Living in Porto

Students who wish to study in Portugal must be aware that it is mandatory to have valid health insurance in the country. This insurance must cover medical expenses, including urgent medical care and emergency hospital treatment. In addition, it is necessary to have insurance that covers repatriation in the event of death. These requirements are essential to ensure that students are protected during their stay and can receive appropriate support in emergency situations.

Católica Porto does not have its own student residences. However, we offer personalized support in finding private accommodation, with several options tailored to each student’s preferences, budget, and length of stay.

We work with local partners and specialized platforms that offer studios, shared apartments, and local housing in safe areas with good public transportation connections.

To ensure we can assist you effectively, we recommend that you share your accommodation needs as early as possible during your first contacts with the International Relations Office. Our team is here to guide you through the process and help make your arrival in Porto as smooth as possible.

Have questions or need help?
Contact us at international@porto.ucp.pt or visit https://studentathome.net/

Visa Information for Non-EU Exchange Students
If you're an exchange student coming from outside the European Union, you are required to obtain a visa for your period of stay in Portugal.

What type of visa do you need?
Students participating in:

• Study programs
• Student exchange
• Training
• Unpaid internships
• Volunteer work

…should apply for a Temporary Stay Visa.

Temporary Stay Visas are:

• Valid for stays of less than one year
• Multi-entry, allowing you to travel in and out of Portugal during the period of stay
• Valid for the entire duration of your approved program

Important Steps After Your Visa Is Issued
Once your visa has been approved, follow these steps:

1. Register on the SEF Portal
   Register your visa on the official SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) portal: Register here
   You can use your VISA number to:
   1. Confirm that your visa has been issued
   2. Check for any updates or instructions
2. Check for Your Residence Permit Appointment
   In many cases, your visa may already include a link to your scheduled residence permit appointment.
   Look for this in the "Observations" section of your visa — the link usually:
   1. Begins with http://
   2. Ends with a unique number
      Example:
      http://www.sef.pt/Contactos.aspx?sid=example123456
      Copy and paste the link into your browser to view your appointment schedule.

Need More Information?
For full details on visa types and application procedures, please visit: vistos.mne.gov.pt – Type of Visa

Students from EU countries should ask for the European Health Insurance Card at their home country. Students from non-EU countries are required to have a health insurance valid for Portugal.

The National Health Service (SNS) is the public healthcare system in Portugal. The SNS offers a comprehensive network of healthcare services, including health centers and public hospitals, which provide services such as medical consultations, exams, vaccinations, specialized treatments, and hospital care. The SNS ensures universal and nearly free access to healthcare for all residents in Portugal.

European Union Citizens:
European students must request the European Health Insurance Card, issued by their home country. For more information about this card, please consult the relevant website.

Third-Country Nationals:
Students coming from outside the European area must obtain valid health insurance in Portugal.

Portugal has bilateral agreements with countries such as Andorra, Brazil, Cape Verde, Québec, Morocco, and Tunisia, which establish reciprocity and equal treatment conditions for healthcare services.

In the specific case of students with Brazilian nationality, due to a specific agreement signed between Portugal and Brazil regarding social security, Brazilian citizens may benefit from healthcare coverage in Portuguese territory. To do so, students must request the certificate of entitlement to medical assistance (BR/PT 13, formerly known as PB-4) before leaving Brazil. The BR/PT 13 form can be requested at local health departments or health offices in their city of residence.

Private insurance or the BR/PT 13 form is required to access regular or emergency medical and hospital care in public health centers and hospitals in Portugal.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 112

• All 112 medical calls requiring an ambulance in Portugal are transferred from police dispatch to Dispatching Health Center (CODU)
• Dispatcher technician completes questionnaire under supervision of regulating physician
  • Non-urgent: Advice is given, no team sent
  • Urgent: Vehicle sent staffed by physician and nurse
  • Helicopters in specific situations
  • Urgent, Non-Life Threatening: Ambulance with two technicians
• Patient transported to most appropriate hospital (with doctor and nurse, if necessary)
• Receiving hospital contacted by CODU with clinical details

A foreign student in Porto should take into account the following average living costs:

Housing: 350 - 450€ / month

Bread: 0,40€

Coffee (expresso): 0,75€

Beer: 1€

1 dish meal: 12€

Fast food/Salads: 8€

Pizza: 10€

Movie ticket: 10€ (students can benefit from special discounts)

Bus ticket: 1,20€ (bought in advance) | 1,95€ (at the bus)

Bottle of water (small): 0,80€