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The neoclassical Sao Bento Palace, seat of Portugal's parliament in Lisbon, with the national flag flying under a clear blue sky

Portugal Creates Two New Prison-Reintegration Careers With Pay Rising Up to €481 a Month by 2027

Portugal has created two new DGRSP social-reintegration careers for prison and probation staff, with pay rising up to €481 a month by 2027 and a €225 monthly risk supplement. Around 450 workers are affected in a targeted public-sector deal struck days after the labour-law overhaul stalled.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

A yellow CP suburban train stopped at a Porto station platform under overhead electric lines

Alstom Breaks Ground on a Matosinhos Train Factory Set to Build 81 of CP's 153 New Carriages

PM Luís Montenegro laid the first stone of a ~€28 million Alstom train factory in Matosinhos on 30 June. It will build 81 of the 153 new trains CP ordered under a €746 million contract, create about 300 direct jobs and start production in 2028, with first deliveries in 2029.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Flat illustration of a courier in a blue uniform handing a red cardboard parcel to a customer signing a delivery note

Shoppers in Portugal Face a €3 Customs Charge on Non-EU Parcels as the €150 Duty-Free Exemption Expires July 1

From 1 July, parcels from Shein, Temu and AliExpress lose Portugal's €150 duty-free exemption and carry a new €3 customs handling charge per product category. The EU-wide reform, brought forward from 2028, aims to curb low-value Chinese imports and level the field for EU sellers.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

An elderly woman with white hair and glasses smiling in a park, wearing a magenta gilet over a blue top

Portugal Ends Postal and Email Proof of Life for Overseas Pensioners, With a 15 September Deadline

From 1 May, Portugal's Segurança Social no longer accepts proof of life by post or email, and has added Canada to the mandatory list. Pensioners abroad have until 15 September to comply digitally or in person, or payments are suspended from November. The rule goes universal in 2027.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

A driver's hand gripping the steering wheel of a car travelling along a coastal road under a hazy sky

Portugal Lets Learner Drivers Train With a Tutor Instead of an Instructor Under a New July Rule

A decree published on 30 June lets category B learner drivers train with a private tutor, not only a paid instructor. The tutor needs a 10-year licence and takes on legal liability, schools must notify the IMT, and the exam is blocked for 90 days. It takes effect in late July.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Getting a Portuguese Mobile Phone Plan in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Prepaid vs Contract SIMs, MEO/NOS/Vodafone/Digi, Number Portability, the NIF Requirement and eSIMs

Getting a Portuguese Mobile Phone Plan in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Prepaid vs Contract SIMs, MEO/NOS/Vodafone/Digi, Number Portability, the NIF Requirement and eSIMs

You need a Portuguese mobile number for MB Way, the Chave Movel Digital and everyday two-factor logins. A practical guide to prepaid vs contract SIMs, MEO/NOS/Vodafone/Digi, number portability, eSIMs, EU roaming and what it costs in 2026.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Portugal Recorded 120 Fatal Workplace Accidents in 2024, Down 11.8% as Total Injuries Edged Up

Portugal Recorded 120 Fatal Workplace Accidents in 2024, Down 11.8% as Total Injuries Edged Up

Portugal recorded 120 workplace-accident deaths in 2024, an 11.8% fall from 2023, official GEP data show, though total accidents rose 1.3% to 187,018. Construction accounted for a third of the deaths, and small firms carried a disproportionate share.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

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