separate bill.
- Call SNS 24 first
Not an emergency? Call 808 24 24 24 and press 9 for English. A referral from the line can save you the A&E fee.
- Keep every receipt
Portugal refunds nothing on the spot. Your home health system or your insurer will ask for the receipts.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Walking into a private clinic and expecting the EHIC or GHIC to pay.
- 02Going to A&E for a minor problem without calling SNS 24 first. You may pay the standard fee.
- 03Bringing only a UK prescription. Portuguese pharmacies don’t accept it.
Travel insurance stops when the trip ends, and most visas for living in Portugal don’t accept it. See what Portugal asks of residents.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need travel insurance for Portugal?+
Only a Schengen visa makes it a legal requirement. Schengen rules: see our Schengen page. With no visa, you still pay for private clinics and any flight home yourself.
Does the GHIC work in Portugal?+
Yes, in public health centres and hospitals, including Madeira and the Azores. It does not work in private clinics, and it does not pay for repatriation.
Is healthcare free for tourists in Portugal?+
Public care is generally free for EHIC and GHIC holders. A fee may apply at A&E without a referral, and you pay part of your medicines.
What number do I call for a doctor in Portugal?+
Call 112 in an emergency. For advice, call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24 and press 9 for English.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
02Schengen visaA Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
05JapanJapan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
06USA visitorsThe US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
09VietnamVietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
14GermanyWith an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.