The Portugal Property Checklist
2026 edition

Check this before you sign.

The planning and legal checks your lawyer and relocation guides don't cover. Written by an architect registered with the Portuguese Order of Architects.
€100Instant downloadUpdated for the 1 October 2026 reform
One document. Three moments that matter.
01
Before the viewing
What to look for
What to photograph
What to question
02
Before the offer
What to request
What to ask
What to compare
03
Before the CPCV
What to verify
What not to assume
When to stop
Chapter 07
The pre-purchase checklist
1 · The documents
Tax record (caderneta predial)
Land registry certificate
Occupancy permit or proof of exemption
Planning title for any later works
Energy certificate
Condominium declaration
Tenancy contracts, if occupied
Chapter 04
Can I extend, add a floor or build a pool?
Is it listed, or in a protection zone?
What does the master plan allow here?
Any agricultural or ecological reserve?
Is the change of use possible?
Do you need a binding answer (PIP)?
Real pages from the guide — chapter 7 and chapter 4
The expensive mistakes aren't visible at a viewing.
"This extension has always been here."
"The agent said we can build another floor."
"We're only changing the inside."
What matters is what is approved, what the planning rules allow and what the municipal file says.
Inside the checklist
Everything you need to ask, verify and understand.
8 chapters · 2 appendices · 31 pages · Fillable checklist · PT–EN glossary
Property documents
The municipal file
Approved drawings vs. reality
Planning rules and master plan
Extensions and extra floors
Pools and annexes
Protected areas
Legalisation requirements
Costs, taxes and VAT, including the 7.5% IMT for non-residents
Questions for your lawyer
Experience matters
Portugal's planning system is complicated. We work with it every day.
100+
Projects submitted to councils
45+
Municipalities
16 / 18
Mainland districts, plus Madeira and the Azores

Written by architect Martina Pires Cristóvão, founder of MARTINA Architecture in Porto and Lisbon since 2016.

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The Portugal
Property Checklist
€100
VAT included
31-page PDF
Instant download
Updated for the 2026 planning reform
Fillable viewing checklist
PT–EN glossary
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    Questions
    Is this legal advice?
    No. It's general information written by an architect, reflecting the rules in force in September 2026. For your purchase, always have your own lawyer.
    Does it cover Madeira and the Azores?
    Yes. The guide covers Madeira and the Azores as well as the mainland. Keep in mind that every municipality has its own local regulations on top of the national rules, so the details can change from one council to the next.
    Can I get a refund?
    Payments are processed by Stripe, which handles refund requests in line with EU consumer rules. If there's a problem with the file, write to us and we'll sort it out.