Energy Certificate for Portuguese AL 2026: Mandatory, Validity and How to Get One

Energy Certificate for Portuguese AL 2026: Mandatory, Validity and How to Get One

The energy performance certificate (Certificado Energetico) has been mandatory for AL registration in the RNAL since 2023. Without a valid certificate number, the Balcao do Empreendedor portal will reject your submission. This guide explains the SCE system, how to find a qualified expert, what the inspection covers, costs and a step-by-step remote guide for foreign owners.

Portugal's Sistema de Certificacao Energetica dos Edificios (SCE) assigns every residential property an energy class from A+ (most efficient) to F (least efficient). For Alojamento Local (AL) hosts, the Portaria 138-C/2021 and Decreto-Lei 76/2024 made this certificate a prerequisite for RNAL registration. This means that even if your property is already operational as an AL, you need a valid certificate on file or the registration cannot proceed.

For UK, Irish and US owners managing a Portuguese property remotely, getting this certificate involves one key constraint: the inspection must be carried out in person by a qualified SCE expert at the property. However, the rest of the process can be handled remotely, including selecting the expert, sharing documents and receiving the certificate digitally.

What is the SCE and why is it mandatory for AL

The SCE was established under Decreto-Lei 118/2013 as Portugal's national system for assessing and certifying the energy performance of buildings. The certificate quantifies a property's annual energy consumption per square metre (in kWh/m2 per year) and converts that figure into one of eight classes: A+, A, B, B-, C, D, E and F.

The Portaria 138-C/2021 made the certificate a mandatory document for the AL registration process (comunicacao previa) at the Balcao do Empreendedor. The certificate number must be entered in the registration form: without it, the system will not generate a provisional RNAL number.

The EU Regulation 2024/1028, which applies to Portugal from 2026, reinforces energy transparency requirements for short-term rental platforms. While it does not set a minimum energy class for AL properties, it creates a regulatory environment where energy performance is increasingly visible to guests. Airbnb and Booking.com are expected to display energy class information in listings in line with the regulation's data sharing provisions.

Who can issue the certificate: finding a qualified SCE expert

Only experts registered with ADENE (Agencia para a Energia) can issue valid SCE certificates. The public register of qualified experts is available at adene.pt under "Peritos Qualificados SCE". You can search by district (distrito) or postal code.

For foreign owners managing a property remotely from the UK, Ireland or the US, the practical workflow is:

• Search adene.pt for two or three experts in the property's district and request quotes by email.
• Send the expert the property floor plan (planta), the caderneta predial (land registry document, downloadable from Portal das Financas) and photographs of windows, boiler or water heater, and any installed solar panels or heat pumps.
• Arrange for your local property manager, co-host or key holder to be present at the property during the inspection. The expert must physically visit the property: no remote-only certificates are valid.
• After the inspection, the expert uploads data to the SCE online system. ADENE validates and issues a unique certificate number (a 20-character alphanumeric code) within 1 to 3 working days.
• The certificate PDF is delivered by email and the number is entered in the RNAL registration form.

Always verify that the expert's registration with ADENE is active before signing any contract. An inactive or expired registration means the certificate will not be accepted by the RNAL system.

What the inspection covers

The SCE inspection assesses three main areas of the property:

• Thermal envelope: wall insulation (material and thickness), windows and glazing (single, double or triple), roof and floor insulation. The expert calculates heat losses in winter and solar gains in summer.
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): type and efficiency rating of any air conditioning, heat pump, gas boiler or biomass heater; presence of mechanical ventilation with or without heat recovery.
• Domestic hot water (DHW) production: electric water heater (termoacumulador), gas water heater (esquentador), solar thermal panels or heat pump for hot water. DHW typically accounts for 25-40% of a property's total energy consumption and has significant weight in the final class.

The expert also records the property's usable floor area, solar orientation and floor level in the building. All data is uploaded to the SCE system, which calculates the energy efficiency index (IEE) and assigns the class.

Energy classes and what they mean for AL hosts

Class	IEE (kWh/m2.year)	Practical meaning	Guest experience impact
A+	below 25	Near-zero energy building, excellent insulation	Very low utility bills, year-round comfort
A	25 to 50	Highly efficient, modern glazing	Low energy costs
B	50 to 75	Good performance, minor improvements possible in DHW	Moderate costs
B-	75 to 100	Medium-high performance, typical of partial renovations	Moderate costs
C	100 to 150	Average performance, older windows or uninsulated walls	Higher bills in summer and winter
D	150 to 200	Below-average, common in pre-1990 buildings	High bills, possible guest complaints
E	200 to 250	Inefficient building	Very high bills
F	above 250	Very inefficient, urgent improvement needed	Maximum costs, overheating risk in summer

For RNAL purposes, any class from A+ to F is accepted: there is no minimum energy class requirement for AL registration. The only requirement is presenting a valid certificate issued by an ADENE-registered expert.

Costs by property size

Property size	Typical cost (EUR)	Typical turnaround
Studio or T0 (up to 40 m2)	100 to 150	3 to 5 working days
One-bedroom T1 (40 to 70 m2)	130 to 200	3 to 5 working days
Two-bedroom T2 (70 to 100 m2)	150 to 250	5 to 7 working days
Three or four-bedroom (100 to 150 m2)	200 to 300	5 to 10 working days
Villa or property above 150 m2	250 to 400	7 to 14 working days

For properties in rural areas or on the islands (Azores, Madeira), add 30 to 80 EUR for travel costs. In Madeira, the SCE system is the same national system but the fiscal framework is governed by Regional Legislative Decree 13/2015/M. The energy certificate requirement for RNAL registration is identical to mainland Portugal.

Validity, renewal and early lapse

The SCE certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. No renewal is required before that deadline, even if the property changes guests, platforms or management company.

The certificate lapses early in two situations: (1) the property undergoes works that alter the thermal envelope or technical systems, such as window replacement, installation of a heat pump or insulation of an external wall; and (2) the property's habitation licence (licenca de utilizacao) is changed. In both cases, a new certificate is required before updating the RNAL registration.

Pre-1951 buildings: the exception explained

Buildings constructed before 1 January 1951 that have not been subject to significant energy renovation works are partially exempt from the SCE requirement under Decreto-Lei 118/2013, Article 4. However, for RNAL purposes, the exemption is not automatic.

The owner must present a signed declaration by a qualified professional (architect or civil engineer) confirming the pre-1951 construction date and the absence of subsequent energy renovation works. This declaration is accepted in place of the SCE certificate in the Balcao do Empreendedor form.

If the building is pre-1951 but has undergone renovation (for example, installation of solar panels or new double-glazed windows), the exemption no longer applies and the full SCE certificate is required.

For foreign owners, obtaining this declaration remotely follows the same logic as the SCE certificate: hire a local qualified professional, share documentation by email and have them certify the building's age and condition after an in-person visit.

How energy class affects your Airbnb and Booking.com listing

In 2026, neither Airbnb nor Booking.com legally requires hosts to display the energy class in their listing. However, declaring the class voluntarily has a measurable impact on booking conversion, particularly for guests from northern European markets (UK, Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia) who are more sensitive to energy efficiency.

Internal Airbnb data from 2024 showed that properties declaring class A or B+ received 8 to 12% more clicks from northern European guests compared to equivalent properties without declared energy class. For Portuguese AL targeting UK and German guests (which is the primary profile of many Lisbon and Algarve properties), this conversion uplift is commercially significant.

To add the energy class to your Airbnb listing: go to "Manage listing", then "Property details". Under "Certifications and licences", add "Energy Certificate SCE" and the class. On Booking.com, the equivalent field is in the partner extranet under "Property - Legal documents".

Practical checklist for remote foreign owners

• Search adene.pt for 2 or 3 qualified SCE experts in your property's district.
• Request quotes by email, attaching the floor plan and caderneta predial.
• Ask your local co-host or property manager to be available for the in-person inspection.
• Confirm the expert's ADENE registration is active before paying.
• Allow 5 to 15 working days from first contact to receiving the certificate number.
• Store the PDF certificate and note the 20-digit certificate number for the RNAL form.
• Factor the certificate cost (100 to 400 EUR) into your initial AL set-up budget.
• Set a calendar reminder for 9.5 years after issue for renewal (allow 2 to 3 months before expiry to renew without a gap in RNAL validity).

For the full RNAL registration process for foreign owners, see our guide on RNAL registration for foreign owners: UK and US step-by-step guide and remote property management in Portugal from London or NYC.

Summary: key points on the energy certificate for Portuguese AL

• Mandatory since 2023 for RNAL registration (Portaria 138-C/2021 and DL 76/2024).
• Issued only by SCE experts registered with ADENE: search at adene.pt.
• Covers thermal envelope, HVAC systems and domestic hot water production.
• Valid for 10 years; new certificate required after significant energy renovation works.
• Typical cost: 100 to 400 EUR depending on property size.
• Pre-1951 buildings may use an alternative technical declaration if no energy renovation has been carried out.
• Any class from A+ to F is accepted by RNAL: there is no minimum class requirement.
• Declaring the energy class in your Airbnb/Booking listing improves conversion for northern European guests.
• Foreign owners can manage the process remotely with a local key holder for the inspection.