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Portugal is one of Europe’s most beloved destinations: Lisbon with its historic quarters, the Algarve with its dramatic cliffs and golden beaches, the remote islands of Madeira and the Azores. This very diversity of landscapes and activities — from surfing at Nazaré to trekking along Madeira’s levadas, from the volcanic excursions of the Azores to the lively nights of Bairro Alto — makes adequate travel insurance an absolute necessity before you depart.
Many European travellers set off believing that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be sufficient to cover any eventuality. In reality, the EHIC offers important basic protection, but has significant limitations that can turn a minor mishap into a serious financial problem. Medical repatriation, private medical care, flight cancellation, lost luggage: none of these situations is covered by the European health card.
In this guide you’ll find everything you need to know about travel insurance in Portugal: what the EHIC covers and what it doesn’t, what non-EU citizens need, which guarantees to look for in a comprehensive policy and how to choose the most suitable one for your trip. For further practical information before you go, consult our section on useful information for travelling in Portugal.
Portugal has been a member of the European Union since 1986 and forms part of the Schengen Area. For citizens of EU and EEA (European Economic Area) countries, this means freedom of movement without border controls and access to the Portuguese public health system through the EHIC. No visas or special permits are required for tourist visits.
The Portuguese health system, the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), is a universal public healthcare system that ranks among Europe’s best: according to the World Index of Healthcare Innovation 2024, Portugal ranks 23rd globally. In major cities such as Lisbon and Porto, public hospitals offer a high standard of care. However, like many European public healthcare systems, waiting times for non-urgent procedures can be lengthy, and facilities in more remote areas — particularly on the islands — may have limited capacity compared to urban areas.
This is something to keep in mind especially if you’re visiting the Azores or the most isolated areas of Madeira: in case of serious emergency, a medical transfer to specialised facilities on mainland Portugal or repatriation to your home country involves substantial costs that are never covered by the EHIC.
The European Health Insurance Card — on the back of your national health card — is valid in mainland Portugal and also in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. With the EHIC you’re entitled to the same care guaranteed to Portuguese citizens in SNS public facilities, on the same terms and at the same costs (including any health service charges).
In practice, with the EHIC in Portugal you can access accident and emergency services, receive urgent care and, if necessary, be admitted to a public hospital without having to pay upfront, except for any patient contributions required for residents. The card should be shown before receiving treatment, just as a Portuguese citizen would do.
However, there are significant limitations that make the EHIC insufficient as your only protection:
Medical repatriation is not covered. If after an accident or serious illness doctors decide you need to be transferred to your home country for specialist care, the cost of medical air transport — which can exceed €15,000–20,000 — is entirely at your expense. The EHIC does not cover any type of rescue operation or medical transfer between countries.
Private facilities are not covered. The EHIC works exclusively in public healthcare system facilities. If for any reason — emergency, waiting lists, lack of nearby facilities — you use a private clinic or hospital, you pay the full cost yourself. In Portugal, private facilities are of excellent standard but costs can be very high.
It doesn’t cover luggage, cancellations or delays. The EHIC is health cover, not travel insurance. If your flight is cancelled, your suitcase is lost or you’re forced to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen circumstance, the EHIC doesn’t protect you in any way.
It doesn’t cover high-risk sports activities. If you practise surfing, trekking, mountain biking, kayaking or windsurfing — all widespread activities in Portugal — and you get injured, the EHIC only covers basic medical treatment in public facilities. It doesn’t cover mountain rescue, sea rescue or transfers from remote areas.
Citizens of non-EU countries cannot use the EHIC and have no right to free care in Portuguese SNS facilities. In recent years the Portuguese government has strengthened enforcement of regulations on access to healthcare services for non-residents: those in Portugal without resident status and without insurance cover must pay in full for any medical treatment received.
For non-EU citizens visiting Portugal — whether American, Canadian, Australian tourists or those from any other country outside the Union — taking out travel health insurance is essential before departure. Without bilateral agreements between your country and Portugal, medical expenses are entirely the patient’s responsibility. Hospital admission, even in a public facility, can easily cost several thousand euros.
United Kingdom citizens make a partial exception: after Brexit they use the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of the EHIC, which offers similar cover in EU public facilities, including Portugal, but has the same limitations as the EHIC regarding repatriation and private facilities. For British travellers too, supplementary travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Non-EU citizens planning stays in remote areas such as the Azores or the wilder parts of Madeira should pay particular attention: in these areas local hospital facilities may not be able to handle serious emergencies, and medical evacuation to Lisbon or your home country involves extremely high costs. A policy with high limits and specific coverage for evacuations is essential.
Whether you’re an EU citizen or a non-EU citizen, a comprehensive insurance policy for Portugal should include the following guarantees:
Look for a high coverage limit, ideally not less than €500,000–1,000,000 for medical expenses. Prioritise policies that guarantee direct payment of hospital expenses, saving you from having to pay large amounts upfront and wait for reimbursement when you return. Check excess clauses carefully: for non-hospital medical expenses, a policy with zero excess or low excess is preferable.
This is the most important cover and the one most often underestimated. Medical repatriation — that is, air transport or suitable transfer to your country of residence to receive specialist care — can cost tens of thousands of euros. For those visiting the islands (Azores, Madeira) or engaging in sports activities, this cover is absolutely a priority. Ensure the policy also includes transport to the nearest hospital in case of emergency.
Your insurer’s 24-hour emergency helpline must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provide assistance in English. In an emergency, having to communicate in Portuguese with foreign operators adds stress to an already difficult situation. Check that the helpline number is clearly shown on the insurance certificate you carry with you.
Trip cancellation cover reimburses you for penalties and non-refundable costs (flights, hotels, packages) if you’re forced to cancel or cut short your trip for reasons covered by the policy: sudden illness, injury, death of a family member, extraordinary events. When you book flights to Portugal or a organised tour well in advance, this protection guards against losing what you’ve already paid.
The policy should cover theft, loss or damage to luggage, with coverage limits appropriate to the value of items you’re carrying. Some policies also include cover for delayed baggage delivery — reimbursement of expenses for buying essentials — and for flight delays exceeding a certain number of hours.
This covers unintentional damage you cause to third parties — people or property — during your stay. Particularly useful if you hire a car using our Portugal car hire guide, if you engage in sports or if you’re travelling with children.
Portugal is an ideal destination for surfing (Nazaré is one of the world’s most famous big wave sites), trekking, windsurfing, diving, kayaking and many other outdoor activities. Most basic policies exclude injuries from high-risk sports. If you plan to take part in these activities, check that your policy includes specific cover for adventure sports or purchase an additional extension. This cover is particularly important for those visiting the Azores — where volcanic trekking and diving are the main activities — or the Algarve coast.
If you’re visiting Portugal just once in the year, a single-trip policy is the most economical and straightforward choice. Cost varies based on trip duration, age of the insured, required cover and specific destination (mainland Portugal has lower costs than the Azores, which involve additional risks due to remoteness).
If however you’re a frequent traveller and plan two or more trips in the year — even to other European or intercontinental destinations — an annual multi-trip policy may work out more economical. These policies cover all trips taken in the insurance year, usually with a maximum of 30 or 45 days per single trip. Compare terms carefully: some annual policies exclude destinations outside Europe or Atlantic islands such as the Azores.
A practical tip: if you’re planning your trip well in advance, buy insurance as soon as possible after you’ve booked. This way trip cancellation cover is active from the outset, protecting you against unforeseen events that might occur in the months before departure.
Yes. The Azores and Madeira are autonomous regions of Portugal and are part of the European Union: the EHIC is valid on these islands as well. However, hospital facilities on the smaller Azores islands may have limited capacity for serious emergencies, making insurance with coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation particularly important for those visiting these archipelagos.
Yes, but they must pay for the services received. The Portuguese healthcare system does not offer free care to non-European tourists without insurance cover. Travel insurance with healthcare coverage is essential for all travellers from non-EU countries visiting Portugal.
The cost varies depending on several factors: length of stay, age of the insured, coverage included and specific destination. For a 7–10 day trip to mainland Portugal, a basic policy with healthcare and repatriation cover can cost between €20 and €40 per person. More comprehensive policies — with cancellation, baggage and adventure sports cover — cost more. For stays in the Azores, prices may be slightly higher due to the greater remoteness. Always compare several offers before purchasing.
Most basic policies exclude injuries resulting from high-risk sports. If you plan to surf, serious trekking, diving, kayaking or other adventure activities in Portugal — activities that are very popular especially in the Algarve and the Azores — check that your policy includes a specific extension for sports. Otherwise, in the event of a sports injury you may find yourself paying medical expenses without reimbursement.
Call 112 for an ambulance or emergency services. Contact the operations centre of your insurance provider immediately, whose number is shown on your insurance certificate. If you are an EU citizen and have the EHIC, show it at the reception of the public facility. Keep all medical documentation (reports, receipts, invoices) to submit any reimbursement request upon return home.
Standard travel insurance does not cover damage to a hired vehicle — that is a specific cover for car hire (Collision Damage Waiver). Some premium travel policies include cover for car hire excess. In any case, when hiring a car, read carefully the insurance conditions included by the hire company. For information on car hire in Portugal and driving on Portuguese motorways, see our dedicated guides.
The answer varies from policy to policy. Many travel insurance policies cover emergencies related to pre-existing chronic conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease) if the condition is stable and you were not already receiving active treatment at the time of policy purchase. Some insurers require a statement on pre-existing health conditions. Read the general terms and conditions carefully or contact the insurer before purchasing if you suffer from chronic conditions.
The most common exclusions in travel policies concern: travel undertaken despite formal travel warnings from your government to that destination; damage caused deliberately or whilst under the influence; cosmetic or scheduled treatments; non-declared pre-existing conditions; extreme sports not included in the policy; expenses incurred without having contacted the operations centre where prior contact was mandatory. Always read the pre-contractual information sheet before purchasing.
Yes, always. Carry your insurance certificate in both digital format (downloaded to your smartphone) and as a printed copy. The document must clearly show: the 24-hour operations centre number, the policy number, active coverage and limits. Save the operations centre number in your phone’s contacts too, so you have it available even without an internet connection.
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