Consumer returns and warranty in Portugal (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Consumers have 14 days to cancel distance and off-premises contracts. The seller is liable for defects that appear within 3 years of delivery of goods. Defects appearing within 2 years are presumed to have existed at delivery.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel online purchasesReturning a purchase | For contracts made at a distance or away from business premises, the consumer may cancel within 14 days without giving a reason and without costs other than those set by law. For goods, the period runs from the day the consumer or a third party they name takes physical possession. It is 30 days for certain contracts made away from business premises. [1] |
| Returns from shopsReturning a purchase | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Legal guarantee for defectsReturning a purchase | The seller is liable for any lack of conformity that appears within 3 years of delivery of the goods. For used movable goods the parties may agree to reduce this to 18 months, unless the goods are advertised as refurbished. [2] |
| Burden of proofReturning a purchase | A lack of conformity that appears within 2 years of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery, unless this is incompatible with the nature of the goods or the defect. If the parties reduced the period for used goods, the presumption lasts 1 year. After the presumption period, the consumer must prove the defect existed at delivery. [2] |
| Goods excluded from cancellingReturning a purchase | Unless the parties agree otherwise, no right to cancel for services fully performed with consent, goods or services priced on financial-market fluctuations, goods made to the consumer's specification or clearly personalised, goods that cannot be returned or spoil quickly, sealed goods unsuitable for return for health or hygiene reasons once opened, goods inseparably mixed with other items, sealed recordings or software once opened, newspapers and magazines (except subscriptions), public auctions, and accommodation, transport, car hire, catering or leisure services with a set date. Digital content not on a physical medium is excluded once performance has begun with the consumer's consent. [1] |
Notes
- The texts come from the Lisbon district prosecutor's law database, not from Diário da República itself. The page for Decree-Law 24/2014 is marked as the updated version (latest of 7 versions).
- Decree-Law 24/2014 applies to contracts made at a distance and away from business premises (art. 1). The text read does not state a rule for goods bought in a shop.
Sources
- Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (compilation of Diário da República): DL n.º 24/2014, de 14 de Fevereiro - Contratos celebrados à distância e fora do estabelecimento comercial (versão actualizada) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (compilation of Diário da República): DL n.º 84/2021, de 18 de Outubro - Direitos do consumidor na compra e venda de bens, conteúdos e serviços digitais (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.