Portugal, aquiring residency
 

Hello I am new to this forum and I have a query that perhaps someone can advise me on.
I am a British citizen and I want to retire to Portugal, as far as I can tell I require proof of health cover to obtain residency and at my advanced age it would be beyond my budget. I would like to use my S1 certificate as proof but I believe that I require the residence permit first, so a catch 22 unless I am understanding things wrongly?
Can someone more knowledgeable than I please enlighten me?
Many thanks

Re: Portugal, aquiring residency
 

Hi, and welcome to the forum from me :)

What you need on that front is :

That's from the information on fixing long term residency on this page, and following the link to "Necessary Documentation". I think it's a 1 year policy you'd need to supply with your initial application.

As soon as you have the residence permit, you can enrol in the public healthcare system.

Re: Portugal, aquiring residency
 

Thanks for the info Red Eric
Will

Re: Portugal, aquiring residency
 

I have just gone through the process and I was only required to have health insurance for 120 days.

Re: Portugal, aquiring residency
 

That is very interesting, can you mention the company that you went with?
Was that long enough for you to gain your residency?
Many thanks

Re: Portugal, aquiring residency
 

Hi Willsue,

We used Vasco who I think are part of Axa. I followed a link from VFS Global and used this company as I knew the cover would be correct for my visa application, it is actually called a certificate for consulate - low cost travel insurance.

When I applied I entered the start date on the day I had my consulate appointment (so I had current, valid insurance) and put the end date for 4 months time plus a week or two for good luck. We had our meeting scheduled just shy of 3 months so had plenty of leeway. The consulate or my Portuguese solicitor never flagged this. At the end of the 120 days, if your granted residency you go in to Portugal's health care system, if your declined you go home!