Just like your NIF, your número de utente is one of many important numbers that you’ll need to have in Portugal. While the NIF applies to taxes, the número de utente is the number you need to give when you go to the hospital, the pharmacy, or visit a doctor or nurse at your local centro de saúde (healthcare centre).
To get a número de utente you normally visit your local centro de saúde with the following documents:
- Your passport or ID
- NIF (Numero de Identificação Fiscal)
- Residency documents (e.g. CRUE or temporary residency permit)
- Social security card (if you’re working)
- S1 form (or equivalent) if you receive a pension from another EU country
Due to Covid, however, registrations are being done over email rather than in-person. You will need to email the above documents as attachments along with the information below to the appropriate email address.
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Place/town of Birth
- Passport number or residence permit
- Full address
- Portuguese home phone / mobile number
Those who entered on a visa and are waiting on an appointment with SEF to get their visas turned into a temporary residence permit can show confirmation of the appointment.
Where to email
Finding the email address that you need to send your details to is going to be your first challenge. Your second challenge will be waiting – at the moment it’s not uncommon for people to wait several months to receive their numbers. Some receive a confirmation that its being processed while others don’t.
The following are some of the email addresses:
Algarve
[email protected]
[email protected]
Lisbon & Tejo Valley
More email addresses:
Safe Communities Portugal has more email addresses for the Alentejo area. You can also access more email addresses by visiting sns.gov.pt/sns/pesquisa-prestadores/ and selecting the following. It’s not perfect but it does bring up quite a few contacts.
Hello, I want to thank you for this information.
I have a Portuguese residence permit but I had no idea how to get a Número de Utente.
I followed your instructions and sent an email with a copy of my passport and residence card to the address you indicated. I got an auto-reply that it might take 3-4 weeks to get my SES number.
What actually happened is that is that it took THREE MONTHS. But at least I got it!!!
Your information here was correct and helpful.
So glad that Portugalist was able to help! Now hopefully you won’t need to use your número de utente too much 🙂
Hi,
I was on holidays in the Algarve in July and got Covid. I now need to get a certificate of recovery from Portugal however I can’t access it because I don’t have a número de utente. I have rung the SNS helpline multiple times and I have not gotten any real answer. Is there anyway to get a provisional number just to get the certificate?
Thanks
I applied for my Utente directly at the Cascais health center around April 2020(!) and never heard back from them, never received my Utente number. This has not really been a problem until recently, and now I’m stuck without access to the vaccine. The link above to applying for an appointment without the Utente number works, but I – like the other commenter – I have tried it before and never heard back from anyone. Currently on holiday in my birth-country, Denmark, I was recently told that I should be vaccinated in my country of residence – or – stay in Denmark at least a full month in order to complete the vaccination program there, which is a problematic solution for most, including me, to say the least.
Hi Andrea,
Yes, it does seem like nobody is replying to people that fill out that form.
Some people are managing to get vaccinated without a numero de utente, especially if they’re 50+. Have a read of this article: https://www.portugalist.com/covid-vaccine-problems-portugal/
Hi Andreas
Did you ever resolve this? I’m trying to get my utente number in Cascais although I can’t figure out the process here.
Regards
Sam
Hei someone can help me? I’m have permanent residence visa in Norway and my son is 5 years old now and have norwegian passport, we can take easy utente number or ? Tanks for help !
Hi Arinete,
This number is for people who are resident in Portugal.
Hi,
I am Russell. I have Portuguese Residency. My wife just came couple of months here. She is got NIF, Social Number and SEF appointment. I just want to know how to apply SNS number online and get quickly. Even I applied 3,4 times here-( https://servicos.min-saude.pt/covid19/vacinacao-nao-utente ), but still nothing.
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
I noticed above that you were able to recommend someone to fight for the paperwork to be done. Could I get the same recommendation please?
my husband has been waiting for 6 months for residency and still doesn’t even have an appointment with SEF, and I have residency but have been waiting for 4 months since then for an SNS. In the meantime we are both paying taxes which have gone through no problem!
Thanks
How do i get a Utente number i have my recidencia and social security number and fiscal number.Regards from Gitte
Hi,
We are looking for a great, street fighting expat agency that will partner with us to fight the bureaucratic BS that allows us to pay social security in Portugal but not get access to healthcare and vaccines. We also want someone to sit with us and get us set up on all the government systems — we already have our NIF, NISS and EU residency certificates.
Do you have any recommendations?
I’ll put you in touch with a blackbelt!
Would be interested as well – that BS is getting under my skin LOL
We would love that information as well!
Hi My name is Jeannette Horta. I’m 74 years old my husband is Portuguese. I applied for my documents for permanent residence ce from last year. Just finally got an appt with SEF at the end of August. My husband got vaccinated but they told me I cannot get vaccinated because I do not have a utente #. How can I get an Utente right away so I can get vaccinated? I hate to wait till end of August. Please help me with this issue!! Thank you.
Hi Jeannette
There is a form you can fill in if you don’t have a utente number: https://servicos.min-saude.pt/covid19/vacinacao-nao-utente
(There’s a button to switch this to English in the top right hand corner)
This form does not work. Without Utente no vaccine. Feel free to contact me please.
Hello!
I am not a resident.
I will volunteer at a hostel in Lisbon soon, and they say I need a work-rekated health insurance. I’m from Belgium and I don’t know what that is. Do I need to check with my travel insurance? My Belgian health insurance? I’m confused.
Thank you
Hi Mathieu,
Best speak to them and ask them to confirm it.