SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) letter explained in English

Health service. The national health service. It sends appointment letters and, in some cases, bills.

Letters you may get

• Marcação de consulta — date, time and place of an appointment
• Fatura / taxa moderadora — a bill for care you received

What to do

• If you can’t go to an appointment, cancel it so someone else can have it.
• Find the deadline. Look for “prazo”, “até”, “data limite”.
• Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
• If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“reclamação graciosa”, “audiência prévia”, “defesa”, “oposição”, “impugnação”, “recurso”, “reclamação”). See the template.

Questions

What is the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde)?

Health service. The national health service. It sends appointment letters and, in some cases, bills.

How long do I have to answer a letter from the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde)?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “prazo”, “até”, “data limite” — they mark the deadline. In Portugal, a letter sent by registered post is usually treated as received on the third day after it was posted. Check if the deadline is in working days (dias úteis) or in calendar days. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“reclamação graciosa”, “audiência prévia”, “defesa”, “oposição”, “impugnação”, “recurso”, “reclamação”).

Can I read a SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) letter in English?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Portuguese. Your letter never leaves your device.

Other offices in Portugal

Finanças / Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT) · Segurança Social · IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) · AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) · Câmara Municipal / Junta de Freguesia · Tribunal · Agente de execução · ANSR / PSP / GNR