News from afpop

IRS tax return - reminder
Tax return submission period: 1 April → 30 June.

Personal income tax (IRS) applies to the income of individuals resident in Portugal and to non-residents who earn income in Portugal. The submission of your Income Tax return (IRS) must be completed online through the Finanças portal at www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt. For more detailed information, please consult our T01 information bulletin.

IRS donation (consignação do IRS)
Members may already be aware that the IRS allocation (consignação de IRS) allows taxpayers to choose to allocate a portion of their tax to an entity of their choice. Instead of giving 100% of your tax to the State, you give 99%, and the remaining 1% goes to an organisation of your choice. This change is intended to strengthen funding for charitable, religious, cultural and environmental institutions.

This process is simple: when filling out the Income Tax return (IRS declaration), you can select the entity you wish to benefit, at no additional cost. The measure is optional and does not interfere with the amount of tax to be paid or received, but redirects a small portion of the revenue for specific purposes.

Only entities previously registered and authorised by the Tax and Customs Authority can receive the IRS allocation. To check the complete list of eligible entities, please login into portal  and follow the steps:

Dados Agregado IRS – Comunicar Entidade a Consignar IRS/IVA and click on the magnifying glass to choose the institution or entity.

Fuel prices support measures
The Portuguese Government has announced €150 million per month in support measures to reduce the impact of rising fuel prices.

• A mechanism introduced on 9 March reduces the ISP tax (Special Consumption Tax) whenever fuel price increases exceed 10 cents, currently resulting in discounts of 20 cents/litre (diesel) and 16 cents/litre (petrol).

• +10 cents/litre for professional diesel, up to 15,000 litres, for heavy trucks (>35 tons) and large buses (>22 seats). 

• +10 cents/litre for coloured diesel used in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, funded by IFAP. 

• These supports only apply during weeks when fuel prices are more than 10 cents above the levels of 2–6 March.

New extraordinary and temporary supports will apply from 1 April to 30 June: 

The Government also approved one‑off direct payments: 

• Fire brigades: €360 per heavy vehicle / €120 per other vehicle

• Taxi companies: €120 per vehicle

• IPSS (Private social solidarity institutions): €600 per institution

Botija de Gás Solidária Program Information
The official government program “Botija de Gás Solidária” is managed through the Fundo Ambiental (Environmental Fund) in collaboration with ANAFRE (National Association of Parishes). As of March 2026, the program has been updated with significantly higher support values to combat energy poverty. The "Botija Solidária" is an extraordinary financial aid program designed to help vulnerable households purchase bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG/Propane/Butane). The support will be €25 per bottle (increased from the previous €15 as of 25 March 2026).

To benefit from this support, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Social Electricity Tariff (TSEE) Beneficiaries: You are a domestic customer with an active electricity contract that includes the social tariff. Look at your last electricity bill. If you are a beneficiary, there will be a line item that says "Desconto Tarifa Social" or "Beneficiário da TSEE".
   
• Recipients of Minimum Social Benefits: At least one member of the household must receive one of these benefits:
  • Social Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI)
  • Social Insertion Income (RSI)
  • Social Invalidity Pension
  • Social Supplement for Inclusion
  • Social Old-Age Pension
  • Social Unemployment Benefit
    
    If you meet with the requirements and want more information about how and where to claim the benefit, please contact the afpop office.

Land-clearance deadlines
The Portuguese Government has extended land‑clearance deadlines due to severe winter weather.
Across mainland municipalities, fuel‑management work must now be completed by 31 May 2026, while areas under a calamity declaration because of storm damage have until 30 June 2026. 

After the deadlines, inspections and fines may apply. More detailed information will be published in our Update Magazine.

Travel to Europe App
Travel to Europe App for NON-EU travellers with biometric passports is now available in Portugal for Lisbon Airport but will be extended to the other airports over the next few weeks.

EU’s “Travel to Europe” mobile app allows:

• Third‑country travellers to pre‑register travel information (for EES)

• Before arriving at border control

• To speed up entry into the Schengen Area.

What travellers can do on the app:

• Enter their personal and travel details in advance

• Submit the information up to 72 hours before arrival

• Complete a short questionnaire on entry requirements

• At the end, a QR Code is generated, which will be read at the 'self-service' border control kiosks (SSK), upon arrival in Portugal.

Benefits for travellers are: Shorter waiting times at the border as the border officials don’t have to ask all the questions in person.

The App is available on the App Store and Google Play as the official European Union app.

More information and links can be found here: Travel to Europe mobile app - EES and instructions how to use the App here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/dam/jcr:9e912837-5669-4c6c-85a8-a91b0736f13a/HowTo_mobile_app.pdf 

PSP Launches “Safe Easter Operation” Across Portugal
The Public Security Police (PSP) has launched its annual “Safe Easter Operation”, a nationwide initiative designed to protect residents and visitors during one of Portugal’s busiest holiday periods.

This year’s campaign brings reinforced policing, road‑safety crackdowns, and enhanced border controls, aiming to reduce accidents, prevent crime and ensure a safer Easter for everyone.

With Easter bringing up to 75,000 arrivals per day, PSP is deploying 45 extra border officers at Lisbon and Faro airports and opening new passport‑control lanes to reduce queues. 

Travellers, especially non‑EU passport holders, should still prepare for longer checks due to the EU’s fully reactivated Entry/Exit System (EES).

PSP speed control
The Public Security Police (PSP) have shared a list of some of the places where speed control operations are planned in April. In total, there are more than a hundred locations across Portugal, Azores and Madeira.

On the PSP website you can find information by district, detailing where the PSP radars will be and on what dates.

These are just some of the planned operations, and throughout the month it is likely that there will be speed control in other areas without prior notification from the PSP.

Train replacements by bus
Due to engineering works in Spain from 6 April 2026 to 7 April 2027, rail services on Celta trains 420, 421, 422 and 423 will be affected, requiring passengers to use a replacement bus service.

Replacement bus service road route: Vigo Guixar ↔ Valença do Minho - No intermediate stops.

Other routes that will have replacements involving Cascais line, Beira Baixa line, Oeste line, North line, Aveiro line and Porto urban trains, you can find on the CP website: https://cp.pt/en/avisos 

Portugal’s Tourist Train Pass (CP)
CP – Comboios de Portugal is promoting the Tourist Train Pass, Bilhete Turístico de comboio, again, which is aimed specifically at tourists (not residents).

According to CP, the Tourist Train Pass allows unlimited travel on:

• Lisbon Urban Trains (Sintra/Azambuja, Cascais, Sado lines)

• Porto Urban Trains (Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães, Marco, Leixões lines)

• Algarve Regional Trains

Residents can use the Green Rail Pass (Passe Ferroviário Verde), which we mentioned in previous briefings.

Toll exemptions A2 and A6
On parts of the A2 and A6 the tolls for local residents and businesses are exempt for residents and businesses headquartered in designated areas of influence near these roads.

• On the A6, the exemption covers the segment between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Caia.

• On the A2, it applies between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Almodôvar.

From 1 April 2026 beneficiaries must be registered users of the electronic tolling system and must have a valid service contract with an electronic toll service provider. On bord units (OBU) are currently only provided by Via Verde (transponder) and CTT (temporary device). More information can be found in our information bulletin M07.

Entity 21800: Fraud Alert
If you have recently received a message requesting payment from the Entity (Entidade) 21800, you should be aware that it is very likely a scam attempt.

Entity (Entidade) 21800 has been associated with smishing schemes (SMS fraud) and with “ONLINE PAYMENTS STICHTING”. Fraudsters use this entity to process payments for fraudulent services while impersonating legitimate organisations. These messages often pretend to come from trusted entities such as EDP Comercial or the SNS, in order to pressure people into making payments.

It is important to remain cautious. If you receive a message referring to entity 21800, do not make any payment, as it is likely fraudulent. Be aware that legitimate companies use different payment references; for example, EDP typically uses entities such as 20174 or 11283.

As a precaution, you should delete the message immediately and avoid clicking on any links it may contain. If in doubt, you can also search on Google using the entity number and check the available information.

To lodge a complaint, you may contact one of the following local authorities:

The PSP, GNR or Polícia Judiciária.

Lodging a complaint is free of charge and does not require legal representation.

You may also make use of the following channels:

• The website of the Ministry of Internal Administration

• The Public Prosecution Service Cybercrime Portal, where you may also get in touch by calling +351 213 921 900

Please see below one real sample of a message allegedly received from the SNS. 

Public Information – Asian Hornet
The presence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) has recently been confirmed in the Algarve region. At this time of year, it is common to find small primary nests, typically located under eaves, in outbuildings, shrubs or other sheltered structures. These nests are usually spherical or slightly elongated, resembling a pear or a small tennis ball.

What should you do?

If you spot a nest with these characteristics, do not approach it or attempt to remove it.
Report it to the Proteção Civil - Municipal Civil Protection Service in your area, so it can be assessed and dealt with appropriately. Public cooperation is essential to ensure early detection and safe intervention.

Planning your future in Portugal Seminars - reminder
Join our upcoming seminars designed to help you prepare for the future with confidence and clarity.

28 April – Boavista Resort, in Lagos

This session is now fully booked. If you would like to join the waiting list in case of any cancellations, please send a message to support@afpop.com 

21 May – Museu do Traje (Costume Museum), in São Brás de Alportel

Places are still available. Register for this session HERE.

These events, conducted in English and open to the public, offer practical and easy-to-understand guidance on planning your future in Portugal under the theme You’re never too young to plan for older age.

A range of expert speakers will share valuable insights on key topics, including:

• Networking and Support - Guidance from the British Consulate on registering contacts and building a reliable support network.

• Health and Insurance Planning - Overview of health insurance options tailored to expatriates.

• Funeral and Ceremonial Arrangements - Clear information on available funeral plans and services.

• Legal Planning - Essential advice on wills, powers of attorney, and other key legal matters.

• Financial Planning - Practical guidance on asset organisation, international coordination, and tax considerations in Portugal.

• State Support Services - A social worker will explain the support available through the Portuguese public system.

• Community Safety - The PSP will present the “Idosos em Segurança” programme, offering advice on staying safe and outlining how the police support vulnerable members of the community.

Time: 10:00 – 12:30

Cost: Free to attend (advance booking with afpop required)

Living in the Algarve event
We will be joining the Open Media group once again at their ‘Living in the Algarve’ seminar on 30 April at Cascade Wellness Resort in Lagos. 

There is a morning and afternoon session, where you can hear the presentations and speak with experts in person if you have any questions. There will be Coffee breaks to chat with our event partners.  Save your FREE seats here: www.livinginthealgarve.pt 

Navigating your way in Portugal – Ericeira edition
Do you need help navigating your way in Portugal?

Join afpop on Wednesday, 6 May (10h30) at the Ericeira Business Center for an informative seminar on living and planning in Portugal.

Meet our CEO, Daisy Sampson, and our new local event organisers, Tim and Maria Kirkham. We will also host expert speakers Matthew Krystman (Blevins Franks) and João Pinheiro (Medal Insurance), followed by a dedicated Q&A.

• Cost: Free (Booking with afpop essential)

• Language: English

• Note: Places are limited-register early!

You can register here: https://afpop.com/en/navigating-portugal-ericeira-edition

Helping US citizens in Portugal - reminder
If you are a US citizen who requires a full-service FBI criminal background check and digital fingerprinting for your Portugal immigration process – then this is for you!

Following considerable demand, we are welcoming back Identity Abroad to the Algarve for a special satellite session at our office in Portimão on Thursday, 9 April and Friday, 10 April.

If you would like to take advantage of this service, then please request your session directly with Identity Abroad by visiting:

https://calendly.com/identityabroad-info

More information is also available in our previous briefings. This service is open to members and non-members of afpop, with discounts available for afpop members.

Holidays in April
Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa) on 3 April and the Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade) on 25 April are national holidays. Easter (Páscoa) falls on Sunday, 5 April.

In Portugal, the Government often grants a "tolerância de ponto" (a day or half-day off) to public sector workers to "bridge" a holiday. The Government has granted a "tolerância de ponto" for the afternoon of Holy Thursday. While Good Friday (3 April) is a full national holiday, public services (Loja do Cidadão, Finanças, etc.) will close early on Thursday 2 April.

The afpop office will only be closed on 3 April.

Permanent Residency application for UK citizens under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
We reported in our News from afpop on the 6th of February, that AIMA has launched a "BREXIT" option on their contact form for scheduling appointments for transitioning from temporary to permanent Residency, for UK citizens who hold a Residency document under the Withdrawal Agreement (article 50). UK citizens and their family members holding Withdrawal Agreement Biometric Cards (WABC) for temporary Residency and who have resided legally and continuously for 5 years in Portugal, may apply for permanent Residency, should they wish.

In November 2025, a group of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries with temporary Residency who are seeking to transition to permanent Residency formed a dedicated Facebook group as a spin-off of the established British in Portugal https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishinportugal Facebook community. The Permanent Residency for Brits in Portugal under the Withdrawal Agreement https://www.facebook.com/groups/wabcportugal group works hand-in-hand with British in Portugal to serve two key purposes: collaborative information sharing on navigating the path to permanent Residency with AIMA, and coordinated advocacy efforts working with the UK Embassy in Lisbon, the European Commission, and British in Europe to pressure AIMA to facilitate the transition process.

If members in this situation have tried in the past or recently through the AIMA contact form to apply for permanent Residency and have had issues either with contact to AIMA, documentation, the AIMA contact form or appointments not yet being granted, they can communicate this through a survey on the WABCPortugal website here: https://www.wabcportugal.com/ The website allows you to submit your personal experience anonymously when applying for your permanent Residency card, including the outcome. These experiences enable the community to report issues effectively to the British Embassy and the European Commission, who rely on the community itself to demonstrate the systematic issues being faced.

Changing from temporary to permanent Residency now is not obligatory, it is simply an option. If your temporary Residency document issued under the Withdrawal Agreement is still valid (generally until 2027), you can renew in 2027, and you will get the permanent Residency then.

AIMA Renewals Portal (non-EU): April, May and June 2026
The Renewals Portal is now also available for Residency Permit renewals expiring in April, May and June 2026. See further details on the renewal process in our previous briefings. The Portal is only available for non-EU residencies that have expired or are due to expire between July 2025 and June 2026. If your authorisation expires at a later date, you will need to wait for the Portal to open for that specific month.

The renewal of Residence Permits for Investment (ARI) that expired between 22 February 2020 and 30 June 2026, is now available on the Renewals Portal

Residency renewal for EU citizens and family members – reminder
AIMA has added an option on their contact form for Residency renewal applications for EU citizens and their family members’ Residency cards and Certificates (CRUE). This option is for cards and certificates that have already expired or are due to expire in the very near future. 

You can find the contact form here: https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form 

Choose: “Topic Type” Community Residence Card and then the “Subtopic Type” that suits your specific request. If the English version gives you issues, please try the Portuguese version.

Choose: “Tipo de Assunto” Cartão de Residência UE and then the “Subtipo de Assunto” that suits your specific request.

Perfect Weather Guaranteed
In an ambitious step towards climate consistency, the IPMA has announced a pilot programme to ensure up to 300 days of sunshine per year across selected regions of Portugal.

The initiative will involve a remotely operated weather management system, allowing conditions to be “gently adjusted” as required. While full technical details remain confidential, early reports suggest a combination of cloud redirection and sunshine optimisation technologies.

Residents interested in participating in the trial are invited to express their interest via email at support@afpop.com. Further information, including the necessary terms and conditions, will be provided upon registration.

Applicants are advised that, while every effort will be made to deliver consistent sunshine, occasional “character-building” weather may still occur.

Satellite offices
If you need advice or assistance, wish to introduce a new Member to the Association, need to renew your subscription, or just have a general query, please come and see us. We ask you to make an appointment and to inform us about your enquiry, so staff can come prepared to assist you. Please contact the afpop office to make an appointment on 282 458 509 or info@afpop.com.   

The next dates of the Satellites are: 

• Almancil – There will be no Satellite Office in Almancil in April, we will be back in May.

• Lagos – Wednesday, 29 April between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building) 

Due to the Planning your future in Portugal Seminar booked to take place on Tuesday, 28 April, we will not be able to attend the satellite in Almancil on that day.