At the Banco de Portugal’s cash offices, you can exchange valid banknotes in escudos as well as damaged euro banknotes. You can also exchange euro banknotes and coins.
If you are unable to exchange valid banknotes in escudos and damaged euro banknotes in person, you may send them by post to the Banco de Portugal, using the registered delivery service for declared value items (Correio Registado com Serviço Especial de Valor Declarado).
Those sending money by post to be exchanged must comply with the following requirements:
(a) Identification details and other information on the applicant:
- name, ID card or Passport number and issuing country (if a natural person); or
- name of the company and Legal Person Identification Number (if a legal person);
- in both cases, address, telephone number and/or email address, as well as the necessary data to perform a bank transfer (IBAN, for accounts domiciled in Portugal, or SWIFT CODE and other necessary bank information, for accounts domiciled abroad).
Note: Lack of one or more of these identification details (name, identification number or address) will result in the transfer being denied by the Banco de Portugal.
(b) Money must be secured in two envelopes:
- banknotes to be exchanged must be placed inside an envelope, which must be sealed and marked with ‘Contém Numerário’ (contains cash) on the front, with a breakdown of the banknotes;
- The identification details, other information on the applicant and the envelope containing the money must be placed inside a second envelope, which must be sent using the Correio Registado com Serviço Especial de Valor Declarado service to:
Banco de Portugal
Departamento de Emissão e Tesouraria
Unidade Central de Operações com Numerário
Apartado 2001
1100-012 Lisboa
The delivery service for declared value items (Serviço Especial de Valor Declarado) is designed to protect the content of mail to the amount declared by the sender (up to €5,000). In the event of loss, damage or theft, the customer is reimbursed for the real value of said loss, which cannot exceed the declared value.
If you provide us with an email address, we will acknowledge receipt of your application and provide you with the file number of the application by email.
Each case is dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis. Response times depend on the complexity of the case.