Check IMPIC construction license by NIF
An IMPIC license is mandatory for anyone executing construction works in Portugal. Confirm the company has a valid license before signing a contract.
About the IMPIC license
The alvará is the license issued by IMPIC (Instituto dos Mercados Públicos, do Imobiliário e da Construção) that legally authorises a company to execute construction works in Portugal. It is mandatory for any works that require a municipal construction permit.
Each license has a class that defines the maximum authorised value per contract: class 1 (up to €184,000), class 2 (up to €368,000), class 3 (up to €736,000), class 4 (up to €1,476,000), class 5 (up to €2,952,000), class 6 (up to €5,904,000), all the way to class 9 (no limit). Hiring a class 2 contractor for a €1M project is not legal, regardless of the company's reputation.
A valid alvará means the company is registered and meets IMPIC's minimum requirements at the moment of issue. It does not mean the company is financially healthy, has no ongoing lawsuits, no tax debts, or no directors linked to previous bankruptcies. For those checks, you need a full contractor report.
How to interpret the result
- Valid — the contractor can legally execute works, up to the authorised value of its class.
- Expired — the company had a license but didn't renew it. Can mean financial trouble, ceased activity, or a renewal oversight. Confirm before signing.
- None on file — no IMPIC license was found. If this company is executing permitted works, hiring them is illegal.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the IMPIC license?
- It's the authorisation issued by IMPIC (Portugal's Institute for Public Markets, Real Estate and Construction) that allows a company to execute construction works. Without it, a construction company cannot be legally hired in Portugal.
- What does an expired license mean?
- It means the company had a license but didn't renew it. This can indicate financial difficulties, ceased activity, or simply a renewal oversight. Confirm the reason before hiring.
- Can I hire a company without a license?
- For works that require a construction permit, no. Hiring an unlicensed company for such works is illegal and exposes you to permit issues and total loss if problems arise.
- Is a valid license enough to trust a company?
- No. The license confirms they can legally build, but not whether they have insolvencies, tax debts, civil proceedings, or directors linked to failed companies. That's what the full report adds.
- What's the difference between alvará and certificado IMPIC?
- Alvará authorises private works; certificado is for public works. Both are issued by IMPIC and have classes that indicate the maximum authorised value per project.