Getting sick in Portugal when you do not understand the CIT is expensive. The CIT (certificado de incapacidade temporária — temporary incapacity certificate) is the document your doctor issues to certify you are unfit for work. Without it, Segurança Social will not pay sick leave at all. With it submitted late, you lose the days before it arrives. Most people only discover this after the fact.
Subsídio de doença (sick leave benefit) covers most workers who have been contributing to Segurança Social for at least 6 months. The rates increase the longer you are off sick. Recibos verdes workers are also covered — but with a notable restriction that most freelancers do not know about until they need it.
Quick Answer: Employees with at least 6 months of Segurança Social contributions receive sick leave pay (subsídio de doença) starting from day 4 of illness, at rates between 55% and 75% of reference daily earnings depending on duration. A CIT issued by your doctor must be submitted to Segurança Social within 5 working days of the CIT issue date if it is not sent electronically. Recibos verdes workers normally face a longer waiting period than employees; in many standard independent-worker cases, payment starts after the first 10 days, while some voluntary-insurance situations have a 30-day wait. The benefit is subject to a 2026 minimum daily amount of €5.37, with the upper limit tied to your net reference remuneration.
Who qualifies
The eligibility conditions for subsídio de doença:
- Legal resident in Portugal with an active NISS
- At least 6 months of Segurança Social contributions — these do not have to be consecutive, but they must fall in the period before the illness began
- Doctor-certified incapacity for work
- Not simultaneously receiving salary from an employer (the benefit replaces earnings, it does not supplement them)
- Not receiving another Segurança Social benefit that covers the same period (unemployment benefit, parental leave)
The 6-month threshold looks backward from your first day of illness, not from any fixed date. If you have 4 months of contributions and then stopped contributing for 3 months before falling ill, you may not meet the threshold depending on when those 6 months fall.
Employed workers (contrato de trabalho) typically meet this threshold automatically after 6 months with any employer making correct monthly declarations.
The CIT — what it is and why it is urgent
The CIT (certificado de incapacidade temporária) is the core document in any sick leave claim. It is a medical certificate issued by your doctor that certifies:
- You are temporarily unable to work due to illness or injury
- The expected duration of incapacity
- The medical CID code (diagnosis category)
The 5-working-day rule for paper CITs: If the CIT is not sent electronically, it must be delivered to Segurança Social within 5 working days of being issued. The incapacity start date still matters: if the doctor records the wrong start date, you can lose days.
If you are registered with the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS — the Portuguese National Health Service), your GP or clinic doctor typically submits the CIT electronically. In that case, you do not need to upload anything manually — confirm with your doctor that the electronic submission was made.
If you see a private doctor, they give you a paper CIT. You must upload this yourself through Segurança Social Direta within the 5-working-day window. Go to “Prestações” → “Doença” → “Entrega de CIT.”
The CIT date problem: The benefit calculation runs from the first day of illness declared on the CIT, not from the CIT’s issue date. But if you see a doctor on day 5 of your illness and the CIT records day 5 as the start date, you may lose the first 4 days of benefit. Get to a doctor on day one if at all possible, or make sure the doctor records the actual first day of illness.
Rates and duration
The benefit rate increases over time as an illness proves prolonged:
| Period of illness | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | 0% | Waiting period — not covered |
| Days 4–30 | 55% of reference daily earnings | From day 4 |
| Days 31–90 | 60% of reference daily earnings | Rate increases automatically |
| Days 91–365 | 70% of reference daily earnings | Prolonged illness rate |
| Days 366–1,095 | 75% of reference daily earnings | Extended illness — review required |
After day 1,095 (3 years), the worker is assessed for pensão de invalidez (invalidity pension). This is a separate benefit with a different framework.
What you will actually receive in euros
Reference daily earnings are calculated as: total gross income in the 6 months before illness ÷ 180.
Worked example: 45 days off sick, earning €1,500/month gross
- Reference daily earnings: €1,500 × 6 ÷ 180 = €50/day
- Days 1–3: €0 (waiting period)
- Days 4–30 (27 days): €50 × 55% × 27 = €742.50
- Days 31–45 (15 days): €50 × 60% × 15 = €450.00
- Total benefit received: €1,192.50
At a salary of €1,500/month, 45 days of full pay would be €2,250. The sick leave benefit covers approximately 53% of that. Some employers top up the first 3 waiting days or supplement the benefit to full salary — check your employment contract (contrato de trabalho).
The 2026 official guide gives a minimum daily amount of €5.37 (30% of the daily IAS), unless your own reference remuneration is lower. This is why sick leave should be calculated daily, not as a simple monthly IAS floor. See the IAS Portugal guide for how these reference values work.
Recibos verdes workers: check the waiting period
Self-employed workers on recibos verdes are covered for subsídio de doença — but with two critical restrictions not applicable to employed workers:
1. Longer waiting period: The first days of incapacity are not covered. Employees normally start receiving from day 4, while many independent workers only start after the first 10 days; some voluntary-insurance situations may have a 30-day wait. Check your exact Segurança Social category before budgeting around a claim.
2. The first-year contribution exemption: If you registered as a recibos verdes worker in the last 12–13 months, your exemption period may mean you have fewer than 6 months of actual contributions. Check your contribution record before assuming you qualify. The Segurança Social contributions for recibos verdes guide covers how the exemption period works and when contributions actually start.
For most freelancers, short illnesses are simply not covered. Plan accordingly. Private health insurance with income protection is worth considering if you are self-employed and your income depends entirely on your ability to work.
How to apply via Segurança Social Direta
For most SNS patients, the process is automatic: the doctor submits the CIT electronically and Segurança Social begins the benefit calculation. Your employer is notified electronically and stops paying salary from day 4.
If you see a private doctor or the CIT was not submitted electronically:
- Log in to Segurança Social Direta at segsocialdirecta.pt
- Navigate to “Prestações” → “Doença” → “Entrega de CIT”
- Upload the paper CIT — scan or clear photograph is accepted
- Submit within 5 working days of the CIT issue date if it is not sent electronically
If your illness extends past the initial CIT period, your doctor must issue a renewal CIT (prorrogação de incapacidade). Each renewal has its own 5-working-day submission window if it is not sent electronically.
Documents required
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| CIT (certificado de incapacidade temporária) | Issued by your doctor; submitted electronically by SNS doctors or uploaded by you if private |
| NISS | Required to match to your contribution record |
| NIF | Identity verification |
| IBAN of Portuguese bank account | Benefit paid here directly |
| Declaration from employer of last salary | Used to verify reference earnings; employer may submit this separately |
Law vs. reality
| Official guidance | What actually happens |
|---|---|
| CIT submitted electronically by SNS doctor | Some SNS doctors do not realise they must submit electronically; always confirm it was sent |
| Benefit processed within 30 days | Processing typically takes 4–6 weeks; first payment may be delayed if CIT submission had issues |
| 3-day waiting period for employed workers | Some employers contractually cover these 3 days, some do not — check your contract |
| First 30 days not covered for recibos verdes | Most self-employed workers do not know this until they are ill and nothing arrives |
| Segurança Social contacts you with decision | In practice, check your Segurança Social Direta inbox — some decisions are posted without active notification |
Common mistakes
Mistake: Not requesting the CIT on the first day of illness
Waiting to see if you feel better tomorrow is the most common reason people lose sick leave days. If you are genuinely too ill to work, see a doctor that day and ask them to issue the CIT with the correct start date. If you saw the doctor on day 3, the benefit calculated from day 3 — you lose days 1–2 even if you were already ill.
Mistake: Recibos verdes workers not knowing about the 30-day gap
A freelancer off sick for 3 weeks is not going to receive anything from Segurança Social. This is not a processing delay — it is the rule. Many recibos verdes workers apply, wait 6 weeks, receive nothing, and then discover why. Check whether your illness is likely to extend past 30 days before investing time in the application.
Mistake: Working remotely while on sick leave
It does not matter whether you are answering emails, taking calls, or doing light project work from bed. If you have a CIT active and are doing any work, you are technically in breach. If Segurança Social investigates — which can happen — the benefit can be clawed back in full for the period, plus penalties.
Mistake: Missing the renewal CIT when illness extends
If your illness lasts longer than the initial CIT period, your doctor must issue a renewal. This renewal must also be submitted within the applicable 5-working-day window if it is not sent electronically. Missing the renewal creates a gap in the benefit period. Segurança Social will not automatically assume the illness continues.
Real scenarios
James, 36, British national, employed in Porto
James developed a respiratory infection that kept him off work for 38 days. His SNS doctor issued the CIT electronically on day 1. His employer stopped paying salary from day 4 and Segurança Social picked up from there. His gross salary was €2,000/month, giving reference daily earnings of €66.67. He received: 27 days at 55% (€989) plus 8 days at 60% (€320) = approximately €1,309 from Segurança Social. His employer topped up the first 3 waiting days contractually. Total income for the period: approximately €1,509 against a normal 38-day salary of approximately €2,533. The gap was real but manageable.
Fatima, 43, Moroccan national, recibos verdes graphic designer
Fatima injured her wrist and was off work for 22 days. She had been contributing as a recibos verdes worker for 18 months, well past the first-year exemption. She expected the same day-4 protection as an employee, but her independent-worker waiting period was longer. She received much less than she would have received under an employment contract. The practical lesson is that freelancers need a cash buffer or private protection for short illnesses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get paid sick leave in Portugal as a foreign worker
Yes. Legal residents with a NISS who have at least 6 months of Segurança Social contributions are entitled to subsídio de doença on the same terms as Portuguese nationals. Your contribution record is what matters.
What is the CIT and why does it matter
The CIT (certificado de incapacidade temporária) is the temporary incapacity certificate your doctor issues to certify you are unfit for work. Without it, Segurança Social will not pay sick leave. It must be submitted within 5 working days of the CIT issue date if it is not sent electronically.
When does sick leave pay start in Portugal
There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period. Sick leave pay starts from day 4 of illness. The 3 waiting days are not covered by Segurança Social, though some employers contractually top them up.
How much is subsídio de doença in Portugal in 2026
The rate varies by duration: 55% for days 4–30, 60% for days 31–90, 70% for days 91–365, and 75% for prolonged illness beyond 365 days. Reference earnings are based on your average gross income from the 6 months before illness.
I’m on recibos verdes. Am I covered for sick leave in Portugal
Yes, but the first 30 days of any incapacity are not covered. Subsídio de doença only starts from day 31. You also need at least 6 months of contributions, which excludes the first-year exemption period.
What happens if my doctor issues the CIT several days after I first fell ill
The clock runs from your first day of illness. If the CIT records a later start date, the benefit may calculate from that date — you lose the earlier days. Getting the CIT on day one is important.
How do I submit the CIT to Segurança Social
SNS doctors submit the CIT electronically. Private doctors provide a paper CIT that you upload through Segurança Social Direta within the 5-working-day window under “Prestações” → “Doença” → “Entrega de CIT.”
Can I work from home while receiving sick leave benefit
No. Working in any capacity while the CIT is active is a breach of the benefit conditions. It can result in full repayment plus penalties.
Is there a maximum period for sick leave pay in Portugal
Standard sick leave is paid for up to 1,095 days. After that, the case is assessed for invalidity pension (pensão de invalidez). A different process and rate structure applies for illness lasting more than 365 days.
What happens if Segurança Social rejects my sick leave claim
You can request a reconsideration (reclamação) through Segurança Social Direta within 30 days of the decision. Common grounds for rejection are insufficient contribution months, late CIT submission, or missing documents.
If you are currently off sick, your most urgent action is confirming the CIT was submitted — either electronically by your doctor or manually through Segurança Social Direta. Everything else follows from that. For the full picture of what Portugal’s Social Security system covers as a contributing resident, see the social security benefits Portugal guide.