Travel Insurance for Portugal: Do You Need It?

Portugal is safe and its healthcare is good, but a twisted ankle on a levada path, a wind-diverted flight to Madeira or a stolen bag can still cost you a lot. Here’s when you need travel insurance, what the EHIC and GHIC don’t cover, and what to check in a policy. This is general information, not financial advice: always read the policy wording.

Quick answer: EU, UK and US visitors don’t need travel insurance to enter Portugal, but you should have it. An EHIC or GHIC only covers state healthcare, not private clinics, rescue, a flight home or a cancelled trip. If you need a Schengen visa, you must show medical cover of at least €30,000. Choose high medical and repatriation limits, and check your activities are covered.

Is travel insurance required to visit Portugal?

Not for most holidaymakers. EU citizens and visa-free visitors, such as those from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, aren’t asked for insurance at the border. See entry requirements.

If your passport needs a Schengen visa, the EU Visa Code requires travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, covering urgent treatment, emergency hospital care and repatriation for medical reasons, including death. It must be valid across the whole Schengen area for your entire stay. The consulate or visa centre handling your application decides what it accepts, so check its list before you buy. Long-stay visas have their own health insurance rules.

What the EHIC and GHIC cover, and what they don’t

EU travellers use the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); UK travellers use the free GHIC, or a UK EHIC that hasn’t expired. They give you state healthcare on the same terms as residents, for care that becomes medically necessary during your trip, including in Madeira and the Azores. See healthcare for tourists.

• Covered: public health centres and hospitals, at local rates. Public care is usually free, though you may pay about €14 to €18 if you use an emergency department without a referral from the SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24) and aren’t admitted.
• Not covered: private clinics and hospitals, medical repatriation, mountain and sea rescue, cancelled or cut-short trips, and lost or stolen belongings.

The NHS says a GHIC doesn’t replace travel insurance, and the EU says you need separate cover for rescue and repatriation.

What a good policy should include

• Medical expenses: the €30,000 visa minimum is a floor, not a target. ABTA said in 2024 that an air ambulance from the EU to the UK cost about €25,000 to €30,000, and long-haul repatriation costs much more.
• Repatriation by air ambulance or with a medical escort, plus a 24-hour assistance line.
• Cancellation and curtailment: for illness, injury or a family emergency before or during the trip. Buy when you book, so you’re covered from that day.
• Baggage: check the single-item limit for cameras, laptops and surfboards.
• Travel delay and missed departure: useful for island flights and strikes.
• Pre-existing conditions: declare them, or a related claim may be refused.

Activities

• Surfing: often included, but some policies treat it as an extra. See surfing in Portugal.
• Hiking and levada walks: usually covered on marked paths, but some policies set an altitude limit. Mount Pico in the Azores is 2,351m. See Madeira levada walks.
• Scuba diving: often covered only to a set depth, and only if you’re qualified or with an instructor.
• Canyoning: popular in Madeira and the Azores, but often excluded unless you add adventure sports cover.
• E-scooters and mopeds: many policies exclude them, or require a helmet and a licence.
• Car hire excess: travel insurance usually doesn’t cover damage to a rental car. Buy the rental company’s excess cover, or a separate excess policy, which is often cheaper but means paying first and claiming back. See car rental in Portugal.

Comparing policies: look at the medical and repatriation limits first, then the excess and the activities list. EKTA sells short-trip cover online and is one option to compare; check what it includes and that it’s available where you live.

Portugal-specific situations

• Madeira and Azores flights: strong winds regularly delay or cancel flights at Funchal, and some divert to Porto Santo. Azores storms also cancel inter-island flights and ferries. Weather is outside the airline’s control, so you get meals and a hotel but usually no compensation (see flight delays). Delay and missed-connection cover can pay for extra nights or a missed onward flight on a separate ticket.
• Strikes: policies usually only cover strikes not yet announced when you bought cover. An easyJet cabin crew strike is already called for 19 to 23 December 2026, so a policy bought now is unlikely to cover it.
• Wildfire season: mainly July to September, when fires can close roads and trails. Cancelling because you’re worried usually isn’t covered; some policies pay if your accommodation becomes unusable or your government advises against travel.
• Public or private hospital: a 112 ambulance will usually take you to a public hospital. Insurers’ assistance lines, hotel doctors and resort clinics often send you private, which is quicker but doesn’t accept the EHIC or GHIC, and may want payment or an insurer’s guarantee first.
• Island health lines: 800 24 24 20 in Madeira and Porto Santo, 808 24 60 24 in the Azores. Call 112 in an emergency.
• Pharmacies: a pharmacist is often all you need. Keep the receipt (fatura), though small costs may fall under your excess.

How to claim and keep records

• Call the assistance line first for anything beyond a pharmacy, especially before a hospital admission. Many policies require it.
• Medical: keep every receipt and ask for a medical report.
• Theft: get a written report from the police (PSP in cities, GNR in rural areas). Many insurers want it within 24 hours.
• Luggage: report it at the airline desk before leaving the airport and get a Property Irregularity Report. Under the Montreal Convention, complain to the airline in writing within 7 days for damage and 21 days for a delayed bag.
• Delays: get the delay and its cause in writing. Claim EU261 compensation from the airline; your insurer may deduct it.
• Deadlines: policies set time limits, so claim soon after you get home.

US travellers

Without an EHIC, public hospitals bill you the full cost. Medicare.gov says Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care outside the US, apart from narrow exceptions, and Medicare drug plans don’t cover prescriptions bought abroad. Some Medigap policies and private US plans include limited emergency cover abroad, but many Portuguese hospitals won’t bill a US insurer directly, so expect to pay and claim back. The State Department notes the US government doesn’t pay medical bills abroad and recommends extra insurance that includes medical evacuation. Credit card benefits often cover delays but little or no medical care. Canadians and Australians are in a similar position.

FAQ

Is travel insurance mandatory for Portugal?

Not for EU citizens or visa-free visitors. Schengen visa applicants must show medical cover of at least €30,000 for their whole stay.

Is a GHIC or EHIC enough for Portugal?

No. It covers necessary state healthcare, but not private clinics, rescue, a flight home, cancellations or lost belongings.

Does travel insurance cover levada walks in Madeira?

Usually, as hiking on marked trails, but check altitude limits and exclusions for closed trails. Book your SIMplifica slot and stick to open routes.

Will insurance pay if wind diverts my Madeira flight?

The airline must provide meals and, if needed, a hotel, but weather rarely means compensation. Delay or missed-connection cover may pay a set amount or extra costs.

More: healthcare for tourists, flight delays and compensation and entry requirements.

See also: is Portugal safe?, surfing in Portugal, Madeira levada walks, car rental in Portugal and driving in Portugal.

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