Provedor de Justiça
Published 8 November 2026, 19:36
Provedor de Justiça (ombudsman)
Looks into what public bodies do and fail to do: an office that does not reply, a lost file, a refusal with no explanation. Public bodies must respond to the ombudsman's requests. Contacting the ombudsman is free.
Where you come across it. Silence from AIMA, the tax office or Segurança Social; a refusal nobody explains; missed deadlines at a public body.
First write to the body itself through its online help desk (e-balcão for the tax office, e-Clic for Segurança Social), and go to the ombudsman only if you get no answer. The ombudsman cannot overturn a decision — they press for an answer and point out where the rules have been broken.
Official website: provedor-jus.pt