Travel to Portugal

The famous Algarve, Azores Islands, Alentejo, Madeira Island, Lisbon.

Low cost airlines have opened up Portugal for annual multiple holidays and time share development. Warm waters, sunshine and a rich cultural herritage encourage tourist development and long stays.

Leisure persuits and activities:

• golf courses
• scuba diving, day or night
• submarine hunting
• take photos in caves
• paragliding and tandem flights
• parasailing
• big game fishing
• rock climbing - Redinha

Expatriates insurance

If you have decided to up-sticks and go and live under the warm Portugese sun, then an independent health insurance broker can provide would-be expats with quotes and advice on long term health insurance for Portugal. More on specialist insurance brokers: Medibroker, Portwood.

Documentation required

For UK nationals on a temporary visit to Portugal, an E111 isn't required. For other EEA nationals resident in the UK, the E111 is needed.

Where to Get Information

• Mainland Portugal: Regional Health Service Offices (Administração Regional de Saúde).
• The Azores: Regional Health Service Directorate in Angra do Heroismo.
• Madeira: Regional Health Directorate in Funchal.

Doctors, Dentists & Prescriptions

Available at health centres (centro de Saúde) on the mainland. Show your passport to the Health Centre Services - or if you're not a UK national, a medical care booklet issued in exchange for the E111 at the Regional Health Service Office - and ask to be treated under the European Community's arrangements.

You'll be charged a fee, which isn't refundable.

In Madeira, if you consult a private doctor, you'll be charged. Ask for an official - green - receipt and then claim a partial refund at the nearest appointed bank.

Refunds of charges in Madeira must be claimed there.

The Health Service office will indemnify the local bank, but the refund will cover only a very small proportion of your bill - you'll have to pay the rest yourself.

Dental treatment is limited under the state scheme. It's likely that you'll have to pay and the charges and they're non-refundable. For some prescribed medicines, you'll have to pay the full cost, for others, 40-70% of the price. There's no charge in the case of prescriptions issued for certain serious illnesses.

Hospital Treatment

Show your passport - or E111 if you're not a UK national - to the hospital authorities and ask to be treated under the EU arrangements. Basic hospital treatment is free but you'll have to pay for secondary examinations, such as X-rays, and laboratory tests.

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