State Benefits for International Students in Portugal
National Health System (SNS) & Centro de Saúde
Access to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde - SNS) provides you with healthcare at the same reduced costs as Portuguese citizens.
How do you get your User Number (Número de Utente)?
You are not automatically registered. You must physically go to the local health facility called Centro de Saúde in the neighborhood where you live.
Required documents:
- Passport or Identity Card (for EU students).
- Proof of residence (Comprovativo de Morada) – can be the rental contract or a document issued by the Junta de Freguesia (neighborhood council).
- Student Visa / Residence Permit (for non-EU) or CRUE Registration Certificate (for EU).
- Proof of university enrollment (Matrícula).
What you need to know:
- Costs: Consultations with a family doctor usually cost a nominal fee (taxa moderadora), often between €4.50 and €7, and many services are completely free for students.
- Emergencies: In case of a major emergency, go directly to the hospital (Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon or Hospital de São João in Porto, for example), but for minor problems, always go to the Centro de Saúde.
State Scholarships and Social Support through DGES
The Directorate-General for Higher Education (Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior - DGES) manages financial aid.
Who is eligible?
- EU students: They have equal rights with Portuguese citizens in terms of social and merit scholarships.
- CPLP students: Young people from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, etc.) benefit from special bilateral agreements.
- Non-EU/CPLP Students: In general, they are not eligible for the DGES government social scholarships and must apply for scholarships offered directly by their university or private foundations (such as the Gulbenkian Foundation).
- Types of support:
- Social Scholarships (Bolsas de Estudo): Monthly financial support calculated according to family income.
- Merit Scholarships: For students with exceptional academic results (very high annual average).
- Accommodation Subsidies: Discounts or free accommodation in university student dormitories (Residências Universitárias)
Right to Work and Self-financing
Portugal has greatly simplified its labor legislation for students in recent years, eliminating cumbersome bureaucracy.
Regime for EU Students
- No limits: You have total and unlimited access. You can work Full-Time (40 hours/week) or Part-Time.
Obligation: If you stay more than 3 months, you only need to request a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (CRUE) at the local town hall (Câmara Municipal).
Regime for Non-EU Students (Student Visa)
- Time limit: Maximum 20 hours per week during semesters.
- Holidays: During summer or winter holidays, you are allowed to work Full-Time (40 hours/week).
- Legal flexibility: You no longer need a prior work permit from the Ministry of Labor. Your employer only needs to declare the contract online to AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrãții e Asilo - former SEF).
Essential steps before getting a job (Valid for everyone):
1. NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal): Portuguese tax code. You need it for any contract. You can get it from Finanças.
2. NISS (Número de Segurança Social): Social security number. The employer usually requests it when signing the contract so that you can pay pension and health contributions.
