Moving to Portugal with children comes with exciting opportunities — but also practical challenges, especially when it comes to healthcare. Whether you’re applying for a residency visa, relocating as a digital nomad, or spending a long stay in the country, understanding how to access medical care for your child is essential.
Portugal’s healthcare system includes a public network (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, SNS) and a growing private sector. Children under 18 have access to free or low-cost medical services, including checkups, vaccinations, emergency care, and treatment by pediatricians. However, the process of registering, choosing between public and private care, and navigating care in a non-native language can be confusing at first.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to access children’s healthcare in Portugal, how to register with a pediatrician, what’s included in public coverage, and when private care or online consultations might be a better option for expat families.
How to access pediatric care in Portugal
Public healthcare for children (SNS) in Portugal
Portugal’s public healthcare system, Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), offers free medical care for children under 18. This includes pediatric appointments, routine checkups, vaccinations, and access to specialists when needed. However, to use these services, your child must be officially registered in the system.
To access SNS services for your child, you’ll need to:
- Register your address at your local freguesia (parish council)
- Obtain a NIF (tax number) and residency certificate
- Enroll in the SNS system and get a user number (número de utente)
- Visit your assigned local health center (centro de saúde) to register your child with a public pediatrician
Once registered, your child will have a state-assigned pediatrician, and all public services will be accessed through your local centro de saúde.
While public care is generally good, waiting times for pediatric appointments can be long, especially in cities like Lisbon or Porto. Many parents also find that public doctors often only speak Portuguese, which can make communication difficult.
Private pediatric care in Portugal
Private healthcare gives families more flexibility — faster appointments, shorter waiting times, and the ability to choose your own doctor, including those who speak English or other languages. Consultations in private clinics typically cost €50–€100 per visit, and many expat families choose private health insurance to cover or reduce these costs.
On Oladoctor, you can book online pediatric appointments with doctors who speak a wide range of languages — including English, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Georgian, and more. Appointments are available same day and do not require insurance or referrals.
Routine checkups for children in Portugal
In Portugal, preventive healthcare is a core part of the public system, and children are entitled to regular health checkups through SNS. These checkups are usually performed at your assigned centro de saúde by a pediatrician or family doctor.
Public checkup schedule
Routine pediatric checkups follow a national child health program, starting from birth and continuing through adolescence. These visits include:
- Monitoring growth and development
- Physical exams
- Vaccination updates
- Vision and hearing screenings
- Nutritional guidance
- Early detection of behavioral or learning issues
Checkups are free of charge for children registered in the public system, but appointment availability depends on your local clinic and region. In some areas, delays for non-urgent visits can be significant.
Private checkups
In the private sector, you can schedule checkups more frequently, at your convenience, and often with more time per visit. Many families choose private care for:
- Shorter wait times
- More personalized attention
- Multilingual communication
Oladoctor offers same-day online pediatric checkups with doctors fluent in your language — ideal for regular follow-up, school health forms, or early concerns that don’t require in-person exams.
Vaccination schedule in Portugal
Portugal has a well-organized national vaccination program that provides free vaccines to all children through the public healthcare system (SNS). Vaccinations are typically administered during routine checkups at your local centro de saúde, following a national calendar set by the Ministry of Health.
What vaccines are included
The Portuguese vaccination schedule includes:
- Hepatitis B – at birth, with follow-up doses during infancy
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) – at 2, 4, and 6 months, with boosters at 18 months and 5–6 years
- Polio – given with DTP at 2, 4, 6 months, and boosted later in childhood
- Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – 2, 4, 6 months
- Pneumococcal infections – at 2, 4, and 12 months
- Meningococcal disease – first dose around 2 months, booster at 12 months
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) – first dose at 12 months, second dose at 5–6 years
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) – for adolescents, usually starting at age 10
- Tuberculosis (BCG) – given at birth in regions or cases with higher risk
All core vaccines are free of charge at public clinics. Optional or travel-related vaccines (like rotavirus, chickenpox, flu) may be available only through private providers.
If your child was vaccinated abroad
When moving to Portugal, bring all vaccination records and present them at your local health center. A certified translation into Portuguese may be required.
If you’re unsure how your child’s vaccination record compares with the Portuguese schedule, pediatricians on Oladoctor can review the documentation, flag any missing doses, and help you plan next steps — all in your preferred language.
Specialist care and pediatric hospitals in Portugal
While family doctors and pediatricians manage most routine healthcare, children in Portugal may also need access to specialist care — such as pediatric dermatology, neurology, cardiology, speech therapy, or mental health support.
Accessing specialists through the public system
In the SNS (public system), you’ll need a referral from your child’s assigned doctor to see any specialist. Appointments are free, but:
- Waiting times can be long (several weeks or months)
- Communication is often only in Portuguese
- Scheduling is not flexible
Specialists are usually located in public hospitals or specialty centers in larger cities like Lisbon, Porto, or Coimbra.
Private specialist care
Private pediatric specialists offer:
- Shorter waiting times
- Multilingual service
- Direct access without referrals
- Flexible scheduling
Major cities have private pediatric clinics and hospitals that cover a wide range of specialties. Costs vary depending on the type of consultation and tests, but most expat families consider it worth the convenience and clarity.
If you need quick access to a child specialist and want to speak your own language, Oladoctor lets you book online consultations with pediatricians and pediatric specialists who speak English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, and more.
Dental care for children in Portugal
Dental care for children in Portugal is not fully included in the public healthcare system, and most families rely on private pediatric dentists for regular checkups and treatments.
Public dental services
The SNS offers limited free dental care through the cheque-dentista program:
- Available for children aged 7 to 18 in participating public schools
- Covers basic services such as checkups, cavity treatment, and preventive care
- Delivered via annual dental vouchers issued at school
- Not all dentists accept vouchers, and access varies by region
Children outside this system — such as those in private or international schools — are usually not eligible.
Private pediatric dentistry
Private clinics provide:
- Comprehensive pediatric dental services
- More flexible scheduling and shorter wait times
- Advanced preventive, aesthetic, and orthodontic care
Typical costs range from €40 to €90 per appointment, depending on the service. Some private insurance plans include pediatric dental coverage.
Mental health services for children in Portugal
Awareness around child and adolescent mental health is growing in Portugal, but access to care still varies greatly between public and private providers. Many expat families find it challenging to find support in their language — especially in public clinics.
Public mental health services
Psychological care for children is available through the SNS, but:
- It requires a referral from your family doctor or pediatrician
- Services are free, but wait times are often long (months in some regions)
- Sessions are generally conducted in Portuguese only
- Availability of child psychiatrists and psychologists is limited, especially outside major cities
Public support may be suitable for mild or ongoing issues, but less ideal for urgent needs.
Private psychological support
Private child psychologists and therapists are available in major cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. Advantages include:
- Shorter waiting times
- Therapy in your preferred language (commonly English, French, or Spanish)
- More frequent follow-ups and family involvement
Parents are encouraged to ask about language options and cultural sensitivity during the first contact.
Emergency care for children in Portugal
Portugal offers a well-structured emergency healthcare system, accessible to both residents and visitors. If your child has a sudden illness, injury, or life-threatening symptoms, you can seek urgent care through the SNS or private hospitals.
What to do in a medical emergency
In case of serious symptoms — such as seizures, severe allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, or high fever — call 112 immediately. This is Portugal’s national emergency number, free and available 24/7. Operators usually speak Portuguese and English.
Paramedics will assess the situation and transport your child to the nearest hospital emergency department (urgência pediátrica), where pediatricians are on duty. Public hospitals cannot refuse emergency care, even if you don’t have a health card or insurance — though some costs may apply for non-residents or uninsured patients.
For non-life-threatening issues
If your child has a minor but uncomfortable condition (such as ear infections, rashes, or stomach pain), you can:
- Visit your local centro de saúde during working hours
- Go to an after-hours clinic (SAP or atendimento complementar)
- Use a private urgent care center for faster service and multilingual support
Many private clinics offer pediatric urgent care, especially in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra and Algarve.
Preventive care and resources for expat parents
Preventive healthcare plays a major role in Portugal’s child health system. Beyond regular doctor visits and vaccinations, public services promote healthy habits, early detection of issues, and family education.
Public preventive programs
Depending on your region, SNS may offer:
- Free school-based health screenings
- Nutritional and dental education programs
- Vaccination reminders through local health centers
- Growth and development monitoring at set milestones
- Parent workshops at some centros de saúde
These programs are usually coordinated through your assigned family doctor or pediatrician, so staying registered and connected to your local clinic is key.
Support for expat families
Moving to a new country with children comes with questions and stress — especially when you don’t speak the local language. Finding pediatric care that’s fast, understandable, and culturally sensitive can make a major difference in your family’s experience.
For everyday pediatric questions, follow-ups, or support in your language, Oladoctor allows you to book online consultations with pediatricians and specialists who speak English, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, and more — no waitlists, no bureaucracy.
