Obtaining a hunting licence

You need to have a hunting licence in order to be able to hunt in Portugal. To be able to hunt with a firearm, with dogs, and to be able to go hawking, additional documents and licences are required. You can check on the ICNF (Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forestry) website what documents you need to have with you to go hunting. In order to hunt in Portugal, you also need to have third-party liability insurance.

Service channels

Saiba onde pode realizar o serviço e quais as vantagens de cada canal
  • Alterar Online
  • Search for a point of service near you:

Who can obtain a hunting licence?

What are the documents and requirements to obtain a hunting licence?

  • You will need to submit the following documents:

How to obtain a hunting licence?

There are two possible procedures for obtaining a hunting licence:

  • Individual procedure (Procedimento Isolado)
  • Combined procedure (Procedimento Único)

Getting a hunting licence through the individual procedure

To obtain a hunting licence using the individual procedure, you must pass a written exam. You must make the request for the licence and register for the exam at the same time.

To be able to hunt with a firearm, you can obtain a licence to use and carry a weapon (LUPA) separately, at a time of your choosing.

Online registration

  1. Register or access the Hunter’s Area on the ICNF website.
  2. Check the exam calendar to find out the dates and locations of the exams and when to register. When registering, choose your preferred date.
  3. Submit digital copies of the required documents.
  4. Make the payment at a Multibanco terminal or using online banking. The bank account details will be sent by email.
  5. The ICNF will confirm your registration within 2 working days.

Registration in person

You can register at the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forestry (ICNF) service desks. Do not forget to take the necessary documents with you.

Theory exam

There are several dates on which you can take the exam. You can register between 20 and 10 working days before each date.

Check the exam calendar to find out which dates and locations are available for you to sit the exam.

You can view the subjects covered, the exam rules, examples of exam papers and study support materials on the ICNF website.

Issuing of a hunting licence

Once you have passed the exam, you have 90 days from the fifth day after taking the exam to pay for the issuing of the licence. You will need to use the bank account details given to you by the exam board.

After payment, and within 7 working days, the ICNF will send you your hunting licence by registered post.

Get your hunting licence through the combined procedure
The procedure is carried out at the PSP [Public Security Police] and allows you to obtain a hunting licence and a licence to use and carry a weapon (LUPA) at the same time.

You cannot get a hunting licence without passing the LUPA exam and vice versa. If you do not pass either of these steps, you will need to re-register and repeat the process.

Find out how to obtain a licence to use and carry a weapon from the PSP

How much does it cost to obtain a hunting licence?

To find out the price of your hunting licence, go to the Fees and Fines page on the ICNF website. Look for the Fees (Tabela de taxas) tab at the bottom of the page.

What is the expiry date of hunting licences?

The hunting licence is valid for up to 60 years. After that, you must renew it every 5 years.
If your hunting licence expires, you will need to get a new one.

Hunting licence exemptions