Several public services in Portugal will operate for just two days this week, following the government’s decision to grant a long New Year holiday to civil servants.
As during the Christmas period last week, New Year arrangements will again affect the opening hours of public offices nationwide. Friday, January 2, has been declared a ‘bridge holiday’ (called ‘ponte’ in Portugal), meaning most public services will be closed, explains Diário de Notícias today.
AIMA offices
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is covered by this extended holiday. Its service counters will remain open until Tuesday, December 30, and will close from Wednesday, December 31. Normal operations are due to resume on Monday, January 5.
December 29 and 30 are the only days of in-person service before activities are fully suspended until January 5, 2026. Despite the closure of counters, online processing will continue, says the government. Immigrants requiring an in-person appointment will be contacted by email and directed to the appropriate office.
Citizen, Finance and Social Security offices
Other public services frequently used by national and foreign citizens, including Finanças, Social Security and Citizen Service Centres (Lojas do Cidadão), will also close for three days. These offices are scheduled to reopen on Monday, January 5.
Consulate open on January 2
The Consulate General in Lisbon will not observe the extended holiday, writes DN. Services will operate normally on Friday, January 2, with closures only on December 30 and 31.
Shops, banks and transport
Opening hours for shops will vary. Many shopping centres will operate on reduced opening hours on December 30. Lisbon’s Colombo Shopping Centre, for example, will be open from 8am to 7pm on New Year’s Eve. It will remain closed on January 1 and reopen on Friday, January 2.
Banks and post offices will be closed on December 31 and January 1, 2026.
Public transport services may run on reduced timetables. In Lisbon, however, the metro will operate until 1am on the night of December 30 to 31, and services will start at 6.30am on January 1.
