Portugal

Previous reports: 2023/24

Principal EBCO concerns

• It is unclear if there is recognition of the right to conscientious objection for reservists or professional soldiers.

Based on replies to EBCO's questionnaire by the Ministry of Defence. We report developments or updates to previously reported information. Refer to the 2023/24 Annual Report, p. 118 for more information. ²

Voluntary recruitment

Total first-time military recruitment for the three branches of the Armed Forces that started the initial military training period (all volunteers).

The duration of service initially required is 12 months for volunteers, while for professionals with contracts, it can be up to 6 years. In this case, the period for contract renewal is variable (in some services/military specialties the initial contract period is 2 years, but in others it lasts 3, 4 or even 6 years, depending on the initial training length). There is also the special contract regime, which can last up to a maximum of 18 years, but currently it is only in force for 28 functional areas of a more technical nature. The period for contract renewal is also variable.

Incentives are provided for military service (Decree-Law No.78/2018, October 11), classified into four main areas:

• Acquisition of educational and professional qualifications;

• Financial and material benefits;

• Support the transition to the labor market;

• And social and family benefits.

Beginning with the acquisition of educational and professional qualifications, there is a special quota for Portuguese Public Higher Education, meaning that military personnel who have rendered military service under legally defined conditions, may apply for access in 2.5% of the vacancies set annually by universities. Also associated with the pursuit of higher studies, there is a tuition fees subsidy, for which the contracted military can apply.

In what concerns the more material or financial incentives, the legislation provides unemployment protection, since after military service, those who have served the Armed Forces in a contract regime, are entitled to unemployment benefit for the same period of service, up to a maximum of thirty months.

At the end of the military contract, and as compensation for its temporary nature and the impossibility of renewal of contract, military personnel are entitled to a financial compensation, which varies according to the number of years of service.

Vacancies are also reserved for military and ex-military personnel for becoming permanent staff of the Armed Forces, as well as in organisations such as the Police Forces, the National Republican Guard, Prison Guard Forces, the Judiciary Police, the Forest Rangers.

Children of contracted military personnel are entitled to a contingent of 5% of the existing vacancies in the public and private establishments of registered networks of pre-school education.

Military personnel and their families are entitled to medical care and auxiliary diagnostic assistance, similar to permanent military staff.

Conscientious objection during and after military service

It is unclear if the right to conscientious objection for professional soldiers is recognised, apart from the usual termination clauses (see the Serving Members of the Military chapter).

According to the Ministry of Defence, there is “no record of serving member of the Armed Forces having developed conscientious objections” in recent years.

Asylum for conscientious objectors

No information was available.

Militarisation of the education system

There are no preparatory military recruitment programmes that constitute obligatory components of the secondary education curriculum in Portugal.

However, the Armed Forces organise programs which “try to introduce young people to the professional reality of the Armed Forces.” Some of these programs and initiatives (e.g. "Defence+Youth", "Citizenship and the Armed Forces") include contact with the different activities and professions that exist in the various military units and bases of the Navy, Army and Air Force.

Additionally, at the age of 18/19, all Portuguese citizens are summoned to attend National Defence Day (military duty), that lasts for a day. According to the Ministry of Defence, “if conscientious objection is recognized, the citizen is released from that military duty.” however no statistics were available on such applications.

1. Population and armed forces figures are derived from The Military Balance 2025, published by the international Institute for Strategic Studies; military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2025. ⤴
2. https://ebco-beoc.org/sites/ebco-beoc.org/files/2024-05-15-EBCO_Annual_Report_2023-24.pdf#page=118⤴