Chapter X · Administrative offences

Article 203-A Processing of administrative offence proceedings

Artigo 203.º-A · Tramitação do processo contraordenacional

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. Paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Article 172, paragraphs 1 to 3 and 7 of Article 173, points (a) to (f) of paragraph 1 and paragraphs 2 to 4 of Article 175, paragraphs 1 to 9 and paragraph 11 of Article 176, and Articles 177 to 179 and 181 to 189 of the Highway Code, approved as an annex to Decree-Law No. 114/94 of 3 May, apply, with the necessary adaptations, to the administrative offence proceedings provided for in this Law.

1 - Aos processos de contraordenação previstos na presente lei é aplicável o disposto nos n.os 1, 3 e 4 do artigo 172.º, nos n.os 1 a 3 e 7 do artigo 173.º, nas alíneas a) a f) do n.º 1 e nos n.os 2 a 4 do artigo 175.º, nos n.os 1 a 9 e no n.º 11 do artigo 176.º, e nos artigos 177.º a 179.º e 181.º a 189.º do Código da Estrada, aprovado em anexo ao Decreto-Lei n.º 114/94, de 3 de maio, com as necessárias adaptações.

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2. Voluntary payment at the time the administrative offence is detected may be made by any means legally accepted as a form of payment, preference being given to the electronic means of payment available.

2 - O pagamento voluntário no momento da verificação da infração da contraordenação pode ser realizado por todos os meios legalmente admitidos como forma de pagamento, devendo ser privilegiados os meios de pagamento eletrónico disponíveis.

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3. A person who intentionally commits an administrative offence after having been notified of the commission of another administrative offence for breach of the same legal provision is penalised as a repeat offender.

3 - É sancionado como reincidente quem cometer uma contraordenação praticada com dolo, depois de ter sido notificado pela prática de outra contraordenação por infração à mesma disposição legal.

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4. Failure to pay the fine voluntarily or to make the deposit entails:

4 - O não pagamento voluntário da coima ou falta de realização do depósito implica:

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a) Payment of the costs due;

a) O pagamento das custas que sejam devidas;

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b) An increase in the degree of the offender’s culpability when determining the economic benefit that the offender derived from committing the administrative offence.

b) A majoração da culpa do agente na determinação do valor económico que este retirou da prática da contraordenação.

What we checked in this article

Check every paragraph, point and article number cited from the Highway Code in paragraph 1, and the consequences of non-payment listed in paragraph 4.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 203-A may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

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