What you need to know about the Portuguese Census 2021

27 April 2021

Every 10 years a general census is done to the general Portuguese population. It is carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and it is an essential tool to know more about the people who live in the country, to collect their data and to conduct statistical studies. This being said, please find below more information:

 

When should I fill in the census?

 

The request to answer the census has begun on 19th of April and the deadline is the 3rd of May 2021.

 

Is it mandatory to answer?

 

Yes:

  • Whether you are a foreigner of not, if you are living in Portugal for at least one year, and you are planning to stay for at least another year, it is mandatory to answer the census.

 

No:

  • If you are not living in Portugal for at least one year, and you are not planning to stay for at least another year.
  • If you will only be residing in the country after the 3rd of May.

 

What is the process like?

 

Letters have been distributed across the country, therefore, check your mailbox. A letter with a code and a password, exclusively for each apartment/house, has been delivered.


Go to censos2021.ine.pt and log in with such code and password.


Can I answer the census in English?


Yes, you can. Please select EN on the top right corner.


If I have any doubts, who should I call?

 

You can call the Census customer service line at +351 21 054 20 21, your Parish (Junta de Freguesia) or you can drop us an e-mail at info@lvpadvogados.com.

In Portuguese law, an employment relationship is characterised by the existence of subordination.
by Margarida Tempera 6 June 2025
Hiring in Portugal imposes numerous obligations on employers, many of which are not always intuitive to those unfamiliar with the national legal framework.
Who is legally required to register their marriage in Portugal, and under what circumstances?
by Danielle Avidago 4 June 2025
To summarise, if you are a Portuguese citizen who got married abroad, you are legally required to register your marriage.
If you live or earn in Portugal, confirm if you must file IRS and stay compliant with tax rules.
by Diogo Pedro 30 May 2025
The deadline to submit the Portuguese Personal Income Tax return (IRS) for income earned in 2024 is 30 June 2025.
Company dissolution in Portugal requires proper steps to ensure a smooth, legally compliant closure.
by Tomás Melo Ribeiro 29 May 2025
Company dissolution in Portugal starts liquidation, a legal process. The business stops but exists until formally closed. Shareholders decide the legal path.
Renting property in Portugal—whether long-term or buy-to-let—can be both profitable and rewarding.
by Margarida Tempera 28 May 2025
Portugal protects tenants, but landlords have legal ways to reclaim property and unpaid rent, with eviction and debt recovery procedures, lease or not.
Since 1 December 2023, applications are only submitted online via a lawyer or previously in person.
by Joana Loureiro Veríssimo 27 May 2025
Portuguese nationality is a right that can be acquired through various means: birth, marriage, parentage, length of residence, or Sephardic Jewish ancestry.
The injunction process lets creditors secure an enforceable title without a full declaratory lawsuit
by Margarida Tempera 22 May 2025
Portuguese law provides a fast, cost-effective and accessible solution through the injunction procedure, established by Decree-Law no. 269/98 of 1 September.
Became Portuguese after birth via an administrative request and by fulfilling legal requirements.
by Sara Sbai Oliveira 20 May 2025
Portuguese Nationality Law No. 37/81 outlines pathways to citizenship: attribution and acquisition. This article focuses only on acquisition.
The 2025 elections took place yesterday, with the Democratic Alliance (AD) securing victory.
19 May 2025
The right-wing coalition of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the People's Party (CDS) won 32.7% of votes, securing 89 parliamentary seats.
Proper legal guidance is essential to ensuring parental responsibilities are fulfilled.
by Joana Torres Fernandes 15 May 2025
This overview aims to assist individuals considering divorce or already in the process of separating and having children.
More posts