The AL (Alojamento Local) licence is Portugal's short-term rental registration. Without it, you cannot legally operate accommodation. Every Airbnb listing in Portugal requires an AL number. Every hotel reservation platform requires it. And every guest who wants a legal receipt (factura) for their stay requires it.
Getting it is not technically difficult. But the process has several non-obvious steps that caught us completely unprepared. Here's what we learned.
## What You Need Before You Start
**1. A valid habitation licence (licença de utilização) for the accommodation building.** This is the most common blocker. If your accommodation is an unconverted ruin, a barn, or any structure without a valid utilização licence, you cannot get an AL licence. The accommodation must be legally habitable before it can be legally let.
For new builds: the licença de utilização is issued by the Câmara after final construction inspection. For renovated buildings: if the original building has a valid licence and your renovation work had a building permit, the utilização licence is updated after inspection.
**2. Compliance with fire safety requirements.** The AL regulations require specific fire safety measures: fire extinguishers (one per floor), smoke detectors, emergency lighting, fire blanket in the kitchen. The specifications depend on the accommodation category. For rural houses and small-scale accommodation (fewer than 9 units), the requirements are less onerous than for larger establishments, but they are mandatory and inspected.
**3. A Portuguese NIF (tax number).** You need this as an individual or as a company.
**4. A fiscal address in Portugal.** Either your personal address or the company registered address.
## The Process: Step by Step
**Step 1: Complete the accommodation registration in the SIIOP-T portal.** SIIOP-T is the Turismo de Portugal registry system. You register the accommodation details, declare the number of rooms and beds, and upload the required documents (habitation licence, your NIF, identity documents). This is all done online.
**Step 2: Notify the Câmara Municipal.** The AL legislation requires prior notification to the Câmara Municipal where the accommodation is located. This is done via the BUE (Balcão Único Electrónico) portal or in person. The Câmara has 10 days to object. In practice, they rarely object to rural accommodation if the building has its licences in order.
**Step 3: Wait for the SIIOP-T confirmation.** Turismo de Portugal processes the registration and issues the AL number. Timeline: 5–20 working days if documentation is complete.
**Step 4: Register for fiscal purposes.** Notify AT (Autoridade Tributária) that you are operating accommodation and register the activity code (CAE 55201 for Turismo Rural or 55900 for other accommodation). Your contabilista handles this.
## The Common Mistakes
**Applying before the habitation licence is issued.** Don't. The application will be rejected and you'll restart the clock.
**Forgetting the fire safety compliance.** The Câmara can (and sometimes does) inspect. Missing a fire extinguisher or a smoke detector can delay your licence.
**Not registering with AT simultaneously.** The AL licence and the AT fiscal registration are separate. Both must be completed before you legally issue invoices. We made the mistake of getting the AL number but not completing the AT registration immediately — we issued our first three reservations without the correct activity code registered.
**Thinking the AL number is the same as the Turismo Rural classification.** It's not. An AL licence covers you for legal operation. A Turismo Rural classification requires additional inspection and standards compliance. For most rural retreats, you need both — but they are separate processes.
## How Long It Actually Takes
With complete documentation, a clear habitation licence, and a competent contabilista/architect: 30–60 days from application to AL number in hand.
With complications (incomplete fire safety, habitation licence issues, Câmara delays): 3–6 months.
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*We can recommend a contabilista familiar with the AL licence process for rural Norte properties.*