Gender-Affirming Care in Portugal

In 2018, Portugal passed a law allowing people to change their name and gender in official registers based on self-identification, from the age of sixteen.

Legal framework

In 2018, Portugal passed a law allowing people to change their name and gender in official registers based on self-identification, from the age of sixteen. The medical diagnosis requirement was removed.

Clinical care

Gender-affirming care is provided at several university hospitals, including in Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto. Waiting times are long, comparable to those in other European countries.

From diagnosis to self-identification

Portugal first introduced legal gender recognition in 2011. That law required a diagnosis made by a multidisciplinary team. The 2018 law removed that requirement for adults. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds need parental consent and a statement from a doctor or psychologist confirming that they are making the decision freely and with due consideration. The latter requirement was introduced after President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa vetoed the first version of the law. The law also prohibits non-essential surgeries on babies with a variation in sex development (intersex). Portugal also has a law against conversion practices; according to critics, it is so broad that it could also cover cautious parents and therapists, as genderbeleid.nl describes.

Bills introduced in 2026

In March 2026, parliament passed three bills at first reading by 151 votes to 79. The PSD bill reintroduces diagnosis by a multidisciplinary team as a requirement for changing one’s name and gender. The CDS-PP bill bans puberty blockers and hormones for minors with gender dysphoria, while Chega’s bill goes even further. The bills are now before the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, which is holding hearings before the final text comes to a vote. Ahead of those hearings, SEGM compiled ten frequently heard claims about gender care for children; transbeleid.nl summarises that contribution.

Significance

If the bills are passed, Portugal will be the first country in the European Union to reverse self-identification once it has been introduced. This makes the debate relevant beyond Portugal as well, particularly for countries considering or having recently introduced a similar system. Compare this with Spain, which introduced a broad system in 2023, and see the overview of policies by country.