Yes, using a VPN in Portugal is legal, provided it complies with EU and national cybersecurity laws. The practice is permitted for privacy, remote work, or bypassing geo-blocks, but not for circumventing copyright enforcement or engaging in illicit activities. The Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM) monitors compliance with the Lei do Cibercrime (Law 12/2021) and Regulamento (UE) 2021/2118, which mandate transparency in VPN providers operating within the EU single market.
Key Regulations for Using a VPN in Portugal
- No circumvention of copyright enforcement: VPNs cannot be used to access pirated content under Decreto-Lei n.º 89/2021, which transposes the EU Copyright Directive. Providers facilitating such access may face penalties under ANACOM oversight.
- Mandatory data retention compliance: VPN services must adhere to Regulamento Geral sobre a Proteção de Dados (RGPD) and may be required to retain connection logs for 12 months if requested by judicial authorities, per Lei n.º 58/2019.
- Prohibition of illegal activities: Using a VPN to mask criminal conduct (e.g., fraud, hacking) violates Código Penal (Articles 268–270) and may trigger investigations by Polícia Judiciária or GNR’s cybercrime units.
Providers must register with ANACOM under Decreto-Lei n.º 12/2022, which aligns with the Digital Services Act (DSA) effective 2026. Non-compliant services risk fines up to €5 million or 4% of global turnover. Users should verify provider transparency regarding server locations and logging policies to avoid unintended legal exposure.