Pets on chains or balconies: what Portugal's new law changes

November 7, 2026, Portugal

Morning. It's Saturday, 7 November. Lisbon 20° · Porto 20° · Faro 22°, with showers on and off in the north and centre and a dry day in the Algarve. Madeira has orange warnings for rain and wind from 6pm. Let's get into it.

📰 THE MAIN STORY

Dogs and cats kept on a chain all day, or living on a balcony, could soon be against the law. Parliament has approved two bills from PAN, the People-Animals-Nature party, that ban keeping companion animals permanently tethered or housed on balconies, reported by The Portugal News and DN. PSD and CDS-PP, the parties in government, voted against, and PCP abstained.

What it means for you: if you have a dog or cat, this is what the new rules cover.

Watch out for: nothing changes yet. The president can sign the law, veto it or send it to the Constitutional Court. Once it's published in the Diário da República, the official gazette, the government has 90 days to set the detailed rules, including fines. Until then, no one can be fined under it, according to the consumer site e-konomista.

Some rules already apply. A flat can house up to three adult dogs or four adult cats, with no more than four animals in total, and the council can allow up to six. If you see an animal in distress now, you can call SEPNA, the GNR's environment service, on 808 200 520, at any hour, or contact the PSP or the council vet.

In short: pets on chains or living on balconies are on their way out, but the new rules aren't in force yet.

⚡ IN BRIEF

Construction has started on the first stretch of Portugal's high-speed railway, 71 km of new double track between Porto's Campanhã station and Oiã, in the Aveiro district, reported by The Portugal News. Trains on the line will run at up to 300 km/h. The long-term aim is a journey of about 1 hour 15 minutes between Lisbon and Porto.

The consortium AVAN won the 30-year concession in July 2025, and its first five years cover design, construction and certification. No opening date has been given yet, so today's trains stay as they are for now.

AIMA, the immigration agency, is expected to give priority to its backlog of Golden Visa residence permits next year, the minister of the presidency, António Leitão Amaro, told parliament during the budget debate, reported by The Portugal News. AIMA's budget would rise by about 50%, from €97 million to €146 million, funded mainly by immigration fees.

This applies only to investors waiting for a first permit or a renewal. No timetable for clearing the backlog has been announced, and the budget still needs final approval.

The government plans to digitise traffic fines, bring back the GNR's traffic brigade and revise the Highway Code next year, the minister of internal administration, Luís Neves, said, reported by The Portugal News. The revision targets speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with tougher penalties for repeat offenders and more time for the authorities to pursue fines.

The traffic brigade is due back in the first months of 2027. The details still need approval from the Council of Ministers and parliament, so nothing changes for drivers yet.

📍 WORTH THE TRIP

Halfway up the zigzag staircase, with fountains at every landing and the white basilica still above you, Braga starts to spread out below. Bom Jesus do Monte is a hillside sanctuary on the edge of the city, about 10 minutes by car from the centre and less than an hour from Porto. Its Baroque stairway and gardens became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

There are 573 steps in three flights, the stairs of the Portico, the Five Senses and the Three Virtues, each lined with symbolic fountains and statues. At the top are the basilica, free to enter, a 19th-century park with paths and a grotto, and a small lake. The catch: the climb is steep, and parking at the top is limited and paid.

Before you go: if you'd rather not climb, the Elevador do Bom Jesus, opened in 1882, takes a few minutes. It's said to be the oldest funicular in the world still running on a water counterweight: the top cabin fills with water and its weight pulls the other one up. TUB city bus 2 runs from central Braga.

Local tip: the shrine of Sameiro is about 3 km further up the hill, with a woodland path between the two.

Find it here: Google Maps

WORD OF THE DAY

Say it: TREH-luh

Meaning: a dog lead

“Não te esqueças da trela, vamos passear o cão.”
Don't forget the lead, we're taking the dog for a walk.

You'll see "cães com trela" (dogs on leads) on signs in parks and on beaches. In Brazil, people more often say guia, and coleira is the collar in both countries.

North

Centre

South

Islands

Save the date

Até amanhã,

Gabriel - DailyPortugal