Filming Portugal: Locations, Permits & What Producers Need to Know
Find the Perfect Location in Portugal For Your Next Film
A huge part of the allure for filmmakers considering making their film in Portugal is the number of incredible locations here: From mountains and coastlines, to cobblestone streets and modern roads and highways; from historic architecture and centuries-old castles, to modern buildings and downtown centers; and from settings that can pass for the African Serengeti and the American Southwest, to rivers, lagoons and forested waterfalls. Ask anyone familiar with the landscapes and cities here and they will all tell you that you can find almost anything here.
What is the next step to take once you’ve scouted the perfect location and are ready to commit to filming in Portugal? Keep everything safe and legal, and get permits. The last thing you want is to do all the planning, move your team across borders and have a timeline for completion of the project only to have it shut down due to not having the necessary permits.
The Most Often Asked Question
Clients often ask “how long will it take to get the permits we need?” We can give a rough estimate but the answer really depends on several things:
Where will the project take place?
When is the project scheduled to take place?
How large is your team and project infrastructure?
Where and When Will Your Project Take Place?
The length of time if takes to get a permit for filming in Portugal is going to depend heavily on the location where you’d like to film. This consideration is usually paired with the time of year you plan to shoot. For example, securing a permit for filming in a national park in the middle of Summer may take longer than a permit to film on a beach in the month of April. This is because beaches in April are usually pretty empty, and national parks are so busy in the summer that there may be traffic jams on the park roads. Because the parks get so busy, your application may need to go through more layers of approval from different agencies. As another example, obtaining your permit to shoot in a small town will usually be a quicker process than getting one for shooting in central Lisbon or Porto at the peak of tourist season (mainly July and August). You will also need to keep in mind annual holidays - some are taken very seriously in Portuguese culture and government offices can be shut down for days, and the summer season when government employees may be out-of-office for weeks at a time.
Is there a basic rule as to how long it takes to get a permit? Because it varies based on many factors, we suggest starting the application process at least 30 days in advance of your first shoot day.
What Type of Project Are You Planning/How Large is Your Production?
We recently helped an international production company shoot content for a large outwear clothing brand in the mountains of central Portugal. While the government agency in charge of issuing permits in natural areas warns that securing a permit can take 30-45 business days, we were able to get a permit quickly because we kept the production very simple. We had no lights, no tripods, no temporary structures and no cranes, dollies, etc. In addition, the team working on the project was small and numbered only fifteen people. Because of these things the agency approved the application in less than two weeks. On a side note, our permit was checked by the park service on day one of the shoot so it was great to have that permit in hand.
Here are some things that will need to be considered when obtaining a permit:
Will roads need to be shut down, traffic stopped or diverted?
Will temporary structures need to be built?
Will aerial/drone shots be part of the project?
How many vehicles will be used during the project?
Will electricity be needed to power the production?
It probably goes without saying that - generally speaking - the larger and more complex the production, the longer it will take to get a permit.
Do You Need a Permit to Film In Portugal?
The answer to this question, again, depends on a couple things - location and size of the project. Here’s an example: if you are filming inside a privately-owned restaurant with permission from the owner, your crew is small and the project has a small footprint chances are very good that you won’t need a permit. However, if you need to park large and/or multiple vehicles on the street or shut down traffic for the same location you’ll need a permit. If you’re running exterior lights, even for a private location, you’ll need permits. If you need to block off sidewalks, boardwalks, beaches, buildings, you’ll need a permit. Basically, anything that impedes or disrupts transit of people or vehicles, or may include members of the public in the background will require a permit.
What Do Filmmaking Location Permits in Portugal Include?
Each location is going to be a little different. For example, filming in an historical monastery will have different requirements than filming on a beach. But most often your permit is going to note the dates of filming, the specific locations you’ll be filming in (street addresses for most locations, GPS coordinates for remote and natural locations), the type of production (commercial, film, documentary), whether aerial shots will be required, the size of your team and production, and whether streets and sidewalks will need to be closed. It’s extremely important to know all these things prior to applying for a permit. Once a permit is granted it can be difficult to change the parameters of the permission (changing dates for example).
Who Issues Location Permits in Portugal?
This answer is very simple - it all depends on where you are going to be filming. Sometimes the application is submitted at a town or city level. Other times the maritime police are the departments to approach. And still other times require going to the national park police. It’s good to have someone who can be your boots-on-the-ground in Portugal, and who can navigate the agencies in charge of different areas and settings.
As a local producer and fixer, Atmosphera Productions has experience with securing permits for filmmakers and has access to important contacts who can make the permit process flow smoothly and quickly. If you have a project you’d like to film in Portugal our recommendation is to start the permit process with us at least 45 days prior to filming. Of course it’s possible to get permits quicker but this timeline ensures that they will definitely be in place prior to the start of your project. We hope to see you soon in an amazing location with cameras rolling.