Knives and pepper spray in Portugal (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: A knife with a blade longer than 10 cm is a bladed weapon, and carrying one without being able to justify it is a crime. Automatic and spring-assisted knives are prohibited. Defence sprays approved under European rules are class E weapons that need a licence to carry.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Folding pocket knivesCarrying in public places | A knife with a blade longer than 10 cm is an "arma branca". A bladed weapon with a hunting, commercial, farming, industrial, forestry, household or sporting use, or kept in a collection, becomes a prohibited class A weapon when it is found outside the places where it is normally used and the carrier cannot justify having it. Carrying such a weapon without justification is a crime (prison up to 4 years or a fine up to 480 days). [1] |
| Locking or one-handed knivesCarrying in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Fixed-blade knivesCarrying in public places | A fixed-blade knife with a blade longer than 10 cm is an "arma branca". Bladed weapons with no hunting, commercial, farming, industrial, forestry, household or sporting use and not part of a collection are prohibited class A weapons; carrying other bladed weapons without being able to justify having them is a crime (prison up to 4 years or a fine up to 480 days). [1] |
| Pepper sprayCarrying in public places | Defence sprays approved under European legislation and not confusable with another weapon or object are class E weapons. Acquiring, holding, using and carrying them may be authorised for holders of a class E licence (or of certain firearms licences). Other defence sprays are prohibited class A weapons. [1] |
| Exceptions and legitimate reasonsCarrying in public places | The law does not apply to justified sale, holding and carrying of swords, sabres, bayonets and other bladed weapons of historical, technical or artistic interest for collection, or for authorised historical re-enactment (the last needs authorisation from the national police). Bladed weapons used for hunting, commercial, farming, industrial, forestry, household or sporting purposes are not class A weapons within the places where they are normally used. [1] |
| Automatic (switchblade) knivesCarrying in public places | Automatic-opening and spring-assisted knives (facas de abertura automática ou de ponta e mola), butterfly knives, throwing knives, stilettos and throwing stars are prohibited class A weapons. Holding or carrying them without authorisation is punished with prison up to 4 years or a fine up to 480 days. [1] |
| Blade length limitsCarrying in public places | A blade or cutting surface longer than 10 cm makes an object an "arma branca" under the definition. The text read gives no rule on a shorter blade. [1] |
Notes
- "Arma branca" (bladed weapon) is defined as a portable object with a blade or other cutting or piercing surface longer than 10 cm, plus butterfly knives, automatic and spring-assisted knives, throwing knives, throwing stars, card-sharp blades, stilettos and objects designed to launch blades, arrows or bolts. The consolidated text read on the Lisbon prosecutors' legislation database is the 2019 version; later amendments were not checked on the Diário da República, which cannot be read without JavaScript.
- The law read names automatic and spring-assisted knives but does not mention locking or one-handed folding knives as a separate type.
- The sale of class E weapons is by declaration of sale. The conditions for a class E licence were not read.
Sources
- Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (Ministério Público), base de dados legislativa: Lei n.º 5/2006, de 23 de Fevereiro – Regime jurídico das armas e munições (versão actualizada, 7.ª versão: Lei n.º 50/2019) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.