Travel Insurance for Portugal or from Portugal (Seguro de Viagem)
Whether you are a newcomer needing insurance for your visa, a resident planning trips abroad, or an expat having family visit you, travel insurance is an important consideration in Portugal.
Schengen Visa Requirement: If you are coming to Portugal as a tourist or on a temporary visa (e.g. for a residency application), travel medical insurance is mandatory for Schengen visas. The Schengen rules require a minimum coverage of €30,000 for emergency medical treatment and repatriation . You must show proof of this when applying for a visa. The policy must be valid for all Schengen countries and for the entire duration of your stay. Typically, the insurance should have no deductible (or a low one) to meet consular requirements.
What Travel Insurance Covers: Standard travel insurance policies cover several categories of risk while you’re traveling abroad (or even domestically, in some cases):
Emergency Medical Expenses: If you get sick or injured on a trip, the policy pays for hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance, and usually medical evacuation or repatriation back to your home country if neededThis is critical for non-EU visitors in Portugal (who aren’t covered by SNS) and for Portuguese residents traveling outside the EU (since SNS or EHIC won’t help much outside Europe).
Trip Cancellation or Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable costs (flights, hotels, tours) if you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to covered reasons (illness, family emergency, etc.).
Baggage and Personal Belongings: Pays for loss, theft, or damage to your luggage and personal items during the trip. There are usually per-item limits and overall caps.
Travel Delays and Missed Connections: Compensation for long delays or additional costs if you miss a connection due to delays (sometimes included in higher-end plans).
Personal Liability on Trip: Some travel policies include a liability cover in case you accidentally injure someone or damage property while abroad (though this is not in all policies).
Not all travel insurance covers every category by default – medical is core, others depend on the plan level. “Basic” travel insurance might only cover emergency medical and baggage, whereas “Comprehensive” covers cancellation, etc. Always read what is included.
Special Cases:
Note that routine medical care or pre-planned treatments are not covered – travel insurance is for unforeseen emergencies or accidents. It also won’t cover medical tourism (traveling specifically for treatment) – those require special policies. High-risk activities (like extreme sports) may need an extra adventure sports rider. And Covid-19 coverage varies by insurer – most now cover if you catch Covid during travel (medical costs and trip cancellation), but check policy terms.
Cost of Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is generally inexpensive relative to the trip cost. For a short trip (e.g. 1-2 weeks in Europe), typical plans range from €20 to €50 per traveler, depending on coverage and age. For example, a one-week trip for a 30-year-old might be ~€20 for basic cover or €40 for a no-excess comprehensive plan. Longer trips or higher age increase the premium. Some companies offer multi-trip annual policies: if you travel frequently, you pay a flat rate (perhaps €200–€300/year) to cover unlimited trips, each up to e.g. 30 or 60 days. For students or digital nomads, long-term travel insurance (several months) is also available (e.g. €100+ per month for extensive worldwide cover). The key is that even at €30-€50, travel insurance can save you tens of thousands in a medical emergency abroad.
Popular travel insurance form or for Portugal Providers:
Many international companies provide travel insurance accepted in Portugal/Schengen. Common choices are Allianz Travel (formerly Mondial Assistance), AXA Schengen, Europe Assistance, GENERALI Travel, IMGlobal, and World Nomads. In Portugal, local insurers like Fidelidade, Tranquilidade, Victoria Seguros, and others also sell travel policies, often via their websites or through bank branches. The Portuguese Automobile Association (ACP) offers travel insurance to members as well. According to expat resources, top picks include Allianz, AXA, and MondialCare for Schengen visa applicantsimin-portugal.com. It’s easy to purchase online – you fill in your trip details and get a policy PDF to use for visa or travel proof.
Tips:
If you are a resident of Portugal traveling within the EU/EEA or Switzerland, get the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from SNS. This card (Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença) lets you access public healthcare in other EU countries as if you were a local. However, EHIC does not cover private hospitals or things like mountain rescue or repatriation flight, so travel insurance can still be useful as a supplement (especially for non-medical benefits like baggage and cancellation).
Many credit cards (especially premium ones like Visa Gold/Platinum, MasterCard Gold, Amex) include some travel insurance if you purchase the tickets with the cardanchorless.ioanchorless.io. In Portugal, for example, some bank credit cards come with travel accident and baggage delay coverage. Check your card’s benefits – it might cover basics, but often the coverage limits are lower and medical cover might be limited to accidents. Don’t rely on it without verifying details.
High-risk activities: If you plan to do scuba diving in the Azores or skydiving, ensure your travel policy covers it. Standard policies might exclude “dangerous activities.” You can often add an adventure sports package for an extra premium.
Claims Abroad: Keep all paperwork if something happens – e.g. get a written medical report and invoices if you visited a doctor. Most insurers have a 24-hour emergency phone line; carry that number. For large hospital bills, they usually require you (or the hospital) to contact them immediately so they can guarantee payment.
Visitors to Portugal: If you have family visiting you in Portugal who need a Schengen visa, they too will need travel insurance. As a resident, you can help arrange it or direct them to reputable providers. Once they’re here, note that travel insurance typically expects them to use private healthcare if needed (they are not covered by SNS unless from an EU country with EHIC). In big cities and the Algarve, many private hospitals are available and used to handling travel insurance cases.
Local vs. International Providers:
Travel insurance is inherently international in scope.
If you are applying for a visa, it doesn’t matter whether the insurer is Portuguese or from elsewhere, as long as it meets Schengen requirements (30k coverage in Schengen, valid for the duration). For convenience, many opt for big international brands known to consulates (like AXA or Allianz) – less explaining needed. Local Portuguese insurers also offer visa-compliant plans (often marketed via consulates too).
Portuguese local travel policies vs global: Local insurers’ travel plans are fine if you speak Portuguese or are buying through a local agent. They will pay claims in Euros and have assistance partners worldwide. An international provider might offer better multi-lingual customer service. For example, an American expat might prefer a U.S.-based travel insurer so they can deal in English and maybe direct-bill to U.S. if repatriated.
Price and coverage are generally similar whether local or not, as this is a very globalized product. One difference: if you plan to continue travel insurance coverage while moving between countries or you’re nomadic, an international specialist like World Nomads or SafetyWing might be more flexible with starting the policy when you’re already abroad, etc., whereas Portuguese policies usually need to start before departure from Portugal.
In short, for short trips and visa needs, pick a reliable travel insurance with required cover – local or international doesn’t hugely differ, so many just choose the online option that’s cheapest for the given coverage. For long-term expat healthcare needs, travel insurance is not a substitute for health insurance, but it’s a great safety net for travel-specific risks. As an expat in Portugal, consider maintaining an annual travel policy if you frequently hop to other countries, since your SNS or private health plan might have limited coverage outside Portugal.