What’s new in 2026

In 2026, several measures adopted by the Government will enter into force, in line with the clear priorities of valuing labour, social cohesion, and modernising the State. 

These decisions cover central areas in Government action, such as income and social protection, taxation, healthcare, education, housing, State modernisation, security, the economy, and Portugal’s international presence. 

Together, they boost household incomes, reduce the tax burden and improve access to essential public services, thereby contributing to consolidating economic growth, boosting stability and executing the transformative agenda that makes the country stronger and more resilient.

More income and social protection

Pursues the policy of rising income for workers and pensioners and social support to the underprivileged

The minimum wage goes up 50 euros to 920 euros in compliance with the Triparty agreement on rising wages and economic growth for 2025-2028.

Pensions, namely the lowest ones, increase 2.8%, above the inflation rate estimated by the Government.

The Solidary Benefit for the Elderly goes up to 670 euros, a 40-euro increase.

The Social Benefit Index value (IAS) goes up to 537,13 euros, a 2.8% rise. This reference amount is used by the State to calculate dozens of Social Security benefits such as the unemployment benefit or the social insertion pay.

The pilot project for home assistance for the elderly, the disabled or incapacitated population (Sad+ Saúde) allows these people to stay close to their families and communities. These projects carry out services such as hygiene, meals, remote assistance, psychosocial support, helping with travel, and others.

The System to Allocate Support Products (SAPA) for disabled or incapacitated persons includes new responses such as biofeedback devices to train motion, strength and balance, compound facial prosthetics, furniture for sitting, mopeds, and portable ramps.

The Military Supplement is increased for all military personnel, effective as of the retirement date, while veterans have their medication 100% co-paid, which is currently 50% out-of-pocket.

Less taxes and more housing assistance

The tax measures are focused on lowering taxes on work and enterprises 

Income tax goes down again with a 0.3-percentage-point cut in the rates for the 2nd to the 5th bracket. The Income Tax brackets are updated by 3.5%, above inflation, and the minimum subsistence level is also updated to ensure the national minimum wage remains income tax free.

The Corporate Income Tax goes down a percentage point again to 19%, relieving in a gradual and sustained way the tax burden on enterprises and setting more favourable conditions for investment, economic activity, and job creation. The aim is to have Corporate Income Tax down to 17% by 2028.

More accessible and resilient healthcare

The National Health Service’s reform continues, generalising and simplifying services and setting up strategic reserves

The new Dental Health Programme extends and simplifies access to the Dentist Voucher, allowing more children and youths aged to 2 to 18 to have dental appointments. The Dentist vouchers and dental appointment records will become available on the SNS 24 app. The new programme consolidates a real National Dental Health Network with the Primary Care practices and Hospital care, the doctors that join these with more offering, proximity and preventive care.

The National Strategic Medicines Reserve and other healthcare products is set up to ensure medication, medical devices and individual protection gear essential to the NHS’s response to crisis or emergency situations are available.

More access to knowledge, culture, and leisure

Equal access to education is fostered, the reform of the scientific system, and investment in sports

First cycle of basic schooling will have 430 new libraries, meaning 50 mil thousand pupils will have access to a school library.

Student housing will have another 4 629 beds, 2 582 of which are new 2 047 rehabilitated, following the conclusion of 46 student houses at the end of 2025.

The new Research and Innovation Agency (AI2) ensures stability and predictability for researchers via a five-year budget, guaranteed through tax revenue. Sums will be allocated to fundamental research, doctoral education, scientific careers, scientific and technological institutions and infrastructure.

The "Accessible and Inclusive Cultural Spaces" seal enters into force to certify the public and private cultural spaces that ensure effective physical, digital, and communications conditions.

The National Sporting Development Plan (PNDD) continues under execution. The plan is the first long-term strategic document for sports in Portugal with a 130-million-euro investment to increase sports practice, foster inclusion, and drive sports in schools and high-performance sports.

A more modern, digital, and efficient State

The State reform will boost the economy’s growth leaving no one behind

The Corporate Digital Wallet is launched to enable having in one single sport all the document essential to corporate activity.

The Digital Skills Pact will have its first year under execution, starting by training three million Portuguese people in digital skills by 2030, fostering vocational reconversion and reducing inequality with a positive impact on employment and access to digital public services, leaving no one behind.

The Public Procurement Code is revised, simplifying the legal scheme and rise in the thresholds to make public tenders swifter, effective, and results-oriented, cutting red tape for companies and accelerating public investment.

The Regional Coordination and Development Commissions will have vice-chairs for the fields of Agriculture, Environment, Culture, Health, and Education to articulate decisions that are closer to the populations in a coordinated de-concentration process.

Heightened security and expedited justice

The immigration policy continues, public safety and security, cybersecurity, and fighting crime are boosted

Controlling illegal immigration and integrating legal immigrants are strengthened under the immigration policy’s structural reform.

The new Nationality Law enters into force. A foreign citizen who wants to become Portuguese needs to have an effective tie to Portugal, speak the language and undertake to respect the values. A structural reform in immigration to enable its regulated control with a focus on boosting a humane integration.

The new rules to join the Public Safety Police enter into force, adjusting the recruitment criteria to actual needs to reinforce public safety and security.

Five dozen interventions to PSP and GNR facilities will be completed to improve the working conditions for officers and the military and boost proximity between law enforcement and the population.

The transposition of the NIS2 Directive and the significant increase in investment in cybersecurity consolidate the resilience of digital infrastructure, data protection, personal information, citizens’ privacy, and fighting cybercrimes.

The manufacturing, modification, transport, procurement, holding or manning illegal speedboats is a crime and more effective sanctions and penalties for criminals will be applied to respond to the growing sophistication of the criminal networks, particularly drugs and people trafficking.

The programme to support the reduction of fuel burden through grazing, an efficient and sustainable method to reduce the conditions of wildland fires occurring, with 30 million euros offered under the Environmental Fund will be implemented.

The "Active Forest" Programme continues with new bids for tender to boost the management and active maintenance of forest spaces, particularly for smallholdings, fostering forests’ resilience, biodiversity, and valuation with a sum of 10 million euros.

A modern and sustainable economy

Investments boost the economy’s competitiveness and make transports and houses more sustainable

The year which wraps up the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) completes many of the projects placed at the service of the communities with an impact on many scales in people’s lives.

The sums under the RRF that are not implemented will be channelled to the companies with innovative projects that boost their competitiveness via the Financial Instrument for Innovation and Competitiveness (IFIC).

Procurement contracts for military equipment that determine setting up in Portugal satellite, armoured vehicles and ammunition manufacturing plants in Portugal, as well as upgrading the Alfeite arsenal.

The CP rail service is strengthened with four new electric rail vehicles arriving (12 carriages). 

The E-LAR (E-HOME) programme: greater comfort and efficiency in homes to replace gas equipment with more efficient and safer electric alternatives, reducing household energy expenses with greater comfort and safety, focusing on the more vulnerable households, continues.

Benefits on purchasing electric vehicles and bikes continues, enabling cleaner, more economic and environmentally friendly travel for households and companies.

Portugal is back on the Formula 1 calendar with the Algarve Grand Prix in the next two years.

The Young Fisherman status is approved to foster entering, keeping, and valuing youths in fisheries and aquaculture through financial incentives and priority in accessing permits and vocational training.

Portugal more present in the world

Improves responses offered to the Portuguese communities and the country’s international presence via cooperation and Portuguese language

The Portuguese consulates abroad will have a greater response capability with more teams and new experts focused on analysing and processing visas, allowing for swifter and more secure services and a better response offered to the Portuguese communities abroad.

The policy to allocate more Portuguese staff to the European institutions via scholarships continues.

International cooperation, an instrument for global peace, development, and justice will be given more resources and a greater capacity to intervene internationally.

Valuing the Portuguese way of being, the language, and the Portuguese communities abroad through the strengthening of ties with lusophone Portuguese-speaking countries, promoting the Portuguese language as a strategic and cultural asset, and valuing the Portuguese communities abroad will see new developments coming forward.

As a whole, these measures represent the Government’s priorities for 2026 with an impact on household incomes, public services, the economy, and social cohesion