Sick Leave in Portugal 2026: Rights, Claims and Pay

Updated 2 May 2026  FedFinance Portugal team

What sick leave is (Temporary Incapacity for Work Certificate  CIT)

Sick leave is officially the Temporary Incapacity for Work Certificate (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária  CIT). It is a clinical document, issued by an SNS doctor, that confirms a worker is temporarily unable to perform their duties. The CIT is the key that unlocks the sickness benefit paid by Social Security.

One distinction up front: holding a CIT does not automatically entitle you to the benefit. You can have one without the other if the legal conditions are not met.

CIT vs. doctor's note vs. self-declaration: the essential differences

Mixing up these three documents costs workers real money every month. They are not interchangeable, and only one unlocks a benefit.

Classic mistake we see in finance recruitment: a candidate hands over a private doctor's note and assumes the benefit will be paid. It will not. Only a CIT issued by the SNS triggers payment.

Who qualifies for sick leave and the sickness benefit

The right to the benefit depends on three cumulative conditions, covered below.

General conditions for accessing the benefit

• Qualifying period: 6 months of contributions (consecutive or interpolated) before the start of the leave.
• Professionalism index (employees only): 12 days of recorded earnings in the first 4 of the past 6 months.
• Up-to-date contributions (self-employed and voluntary social insurance): no debt to Social Security.
• Valid CIT issued by an SNS doctor.

Employees: what you need to know

The most protected regime. The contract is suspended, seniority counts, the benefit can stretch up to 1,095 days (3 years). The employer receives the information electronically  no paper to hand over. The worker should still notify their direct manager on day one. Not a legal duty, but good professional practice.

Self-employed (recibos verdes and sole traders)

Tougher regime. Ten-day waiting period (benefit only from day 11), maximum duration of 365 days (1 year), and a strict requirement to keep contributions current. In recruitment processes we run for outsourced CFOs, finance consultants and freelance auditors, this point is often underestimated. We routinely recommend a personal accident insurance with a temporary disability rider to plug the gap.

Other categories: domestic workers, research grant holders, seafarers

Less-known special regimes:

• Domestic workers: employee rules apply, provided the employer makes the deductions.
• Scientific research grant holders: covered by the voluntary social insurance regime (30-day waiting period). The benefit covers the loss of grant income, not salary.
• Seafarers and national watchmen on foreign vessels: specific regime under Decree-Law 28/2004, adapted to embarkation periods.
• Registered volunteer firefighters: entitled to the benefit if they pay the relevant contribution.

Excluded: pensioners, the unemployed, prisoners, very-short-term contracts (up to 35 days).

How to claim sick leave in Portugal: step by step

The process has gone almost entirely digital since May 2023. The route depends on the length of the absence.

Medical consultation and CIT issuance

For sick leave longer than 3 days, the worker sees an SNS doctor (health centre, public hospital, or rarely a privately authorised facility). The doctor assesses, diagnoses, and issues the CIT directly into the Electronic Health Record. No paper, except in rare rural cases.

Communication to Social Security: the SNS role

Information flows electronically from the SNS to Social Security. The benefit request is processed automatically. Anyone still receiving a paper CIT (very rare) must hand it in to the Social Security services within 5 working days; otherwise the benefit will only start from the date of submission.

Communication to the employer: your duties

The employer receives the information automatically from Social Security. The worker does not need to deliver the CIT in paper to the company. The employer may request the communication code for internal admin, but cannot demand the original clinical document  it is protected by medical confidentiality. The worker should still inform their manager as soon as possible, ideally on the first day of absence.

How to check your sick leave online (SNS Portal and SNS 24 App)

Two ways to monitor the leave status:

1. Portal sns24.gov.pt → log in with Digital Mobile Key, Citizen Card or health user number → "Documentos e Certificados" menu → "Baixa médica".

2. SNS 24 app (iOS / Android): same login, same navigation, smoother on mobile.

To check benefit payment status, you need the Segurança Social Direta personal area. They are two separate systems.

The self-declaration of illness: a fast alternative

In force since May 2023, the electronic self-declaration allows the worker to justify up to 3 consecutive days of absence without seeing a doctor. Useful for mild flu, gastroenteritis, short-lived illness.

How and when to use the self-declaration

1. Log in to the SNS 24 portal or app, authenticate.

2. Under Documentos e Certificados, select Autodeclaração de doença.

3. Enter the start date and submit  the request can be filed up to 5 days after the first day of absence.

4. The system notifies the employer automatically. Since 29 July 2025, no manual code needs to be sent.

Limits: 3 consecutive days max, 2 uses per year, 6 days total annually. After day three, a medical consultation is required to issue a formal CIT if the illness persists.

Self-declaration impact on the sickness benefit

Critical point most people miss: the self-declaration does not entitle to a sickness benefit. Days justified by self-declaration count as justified absences but are not paid by Social Security. Whether the employer pays them depends on the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CCT).

The amount of the sickness benefit: how much you get

What reference earnings are and how they are calculated

The Reference Earnings (RR) figure is the calculation base. It corresponds to the average earnings recorded over the first 6 of the last 8 months before the month of incapacity, excluding holiday and Christmas allowances. Concrete example: someone going on sick leave in June 2026 will see their RR built from earnings between October 2025 and March 2026.

Formula: (Sum of the 6-month earnings) ÷ 180 days = daily RR.

Benefit percentages by length of leave

Concrete simulation  Junior Management Controller, permanent contract, gross base salary €1,620/month. In June 2026, takes 12 days off after meniscus surgery. Calculation:

• Total earnings over the 6 reference months: €1,620 × 6 = €9,720

• Daily Reference Earnings: €9,720 ÷ 180 = €54/day

• Daily benefit (55%): €54 × 0.55 = €29.70

• The first 3 days are unpaid (waiting period)

• Total received: €29.70 × 9 days = €267.30

That is roughly €380 short of the monthly salary. For finance professionals we work with, it is worth checking whether the applicable CCT  and most fintechs and banks have favourable CCTs  provides for an employer top-up during the waiting days. To assess the impact on overall net earnings, see our Portuguese net salary 2026 guide.

Days without pay: the waiting period

Benefit top-up in specific cases

Five percentage points are added to the applicable rate (only valid in the 55% and 60% brackets, i.e. leaves up to 90 days) if any of these conditions is met:

• Reference Earnings of €500 or less.

• Household with 3 or more dependants up to age 16 (or 24 if receiving family allowance).

• Household with a dependant receiving disability supplement to the family allowance.

The daily benefit can never fall below €5.37 (30% of the IAS daily value, €537.13) nor exceed the net Reference Earnings.

Duration and limits of sick leave

Maximum CIT duration

Employees and voluntary social insurance: up to 1,095 days (3 years). Self-employed and research grant holders: 365 days (1 year). Tuberculosis: no time limit. Once the cap is hit, the worker is referred for assessment of a provisional invalidity pension.

The medical board (SVI): when and how it works

For longer leaves  typically beyond 30 days  Social Security may summon the beneficiary to the Incapacity Verification System (SVI), commonly known as the medical board. The notice arrives by SMS or email, and attendance is mandatory under threat of immediate benefit termination.

Practical advice: bring every up-to-date clinical exam (CT scans, MRIs, blood work, specialist reports), the consultation history, and the multi-purpose certificate where applicable. SVI doctors assess not only whether the illness persists, but also whether the worker can return to duties compatible with their job category. Possible outcomes: continuation, medical discharge, or  for prolonged cases  referral to a provisional invalidity pension at the 1,095-day cap.

Specific sick leave situations

Illness during paid holidays: what happens

If you fall ill during paid holidays, the days overlapping with sick leave are suspended and returned to your holiday balance. Condition: notify the employer immediately and submit the CIT. The suspended holidays will be rescheduled later, by agreement with the employer.

Sick leave for workplace accident or occupational disease

Different regime. Protection comes not from Social Security but from the employer's mandatory occupational accident insurance. The compensation regime is generally more favourable: indemnity from day 1, higher percentage, no waiting period.

Serious or chronic illness (oncological, stroke, ischaemic heart disease)

For oncological diseases, stroke or ischaemic heart disease, the worker can apply for the multi-purpose medical disability certificate, which unlocks tax benefits (specific IRS deductions), uplifts on social benefits, priority access in public services, and reinforced protection against dismissal.

Post-operative leave and hospital admission

For hospital admission or day surgery, the benefit is paid from day 1, no waiting period. Just submit the hospital admission declaration to Social Security. This also applies to scheduled surgery in a private hospital authorised by the Ministry of Health.

Worker rights and duties on sick leave

Can I leave home or travel during sick leave?

Nuanced answer. The beneficiary must remain at the declared address, except for medical treatment, during the SVI inspection windows: 11h-13h and 16h-22h on working days (these windows can vary depending on the doctor's instructions). Outside these windows, the person can go out, run errands, drop the kids at school.

What the worker cannot do:

• Carry out any paid professional activity  under penalty of benefit repayment and criminal referral.

• Travel abroad without medical authorisation and prior notice to Social Security.

• Change residence without notifying Social Security within 5 working days.

Is the contract suspended? Can I be dismissed?

The contract is suspended during sick leave but does not terminate. The worker keeps every right: seniority, retirement contribution, position in the company. Dismissal during sick leave is, as a rule, void and entitles the worker to reinstatement. The classic exceptions (just cause for proven disciplinary misconduct prior to the leave, collective dismissal under strict legal observance) are rare and must be substantiated in court.

Impact on other areas (holidays, retirement, IRS)

Does sick leave count towards holidays and Christmas allowance?

Yes. During the leave, the worker receives a compensatory benefit for holiday and Christmas allowances from Social Security, paid in monthly instalments. The allowances are not lost  they are paid through a different channel.

Does sick leave count towards retirement?

Yes  and this is an underappreciated upside. Weeks on leave count as contribution time towards retirement and feed the contributory career. There is no career erosion.

How to declare the sickness benefit on IRS

The sickness benefit is treated as employment income (Category A) and must be declared in the following year's IRS. Social Security delivers the annual statement to the beneficiary in January, pre-filled on the Tax Authority Portal. Social Security contributions are suspended during the leave (no withholdings), so the net amount received is closer to gross. Typical surprise in May: the final IRS may show a balance due if the leave was long.

Frequently asked questions

Do weekends count during sick leave? 

Yes. The benefit is paid in calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. On a 7-day leave starting Monday, the worker is paid for 7 days, less the 3 waiting days.

Can I work while on sick leave? 

No. Being on sick leave means being temporarily unable to work. Carrying out any paid activity during this period can lead to immediate termination of the benefit, repayment of amounts received and criminal referral for fraud against Social Security.

What if my sick leave is rejected? 

Social Security notifies in writing the decision and the grounds. The worker has 30 days to file a formal complaint or appeal. We recommend legal advice (employment lawyer) or trade union support.

Is there an official simulator? 

Yes. Segurança Social Direta offers a sickness benefit simulator that estimates the daily and total amount based on the RR and leave duration.

How can I extend my sick leave? 

The renewal is the responsibility of the attending doctor, after clinical assessment. The new CIT is communicated electronically to Social Security. No additional admin step is required from the worker.

Can the employer demand the original doctor's note? 

No. The employer receives the information automatically from Social Security. They can request the communication code for admin purposes, but not the original clinical document.

How long until the first payment? 

On average 30 to 45 days after the CIT is issued, by bank transfer. Anyone without a registered IBAN should update it on Social Security Direct to avoid delays.

What happens after 1,095 days? 

The benefit ends and the worker is referred for assessment of a provisional invalidity pension. If the board confirms permanent incapacity above two thirds, retirement on disability is granted.

New rules 2025-2026: what changed

Three changes with direct impact:

1. 29 July 2025  automatic communication of the self-declaration. End of the manual SMS code workaround to the employer. The system now notifies directly. Time saved, less HR friction.

2. 1 January 2026  IAS updated to €537.13. The minimum daily benefit rises from €5.225 (with IAS €522.50) to €5.37. Maximum unemployment benefit linked to the IAS rises to €1,342.83. Official source: Portaria 480-A/2025/1.

3. Strengthening of the Electronic Health Record. The paper CIT is on its way out. By 2026, almost every CIT is issued and transmitted digitally, with no intervention required from the worker.

Useful resources and official sources

• Social Security  Sickness benefit (official page)
• SNS 24  Sick leave request and self-declaration
• Portaria 480-A/2025/1  IAS 2026
• Decree-Law 28/2004  legal framework of the sickness benefit
• DGAEP  Historical IAS values
• Authority for Working Conditions (ACT)
• Portuguese Tax Authority  IRS declaration
• INE  Labour statistics