The Lisbon government has been overwhelmed with the cost of providing healthcare both to illegal migrants, and to non-residents who come into the country for free healthcare and then leave. Now two political parties have tabled a law that would make both of these groups pay for their healthcare. More on this welcome development can be found here: “Portugal’s ruling parties move to charge non-resident foreigners for healthcare,” Brussels Signal, September 29, 2026:
The two parties that support Portugal’s minority Government have tabled a bill requiring foreigners in the country illegally, and non-residents, to pay for treatment under the national health service or prove they are covered.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the CDS – People’s Party (CDS-PP) registered the text in the Assembly of the Republic on September 25. It would amend the 2019 health framework law that sets out who qualifies for the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS).
Portuguese citizens and foreigners legally resident or temporarily staying in the country would remain beneficiaries. That covers nationals of European Union member states, third-country nationals, stateless people and applicants for international protection.
Those in an irregular situation or not resident in Portugal would instead pay for the care they received, or produce proof of cover from an insurer, an international agreement or another party legally responsible.
Emergency and life-saving treatment would still be given regardless of status, though patients would afterwards have to supply the necessary documentation. The bill would also require the law to set out how those liable are identified and costs recovered, including guarantees or advance payment.
PSD and CDS-PP base part of their case on a November 27, 2024 report by the health inspectorate IGAS. It concluded that about 330,000 foreigners not resident in Portugal were treated in SNS hospital emergency departments between 2021 and September 2024, more than 140,000 of them without insurance or an international agreement covering that care….
This new law, if passed — as seems likely — makes it harder for illegal migrants and non-residents to any longer receive healthcare without having to pay for it. It’s a sign of hardening attitudes toward migrants and the welfare benefits, including free health care, that until now they have been receiving. And it is also an attempt to make the non-residents who fly in to get free healthcare and then fly out, pay — as they have not been doing — for that healthcare. This is only the first shot across the bow by the center-right parties. Ideally, they will deny all welfare benefits not just to the illegal migrants but to legal ones as well during the first five years of their residence in Portugal. That should cause those economic migrants to go elsewhere for the cornucopia of benefits that they have been receiving in Portugal, but will do so no longer.
Wellington says
Muslims are annoying in sundry ways and one of them is that they are such leeches. Yes, I know that Muslims look upon handouts from dhimmis as their right but this is just excuse making by leeches.