Short-Term Stays (Alojamento Local)

Why this regime exists

Alojamento Local (AL) is the legal regime governing any accommodation rental under 30 days — Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, and traditional B&Bs. It exists to bring short-term rentals under tax, safety and consumer-protection rules. Almost every furnished short-stay you'll book in Portugal is an AL.

How to spot a legal AL

Every registered AL has a number (registo de AL) and must display it.

• On the front door: a small AL plaque
• On every online listing: the AL number in the description
• On the welcome book inside the unit: full host details

Pros for arriving expats

AL is the standard soft-landing for the first 1–3 months while you tour neighbourhoods and gather documents for a long-term lease.

• Furnished, no fiador, utilities included
• Bookable remotely with no in-country presence required
• Often includes weekly cleaning and basic supplies
• Flexible cancellation if you find a long-term place fast

What to watch for

AL prices are 2–4× long-term rent for the same unit. After 30 days, hosts are legally moving outside the AL regime — many will switch you to a non-AL temporary contract for a sizeable discount if you ask.

Building-level bans

Since the 2023 'Mais Habitação' law, condomínios can vote to ban new ALs in their buildings. Existing AL licences are mostly grandfathered, but new ones in residential buildings are now restricted in much of central Lisbon and Porto. If you're considering buying to operate as AL, get explicit written confirmation that your unit's licence is active and transferable.

Tax and reporting if you host

ALs are taxed under the simplified regime (categoria B) at 35% of revenue, with VAT (IVA) thresholds and tourist tax (~€2/person/night in Lisbon and Porto) collected from each guest. SEF/AIMA require electronic guest registration within 3 days of every check-in. The compliance load is real — most owners use a platform like Lodgify, Smoobu or a local manager.