What you're legally owed
When a B2B invoice goes unpaid in Portugal, the governing statute is Decreto-Lei n.º 62/2013 (transposing EU Directive 2011/7). It gives freelancers and small suppliers automatic rights to statutory interest and a flat compensation fee on every overdue invoice — no contract clause required.
- Statutory interest
- ECB refinancing rate + 8 percentage points (B2B)
- ~10.65% per year in early 2026
- Flat compensation fee
- €40
- montante mínimo de indemnização
- Default payment term
- 30 days from delivery/invoice; max 60 days B2B
- Public sector max
- 30 days
These amounts accrue automatically from the day after the invoice due date. You do not need a contract clause to invoke them — the statute creates the right directly. A contract can set a higher rate, but not a lower one.
How to enforce it in Portugal
The primary enforcement path for freelancers in Portugal is the Procedimento de Injunção.
File electronically via the Balcão Nacional de Injunções with a fee of around €102 for claims over €5,000 (€51 below). For undisputed debts, an enforceable order typically follows within 1–2 months.
Small claims limit: €15,000 (procedimento de injunção), €5,000 (Julgados de Paz).
Official portal: www.citius.mj.pt
What to do this week
- Add a late-fee clause citing DL 62/2013 to your contract template. Use the freelance contract template as a starting point.
- Add one line to your invoice footer: “Late payments accrue interest under DL 62/2013 at ECB refinancing rate + 8 percentage points (B2B), plus a €40 montante mínimo de indemnização.”
- When an invoice goes overdue, use the free late-fee calculator to get the exact amount owed, then send a formal demand letter citing the statute. The demand letter guide walks through exactly what to include and what to leave out.
- If the letter's deadline passes, run the escalation playbook — or file directly via the Procedimento de Injunção, which is designed to be used without a lawyer for undisputed debts.
One thing most freelancers don't know
Portugal's Injunção procedure is fully electronic and has no upper limit — it's used for both €500 freelance invoices and seven-figure B2B debts.
This guide is a plain-language summary of DL 62/2013 as it applies to freelancers and small suppliers. It is not legal advice. For disputes over larger amounts, or anything with a contested fact pattern, consult a lawyer admitted in Portugal.