Portugal Considers Requiring Non-Residents to Pay for SNS Healthcare Amidst €1.2M Unpaid Bills in Algarve

Proposed Changes to Healthcare Access for Non-Residents

Portuguese MP Cristovao Norte (PSD/CDS-PP) submitted Bill 786/XVII/2 to parliament on September 25. The core of the proposal is that foreign nationals who are not registered residents of Portugal, or who are in the country without official status, would be required to either pay for Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) medical services directly or provide proof that a health insurance company, another state, or a third party will cover the costs.

The MP cites concrete figures, noting that unpaid healthcare bills in the Algarve region for 2023 and 2024 have accumulated to €1.2 million, serving as the impetus for this legislative push.

For tourists and short-term visitors, this means that medical insurance would transition from being a recommendation to a practical necessity. The SNS would no longer automatically issue bills without a clear payer; instead, they would require either a payment card or an insurer's document on the spot. This proposal does not affect individuals who already hold resident status (e.g., D7 visa holders, other visa types, or those with a residence permit), as they pay taxes and are entitled to SNS access as residents.