News Articles

The following are the dates for public, or National, holidays in Portugal in 2025.

This presentation outlined the warning signs of dementia and the difference between simple forgetfulness and cognitive degeneration, giving some helpful suggestions on how to genuinely improve mental wellbeing and also what to do when interacting with someone who has dementia.

The 37th Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday March 29th 2025

As a resident of Portugal, you're likely familiar with the country's growing cycling culture. To ensure safe and legal bicycle transportation, it's crucial to adhere to specific regulations.

By law, the first AGM condominium of the year, in which the accounts for the previous year and the budget for the current year must be presented, among other matters necessary for the management of the condominium, should take place in the first half of January. However, it can be done up to the end of the first quarter, if the condominium regulations allow it, or if this was decided by resolution of the condominium assembly and approved by the majority.

Many Members will use Bluetooth on their mobile devices, to connect to their hands-free system in their car for example or to connect to their music system or headphones. Generally this is perfectly fine and a very useful way to use technology, but as with all things there are things to be aware of and one of those is a scam that you might not have heard of, with the fairly unpleasant name of Bluesnarfing. 

The use of Drones, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), is growing and many of us will have encountered them and probably been annoyed as they fly over us while we’re at the beach. Perhaps you are interested in buying one and want to know where you can fly them and if you can take videos or photos using them. We know that personal privacy laws in Portugal restrict the use of cameras for gathering images of people without their permission, so how does that transfer into the use of drones?

We often have calls from Members asking us to help them understand their electricity bill. It’s not always easy to do as there are a number of variations and the readings aren’t always easy to take. However, things are changing and some people will already have had a new smart meter installed by the company ‘e-Redes’.

The general hunting season for 2024-2025 began in August and runs through until February. However hunting for fallow deer, buck and boar, are permitted all year round as these are only allowed in very restricted areas. Hunting is only allowed where authorised by the local Câmara and the area must be sign posted.

Until quite recently taxpayers were required to keep invoices for 6 months to 5 years for individuals and up to 10 years for companies for tax purposes. In fact one of the key points in our IRS seminars a few years ago, was a reminder to always ask for a factura and to keep them in a safe place until the end of the year. The question is do taxpayers still need to keep their invoices and the answer, according to the Tax Authority (AT), is NO. In fact they have stated now that “most invoices can be thrown away after checking whether they are correct on E-fatura”.

According to data from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), in the first half of 2023 almost 70 million vehicles were stopped/inspected and there was an increase in infractions of around 20 percent. It won’t surprise most people to hear that speeding was the most common (67%), however that was followed by the lack of mandatory periodic inspection, before excess alcohol, using cell phones and then transporting children without an adequate restraint system.

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. Speed limit Avenida Marginal 2. Motorcycles 3. Living in the Algarve 4. IRS declarations 5. Hospital emergencies map 6. Train strikes 7. AFPOP Presents… 8. Holidays in April reminder 9. Satellite Offices

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. Living in the Algarve 2. IRS declarations 3. ETA requirements for EU citizens 4. Alojamento Local registration 5. PSP radars 6. AFPOP Presents… 7. Holidays in April 8. Satellite Offices 9. Social media

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. Annual General Meeting 2. Finanças new scam warning 3. IPMA jellyfish warning (Caravelas Portuguesas) 4. Air Quality by WHO 5. EU to implement new form of identification 6. Viajar sem pressa Campaign 7. Nighttime Parking Program for Residents in Lisbon 8. Portugália strike – reminder 9. Daylight saving time 10. AFPOP Presents… 11. Satellite Offices 12. Social media

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. Annual General Meeting 2. Bus strike Madeira 3. Land Law 4. Almancil becomes a town 5. ETA – Travelling to the UK - reminder 6. Tourism conference 7. Water restrictions Algarve 8. Father’s Day 9. Portugália strike - reminder 10. MOVE.Tavira - reminder 11. AFPOP Presents… 12. Satellite Offices

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. Alojamento Local (AL) update 2. Portugália strike 3. Albufeira bikini ban 4. Lisbon to ban tuk-tuks in the centre 5. e-Fatura communication deadlines - reminder 6. Flight connection Bragança – Portimão 7. Parishes will not be reinstated 8. MOVE.Tavira 9. AFPOP Presents… 10. Carnaval 4th of March 11. Satellite Offices

Included in this Member Briefing: 1. AT alert 2. Online criminal record 3. Alojamento Local (AL) open session in English 4. LPCC screenings calendar 5. New MBWAY transfer limits 6. Household and e-Fatura communication deadlines - reminder 7. Bus strike Coimbra 8. Aljezur swimming pools closed 9. AFPOP Presents… 10. Satellite Offices

For those who frequently struggle with finding their car in crowded parking lots, WAZE has a solution. The popular navigation app has introduced a new 'Find My Car' feature that makes it easier than ever to locate your vehicle.

One of the things that people worry about is what happens to their pets if they are no longer able to take care of them. Whilst long term planning is important, what happens if suddenly there’s an unforeseen emergency and you aren’t able to tell people about your pet at home?

A sophisticated online fraud where victims are groomed over time to invest in a fake cryptocurrency scheme. The scammers gradually build trust and manipulate victims into making larger and larger investments, eventually disappearing with the funds.

We are all aware of the increasing cost of living and many Members will experience the pleasure of going from store to store to compare prices on food and drink.

If the property was purchased without financing and one of the owners dies, the property will go to their closest family members. This also applies even if there is a will. Therefore, the law stipulated in the Civil Code is used and at least 2/3 of the inheritance of the property is divided among the legitimate heirs. In this case, the legislation determines the following hierarchy regarding the heirs:

There is often a doubt for people with rental contracts about who is responsible for what with regard to repairs or upkeep of the property. Most of the doubts can be overcome by including the details in the rental agreement, but what should be paid for by whom?