Beware: Census Operation Brings About Scams

The first phase of the obligatory 2021 Census in Portugal began on April 5th with the distribution of letters with the necessary information to respond to the largest statistical operation in the country, covering all homes and all national and foreign citizens residing in Portugal.

This general census of the population and their living conditions takes place every 10 years, in the first year of each decade, and the responses are confidential.

The operation begins with the distribution of letters from the by the National Statistics Institute (INE) to all accommodations in the country, to request each accommodation answer the 2021 Census. These letters, will generally arrive to your post box, and contain the codes and all the necessary information for you to complete the Census via the internet. However some letter will be delivered by INE enumerators on foot.

All parish councils have a list of enumerators who work in their area, INE enumerators are provided with an identification card, INE folder and reflective vest that identifies them as working for the 2021 Census.

The PSP are asking the population to be alert. If you have any doubts regarding any attempted fraud, tyou should contact the parish council, or the security forces, or the INE Helpline on 210 54 20 21. No one, namely the enumerators, can ask / demand any payment for the data collection.

Distribution of the letters to respond to the Censuses will last for two weeks, with completion scheduled for April 18th. As of April 19, the phase of responding to Censuses via the Internet begins, to be completed by May 3rd. Responding to the 2021 Censuses on the Internet is easy, safe and quick for citizens. In the current epidemiological context, this mode of data collection minimizes contacts between enumerators and the population, increasing security.

For citizens who cannot answer via the Internet, INE offers other ways of responding, namely:

• telephone, for groups of the population with greater difficulty in responding via the Internet or who are prevented from face-to-face contact;
• e-counter at Parish Councils, subject to local accessibility conditions and depending on the respective public health situation;
• self-completion of paper questionnaires, delivered by enumerators, who comply with the public health protocol.

The Census conclusion phase will begin on May 31st, in which the enumerators will visit accommodation that has not yet responded.

For login and general enquiries: https://censos2021.ine.pt/

For instructions and to complete the forms, in several languages download here.

Enquiries about form completion, please call 210 54 20 21.