Andreia RochaWhen you start working in Portugal, your employer registers you with Social Security and you get a NISS. For healthcare, you request a number from the SNS. None of this needs perfect Portuguese, and most of it is sorted in your first few weeks.
When you start working in Portugal, two systems begin to follow you: Social Security (pension, sick leave, benefits) and the SNS, the national health service. Your employer registers you with Social Security and you get a NISS. For healthcare, you request your número de utente (user number). These are simple steps, and most of them are done in your first few weeks.
Social Security mostly handles itself
When you sign your contract, the company reports you to Social Security. That is where your NISS (Social Security Identification Number) comes from, the number that follows you throughout your working life in Portugal. From that point, part of your salary goes to Social Security every month, deducted automatically.
Those contributions count towards your pension, paid sick leave and benefits. If you have already paid into another EU country's system, that time does not disappear: read how your contribution record made abroad works.
The user number gives you access to the SNS
Healthcare runs on a separate system. To use the SNS you need a número de utente, which you request at the health centre in your area of residence. You usually bring ID, proof of address and your NISS. With the user number you can book appointments and, over time, be assigned a family doctor.
What you usually need to gather before going to the health centre:
- ID document (passport or citizen/residence card).
- Your NIF (tax number) and your NISS.
- Proof of address in Portugal (see opening a bank account and renting a home).
- If you come from another EU country, the European Health Insurance Card can cover you while you sort out the rest.
Until you have a user number, the European Health Insurance Card ensures cover in situations you need. Once registered, you use the SNS like any resident.
What to sort out and in what order
The practical order is usually: first the NIF at the tax office (Finanças), then Social Security registration through the company (NISS), and once your address is settled, the user number at the health centre. The NIF is the basis of almost everything, so it is worth starting there. See the full list of documents for moving to Portugal.
Because our Contact Center and Roadside Assistance roles are 100% remote in Portugal, you handle these steps from wherever you choose to live. See the open opportunities.
I thought healthcare would be the big obstacle. In the end, once the user number was sorted, it was one of the easiest parts of the move.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a user number before I start working?
No. You can start working and sort out your SNS registration in the first few weeks. The NISS comes with your contract; the user number you request later, at the health centre.
Who registers me with Social Security?
Your employer reports your admission to Social Security. If you do not have a NISS yet, one is assigned in that process.
Does the time I paid in Germany count towards my pension?
Within the EU, contribution periods usually add up for pension purposes. Check your case in contribution record made abroad.
Do I have to pay separately for healthcare?
SNS access is general for residents. There are small fees for some services, but you do not buy separate insurance to access the public system.
How does this connect with taxes?
Social Security deductions are separate from income tax (IRS). To understand the tax side, read taxes for newcomers to Portugal.
- Segurança Social (NISS) [confirmar]
- SNS - Serviço Nacional de Saúde (número de utente) [confirmar]
- Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Finanças, NIF) [confirmar]