The meal allowance for public administration employees is being updated in Portugal
For the first time in three years, the government is updating the meal allowance paid to public administration employees. This change will also affect the private sector, impacting on the tax exemption thresholds applicable to this kind of payment. These changes are effective on January 1, 2026.
Ministerial Order No. 51-B/2026/1, dated January 30, has been published in Diário da República, updating the meal allowance payable to Public Administration employees from €6.00 to €6.15.
This review occurs three years after the last adjustment and is implemented "in consideration of the time elapsed since that last update," pursuant to the aforementioned instrument.
Accompanying this increase in the allowance, the corresponding tax exemption applicable to private sector employees for Personal Income Tax (IRS) purposes shall increase as well, being set at €6.15 where the allowance is paid in cash, and at €10.46 where it is provided by means of a meal card.
The update to the meal allowance is effective as of January 1, 2026.
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