A utente number in Portugal is your National Health Service user number. In Portuguese, it is usually called Número de Utente do SNS or número nacional de utente.
Foreigners often get confused because some people are told to go to a Centro de Saúde, some are told to email a regional health office, some are asked for a NIF, some are asked for a NISS, and some discover that having a utente number alone does not always mean all healthcare costs are covered by the SNS.
This guide explains what the utente number is, who can request it, which documents are usually needed, whether NISS is required, and what to do if a health centre gives you different information.
Last verified: April 26, 2026. Healthcare registration procedures can change and may vary by local health administration. Always confirm the latest requirements with gov.pt, SNS 24, or your local public health unit.
Quick Answer
- Utente number means: National Health Service user number.
- Portuguese name: Número de Utente do Serviço Nacional de Saúde.
- Used for: Identifying you in the Portuguese public health system.
- Who can get it: Foreigners who need healthcare at SNS public units, and legally resident foreigners who want SNS access.
- Where to request it: At a public health unit, such as a health centre or hospital, or through available local/regional channels.
- Does it cost money? Requesting the number itself is generally free.
- Is it the same as NISS? No. NISS is Social Security. Utente is healthcare.
- Is NISS always required? Official gov.pt requirements for SNS cost coverage list ID, Portuguese NIF, complete address in Portugal, and valid residence permit. In practice, some local offices may ask for NISS or extra proof, so ask them to explain the requirement.
- Does having the number guarantee free SNS coverage? No. Gov.pt says having an utente number alone does not guarantee SNS coverage of healthcare expenses.
What Is an Utente Number?
The Número de Utente is the number used to identify you in Portugal’s public healthcare system, the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS).
You may need it for:
- Registering at a health centre
- Booking or managing public healthcare appointments
- Being identified in public hospitals or health centres
- Vaccination records
- Prescriptions and healthcare records
- Accessing some SNS 24 services
- Applying later for the European Health Insurance Card, if you meet the conditions
- Proving healthcare registration for some residence-related situations
It is not the same as a residence permit, private health insurance, NIF, or NISS.
NIF vs NISS vs Utente Number
Foreigners often mix up these three numbers.
| Number | System | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| NIF | Tax / Finanças | Taxes, banking, contracts, invoices |
| NISS | Social Security | Work contributions, Social Security rights and obligations |
| Utente number | SNS healthcare | Public healthcare identification |
In simple terms:
- NIF = tax
- NISS = Social Security
- Utente = healthcare
You may eventually need all three if you live in Portugal, but each one belongs to a different system.
Who Can Get an Utente Number?
Gov.pt says the SNS national user number is assigned to people who need healthcare at public SNS units. For foreigners, the number is assigned the first time they go to a public health unit, such as a health centre or hospital.
The migrants healthcare page also says any foreigner who is legally resident in Portugal can obtain an SNS user number, which gives access to medical assistance at public SNS units.
Portuguese citizens
Portuguese citizens normally get the number automatically when they request the Portuguese Citizen Card. It appears on the back of the card.
Foreigners
Foreigners may request or receive the number when they access a public health unit for the first time. They may also request it even without needing immediate care.
What Documents Do Foreigners Usually Need?
Gov.pt says that when you go to a public health unit, you may need to provide information such as:
- Name
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Country of birth
You may also be asked for other details such as address, mobile phone number, and email.
For SNS coverage of healthcare expenses, gov.pt says the following data must be associated with your health user number registration:
- Identification document
- Portuguese NIF
- Full address in Portugal
- Valid residence permit
Some situations provided by law may allow SNS cost coverage without all of these data, but you should not assume this applies to you without checking.
Is NISS Required to Get an Utente Number?
This is one of the biggest questions foreigners ask.
The careful answer is:
Official gov.pt information about SNS cost coverage lists ID, Portuguese NIF, full address in Portugal, and valid residence permit. It does not list NISS in that specific requirement.
However, in real life, some foreigners report being asked for a NISS by local health services or regional offices. This may happen because:
- The local office wants more proof of residence or system eligibility.
- The computer system asks for extra fields.
- The staff member is following local instructions.
- The person’s case involves work, Social Security, or cost coverage.
- The person is applying through a combined number request service.
- The person’s residence situation is unclear.
If you are asked for NISS and you do not have one, ask politely:
- Is NISS legally required for my case?
- Can I show the official gov.pt SNS user number page?
- Can I provide another document proving residence or eligibility?
- Can you give me the requirement in writing?
- Which regional health administration or office should I contact?
Important: Do not argue aggressively with staff. Portuguese offices can vary in how they handle cases. Ask for the requirement clearly and keep copies of emails or written replies.
How to Get an Utente Number in Portugal
The exact process can depend on where you live, but these are the common routes.
Option 1 — Go to Your Local Health Centre
For many foreigners, the simplest route is to contact or visit the public health centre for the area where they live.
You can say:
“Quero pedir o número de utente do SNS.”
Meaning:
“I want to request an SNS user number.”
Bring your strongest documents with you, even if you are not sure all of them are required.
Option 2 — Ask the Health Centre for the Correct Email or Regional Channel
Some foreigners report that their local health centre does not complete the registration directly and instead gives an email address or regional instructions.
If this happens, ask:
- Which email should I use?
- Which documents should I attach?
- Should files be PDF?
- Is there a maximum file size?
- How long does it usually take?
- Will the number be sent by email?
- Can I receive proof of submission?
Option 3 — Receive the Number When You First Need Care
Gov.pt says that for foreigners, the number is assigned the first time they go to a public health unit, such as a health centre or hospital.
If you receive emergency or hospital care, ask afterwards whether an SNS user number was created and how you can obtain or confirm it.
Option 4 — Use the Combined NIF, NISS and SNS Number Service If Eligible
There is an official combined service for some foreigners with an address in Portugal to request the NIF, NISS, and SNS user number at once.
Gov.pt says this service is currently available at selected Espaços Cidadão. It is for foreign people with a Portuguese address who do not have a Portuguese Citizen Card and who meet one of several conditions, such as:
- Having requested or obtained residence authorization
- Being a national of an EU country
- Having requested international protection
- Having refugee or international protection status
If you do not meet the requirements of the combined service, you must request the numbers separately.
Step-by-Step Checklist
Step 1 — Confirm your local route
Check whether your local health centre handles utente number requests in person or by email.
Step 2 — Prepare documents
Prepare:
- Passport or national ID
- Portuguese NIF
- Proof of address in Portugal
- Residence permit, CRUE, residence authorization proof, or other residence-related document
- NISS, if you have one
- Phone number and email
- Any AIMA/IRN proof, if relevant to your situation
Step 3 — Contact or visit the public health unit
Go to your local health centre or follow the email instructions they provide.
Step 4 — Ask what happens next
Ask whether:
- The number is issued immediately
- The number will be emailed later
- You need an appointment
- You must register with a specific health centre
- You will be assigned a family doctor
- You can access SNS 24 or the SNS 24 app afterwards
Step 5 — Save your number
Once you receive your utente number, save it in multiple places. You may need it for appointments, prescriptions, SNS 24, vaccinations, or hospital records.
Does an Utente Number Mean You Have Free Healthcare?
Not automatically.
This is one of the most important points.
Gov.pt says that having a health user number alone does not guarantee that healthcare costs will be covered by the SNS. For SNS cost coverage, your registration must also have the required data associated, such as ID, Portuguese NIF, full address in Portugal, and valid residence permit, except in situations covered by law.
So there are two different ideas:
- Having an SNS user number
- Having SNS coverage of healthcare expenses
They are connected, but they are not exactly the same.
Can You Use SNS Without an Utente Number?
If you need urgent healthcare, you should seek medical help. Gov.pt says any foreigner living or travelling in Portugal who feels ill or needs healthcare has the right to be assisted in a health centre or hospital.
However, not having an utente number can make administration, follow-up, prescriptions, and access to non-urgent services more difficult.
If you live in Portugal, do not wait for an emergency. Try to register early.
What If the Health Centre Says It Is Full?
Some foreigners report being told that their local health centre is full or that there is no family doctor available.
These are two different issues:
- Getting an utente number
- Being assigned a family doctor
You may receive an utente number but still wait for a family doctor. Ask the health centre what services you can access while waiting and how urgent consultations are handled locally.
What If They Ask for Documents You Do Not Have?
This happens often.
Common examples:
- You have an AIMA appointment but not a residence card yet.
- You have a CRUE but not a residence card.
- You have NIF but no NISS.
- You recently moved and your address documents do not match.
- You are a student.
- You are retired and not working.
- You have private insurance but want SNS registration.
- You received hospital treatment but do not know whether a number was created.
If this happens, ask for the requirement in writing and ask what alternative document is accepted.
You can also ask whether a signed statement, proof of residence appointment, CRUE, Junta address certificate, rental contract, or AIMA/IRN proof can be used.
Common Problems Foreigners Report
“The health centre told me to email documents and nobody replied.”
This appears in public expat discussions. If you send documents by email:
- Use a clear subject line.
- Attach PDFs, not blurry photos.
- Include your full name, date of birth, phone, address, and request.
- Ask for confirmation of receipt.
- Follow up politely after a reasonable time.
- Keep copies of all messages.
“One health centre refused me, another accepted.”
Local practice can vary. If you believe you meet the official requirements, ask for written reasons or try to clarify with the correct regional health administration.
“They asked for NISS but I do not work.”
Ask whether NISS is truly required in your case or whether they need another proof of eligibility. Official gov.pt information on SNS cost coverage does not list NISS in the main data requirements, but local offices may ask additional questions.
“I have private insurance. Do I still need an utente number?”
If you live in Portugal long term, it is still useful to have an utente number. Private insurance is separate from SNS registration. An utente number can help with public healthcare access, prescriptions, vaccines, and records.
“I went to a hospital. Did they create an utente number?”
Possibly, but do not assume. Ask the hospital or health centre how to confirm whether an SNS user number exists for you.
“Can I apply online?”
The normal official description says the number is assigned when a foreigner goes to a public health unit. Some local services may use email or regional channels, but there is not one universal online process for every foreigner in every area. The combined NIF/NISS/SNS service is separate and only available to eligible people through selected Espaços Cidadão.
Portuguese Phrases That Help
You can use these phrases:
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Quero pedir o número de utente do SNS. | I want to request an SNS user number. |
| Quais documentos são necessários? | Which documents are required? |
| Posso enviar os documentos por email? | Can I send the documents by email? |
| Preciso de NISS para este pedido? | Do I need NISS for this request? |
| Pode indicar o requisito por escrito? | Can you show the requirement in writing? |
| Já tenho NIF e comprovativo de morada. | I already have a NIF and proof of address. |
| Ainda estou à espera da autorização de residência. | I am still waiting for the residence permit. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Thinking NISS and utente number are the same
They are different systems. NISS belongs to Social Security. Utente belongs to healthcare.
2. Waiting until you are sick
Register early if you live in Portugal. It is much harder to solve paperwork when you are already ill.
3. Bringing only one document
Bring strong supporting documents: ID, NIF, address proof, residence proof, NISS if you have it, and contact details.
4. Assuming the number means everything is free
Gov.pt clearly says the number alone does not guarantee SNS cost coverage.
5. Not asking for written requirements
If an office asks for something unexpected, ask politely for the requirement in writing.
6. Not saving your number
Keep the number with your important documents. You may need it often.
Summary
An utente number is your Portuguese SNS user number. Foreigners can receive it when they access a public health unit, and legally resident foreigners can obtain it for access to public SNS medical assistance.
The most important detail is that having an utente number alone does not always mean SNS healthcare costs are covered. For cost coverage, gov.pt says your registration generally needs an ID document, Portuguese NIF, full Portuguese address, and valid residence permit, except in specific situations provided by law.
For foreigners, the practical challenge is often not the number itself but local variation: some offices ask for email submissions, some ask for extra documents, and some may ask for NISS even when the official SNS coverage list does not mention it. Prepare strong documents, ask for written requirements, and register early instead of waiting for an emergency.