Thousands of foreigners registered on vaccination site

More than 4,000 foreign citizens have already registered on the platform created by the Government to integrate the list for vaccination against covid-19 even without having a user number, said the minister of State and Presidency.

By TPN/Lusa, in News, COVID-19 · 21 Apr 2021, 13:03 · 31 Comments

To be heard in parliament, in the framework of a regimental hearing, in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, Mariana Vieira da Silva said that “more than four thousand citizens have already registered on this platform”, having attributed this result to “extensive dissemination work by the ACM [High Commissioner for Migration]”.

"To ensure that no one is left behind, in the scope of vaccination with covid-19, an online platform was created that allows the registration of foreign citizens with no utente number yet,” stressed the minister.

According to the minister, the pandemic reinforced the need for a public response to foreigners living in Portugal and stressed that as early as March 2020 it was determined that whoever was in an irregular situation in the country, but with a pending process with the Foreigners Service and Borders (SEF), would have their situation temporarily settled, something that was renewed in November.

In that regard, she announced that these deadlines "will soon be extended through a new order that gives more protection to immigrants who are in this situation", however, having not yet set a date.

If you do not have a utente number, you can sign up for a vaccine in Portugal here: https://servicos.min-saude.pt/covid19/vacinacao-nao-utente

More in News

Proposal for Lisbon underwater tunnel

In News, Portugal, Lisbon - 24 Feb 2025, 18:02

Alentejo wine sales up

In News, Portugal, Business, Alentejo - 24 Feb 2025, 17:03

“Technical reasons” threatening tax returns

In News, Portugal, Business - 24 Feb 2025, 16:27

Comments

I registered on this site as it is pretty much impossible to get my social security number (I actually have BUPA international so dont need it normally) without working. it took a bit of time to work, but weirdly I have not received any confirmation by text or email if my application was successful

By h jurgens from Lisbon on 21 Apr 2021, 13:16

I live in samorra correia Lisbon Portugal. I have applied for residential card. I would like to apply for covid-19 vaccination

By Mahek Aziz from Lisbon on 21 Apr 2021, 14:26

Am I registered now?

By Barbara Parker from Algarve on 06 May 2021, 11:26

My father, aged 94, has been "stuck" in Portugal since October 2000, unable to return to UK. We have registered him on Ministério de Saúde site for vaccine as a non resident. My husband and I have both received first dose. Neither our Health Centre in Sao Martinho do Porto or Vaccination Centre in Alcobaça are aware that non residents can be put on the list for vaccination. They only recommend getting residency and subsequent SNS number. Any suggestions?

By Morag from Other on 07 May 2021, 16:50

I also live in Sao Martinho Do Porto. Tried to get my residency card from last year!! But this has been impossible through SEF.
I registered my name 3 times, of course, without the utente. I never received a response, or call back. Finally decided to actually go to the vaccination center, and the girl at the desk abruptly said to me “you cannot get vaccinated until you have an Utente #”. I told her I finally have an appt with SEF but not until the end of August. She replied in English “too bad”.

"To ensure that no one is left behind, in the scope of vaccination with covid-19, an online platform was created that allows the registration of foreign citizens with no utente number yet,” stressed the minister.

The above is the message for people like me from the Ministry Office. Portugal needs to train the staff in these centers to be more polite with foreigners and know
the facts and not just make their own rules!!
Jeannot Horta

By Jeannot from Lisbon on 20 May 2021, 15:16

For foreigners without a numero de utente, you should be able to book the vaccination appointment directly on https://covid19.min-saude.pt/pedido-de-agendamento .

By Paul Greene from Lisbon on 23 May 2021, 00:30

How do you know if your registration for the vaccine has been processed properly, or at all All you know is that when you register on the site for people without a utente, your process is complete with a promise of a text sometime in the future. What does the future mean in terms of length of time.

By Eugene Hughes from Beiras on 23 May 2021, 08:17

I live in Costa da Caparica and have filled the form 5 times within 3 months but no reply or any confirmation. I keep reading on Facebook that vaccination for age group of 45 and above is happening but where I have no idea. Not sure where exactly to go and ask .

By Navendu Sinha from Other on 09 Jun 2021, 09:28

Since March we successfully registered 3 times on that website for non utentes, never got any replies. Yesterday at our centro de Saude, the lady at the desk could not find our names in that system. In spite of what Antonio Costa says, that system does not seem to be working properly.

By Ileana Engelsman from Lisbon on 09 Jun 2021, 12:20

Yay! 4000 registered.
However, Zero called back.

This is really stupid. Is the entire civil service really so inept that literally NO public process works properly?

By Mark from Algarve on 10 Jun 2021, 12:12

Same story as all the others previously expressed. The system is not working despite the promises made by our Prime Minister and nobody seems to care. I have successfully registered my wife, who happens to be a German citizen, several times but not a single call back. Unfortunately she suffers from asthma and thus at high risk. Can someone please help! Thank you.

By Armando Nunes from Lisbon on 20 Jun 2021, 22:38

We’re being left behind , my children have been vaccinated in Ireland. It takes so long to get residency, as EU citizens this shouldn’t happen

By Barbara Mooney from Algarve on 21 Jun 2021, 11:21

Impossible to get Utente. Register on the site for vaccination. No contact. This is a discrimination for legal residents. European justice court please help.

By Arnaud from Lisbon on 22 Jun 2021, 23:06

Hi All,
I have been monitoring this page, hoping to find out some information about vaccination for people without a Utente No. I'm Irish and have Multicare - so, like many people have never needed the Utente No in the past. Also, in Lisbon the waiting list for a new Utente No is now 6 months!! Like everyone I completed the online vaccination form ( non-utente ) a number of times with no success.
The good news is that yesterday ( 23/6 ) I got my first vaccination in Lisbon!!!!! And I am scheduled for my second jab in 4 weeks.
I am over 55 years old - so, yesterday, I went to the vaccination centre for my area ( Av. Afonso Costa 41 ) . At the moment anyone over 55 can just "turn up" and get vaccinated. Everyone was very helpful. I was told to go to my local Centro de Saude ( mine is in Arroios/Alameda ) and ask for a "temporary" utente-no for the vaccine only. They even wrote it down for me ( "Pedir Inscrição esporádica para fazer vacina covid-19" ).
I went to the Centro de Saude with my Passport, registration document from Lisbon Council which says that I am living in Lisbon ( Certificado de registro cidadão Europeia ). I also gave a screen print of my vaccine application form. I also gave my NIF number. I was then given a sheet of paper with my details and a temporary Utente-No. Once again, the office staff were very helpful.
Then, everything was easy - back to the vaccination centre with my Passport and the temporary Utente No. 15 minutes later, I had my first jab.
I found everyone to be very helpful both at the vaccination centre and the Health Centre - even though they are under a lot of stress at times.
I hope this account helps others to get their vaccination.

By D Wheeler from Lisbon on 24 Jun 2021, 10:25

@ D. Wheeler. Thank you!!!! This helped tremendously.

By Sheelah from Porto on 25 Jun 2021, 15:45

I'm very glad for everyone posting on this article. Unfortunately, as a US citizen in the middle of trying to get residency, I haven't been able to "show up" get a vaccine, not even with my NIF number and my apartment lease that is registered with Financas. I've email EVERYONE in the health system that I can think of. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'm 50 and stressing out trying to find a way to get vaccinated. Thanks!

By Sarah Kilgallon from Lisbon on 25 Jun 2021, 18:54

@ D. Wheeler. I am also in Arrois/Alemeda and no they are NOT providing temporary Utente. I go there every day to beg for a temporary Utente. They refuse to help. If you insist they call the Police so I am not sure at all.

By Kel from Lisbon on 25 Jun 2021, 20:50

I have been trying for six weeks this website does not work. It is smoke and mirrors. I have over 10 successful registrations, not one sms response. Its a joke. Nobody can help, no-one knows anything or can offer any guidance. It is ridiculous. I have no recourse but wait it out and hope not to get covid. Maybe once all Portuguese are vaccinated whatever foreigners are left can get a vaccine. The only thing you can do if you have a case file with SEF the health center must give you a temporary utente #. It will take time maybe a month. But in Portugal that is the only way a person without that number can get a shot. I have fought every dept and even have friends in the task force. They are all clueless. Good luck.

By Tomas Arroyo from Lisbon on 01 Jul 2021, 15:02

All, I too have registered with the web DGS web for no utente. But today I went to my Centro de Saude in Terras de Bouro. Within 30 mins I had a few temporary utente number and later booked my vaccination. I used the advice of D Wheeler. Passport, atesstation de residencia from my freguesia and my NIF registration.

By Mike Grant from Other on 01 Jul 2021, 17:09

Like many people here, I’m in the same position. I’m from the UK, pay tax in Portugal, have NIF, social security number, but no numero utente. I’m over 50. I’ve applied online 24 times to no avail.
I’ve phoned SNS multiple times - bottom line when recently I spoke to a ‘supervisor’: ‘You’re not going to be vaccinated any time soon - you’re at the bottom of the pile, the health centres who deal with scheduling are not even looking at requests from people with no user number.’
I’ve written to the health centre, to SNS administration who deal with vaccines, to the ministry of health - no replies or acknowledgements.
The government says vaccinations are available to all. They are NOT!
This is treating people with no health number like inferior people and is ethically extremely dangerous. It’s also, surely, a human rights issue. It is blatant discrimination in a country that claims to promote equality.
It’s actually unbelievable.

By N09 from Lisbon on 03 Jul 2021, 05:23

Hello, I had a similar experience to the ones reported here for months but finally could get vaccinated without número de utente.

Find the nearest vaccination center to your home address (it might take a couple of attempts...), go there with all the documentation you would take to request a número de utente (physical copies, not digital) and say you have no número de utente and want to get vaccinated. I went to two places (both sport centers), the first one even had a queue for people with no SNS number but they told me to go to another one closer to my home. The second one I tried was not so well organized but they copied my documents and a couple of hours later I got a phone call confirming a vaccination appointment for that very same evening. I wonder why this information can be found nowhere... By the way, I even found out I did have a número de utente but nobody had communicated it to me. Good luck.

By Oscar from Lisbon on 13 Jul 2021, 14:54

I need COVID-19 vaccine.. please send me massage on my mobile no and time

By Khushpreet from Lisbon on 19 Jul 2021, 17:18

I have tried to book a vaccination and to date have not heard anything. I am a foreigner with no utente number as I’m waiting for certain issues to be sorted. Any advice would be appreciated?

By Darlene Ferreira from Algarve on 02 Aug 2021, 12:43

I have tried to book a vaccination and to date have not heard anything. I am a foreigner with no utente number as I’m waiting for certain issues to be sorted. Any advice would be appreciated?

By Darlene Ferreira from Algarve on 02 Aug 2021, 12:49

dear sir /madam
at the moment i dont have sns number it is possible that without sns number i can apply for vaccine

By santosh nepali from Lisbon on 03 Aug 2021, 20:38

Eu quero uma vacina

By Sadia Aslam from Lisbon on 04 Aug 2021, 23:10

I registered twice on this site over the last 4 months. Went to the local health center only to be told there is no such site and you need to register with them to get jabbed. I’ve escalated the issue only to receive no reply so have now given up as it’s a complete waste of time like the driving licence etc etc etc

By Kevin from Alentejo on 09 Aug 2021, 11:47

My wife and I live in Leiria and have encountered similar roadblocks to getting vaccinated. Unfortunately, a lot of the tips listed here in the comments no longer work. As of now:

1. Temporary health numbers (numero utente esporadico) are no longer being issued by health centres (centro saudes). This change came into effect last month (I think in response to tidal wave of requests from expats).
2. Casa aberto will not vaccine you without an SNS number (they turned me away last week)
3. There are huge delays in getting an SNS number due to the surge in applicants (my local centro saude said it could take as long as 6 months for them to be issued).

Frustrated with the above, I went back to my local vaccination centre during casa aberto hours and found a helpful lady working there who took all my details and said her boss would call my local USF/ACES branch (with whom I had requested SNS numbers 8 weeks ago) to verify my details and then call me to arrange an appointment for a vaccination.

By Charlie from Other on 11 Aug 2021, 19:56

Good news for those of you living in the Algarve who have gotten nowhere by filling in the official form for não utentes. Call ARSalgarve at 289 889 516. A passport and an address is all you need to get a temporary número de utente and an appointment for vaccination within a day or two!

By Eva Jacobsen from Algarve on 20 Aug 2021, 08:33

In case anyone finds this information useful, my partner and I (foreign residents in Portugal) were able to get our first doses today without our numero utente. We looked on the DGS website for the COVID vaccine centres closest to our home and went there with the following documents:

- residence card or CRUE
- attestation of residence from local junta freguesia
- NIF documents
- passports

We were both given vaccinations almost straight away, although we went to a second centre for my partner as the first centre did not have the Janssen vaccine. We did not have appointments and went during regular hours (not during the Casa Aberto). We found everyone working there to be very helpful and professional.

We were both issued provisional numero utente to be able to download our EU Digital Certificate when it is ready (although we are not sure if this will work). It has been very difficult to get the numero utente, but we had great success with getting the vaccines! I would suggest going to your local COVID centre and politely asking if you can get vaccinated on the spot without a numero utente. Good luck!

By Kate from Lisbon on 22 Aug 2021, 18:40

I have registered on this site three times now and still no reply. I have called the call center and completed the same form with the operator over 2 weeks ago, and still no reply. I am not sure what more to do.

By juliet johanna gutal from Porto on 01 Sep 2021, 10:44