Portugal · visa health insurance
Health insurance for a Portugal long-stay visa
Which visa are you applying for?
Pick your path — we’ll show you the exact rule for your case.
Portugal: the published rule
The rule in writing
“At the consulate stage, Portugal’s national visas require insurance with minimum cover of €30,000, valid across the Schengen states for the full stay, covering urgent medical care, urgent hospitalisation, and medical repatriation. Some US visa centres now ask for a full year of validity.”
Official source: Portuguese MFA visa portal (vistos.mne.gov.pt) — Last verified:
The rule in writing
“At the AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival, travel-grade insurance is no longer enough: applicants show full health insurance valid in Portugal, or registration with the public SNS. Applicants consistently report this second stage catching them out.”
Official source: AIMA appointment guidance as documented by applicants and advisors (not a single government checklist — confirmed case-by-case) — Last verified:
Portugal insurance guides
Health insurance for Portugal’s D7 visa
Portugal’s D7 visa needs €30,000 Schengen cover with repatriation at the consulate, then full health insurance for AIMA. See both stages, cited and dated.
Read the ruleHealth insurance for Portugal’s D8 digital-nomad visa
Portugal’s D8 digital-nomad visa uses the same two-stage insurance check as the D7: €30,000 Schengen cover, then full cover for AIMA. Both rules, cited.
Read the ruleUnderwritten by Regency Assurance · regulated by the FSRC (Nevis)
99% of claims paid 
Clients in more than 120 countries 
Same-day cover, no medical exam 
14-day cooling-off period Ratings, certifications and figures are Regency Assurance’s — our underwriter — quoted from public sources and verified July 2026. Independent scores update over time: see Regency on Trustpilot (4.4/5) and Reviews.io (3.92/5). Covered Abroad’s own reviews appear here once we have them.
Common questions
Do I need health insurance for a Portugal D7 or D8 visa?
Yes. The consulate stage requires at least €30,000 of cover valid across the Schengen states for your full stay, including urgent care and medical repatriation — and some US visa centres now ask for a full year of validity.
Is travel insurance accepted?
It can pass the consulate stage if it meets the Schengen standard — but at the AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival, applicants consistently report travel-grade cover being refused. Full health insurance valid in Portugal is the safer plan for the year.
What about Portugal’s public system (SNS)?
Residents can register with the SNS after arrival — but that comes later. Private cover carries you through the visa application and the bridge months before public cover applies.
Get a certificate that meets the published rule
Tell us your destination, visa, and who’s moving. Our team reviews it against the current requirement and calls you with a quote — no obligation.
Before you request a quote: cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States, and pre-existing conditions are not covered — including conditions you did not know about. We say this up front so a quote is worth your time.