Short-term rental rules in Portugal

Register online through the Balcão do Empreendedor (ePortugal) with a prior communication to your council, or at your council or a Loja do Cidadão. If the council doesn't object within the legal period, the registration document with your RNAL number lets you open to guests.

Lisbon, Porto and other municipalities have containment areas where new AL registrations are limited or suspended. Check your council's AL rules before you buy or register.

In apartment buildings, check the condominium rules (regulamento do condomínio) and talk to the administrator. Repeated problems with guests can lead to complaints to the council.

Show your AL number on every listing and advert, and keep a complaints book (livro de reclamações), including the electronic version.

Report every non-Portuguese guest within 3 working days of arrival, and again when they leave, through the SIBA system.

Have a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket, a first aid kit and the national emergency number on display.

Civil liability insurance covering your guests and their stay is mandatory.

Open an activity with the tax authority (Finanças). Under the simplified regime, only part of your AL revenue counts as taxable income, a larger share in containment areas, and it's taxed at your IRS rate. Ask an accountant about the current coefficients.

Lisbon, Porto and many other councils charge a tourist tax per guest per night. Platforms collect it in some cities; check your council's rules.

Since 20 May 2026, platforms must check your RNAL number before a listing stays live and share booking data with the authorities.