New State of Emergency – What Changes from 9th December Onwards
9 December 2020
A new State of Emergency has come into force at 12am on the 9th December. Since it changes every two weeks, this new State of Emergency is adopted until the 23rd December.
The rules are the same as before and keep the whole territory divided in 4 COVID levels:
- Moderate: Municipalities with < 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days;
- High: Municipalities with a number of cases between 240 and 479 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days;
- Very high: Municipalities with a number of cases between 480 and 959 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days;
- Extremely high: Municipalities with > 960 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days.
Where do I check which level is my municipality?
Please click here
to know which municipalities are within the 4 levels.
What changed from the previous State of Emergency?
For municipalities with a “high” risk level, in addition to the measures applied to the entire continental territory:
- Action to monitor compliance with mandatory remote working;
- Maintenance of the opening hours of establishments (10pm, except restaurants and cultural facilities at 10:30pm).
For “very high” and “extremely high”
municipalities, in addition to the measures applied to the entire national territory, the following also apply:
- Action to monitor compliance with mandatory remote working;
- Prohibition of circulation on public roads between 11pm and 5am on weekdays;
- Prohibition of circulation on public roads after 1pm, during the next two weekends (12-13 and 19-20 December);
- During weekends, commercial establishments and restaurants must close at 1pm (with a few exceptions).
Which measures are applicable in the 4 zones?
1. Mandatory use of mask in the workplace
2. There is the possibility of carrying out body temperature measurements, through non-invasive means, at:
- Workplaces;
- Educational institutions;
- Means of transportation;
- Commercial, cultural and sporting venues.
3. There is also the possibility of requiring diagnostic tests for COVID-19, in access to:
- Health facilities;
- Residential venues;
- Educational establishments
- Professional establishments at the entrance and exit of national territory – by air or sea
- Other locations, by determination of the DGS.
4. Another measure is to mobilize human resources to strengthen screening capacity (e.g., conducting epidemiological surveys, contact screening, monitoring of people under active surveillance);
In summary
All citizens living in the country must join in a nation-wide effort to contain the virus.
Luís Maria Branco | Lawyer
Brexit changed UK citizens' residency status in Portugal. Learn how the Withdrawal Agreement affects permanent residence rights for Britons living in Portugal.
Discover Portugal's new Job Seeker Visa for qualified professionals. Find out eligibility requirements, application process, and career opportunities in 2025.
Comprehensive overview of Portugal taxation on ETFs, shares, bonds and crypto, covering capital gains, tax rates and resident regimes such as IFICI+ and NHR.
"Hiring Portuguese freelancers offers flexibility for foreign firms, but misclassification risks in contracts can lead to heavy penalties and unexpected liabilities.
Foreign companies must distinguish contractors from employees in Portugal, as each is governed by a distinct legal regimes with different obligations in Portugal.
Birth in Portugal doesn’t guarantee nationality. Under Article 1(1)(f), it depends on parents’ status at birth, residence, and absence of diplomatic service.
Portugal’s Parliament approved a bill to tighten immigration laws, signaling a shift from flexible policies to stricter, more regulated migration controls.
Portugal’s State Budget Proposal for 2026 continues the Government’s gradual approach to fiscal reform, maintaining stability while introducing selective tax relief for households and businesses.
Changing residence permit types in Portugal is possible under Law 23/2007 and its regulation, if the legal framework is carefully applied to evolving situations.