Taking out workplace accident insurance (seguro de acidentes de trabalho) with me is straightforward: you tell me your situation (a business with staff, a self-employed professional or a household employing a cleaner or housekeeper) I gather the details insurers need, compare quotes and follow the policy through to issue. In most cases it can all be done within a few days, entirely remotely. Here is each step and what to have ready.

First: which situation are you in?

Workplace accident insurance is compulsory in Portugal, but how it is arranged depends on who is being insured. There are three main cases:

Employers (companies or sole traders with staff) must insure every employee, as required by Law 98/2009.
Self-employed workers (trabalhadores independentes) must insure themselves under Decree-Law 159/99.
Households with domestic staff: if you employ a cleaner, housekeeper or nanny, you are legally an employer, even for a few hours a week, so the insurance applies to you too. This is something many foreign homeowners in Portugal are not aware of.

In our first conversation I will confirm which case applies and which type of policy makes sense.

Step 1: an initial conversation

You can reach me by phone, email or the form on my website. Depending on availability, we can meet in person in the Algarve, but I am always available for remote service, by phone, WhatsApp or video call, in English. I will ask a few simple questions: what you do, how many people work for you, when cover needs to start and whether you already have a policy in place.

Step 2: the information I need

To request quotes, insurers need concrete details. You do not need everything perfectly organised: I will help you pull it together.

If you are an employer

The company’s tax number (NIF/NIPC) and registered address.
Your business activity and CAE code (the Portuguese classification of economic activities), because risk, and price, depends heavily on the work involved.
Number of employees and each person’s job (office staff carry a different risk from construction workers).
Annual pay: base salary plus other regular payments, including the holiday and Christmas allowances (subsídios de férias e de Natal).

One important point: if you declare lower pay to the insurer than the employee actually receives, the employer is liable for the difference if there is an accident. It is worth getting the figures right from the start.

If you are self-employed

Your tax number (NIF), your activity and its tax code.
The annual income you want to insure. The law does not allow less than 14 times the national minimum wage: in 2026, with the minimum wage at €920 a month, that is at least €12,880 a year.

If you employ domestic staff

Your details and your employee’s.
Hours per week (or whether they work full-time) and the agreed pay.
Their main duties (cleaning, cooking, childcare, caring for an older person, gardening).

Step 3: quotes and comparison

With the details in hand, I request proposals from several insurers and go through them with you. I do not look at price alone: I check what each policy offers beyond the legal minimum, how medical care is organised after an accident and the level of claims service. Then I explain the differences in plain English so that you can make an informed choice.

Step 4: fixed or variable premium

For businesses there are two main formats, set out in the standard policy approved by Ordinance 256/2011:

Fixed premium (prémio fixo): the policy covers a set number of named people. It suits a stable team.
Variable premium (prémio variável): the policy covers a changing number of people. The business sends the insurer, by the 15th of each month, a copy of the pay declarations submitted to Social Security for the previous month: traditionally known as “folhas de férias”. The premium then follows your real payroll.

I will help you choose and, if needed, set up the monthly routine.

Step 5: policy issue and beyond

Once you accept a proposal, the insurer issues the policy and sends the documents. I confirm the start date with you: cover must be in force before the employee starts work. After that, I remain on hand to:

add or remove employees and update salaries;
review the policy at each annual renewal;
guide you if an accident happens, from reporting it to the insurer to following the claim.

Frequently asked questions about workplace accident insurance

How long does it take?

It depends. For a self-employed person or domestic staff, once the details are gathered, it is usually quick. For a business with several job categories, the analysis may take a few days.

Do I need to be in Portugal to arrange it?

No. I handle the whole process remotely by email and phone, with digital signatures wherever possible. That said, cover must be in place before anyone starts working for you.

How much does workplace accident insurance cost?

There is no single price. The premium depends on the activity, the jobs involved, the insured pay and each insurer’s terms. That is why I compare several proposals for your specific case.

If you would like to go ahead, I will review your situation with no obligation: request your workplace accident insurance quote here or contact me directly.

Sources

General information only. It does not replace reading your policy conditions or personalised advice.