General Daily Briefing: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Getting a Proof of Residence (Atestado de Residência) in Portugal
How to get a residence certificate from your parish council in Portugal: who can ask, what proof to bring, the witness rule, fees, and when you need one.
Good morning. Here is your Saturday briefing for 7 November 2026: the day's essential Portugal stories for residents, immigrants and anyone keeping an eye on the country, below this week's featured guide.
- Cash: shops in Portugal can turn away notes and coins without a fine, the Banco de Portugal admits, until an EU regulation still under negotiation bans "no cash" signs.
- Lusa: the state news agency has had no director of information since midnight, for the first time in its history, while the media regulator weighs two nominees.
- Flight threats: police searched a Ryanair plane in Lisbon after a hoax bomb threat on Friday, and Observador reports two TAP flights were also targeted.
- Matosinhos: the council has ordered a six-home block in Perafita emptied at once over an imminent collapse risk, eight years after residents first reported cracks.
- Santo António: the health inspectorate found Porto's hospital had no control of doctors' hours or private work after the Castro Alves case.
- São Tomé: its government is contesting a Portuguese court seizure of a central bank account over a 5.5 million euro hydro debt.
Also today: in Madeira, IPMA's orange warnings for heavy rain and strong wind run from 18:00 tonight until early Sunday.
Your Cash Can Still Be Refused
Shops in Portugal that turn away banknotes and coins face no fine, and the Banco de Portugal says it has no power to change that, Público reports. An EU regulation in talks since its proposal in June 2023 would ban "no cash" signs and let each country set penalties within two years of taking force. Parliament and Council have not yet reached a deal.
Lusa Without a News Director
Lusa has had no director of information in office since midnight, for the first time in its history, according to its elected newsroom council. The interim team's term ran out on Friday, and the regulator ERC, which has ten days to give a binding opinion, has not yet ruled on Diana Ramos or on interim pick Pedro Sousa Carvalho.
Hoax Bomb Threats Reach Lisbon
Europe's wave of hoax bomb threats reached Lisbon on Friday: the PSP searched Ryanair flight FR8197 to Rome, found nothing, and the flight left almost three hours late. Observador reports two TAP flights to Paris and Copenhagen were also threatened mid-air, on an FBI warning. Threats have hit 24 flights in a week; none was real.
A Perafita Block at Risk of Collapse
Matosinhos council has ordered a privately owned block of six homes at 625 Rua das Farrapas, Perafita, to be vacated immediately after a study found an imminent threat of ruin. Residents first reported cracks to Civil Protection in 2018. The council says it will assess a social housing response if necessary; the law requires rehousing when a council evicts tenants to do compulsory works.
Inspectors Fault Santo António
IGAS has closed its inspection of Eurico Castro Alves, surgery director at ULS Santo António in Porto, after finding the hospital had no attendance controls and no check on doctors' outside work, Público reports. He was paid more than 178,000 euros for extra surgery coordination from 2021 to 2025 without recording his hours. The ULS has adopted all four IGAS recommendations.
São Tomé's Account Seized in Portugal
Synergies Investments has had an account of São Tomé and PrÃncipe's central bank seized in Portugal to enforce a claim of about €5.5 million over a hydroelectric contract cancelled in the mid-2000s. Finance minister Gareth Guadalupe invokes sovereign immunity, says state payments are unaffected, and says the government had already offered to settle the debt early.
Also published since yesterday's briefing
- The Braga Brief, Week of 6 November 2026: IHRU Pre-Approves 298 Affordable Flats in Lamaçães, Barcelos' Former Mayors Are Acquitted, and Braga Beat Famalicão 3-0 Read →
- Portugal's Average Full-Time Salary Climbs to 26,202 Euros, Still the EU's Ninth Lowest, but Pay Has Outrun Prices Since 2019 Read →
- A Stench and Swarms of Flies in Aljustrel, Castro Verde and Mértola Prompt an Environment Inspection of the Sludge Spread on Farms Read →
- Diesel and Petrol Set to Fall 9 to 12.5 Cents a Litre on Monday, Taking Petrol Back Below 2 Euros for the First Time Since August Read →
- Portugal Is Outside Every EU Migratory Pressure Category, but Brussels Places It Second for Hits on Return Alerts Relative to Its Size Read →
- Metro Mondego Nearly Doubles Sunday Evening Departures From Coimbra-B to 39 From 15 November, Halving the Average Wait to Seven Minutes Read →
- Government Offers Councils 477 Empty State Buildings for Affordable Housing and Culture, With Until 31 December to Claim Them Read →
- Constitutional Court Rejects Two More Montenegro Appeals Over Access to His Spinumviva Declaration, and His Office Says the Judges Did Not Rule on the Substance Read →
- Aveiro Councillors Back a Master Plan Change to Let Homes Rise Higher After Gaining 7,700 Residents in Four Years Read →
- Moedas Orders the Housing Camp Off the Rossio to Make Room for the Christmas Market, and the Protester Asks the Court to Void It Read →
- Nine in Ten Pensions Should Rise 3.3 Percent in January, Half a Point Above Inflation, the Social Security Secretary of State Tells MPs Read →
- Alentejo 2030 Makes 46.1 Million Euros of EU Money Available for Affordable Rentals, Student Rooms and Staff Housing, With the First Round Closing on 30 November Read →
- A Baby Born Missing Four Fingers Puts a Seixal Ultrasound Clinic Under Health Inspectorate Scrutiny, After Pregnancy Scans Called His Hands Normal Read →
