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Portugal

Portugal allows selling images of public buildings and art, subject to crediting the creator and the Berne three-step test.

By Joel Kelly Verified Jun 28, 2026 2 sources
Permit: conditionalPanorama: Full, with limits

Shoot decision

Depends on setup

Street photography in public needs no permit. Commercial crews and shoots at managed monuments require authorization or a fee.

Permit

Conditional

Issuer: Local authority or monument manager for commercial shoots; no permit for personal street photography

Cost: No permit for personal photography; commercial productions and managed heritage sites need authorization

Street photography in public needs no permit. Commercial crews and shoots at managed monuments require authorization or a fee.

Drone / airspace

Governed by EASA rules via ANAC; register as an operator under the Open or Specific category

For category detail, see Drone Authority.

Street / public space

Yes to photograph, but publishing a recognizable person generally needs consent under the Civil Code right to image (Art. 79)

Exceptions cover public figures, public events, and people incidental to a scene.

Freedom of panorama

Full, with limits

Article 75(2)(q) of the Copyright Code permits photographing and publishing works permanently in public places, including commercial use, but uses are bound by the Berne three-step test and you should credit the author. Treat single-artwork merchandise more cautiously than cityscapes.

Practical notes

  • Selling a photo of a Lisbon facade or public sculpture is generally fine; credit the artist or architect where possible.
  • A product sold at scale whose sole subject is one copyrighted artwork is the case where the three-step test could be invoked.

Guidance, not legal advice

Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.

Drone Authority

Check the flight side

Photography access and drone permission are separate questions. Drone Authority covers the flight-law side for this country.

Field kit

Travel kit for publication risk

Match more field gearCheck field deals

Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify the rules first, then buy only what keeps the shoot practical.

Plan the travel shoot

Sources

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