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Ticket, validation, delay or fine? Know what to do before you travel.

Trains, buses, metro, trams and ferries have their own rules, but passengers share common rights on information, complaints and accessibility.

Reviewed on 28/09/2026Guidance based on official sources
Practical guide

What to know first

01

Have and validate your ticket

Passengers must buy a valid ticket before boarding when sales facilities are available, keep it until the end of the journey/exit from the station, and validate it whenever the system requires validation.

02

A monthly pass may still require validation

Having a paid monthly pass does not always remove the obligation to validate it. Failure to validate when required may still be an offence.

03

Train delays

For rail travel, delays of 60–119 minutes may entitle you to compensation of 25% of the ticket price; delays of 120 minutes or more may entitle you to 50%, subject to the applicable regulation.

04

Complaints

Start with the operator. You can also use the Complaints Book. The Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) is Portugal's national authority for applying EU passenger-rights rules.

Important: Decree-Law no. 173/2026 was published in September and strengthens cross-modal passenger protection. Some changes only take effect from 1 December 2026; do not treat all of the new rules as already fully applicable in September.
Inspection and fines

“I have a pass” is not enough if validation was mandatory.

Law no. 28/2006 distinguishes serious and minor offences.

Serious offence

This includes travelling without a ticket, refusing to show it, using a ticket that is invalid for the route/zone/class, using an expired ticket, using a discount without proving entitlement, or using another person's named ticket.

Failure to validate

Failure to validate on entry is serious in many cases. However, for monthly passes, 30-day passes and certain occasional tickets from the second boarding of the same journey, the law treats the situation as a minor offence.

Fine ranges

On urban, metropolitan, ferry and urban/regional rail journeys up to 50 km, serious offences carry fines of €120 to €350. On inter-regional and long-distance rail services, fines range from €250 to €700.

First minor offence

For minor offences, the fine limits are reduced by 75% when it is the passenger's first offence and by 40% in the event of repeat offending.

Inspectors may request identification and ask for police assistance when necessary. Keep the notice/report and check the deadlines before paying or challenging it.
Rail

Delays and cancellations may give you rights to refund, rerouting and assistance.

Delay over 60 minutes

You may have the right to a refund or rerouting. You may also be entitled to free assistance, such as meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time and, where necessary, accommodation.

Delay compensation

As a general rule, 25% of the ticket price for delays of 60–119 minutes and 50% for delays of 120 minutes or more, subject to the exceptions set out in the regulation.

Information

The operator must provide accurate and timely information before and during the journey, including accessible information for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Reduced mobility

Reservations and tickets must not cost more because of disability or reduced mobility, and assistance is free under the conditions set out in the regulation.

Long-distance buses

Routes of 250 km or more have stronger protection.

The EU road-passenger regulation applies some rules to all services and a wider set of rights to regular services of 250 km or more.

Delay over 120 minutes

On covered services of 250 km or more, cancellation, overbooking or a departure delay of more than 120 minutes may give you the right to a refund or rerouting.

If no choice is offered

Where the carrier fails to offer the legally required choice between rerouting and refund, compensation of 50% of the ticket price may be due.

Assistance

On certain longer journeys, cancellation or a delay of more than 90 minutes may trigger rights to meals/refreshments and, where necessary, accommodation within the legal limits.

No discrimination

Contract conditions and fares may not discriminate directly or indirectly on grounds of the passenger's nationality.

Passes and cards

Check where your pass is valid.

Metropolitan and regional ticketing systems are not identical across Portugal.

Lisbon — navegante

The personalised navegante card currently costs €7 and can hold monthly passes, zapping and other fares in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Free youth travel up to age 23 can be activated through navegante channels when the conditions are met.

Other regions

Porto and other areas have their own systems. Before loading a pass, check zones, included operators, validation rules, documents needed for discounts and validity periods.

Named ticket

A named card/pass is personal. Lending it to someone else may make it invalid and may lead to seizure of the ticket.

Damaged card

The new regime published in 2026 strengthens rules on proof of purchase and replacement of damaged media; some changes only take effect from December 2026.

If something goes wrong

Complain with the ticket, time, service and proof of the delay.

1. Operator

Use the operator's form/channel and provide the ticket/pass number, date, time, origin, destination, route/service and what happened.

2. Complaints Book

Covered operators must provide the physical and electronic Complaints Book as required by law.

3. AMT

If the issue concerns passenger-rights compliance, consult the AMT and the complaint mechanisms indicated for the relevant mode of transport.

4. Keep evidence

Photos of information boards, app screenshots, tickets, receipts, operator emails and proof of extra expenses may matter in a refund or compensation claim.