New TVDE Law Turns into Chaos in Portugal: Drivers May Be Criminalized on September 1

A very serious bureaucratic impasse awaits thousands of drivers and vehicle fleets driving on platforms such as Uber and Bolt in Portugal. The new TVDE law No. 59/2026, published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República), came with an incredible contradiction and missing infrastructure.

Portuguese Ride-hailing Association (APTAD) made an urgent call for correction, stating that sector employees were only given 7 days to adapt to the new rules, and that the systems required to be followed were not even in place.

Two Different Effective Dates in the Same Law

At the heart of the crisis lie two different dates contained in the same legal text:

September 1 Date: Article 7 of the law states that the rules will come into force on the first day following the month in which they are published, that is, September 1.

November 1 Date: Article 33 in the annex, which is considered an integral part of the same law, indicates November 1 for entry into force.

Lawyers state that Article 7 has priority and the rules will come into effect on September 1; However, this situation drags the transition process into complete chaos. Because the 60 to 180-day adaptation periods granted to drivers and operators are in danger of becoming invalid with this interpretation.

No System, No Regulation, But Punishment Is Coming

Even if the law comes into force, it is technically impossible for drivers to comply with the rules. Because the infrastructure that the state needs to establish does not exist yet:

A ministerial decree has not yet been issued regarding the design, security features and cost of the new QR code ID cards, which are required to be installed in vehicles.

The conditions for the new certificates and training that drivers must receive have not been determined.

The mandatory data sharing platform that the Institute for Transport and Mobility (IMT) will use has not yet been established.

As APTAD President Ivo Fernandes pointed out, sector employees will be in a position to directly violate the rules on the morning of September 1, not because of their own negligence, but because of the legislation that the state has not yet prepared.

Months for Giant Companies, 7 Days for Small Tradesmen

Another annoying aspect of the matter is the gap between the rights granted to the big platforms and the people behind the wheel.

Law; While it gives giant companies such as Uber and Bolt a transition period ranging from 120 days to a year to adapt to the system, it leaves small operators and drivers who work in the field face penalties within a few days. Meanwhile, with the new regulation, taxis are also included in TVDE platforms, provided that they meet the conditions.

Industry representatives expect this draft, which directly affects lives, to be urgently revised and the error in dates to be corrected.

Source: Lusa, Natasha Donn (Portugal Resident)