Running a business as a stallholder or street vendor
Before starting to sell at a market stall or as a street vendor, you must submit a simple prior notification (Mera Comunicação Prévia – MCP) to the Directorate-General for Economic Activities (DGAE). This entails completing a form confirming that you meet all the conditions for carrying out that business activity.
Service channels
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Online
To carry out this service you need to login with one of the following means of authentication:
- Digital Mobile Key (CMD)
- Citizen Card
- Digital certificate
Authentication issues with Digital Mobile Key
- If you have problems accessing the form during the authentication process, we suggest authenticating directly on the portal and then accessing the service.
Video call support
- This service can be performed with video call support. Click on the "Support" button on the right side of the page to schedule a video call.
Before clicking on the "Perform service" button, first select the district and municipality where your business is located for more information.
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At the counter
Citizen Spots and Business Spots
The service is available in all Citizen Spots and in the Business Spots of the Citizen Shops in Braga, Porto, Setúbal and Viseu.
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Telephone
Call 210 489 011
You can get support or carry out this service over the phone. To carry out the service by telephone you need to:
- have the Digital Mobile Key (CMD) active
- have the gov.pt app for Android, Huawei or iOS installed on a smartphone with biometrics capabilities (facial recognition or fingerprint).
Call 210 489 011 or 300 003 980 (business days from 9am to 6pm).
- If you need to attach documents, you won't be able to carry out the service over the phone.
Call charge: cost of a call to the national landline, according to the contracted call package.
How much
This service is free of charge.
If you choose to submit a simple prior notification at a municipal council service desk, you may have to pay a fee. Check with your local council whether or not you have to pay, and how much.
This service is free of charge.
If you choose to submit a simple prior notification at a municipal council service desk, you may have to pay a fee. Check with your local council whether or not you have to pay, and how much.
This service is free of charge.
If you choose to submit a simple prior notification at a municipal council service desk, you may have to pay a fee. Check with your local council whether or not you have to pay, and how much.
Validity
The MCP does not have an expiry date. It does not need to be renewed.
Obligations
Before submitting the Prior Notification (MCP) form, make sure you comply with:
- the general requirements to carry out economic activities (check the list of these requirements in Article 3 of the Legal Framework for Access to and Exercise of Trade, Services and Catering Activities – RJACSR)
- the specific rules for market trader and street vendor activities, set out in Articles 74, 75, 76 and 81 of the RJACSR
- the municipal regulations that define how markets operate and the conditions for street trading. To check these regulations, contact the relevant municipal council
In addition, you must have an active tax registration with the Tax Authority under one of the following activity codes (according to the Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities – CAE):
- 7810 – Activities of employment placement agencies
- 47112 – Non-specialised retail trade at stalls, markets and mobile units of food, beverages and tobacco
- 47123 – Retail trade at stalls, markets and mobile units of textiles, clothing, footwear, bags and similar
- 47124 – Non-specialised retail trade at stalls, markets and mobile units of other products, without predominance of food, beverages and tobacco
Competent Entity
Operation hours
- Dias úteis das 09:00h às 13:00h.
- Dias úteis das 14:00h às 18:00h.