Foreign citizens, refugees and stateless persons have the same rights as Portuguese citizens, as long as they are legally resident in Portugal.
All employees related to an employer by employment contract or by a legally equivalent contract or workers who carry out a professional activity on a self-employed basis can benefit from the General Social Security Schemes.
The General Scheme for Employees guarantees protection in the following events: Illness; Maternity, Paternety and Adoption; Unemployment; Disability; Old Age; Death; Professional Illness.
The General Scheme for Self-Employed Workers guarantees protection in the following events: Illness; Maternity, Paternety and Adoption; Disability; Old Age; Death; Professional Illness.
Self-Employed Workers who are also sole proprietors or holders of individual limited liability establishments and economically dependent self-employed workers, besides the events mentioned in the previous paragraph, are also entitled to protection in the event of unemployment.
It is a general condition for the allocation of benefits that there is a minimum period of contributions, which may be met by accumulation of periods of contribution or equivalent periods registered under national or foreign social protection schemes, under the terms laid down by law or by applicable international instruments.
The information in this section does not exempt you from consulting the current legislation, as well as consulting the information on the website https://www.seg-social.pt