ricko

That's good news.
So I will only need to get the "Utente" number at the health centre?

Naaling

Just checked my documents. My SNS and "utente"numbers are the same. There is only one ID number for health care.

Ukkram

Before my wife could get cancer treatment in Porto she had to get an SNS number. My wife is 58.
We had to go back home and get proof of address then headed off to find the parish office called "Junta de Freguesia". Every parish has its own office.

They will type out a testament called "Atestado" proving that you live in that parish.

That document must be handed in at "Centro de Saude" and they will give you a document with your SNS number and the name of your family doctor. This is the doctor you will use and he can refer you to another. Don't know how dentists work though.

Mac and Mabel

I tend to agree with Naaling. In fact my health document from the health centre (which I have also used successfully at the hospital) has only my User identification number (numero de identificação de utente) so I guess my SNS/health service number is one and the same. Probably those of pension age have it issued first by Social Security as their pension-paying country has to be charged for health services used.

Usually you will go to the health centre to register with your residence certificate rather than an Atestado. You will have already obtained an Atestado from your junta de freguesia/parish council and used that to obtain your residence certificate from your Camarâ Muncipal/muncipal council. This proves your address and residence status to the health centre. As I say, we also took our UK passports and our PT fiscal numbers, and all was fine and carried out in accordance with the guidance issued to health centres by SNS. We have used our health centre and hospital Urgençias without problems or surprises.

Loafing Along

Curious - as I commented earlier my numbers are different : 11 digits from the ISS approving my admission to the Social Security services and only nine digits as an "Utente" registered at the Health Centre and the one that works on the SS site for booking appointments etc.

Naaling

I also have an 11 digit Social Security number, which is completely different to the 9 digit SNS number.
Could your situation have arisen when Social Security changed from 9 digit to 11 digit IDs a year or two ago?

Loafing Along

Could well be although I went to the Health Centre to register with an 11 digit Social Security number and came away with a 9 digit SNS number ..

peterfc

Strange how everybody has a different story about registering for healthcare.

ouriquejan

This is Portugal Peter, it's how it is.

ouriquejan

We registered initially in the East Algarve and now we've moved, had no problems at all. Just went to the local Centro de Saude, showed our utente cards and that was it. Sorted.

Rosemary

It is the same in Spain. I have lost count of how many times that I have put "it depends on the area" within an answer to questions.

Rosemary

Red Eric

If one is neither working / self employed nor on a pension from another member state, a Social Security number is (or should be) redundant but if you have one it will be different from your health service number.