Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Portugal? (Yes, Taxed Since 2026, New Rules Coming)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Portugal. They are sold in shops and online, and since January 1, 2026 they have been taxed like tobacco at €0.065 per gram. What Portugal doesn’t have yet is a pouch-specific law. A government bill, Proposta de Lei 84/XVII, would change that: it would ban sales to minors, cap nicotine at 12 mg per pouch, allow menthol and mint flavors only, and ban advertising and online sales. As of October 2026 it was still going through Parliament.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check official sources before you buy or travel.

What are the current rules for nicotine pouches in Portugal?

Right now the rules are mostly about tax:

• Tobacco tax: the 2026 State Budget added nicotine pouches to the tobacco excise code, at €0.065 per gram of product.
• Tax stamp and notification: like other taxed tobacco products, pouches must be notified to the Tax Authority (AT) and carry a special tax stamp.
• Definition: the budget defines a pouch as a tobacco-free product with natural nicotine, up to 12 mg, packed in sachets and placed in the mouth.

There is no pouch-specific law on age, advertising, nicotine strength or online sales yet. Many retailers still refuse to sell to under-18s.

What would the new nicotine pouch law change?

In May 2026 the Council of Ministers approved a bill to create a specific legal regime for tobacco-free oral nicotine products. It reached Parliament on June 1, 2026, the Health Committee approved it unanimously on September 30, and it was debated in plenary on October 7, 2026. The bill authorizes the government to set rules on manufacture, sale, labeling, advertising and enforcement. According to the government and Portuguese media, the planned regime includes:

• A ban on sales to minors, with ID checks.
• A 12 mg nicotine cap per pouch.
• Menthol and mint flavors only, plus limits on other attractive features.
• A ban on advertising.
• A ban on online sales.
• No sales from vending machines, or in hospitals, schools, sports facilities, public buildings and public transport.
• Its own sanctions regime.

The 12 mg cap is the most debated point: some doctors call it too high, while others warn that rules that are too strict could keep smokers on cigarettes. Check the Assembleia da República for the final vote and the date the rules take effect.

Can you buy nicotine pouches online in Portugal?

For now, yes. Online shops still deliver to Portugal. That is expected to end once the new regime is in force, because the bill bans online sales.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Portugal?

Yes. There is no ban on bringing pouches for personal use. Traditional snus is different: like everywhere in the EU except Sweden, it can’t be sold in Portugal. See our travel guide.

How Portugal compares

Neighboring Spain has drafted a far stricter limit of 0.99 mg per pouch. The planned 12 mg cap matches the Czech Republic’s, and the mint-or-menthol rule resembles Finland’s. Unlike France, Portugal has no plans to ban pouches.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are legal in Portugal and taxed since January 2026, but not yet regulated by a specific law. A pending bill would add an 18+ age limit, a 12 mg cap, mint-or-menthol flavors only, and bans on advertising and online sales. See our legal status overview for other countries.