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Law 59/2026 of 25 August, which came into force on 1 September 2026, has introduced the first amendment to the legal framework governing the paid transport of passengers in unmarked vehicles via an electronic platform (TVDE), as approved by Law 45/2018 of 10 August. TVDE covers ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt.
One of the most significant changes is the closer alignment of the rules governing the taxi and TVDE sectors. Companies holding a taxi operator licence can now also operate as TVDE providers, and licensed taxi vehicles can be registered and used to provide TVDE services.
However, when operating through electronic platforms, these vehicles must adhere to the rules governing TVDE activities. They cannot pick up passengers unless the journey has been booked in advance through the platform, and they cannot use taxi ranks for this purpose either.
Applications to become a TVDE operator must now be submitted electronically to the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT). A system of tacit approval has also been introduced. If the IMT does not issue a decision within 30 working days of the fee being paid, the application is deemed to have been approved.
Licences for TVDE operators and electronic platform managers are now valid for a maximum of five years and can be renewed for additional periods of the same length. Any change affecting the requirements for accessing or carrying on the activity must be reported to the IMT within ten working days.
Stricter requirements for drivers and vehicles
The new law strengthens the qualification and certification requirements for TVDE drivers. They are now subject to:
The range of circumstances in which drivers may be considered not to meet the required standards of good repute has also been expanded. Convictions in Portugal or abroad for a broader range of criminal offences are now taken into account. Anyone who has lived outside Portugal for at least six months during the five years preceding their application must submit a criminal record certificate issued by the country of residence in question.
Vehicles used for TVDE activities are also subject to stricter requirements:
Advertising inside and outside TVDE vehicles is now expressly permitted, subject to rules similar to those applying to taxis.
The new rules strengthen the obligations of digital platforms towards their users and drivers. Before and during each journey, platforms must provide information on the route, real-time tracking of the journey, details of the vehicle and the method used to calculate the fare. This must include a breakdown of the total fare, the intermediation fee charged by the platform and any other relevant fare components. The electronic invoice must also detail how the fare was calculated.
If a service is provided by a taxi operating under the TVDE regime, this must be clearly communicated to the user. Platforms must also allow users to request a driver with knowledge of Portuguese and provide an emergency service accessible to both users and drivers.
The law permits TVDE vehicles to use video surveillance systems on an optional basis, provided that particularly strict safeguards are in place. The system must be disabled by default and can only be used with the express, individual consent of both the user and the driver for each journey. Only images may be captured. Audio recording or collection is prohibited.
Images must remain encrypted and inaccessible to the platform, operator, driver and user. They may be accessed only by the competent authorities in accordance with the law. Images may be retained for a maximum of 30 days, after which they must be automatically deleted. Using them for employee monitoring, profiling, facial recognition or emotion detection is also prohibited.
The law establishes a TVDE data-sharing platform managed by the IMT to strengthen the monitoring and supervision of the sector, and to verify compliance with applicable obligations. Electronic platform managers must participate in the system, ensuring interoperability with IMT systems and the transmission and updating of data required to verify operator, driver and vehicle compliance.
Platform compliance will also depend on their technological capabilities. This includes integration with the IMT’s databases, recording drivers’ working hours, monitoring driving and rest time limits, and implementing mechanisms to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Supervisory authorities must have access to the necessary information to perform their duties, in accordance with the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Penalties
The rules on administrative offences have been revised to include an expanded list of offences and updated fines. Fines range from €250 to €4,500 for individuals and from €5,000 to €44,000 for companies. The law clarifies the allocation of responsibilities between drivers, TVDE operators, and platform managers. It also clarifies the powers of the supervisory authorities responsible for imposing penalties.
The changes demonstrate the legislature’s clear intention to strengthen the safety, supervision and transparency of TVDE activities, in order to protect passengers and safeguard those working in the sector.
The new framework will require the various participants in the sector to adapt to more demanding requirements regarding training, operational controls, and information reporting. Nevertheless, this stronger regulatory framework should improve the safety, quality and traceability of these services, ultimately increasing consumer confidence and strengthening the sector’s credibility.