Portugal
Portugal has long been a popular filming destination thanks to its long hours of sunshine and clear skies and within easy reach of European hubs.
Filming in Portugal
The wide variety of Portuguese geography and interculturality make it one the most attractive places to shoot, due to its highly concentrated variety of locations in such a short travel time (maximum 7 hours riding distance from Northmost to Southmost parts of the country).
From the rolling vineyards of the Douro Valley mimicking the hills of Tuscany, to Lisbon’s grand boulevards evoking Parisian charm, Portugal offers a visual passport to almost anywhere on Earth. Need the sun-soaked glamour of the French Riviera? Head to Cascais, where pastel mansions, palm-lined promenades, and glittering marinas set the scene. Seeking the rustic romance of rural Italy? The Alentejo region’s golden fields and whitewashed villages are a dead ringer for Umbria or Sicily. Craving the whitewashed villages and turquoise waters of Greece? The Algarve’s dramatic cliffs and hidden coves are a perfect match. Even the USA’s West Coast vibe can be captured along Portugal’s untamed Atlantic beaches, while the vibrant colors and colonial architecture of Alcochete double up for scenes set in Brazil and Cabo Espichel Convent around Lisbon double Mexico. And the craziest one we’ve done: the Madeira islands dubbing Hawaii! It’s just like a playground for directors and producers.
Securing permits to shoot in Portugal is a straightforward and efficient process, making the country an attractive destination for international productions.
The Portuguese authorities are experienced and highly supportive of film crews, offering clear guidelines and responsive communication throughout the permitting process. Most permits can be obtained within a few days, and the requirements are transparent.
Whether you’re shooting in urban Lisbon, the scenic coastline, or remote countryside locations, local film commissions and city offices work closely with us to ensure a smooth experience. This ease of permitting allows productions to focus on creativity and execution.
Over the past few years, Lisbon has become a vibrant hub for expats and international talent, making Portugal a truly diverse destination for casting. The local talent pool reflects a wide range of ethnicities,including Pan-African, Asian, Caucasian, and Latin backgrounds, as well as a spectrum of skin tones and features. This diversity enables productions to find the perfect match for any brief. In addition, both native Portuguese talent and crew are fluent in English and accustomed to working to international standards, ensuring smooth communication and a professional experience for global clients. Portugal truly offers the world in one location.
The average cost for a shoot day in Portugal is highly competitive compared to other European markets. Portugal stands out for its excellent value, offering high production quality, modern infrastructure, and experienced local teams. Transparent budgeting and clear cost breakdowns make financial planning straightforward for producers, while attractive incentives, such as a 30% cash rebate on qualified expenses, further enhance cost-effectiveness for international clients.
Climate
The weather in Portugal can vary from North to South, Interior to Coast Line, where temperatures are usually lower in the North, more balanced in the coast line and more extreme throughout seasons in the interior. Since there is this wide variation, we took Lisbon as reference to explore more details about temperature, rain and sunlight through the year:
In Lisbon, the summers are warm, dry, and mostly clear and the winters are cold, wet, windy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 47°F to 83°F and is rarely below 40°F or above 94°F. The warm season lasts for 3.1 months, from June 19 to September 22, with an average daily high temperature above 78°F. The hottest month of the year in Lisbon is August, with an average high of 83°F and low of 65°F. The cool season lasts for 3.6 months, from November 20 to March 6, with an average daily high temperature below 63°F. The coldest month of the year in Lisbon is January, with an average low of 47°F and high of 58°F. A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. The chance of wet days in Lisbon varies throughout the year. The wetter season lasts 7.8 months, from September 26 to May 21, with a greater than 15% chance of a given day being a wet day. The month with the most wet days in Lisbon is November, with an average of 8.4 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. The drier season lasts 4.2 months, from May 21 to September 26. The month with the fewest wet days in Lisbon is July, with an average of 0.5 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. Among wet days, we distinguish between those that experience rain alone, snow alone, or a mixture of the two. The month with the most days of rain alone in Lisbon is November, with an average of 8.4 days. Based on this categorization, the most common form of precipitation throughout the year is rain alone, with a peak probability of 29% on December 3.
Tax Breaks & Incentives
In Portugal there are 2 incentive programs: the Cash Rebate and the Cash Refund.
The Cash Rebate program offers a 25% reimbursement of the Portuguese Qualified Expenses (PTQE), that can be majored to 30% depending on the cultural test. It is tailored to smaller projects, around a maximum of 6-7 M € spent in Portugal.
- Minimum PTQE: 500 000 €
- Incentive cap per project: 1 500 000 €
- Total available funds per year: 14 000 000 €
- There are 2 windows for application throughout the year. The payments are done in 4 slots, starting on the pre production phase.
The Cash Refund is tailored to bigger projects, with a reimbursement of 30% in the first 2,5M spent, and 25% on the remaining PTQE.
- Minimum PTQE: 2 000 000 €
- Incentive cap per project: 6 000 000 € (3 000 000€ for a single episode)
- Total available funds per year: 20 000 000 €
- The application can be made throughout the year, and the evaluation is made on a first come first served basis. The reimbursement is made in one payment on the year following the final audit takes place.
For both programs, there is a cultural test that must accomplish a minimum score.
For the eligible expenses, fees for crew from EU in key positions and for EU service suppliers are also eligible up to 20% of the total PTQE.
Costs above-the-line and below-the-line are eligible if expenses are made in Portugal.
Our Partner
Our first Partner doesn’t just produce – they empower, they include, and they deliver. Known for their lightning-fast communication and seamless turnaround – from stunning location finds to spot-on casting and budgeting – they are the behind-the-scenes dream team that makes magic happen.
100% women-owned and proudly driven by a policy of gender and identity inclusivity, this Partner is built on the belief that the best stories are told by diverse voices. That’s why they actively hire inclusive crews – from women to LGBTQIA+ professionals to trans creatives – creating sets that reflect the world we live in, not just the one they are filming.
The tight-knit, experienced team of this organisation understands the pace and pressure of international productions. They move fast, adapt faster, and get you what you need without the fuss. With local know-how, future-forward values, and a fearless spirit, Portugal becomes more than just a location – it becomes your canvas.
This Partner is where creative vision meets cultural evolution. Let’s make something powerful together.
Our second Partner is a film production company founded by two women. They bring together the best available artistry to produce unique experiences, on and off screen. This company understands perfectly how it is to shoot abroad as they have already been in your shoes.
For this reason they give a lot of importance to details. Finding the perfect location and talent, having the professional crew that wants to be part of your project, being truly involved in the production and completion, true team spirit.
This Partner’s driving force is their experienced team and their smooth and cool attitude towards problem solving, which they all know is at times challenging.
They provide a wide range of production services from TV Commercials,Photo Shoots, Music Videos, Branded Content, TV Series and Live Events.
Recent Credits
Production houses: Working with Roman Coppola on the Porsche 911 Spirit 70 campaign, producing for Fuji Film, and bringing Surf Girls to life with Amazon, Money Heist for Netflix, FBI International for NBCUniversal and Vampire Academy for SkyShowtime. Doubled Madeira as Hawaii for Paramount and produced music video shoots for global superstars like Shakira (USA) and New Jeans (Korea).
Interested in filming in Portugal?
Let us put you in touch with the right production service company abroad. Simply fill out your requirements and we will get the right service partner for your pitch reaching out to you directly, saving you time and stress.
