X-Ray Cost in Portugal
What you actually pay under the SNS, at the hospital urgência and at private hospitals such as CUF, Lusíadas and Hospital da Luz. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Portugal?
With a prescription (requisição) from your SNS family doctor, a plain X-ray is free — user fees for prescribed exams were abolished in 2022. Paying privately, published hospital price lists start at about €11–38 per exam (roughly $13–45) and reach €190–385 for complex or multi-region studies: Hospital da Cruz Vermelha lists X-ray at €11–190, Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana €20–240 and Hospital CUF Leiria €38–385. Walking into a public urgência without an SNS 24 or health-centre referral costs a taxa moderadora of roughly €14–18, unless you are exempt or admitted.
Quick Overview
Portugal's Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) provides universal, tax-funded healthcare. Under Decreto-Lei 37/2022 the taxas moderadoras (user fees) were removed for health-centre consultations, scheduled hospital care and exams prescribed within the SNS from June 2022; they now apply essentially only to hospital emergency visits made without referral that do not end in admission. Since 2024 public hospitals and health centres are grouped into regional Unidades Locais de Saúde (ULS). Much SNS outpatient imaging is carried out by private convencionados — imaging clinics contracted to the SNS at fixed national prices — so a free SNS X-ray often happens in a private clinic. Paying out of pocket, plain X-rays in Portugal remain cheap by Western European standards, while CT and MRI are priced in the hundreds of euros.
🏥 SNS (public)
- Requisição from your médico de família or SNS specialist
- Done at a ULS hospital or SNS-contracted clinic
- No taxa moderadora for prescribed exams since 2022
- Waits for non-urgent CT, MRI and ultrasound can be long
🆘 Public urgência
- Free if referred by SNS 24, health centre or INEM
- Free if you are admitted (internamento)
- Otherwise a taxa moderadora of roughly €14–18
- Exempt groups: under-18s, pregnancy, low income and others
🏥 Private self-pay
- Simple single-region X-rays at the bottom of the range
- Full-spine and multi-region studies at the top
- Same-day or next-day appointments are common
- Insured patients pay a network co-payment instead
X-Ray Prices in Portugal by Exam: SNS vs Private
Portuguese private hospitals publish a non-exhaustive Tabela de Preços that shows a single price range for "Raio-X" rather than a price per body part. The per-exam private figures below are therefore approximate: simple one-region exams sit at the low end of published ranges (from €11 at Hospital da Cruz Vermelha, €20 at Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana and €38 at Hospital CUF Leiria), while multi-view and two-region studies cost more. Always ask for the exact price of your exam.
| Exam | SNS (with requisição) | Private self-pay (EUR, approx.) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (RX tórax) | Free | €11–60 | $13–70 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Free | €11–60 | $13–70 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Free | €11–60 | $13–70 |
| Knee X-ray | Free | €11–60 | $13–70 |
| Cervical spine X-ray | Free | €20–80 | $23–95 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray | Free | €20–80 | $23–95 |
| Full spine / two regions | Free | €60–190+ | $70–220+ |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray (bacia) | Free | €15–70 | $17–80 |
| Abdomen X-ray | Free | €15–70 | $17–80 |
| Dental panoramic (ortopantomografia) | Mostly private; cheque-dentista for eligible groups | €25–45 (CUF: €36.75) | $29–52 |
| Dental periapical / bitewing | Mostly private | about €8–20 (CUF: €13.01) | $9–23 |
| Ultrasound (ecografia) | Free with requisição | €50–290 | $58–335 |
| CT scan (TAC) | Free with requisição | €135–450 | $155–520 |
| MRI scan (ressonância magnética) | Free with requisição | €315–930 | $365–1,080 |
Private ranges compiled from published self-pay lists: Hospital da Cruz Vermelha, Lisbon (Raio-X €11–190, ecografia €50–195, TAC €135–450, RM €365–780), Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana / Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, February 2026 (Raio-X €20–240, ecografia €54–72, TAC €150–315, RM €315–450) and Hospital CUF Leiria, May 2026 (RX €38–385, ecografia €100–290, TAC €190–380, RMN €400–930, ortopantomografia €36.75, periapical €13.01). Per-body-part figures are estimates within those ranges. USD at approximately €1 = $1.16; exchange rates move. Contrast agents, consumables and the prescribing consultation are usually extra.
How SNS X-Rays Are Paid For
1. Prescribed exams (free)
- Your médico de família at the centro de saúde issues an electronic requisição
- You choose an SNS hospital or a convencionado imaging clinic
- The SNS pays the clinic at fixed national convention prices (e.g. €12 for an ortopantomografia in the 2026 radiology table)
- No taxa moderadora since the 2022 reform
- Hospital specialists can also request imaging within the ULS
2. Hospital urgência
- Call SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) first — a referral means no fee
- Referral by your health centre or INEM also waives the fee
- Without referral: taxa moderadora of roughly €14–18 per episode
- No fee if the visit ends in admission
- Unpaid fees can be settled within 10 days of notification
3. Who is exempt (isenção)
- Children and young people under 18
- Pregnant women and recent mothers
- People with a disability of 60% or more
- Households with income ≤ €805.70/month in 2026 (1.5 × IAS of €537.13)
- Blood and organ donors, firefighters, transplant patients, some unemployed people, asylum seekers and refugees
Private Emergency Care: What an X-Ray Visit Costs
Private hospitals run walk-in emergency or unscheduled-care services that are quicker than public urgências for minor injuries. They charge an attendance fee, then bill X-rays, other exams, consumables and medicines separately.
| Private hospital | Attendance fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital CUF Leiria | €130 (adults) | Atendimento não programado; acts, consumables and medicines billed separately (May 2026) |
| Hospital da Cruz Vermelha, Lisbon | €100 | Urgência geral 08:00–22:00; clinical acts billed separately |
| Typical simple injury with one X-ray | Very roughly €140–250 in total, depending on hospital and exams | |
Fees from each hospital's published price list. Insured patients usually pay a fixed network co-payment for private emergency care instead.
Where to Get an X-Ray in Portugal
🏥 Public (ULS) hospitals
- Hospital de Santa Maria — ULS Santa Maria, Lisbon
- Hospital de São José — ULS São José, Lisbon
- Hospital de São João — ULS São João, Porto
- Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra — ULS Coimbra
- Hospital de Braga — ULS Braga
- Hospital de Faro — ULS Algarve
- Plus SNS-contracted imaging clinics nationwide
🏥 Private hospital groups
- CUF — largest private network (RX €38–385 at CUF Leiria)
- Hospital da Luz — Luz Saúde, nationwide
- Lusíadas Saúde — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve and others
- Trofa Saúde — mainly northern Portugal
- HPA Saúde — Algarve and Madeira
- Joaquim Chaves Saúde — imaging and labs, Lisbon area
- Hospital da Cruz Vermelha — Lisbon (Raio-X €11–190)
💡 Practical tips
- Many private clinics are also SNS convencionados — with a requisição the X-ray is free there
- Ask for the exact exam price; online lists show only ranges
- Hospital-group prices are usually higher than stand-alone imaging clinics
- Images are typically delivered via an online portal or CD
Insurance and Health Subsystems
💳 Private health insurance
- Main networks: Médis, Multicare and AdvanceCare (used by many insurers)
- X-rays in the network carry a fixed co-payment, far below self-pay prices
- Outside the network: pay first, claim a reimbursement percentage
- Check waiting periods and annual limits for imaging
🏛️ ADSE and other subsystems
- ADSE covers civil servants and their families
- At ADSE-convencionado providers you pay a co-payment
- Other providers: free regime with partial reimbursement
- Subsystem members can still use the SNS for free
🗺️ Regional differences
- Lisbon and Porto have the most private capacity and choice
- Interior regions rely more on ULS hospitals and convencionados
- Algarve: private groups serve many tourists and expats
- Madeira and the Azores run their own regional health services
Guide by Patient Type
🇵🇹 Residents with a número de utente
- Get a requisição from your médico de família — the X-ray is then free
- No family doctor? Ask at your centro de saúde or call SNS 24
- Self-pay privately only if you need it faster
- Insured: use your Médis, Multicare or AdvanceCare network
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK visitors
- EHIC (or UK GHIC) gives access to SNS care on the same terms as residents
- Covers medically necessary care during your stay
- Show EHIC/GHIC and passport at the hospital
- Private hospitals do not accept EHIC — self-pay or travel insurance
✈️ Non-EU visitors and new expats
- Without cover, public hospitals bill at SNS price-table rates
- Private hospitals are often faster for minor injuries
- Legal residents (including D7 and digital-nomad visa holders) can register for a número de utente
- Travel or private health insurance is recommended until registered
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Requisição / credencial (electronic SNS prescription or private prescription)
- Cartão de Cidadão, residence card or passport
- Número de utente, EHIC/GHIC or insurance card
- Previous imaging on CD/USB, if relevant
⏰ Typical wait times
- Urgência: triaged on arrival (Manchester triage); waits can be long
- Plain X-ray with requisição: often walk-in or within days at a convencionado
- SNS CT / MRI: weeks to months for non-urgent cases
- Private self-pay: same day to a few days
💡 How to save money
- Call SNS 24 before going to an urgência — a referral avoids the fee
- Use your requisição at a convencionado clinic for a free, fast X-ray
- Check whether you qualify for a taxa moderadora exemption
- Compare stand-alone imaging clinics with hospital-group prices
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Portugal?
With an SNS prescription (requisição) from your family doctor, a plain X-ray is free: user fees for prescribed exams were abolished, and the exam is done at an SNS hospital or a contracted private imaging centre. Paying privately, published price lists start at about €11–38 per exam (roughly $13–45) and run to €190–385 for complex or multi-region studies: Hospital Cruz Vermelha lists X-ray at €11–190, Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana €20–240 and Hospital CUF Leiria €38–385 (May 2026).
Quanto custa um raio-X particular em Portugal?
Private hospitals publish only price ranges for 'Raio-X'. In 2026 Hospital da Cruz Vermelha (Lisbon) lists €11–190, Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana (Parede) €20–240 and Hospital CUF Leiria €38–385. A single simple region such as a chest, hand or ankle sits at the bottom of these ranges; full-spine or multi-region studies at the top. Ask the clinic for the exact price of your exam before booking.
Is an X-ray free on the SNS?
Yes. Since Decreto-Lei 37/2022 took full effect in June 2022, taxas moderadoras are no longer charged for consultations at health centres, scheduled hospital appointments or exams prescribed within the SNS. Take the requisição from your médico de família to an SNS hospital or a convencionado (SNS-contracted) imaging clinic and you pay nothing.
Do I pay a taxa moderadora for an X-ray at the emergency department?
Only if you go straight to a hospital urgência without being referred by SNS 24 (808 24 24 24), your health centre or INEM, and you are not admitted. The fee is roughly €14–18 per episode depending on the hospital, and exams such as X-rays done during the visit can add further fees up to a cap. Exempt groups include under-18s, pregnant women, people with 60%+ disability and households with income up to €805.70 a month in 2026 (1.5 × IAS).
Can I get an X-ray without a prescription in Portugal?
Generally no. Under Portuguese radiation-protection rules each exposure must be justified by a requesting doctor, so imaging centres ask for a prescription (requisição or credencial). Private hospitals can arrange a GP or specialist consultation the same day, which adds roughly €35–140 at published HOSA, Cruz Vermelha and CUF prices.
How much is a private MRI, CT or ultrasound in Portugal?
Published 2026 self-pay ranges are approximately: CT (TAC) €135–450, MRI (ressonância magnética) €315–930 and ultrasound (ecografia) €50–290. Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana lists TAC €150–315, MRI €315–450 and ecografia €54–72; Hospital Cruz Vermelha TAC €135–450, MRI €365–780 and ecografia €50–195; Hospital CUF Leiria TAC €190–380, MRI €400–930 and ecografia €100–290.
How much does a dental panoramic X-ray (ortopantomografia) cost?
Hospital CUF Leiria's May 2026 list prices an ortopantomografia (panoramic) at €36.75 and a periapical radiograph at €13.01. Dental X-rays are mostly private in Portugal; the SNS cheque-dentista programme covers dental care only for specific groups such as children, pregnant women and some older or chronically ill patients.
How much does a private emergency visit with an X-ray cost?
Private hospitals charge an attendance fee and bill exams separately. Hospital CUF Leiria lists adult unscheduled care (atendimento não programado) at €130 plus tests, and Hospital da Cruz Vermelha lists its urgência geral (08:00–22:00) at €100 plus clinical acts. With an X-ray added, expect very roughly €140–250 for a simple injury.
Can tourists and expats use the SNS for an X-ray?
EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with a valid EHIC, and UK visitors with a GHIC, are treated as SNS users for medically necessary care. Legal residents (including D7 and digital-nomad visa holders) can register at their local health centre for a número de utente. Visitors without cover are billed at SNS price-table rates or can use private hospitals, so travel insurance is recommended.
Does private health insurance (Médis, Multicare, AdvanceCare) cover X-rays?
Most Portuguese health plans cover X-rays in their provider network with a fixed co-payment per exam, usually much lower than the self-pay price. Civil servants covered by ADSE pay a co-payment at ADSE-convencionado providers. Co-payments and annual limits vary by plan, so check your policy's table before booking.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Decreto-Lei n.º 113/2011 as amended by Decreto-Lei n.º 37/2022 — taxas moderadoras regime (dispensa for SNS-referred urgência and admissions)
- Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS) — taxas moderadoras FAQ and radiology sector monitoring reports (2025–2026)
- Diário da República — Despacho n.º 4811/2026, SNS convention price table for radiology (Área M)
- Indexante dos Apoios Sociais 2026 (€537.13) and economic-insufficiency threshold (€805.70)
- Hospital CUF Leiria — Tabela de Preços, published 6 May 2026
- Hospital Ortopédico de Sant'Ana (Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa) — Tabela de Preços, February 2026
- Hospital da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa — Tabela de Preços (particulares)
- SNS / SNS 24 — taxas moderadoras, número de utente and EHIC guidance
Last reviewed: October 2026. Private price lists are non-exhaustive and change without notice — confirm the price of your specific exam before booking.