Portugal has banned niqab for women as a new law restricts any face-covering clothing in public places. Portuguese President António José Seguro approved the legislation.
The law prohibits clothing designed to conceal a person’s face or prevent identification in public spaces. It was originally proposed by the far-right Chega party and was ultimately approved in parliament with support from right-wing parties, including the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Chega, Liberal Initiative and CDS-PP.
The measure has been widely associated with a ban on the burqa and niqab, although the legislation is formally framed as a restriction on face concealment rather than a ban specifically targeting Islamic clothing.
The law also prohibits forcing another person to cover their face for reasons related to gender, religion, age or origin.
Earlier versions of the proposal included harsher penalties, but the final legislation provides financial sanctions for violations. Reports on the approved text indicate fines can reach several thousand euros depending on the circumstances.
The legislation has faced criticism from human rights groups and political opponents, who have argued that it disproportionately affects Muslim women who choose to wear full-face veils.
The Portuguese parliament approved the final version on July 17, 2026, with 160 lawmakers voting in favor, 68 against and two abstentions.
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