Customs and daily life

Daily life

• Language and politeness. Portuguese distinguishes informal address (tu, among close friends and young people) from a formal address with several levels: você remains delicate with a stranger, the third person with o senhor / a senhora (sir, madam) is often preferred, especially with older people and in administration. If in doubt, start with bom dia (good morning, until lunch), boa tarde (in the afternoon) and obrigado (if you are a man) or obrigada (if you are a woman).
• Learning the language. The Português Língua de Acolhimento (PLA) courses, presented by AIMA, are for people aged 16 and over whose mother tongue is not Portuguese, with a residence permit, a visa or a social security number (NISS). They take place in public schools, IEFP training centres and Centros Qualifica, and certify levels A1 to B2; an A2 proves your knowledge of Portuguese for permanent residence or citizenship. To find the nearest course: lingua.portuguesa@aima.gov.pt. AIMA also offers an online Portuguese platform.
• Payments. French euro cheques are never accepted; keep a little cash, foreign cards do not work everywhere. Road fines for people passing through are paid on the spot, in cash.
• On the road (2026 rules). 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on expressways, 90 km/h on roads, 50 km/h in towns; alcohol: 0.5 g/l at most. Many motorways have electronic-only tolls ("Electronic toll only"): the amount is calculated from the photo of the plate. For a rental car registered in Portugal without a transponder, you then pay at a CTT post office, from the 2nd day after passing through and for 5 working days; for your own car, see the Portuguese tolls website.
• Forest fires. From 1 June to 30 September, it is forbidden to light a fire in forest areas (barbecue, campfire, firecrackers, and even a cigarette on the roads that cross them): fine of up to €300, and more if a fire breaks out.
• Earthquakes. Portugal is in a seismic zone; the risk is highest in Lisbon, in the south and in the Azores.
• Religious places. Decent dress and discretion are expected in churches.
• Short-term rental. The owner must declare their occupants to the authorities; they cannot copy your identity document without your consent.

Public holidays

Mandatory (art. 234.º of the Código do Trabalho): 1 January, Good Friday, Easter, 25 April (Freedom Day), 1 May, Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus), 10 June (Portugal Day), 15 August, 5 October (Republic Day), 1 November, 1 December (Restoration of Independence), 8 December, 25 December.

• Movable dates 2026: Good Friday on 3 April, Easter on 5 April, Corpus Christi on 4 June.
• Movable dates 2027: Good Friday on 26 March, Easter on 28 March, Corpus Christi on 27 May.
• Optional (art. 235.º): Carnival Tuesday (17 February 2026, 9 February 2027) and your municipality's holiday, granted by the collective agreement or your employment contract. Each municipality has its own date: ask your Câmara Municipal.
• Movable dates are calculated from Easter. The autonomous regions (Azores, Madeira) also have their own regional holidays, set by each region: ask your employer or the regional government for the dates.

Useful numbers

• 112: European emergency number (police, fire brigade, medical emergency), free, 24 hours a day.
• SNS 24 – 808 24 24 24: medical advice and guidance 24 hours a day (administrative questions from 8:00 to 22:00), at the price of a landline call. The government recommends calling 112 or the SNS 24 before going to the hospital emergency department.
• 144: social emergencies.
• Emergency at sea: +351 214 401 919.
• AIMA (contact centre): +351 217 115 000, Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00.

Common pitfalls

• Speaking Spanish and thinking you will be understood. Many Portuguese people understand it, but starting in Portuguese, English or French is often better received.
• Forgetting the electronic toll. On a rental car without a transponder, it is up to you to pay afterwards at a CTT office, in the 5-working-day window that starts on the 2nd day after passing through; see the Portuguese tolls website for the consequences of non-payment.
• Turning up at the emergency department without having called. Without prior referral (SNS 24, health centre), a hospital emergency visit may be charged (sheet PT-SANTE-TOUS-001).
• Azores. The archipelago is one hour behind the mainland and Madeira (keep this in mind for your online appointments with Lisbon).

What changes by country of origin

• French citizens: the French Embassy in Lisbon is competent, Azores and Madeira included (+351 213 939 100). For other EU countries, check on your country's foreign ministry website whether it has an embassy or consulate in Portugal, and register with its consular register if it offers one.
• British citizens (Scots included): the driving licence, health insurance and residence card follow their own rules since Brexit (sheets SEJOUR, SANTE and PERMIS).