Portugal Explicado

Social Security number and National Health Service number

Anyone who works needs a Social Security number (NISS). To use the National Health Service without paying for care, your user registration must be complete.

Information checked on 12 de setembro de 2026. Requirements can change. Always confirm with the official service before you start.

Who is this for

Foreigners and Portuguese people without a Citizen Card. With a Citizen Card, both numbers are assigned automatically.

Where to do it

NISS: online form on the Social Security website, or through the employer. Health user number: at your first visit to a public health centre or hospital.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Request the NISS online

    Fill in the form for foreign citizens on the Social Security website. You receive a registered letter saying where to collect the number. With a Portuguese address you can request NIF, NISS and health number together.

  2. 2

    Get the health user number

    It is assigned on your first visit to a public health centre or hospital. Having the number does not mean the health service pays for care.

  3. 3

    Complete the registration

    With an updated registration you can enrol at your local health centre and get a family health team. Foreign minors do not need a NIF or residence permit for this.

Usual documents

  • NISS: identification (passport and visa or residence permit, for non-EU citizens).
  • NISS: proof of work, for example the employment contract.
  • Health user: ID, NIF, residence permit and full Portuguese address.

Sources