Official letters from Portugal, explained in English

In Portugal, many letters from the tax office and social security also arrive in your online account (Portal das Finanças, Segurança Social Direta) or in the ViaCTT electronic mailbox. Deadlines are often counted in working days (dias úteis), so read them carefully.

Offices that write to you

Finanças / Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT) — Tax office. The tax office. It handles income tax (IRS), property tax (IMI), car tax (IUC), VAT and tax debts.
Segurança Social — Social security. Social security. It pays benefits such as unemployment, sickness and child benefit, and collects contributions.
IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) — Job centre. The public employment service. It helps you find work and checks the job search of people who get unemployment benefits.
AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) — Immigration agency. The immigration agency (it replaced SEF in 2023). It decides on residence permits and their renewal.
Câmara Municipal / Junta de Freguesia — Town hall. Your town hall (câmara) and parish office (junta de freguesia). They handle local fees, licences, parking and certificates of residence.
Tribunal — Court. A court. Court papers (citação, notificação) are always important — never ignore them.
Agente de execução — Enforcement agent. An enforcement agent. Collects debts after a court decision, for example by seizing part of your salary or bank account (penhora).
ANSR / PSP / GNR — Road safety authority. Road traffic fines (coimas) are handled by the road safety authority ANSR, after the police (PSP or GNR) or a speed camera record an offence.
Portagens (Via Verde / Infraestruturas de Portugal) — Toll roads. Unpaid road tolls. If you don’t pay, extra costs are added and the tax office can collect them.
Fornecedor de energia (EDP, Galp, Endesa…) — Energy supplier. The company that sells you electricity or gas.
Serviços de água (SMAS, EPAL, Águas de…) — Water company. Your local water company.
Senhorio / Proprietário — Landlord. The owner of your home, or the agency that manages it.
SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) — Health service. The national health service. It sends appointment letters and, in some cases, bills.
Empresa de cobranças / Recuperação de crédito — Debt collector. A company that collects debts for banks, phone companies or shops. Check that the debt is yours and the amount is right.

Common kinds of letters

Execução fiscal / Penhora — Enforcement. Unpaid tax or a court debt is now collected by force. Part of your salary, pension or bank account can be seized (penhora).
Citação / Injunção — Court case against you. Someone started a court case or a debt order (injunção) against you. You must answer within the deadline, or they can enforce it.
Aviso / Lembrete de pagamento — Payment reminder. A payment is late. If you don’t pay, costs or interest can be added, or the debt can go to enforcement.
Restituição / Reposição de prestações — Request to pay money back. They say they paid you too much, for example unemployment or other benefits, and want the money back.
Auto de contraordenação / Coima — Fine. A fine (coima), for example for speeding, parking or a late tax return. You can usually pay the minimum amount or defend yourself within the deadline.
Nota de liquidação / Nota de cobrança — Tax bill. Your tax bill — for example income tax (IRS), property tax (IMI) or car tax (IUC). It shows the amount, the payment reference and the deadline.
Audiência prévia / Direito de audição — Chance to give your side. They plan a decision and invite you to give your side first, usually within 10 working days. Your answer can change the final decision.
Decisão / Notificação — Decision. A decision about your benefits, residence or another request — for example what you get, a change or that it stops.
Indeferimento — Refusal. Your request was refused. The letter says if and how you can challenge it, and by when.
Deferimento — Approval. Your request was approved. Check that the amounts and dates are right.
Convocatória / Agendamento — Appointment. They want you to come to an appointment, for example at the job centre, AIMA or a hospital. Missing it can cut your benefits or delay your case.
Pedido de documentos / elementos — Request for documents. They need papers or information before they can decide.
Oposição à renovação / Denúncia — End of contract. Someone ends a contract with you — for example your landlord ends the rental contract.
Fatura de energia ou água — Energy or water bill. A bill for electricity, gas or water.

Portuguese office words

Finanças, Portal das Finanças, NIF, NISS, IRS, IMI, IUC, nota de liquidação, nota de cobrança, referência para pagamento, Multibanco, reclamação graciosa, impugnação judicial, execução fiscal, penhora, citação, notificação, injunção — see all 44 words.

Reply templates in Portuguese

Questions

How long do I have to answer an official letter in Portugal?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “prazo”, “até”, “data limite” — they mark the deadline. In Portugal, a letter sent by registered post is usually treated as received on the third day after it was posted. Check if the deadline is in working days (dias úteis) or in calendar days. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“reclamação graciosa”, “audiência prévia”, “defesa”, “oposição”, “impugnação”, “recurso”, “reclamação”).

Can I understand a Portuguese letter without speaking Portuguese?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It reads the Portuguese text on your device, explains it in plain English, finds deadlines and amounts, and can translate the whole letter.

Is my letter uploaded anywhere?

No. Briefly runs completely in your browser. The letter never leaves your device, there is no account, and it works offline after the first visit.