Portugal signs a face-covering ban into law
President António José Seguro signed the ban on 18 August 2026, after parliament passed it in July. Amnesty International says it threatens several human rights. Fines reach €3,000.
Portugal's president António José Seguro signed the country's face-covering ban into law on 18 August 2026, saying the face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication.
How it got here
17 October 2025: parliament approved a first version, originating with the far-right Chega party and supported by the governing Social Democratic Party and Liberal Initiative.
That draft named Islamic garments explicitly, and drew objections that it conflicted with Article 41 of the Portuguese Constitution, which protects freedom of religion. It was revised.
17 July 2026 — parliament passed the revised bill by a two-thirds majority.
18 August 2026 — signed into law.
What it covers
Face coverings worn for religious or gender-related reasons, in most public spaces: public roads, services, sporting events, demonstrations. Fines for wearing one range from €150 to €3,000; separately, coercing someone into wearing one is a criminal offence carrying a fine or up to two years in prison.
Exemptions cover health, work, artistic and weather-related needs, and places of worship, diplomatic missions and aircraft.
The objection
Amnesty International's assessment, published July 2026, is that a blanket ban on face coverings threatens several human rights. Other rights organisations have raised similar concerns, and a constitutional challenge was reported in October 2025.
Sources. Amnesty International · JURIST · Al Jazeera, October 2025 · The Straits Times
Summarised from the reporting above. Details of implementation are still settling; this page carries the date it was last checked.