Foreigners' SNS access in Portugal is again in Parliament: What will change for those with legal residence?

In Portugal, the regulation that aims to change foreigners' access to the state health system SNS has come to the agenda of the Parliament again.

Projeto de Lei 786/XVII/2, presented by PSD and CDS-PP, aims to change the conditions for using SNS, especially for foreigners who do not live in Portugal and people who are in an irregular situation in the country.

However, the phrase “foreigners' SNS access is restricted” used in the headlines hides an important distinction:

It is envisaged that third country citizens, including Turkish citizens living legally in Portugal, will continue to be SNS beneficiaries.

Moreover, the regulation is not yet in effect. It is currently at the stage of a bill submitted to the Parliament.

What is the critical distinction for Turkish citizens?

The proposal text explicitly counts third-country nationals regularly present in Portugal — nacionais de países terceiros — among the foreigners who will be considered SNS beneficiaries.

Since Türkiye is not an EU country, Turkish citizens fall into this category of third country citizens.

Therefore, for example, it is not suggested that a Turkish citizen living in Portugal with a valid residence right be excluded from SNS simply because he is a foreigner.

Also in the text:

EU citizens and those with equivalent status,

third country nationals,

stateless persons

and those who apply for international protection

SNS availability based on legal stay/residence status for is protected.

Who does the real change target?

There are two groups at the heart of the proposal:

Foreigners who are not resident in Portugal and foreigners who are in an irregular situation in the country.

If these people receive health care through SNS, they are, in principle, asked to pay the cost of the health service provided.

Alternatively, insurance to cover the expenses, an international agreement, or a document proving that there is a legally/contractually responsible third party can be submitted.

The proposal also envisages the creation of mechanisms such as payment guarantee or prepayment when necessary.

Emergency and vital healthcare services are not completely closed

There is an important exception to the regulation.

Access to emergency or vital healthcare services is protected.

However, in this case, the necessary payment or coverage documents may be requested to be submitted later.

Therefore, it is not correct to interpret the proposal as "foreigners in an irregular situation will not be able to receive emergency health care".

Where does the figure of 330 thousand foreigners come from?

In the justification of the PSD and CDS-PP proposals, he refers to the report dated 27 November 2024 prepared by Inspeção-Geral das Atividades em Saúde.

According to the data provided by the parties, approximately 330 thousand non-resident foreigners in Portugal were treated in the emergency departments of SNS hospitals between 2021 and September 2024.

More than 140 thousand of them cover the cost of health services. It is stated that it does not have insurance or international agreements.

However, these figures should not be read as 330 thousand irregular immigrants living in Portugal.

The data relates to non-resident foreign patients treated in emergency departments during the specified period.

It was previously passed by Parliament but did not become law

The history of the regulation is also important.

A similar proposal was presented by PSD and CDS-PP in the previous legislative period and was accepted at the plenary stage in Parliament with the support of Chega.

However, when the legislative period ended due to early general elections, the process could not be completed and the proposal was dropped.

Now PSD and CDS-PP have brought the issue to Parliament again.

Therefore, as of today:

A new SNS law has not come into force, there are no new regulations published in the Diário da República, and there is no automatic change to the existing health rights of foreigners living legally in Portugal, which starts today due to this proposal.

Resources

Assembleia da República — Projeto de Lei 786/XVII/2, 25 September 2026

https://www.parlamento.pt/Paginas/UltimasIniciativasEntradas.aspx

Observador / Lusa — 26 September 2026

https://observador.pt/2026/09/26/psd-e-cds-pp-voltam-a-propor-restricao-do-acesso-ao-sns-por-estrangeiros-nao-residentes/