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A Porto street with residential buildings of different eras: an older tiled house, a new apartment block and one under renovation behind scaffolding

The Licença de Utilização in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the Habitation Use Licence, the 2024 Simplex Urbanístico Shift to a Termo de Responsabilidade, the Pre-1951 Exemption, and How It Differs From the Caderneta and Registo Predial

The licença de utilização certifies a property may legally be used, but the 2024 Simplex reform changed how it works and dropped it from the deed. Our 2026 guide covers when you still need it, the pre-1951 exemption, costs, and how it differs from the caderneta and registo predial.
The Portugal Brief