A Filmmaker’s Guide
to Shooting in Portugal
Our company works with local professionals to make sure you
are getting the right help throughout media production.
Permits in Portugal: What You Need to Know
To film in Portugal you must have film permits from the local municipalities, known as Câmaras Municipais, or from the Portugal Film Commission. This goes across the board for any large production that takes place outdoors in a public space or in an area of historical interest.
As applications can take up to a month to process, you are advised to make your permit requests early. The only time you won’t need to apply for permits is if the video you’re making is a private, non-commercial project or involves a small crew and limited equipment.
Timing Your Portugal Film Production around the Weather
One of the pluses of filming in Portugal is the fact thatit’s mostly sunny the whole year round. The only exception to this is Porto and other areas further north such as Gralheira, where the winters are usually colder, rainy and can even experience below-zero temperatures. The rest of the country, however, is warm in spring and autumn, and particularly hot and sunny in the summer. The Algarve region in the south of the country, for example, is famed for its 3,000 hours of annual sunshine. That means there’ll be no shortage of daylight hours to film in, though care must be taken to ensure your equipment is well-protected from the sun and your crew is adequately hydrated while the camera rolls.
Planning Filming Equipment Rental & Local Crew Logistics
You can easily transport your equipment to Portugal, no matter where abouts you’re filming. However, as top-rated audiovisual equipment is readily found in Portugal, it may be cheaper and more efficient to rent locally. If you partner with us as your on-the-ground media production support company, you can be certain of securing full filming kits at discount prices.
We’ll also help you hire a fully-vetted and skillful crew, from the large pool of English-speaking film professionals at work in Portugal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it an ATA carnet country?
Yes, it is.
Is it safe for me and my team to film there?
Yes.
Do I need a visa or a work visa to film there?
If your shoot lasts less than 3 months in Portugal, you do not need a work visa.
Do I need a local company to film or get visas there?
No.
Do I need a permit for drones?
Yes. If you want to operate the drone yourself or bring a foreign operator, you will need to apply directly to the authorities, and processing your application usually takes three weeks. The easiest and fastest way is to hire a local drone operator.
Is there a cash rebate/tax exemption or any other fiscal advantage?
Yes, Portugal has an approximate 25% cash rebate on eligible film/TV, audiovisual and VOD productions. Applications are assessed twice a year. You can ask your local production partner to guide you through the process.
Can I shoot in a national park and, if so, under what circumstances?
Yes, if you have authorisation from the main authorities, and adhere to the limitations and fees.
Working with Fixer Portugal
As a member of the international production support network, Storytailors, we’ve been able to grow as one of the leading film fixer companies in Portugal. As a result we’ve managed crew hire, permit applications, location scouting, translator services, logistics and more on projects for Netflix, Adidas, UNESCO, and RTL’s popular TV show, Oliver Pocher mit Papa Gerd in Portugal.