Childcare in Portugal uses several terms that newcomers quickly encounter. A creche normally cares for children up to age 3; an ama is an authorised childminder caring for young children in her or his home; a creche familiar is a childminding arrangement organised through an institution; and from around age 3 children can move into educação pré-escolar (often called jardim de infância).

Creche Feliz: free childcare places

Portugal’s Creche Feliz – Rede de Creches Gratuitas funds eligible childcare places in participating public, social/solidarity and private providers. Current Segurança Social guidance covers children up to age 3 in participating creches and family-creches, authorised Segurança Social childminders and participating private-profit creches.

A free entitlement does not mean that a place is automatically available at your preferred nursery. Capacity matters. Apply early, particularly in areas with heavy demand.

Since 9 April 2026, requests for places covered by the free-childcare measure are made online through the Segurança Social Creche Feliz service. The old standalone Creche Feliz app was discontinued in 2026; the functions moved into Segurança Social’s app/portal.

Who can use Creche Feliz?

The scheme was progressively expanded and current official guidance states that children born on or after 1 September 2021 can benefit, subject to the rules and an available eligible place. The participating network includes solidarity-sector institutions, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Segurança Social childminders and participating public/private-profit creches.

Where there is no suitable vacancy in the solidarity network, participating private-profit providers may form part of the free-place pool. Check the current provider and vacancy position in Segurança Social rather than assuming that every private nursery participates.

How to look for a place

  1. Use the Creche Feliz / Segurança Social portal to search and manage applications for covered places.
  2. Also check the Carta Social to identify childcare and social-care providers in your area.
  3. Contact promising nurseries directly and ask about age-group vacancies, start dates, opening hours and whether the particular place is covered by Creche Feliz.
  4. Apply as early as practical. A family moving to Portugal should not wait until the first working week to begin looking.

What is an ama?

An ama is a regulated childminder who looks after children in their own home, generally until the child reaches pre-school age. An authorised independent ama may care for a maximum of four children. An ama can work independently under a written agreement with families or within an institutional creche familiar.

If you use a childminder, check that the person is properly authorised where the regulated ama regime applies. Gov.pt explains the authorisation, insurance, safety and operating requirements for amas.

Creche versus pre-school

Do not confuse creche with Portuguese pre-school / educação pré-escolar. Creche is the early-childhood childcare stage up to around age 3. Children who are 3 by the relevant cut-off can enter pre-school; current government guidance states that children who turn 3 by 15 September can be enrolled in the public pre-school network, while children turning 3 from 16 September to 16 December may be admitted if places remain.

For the broader school structure, see our guide Portuguese education system. The dedicated primary/basic-education and school-enrolment guides later in this series cover the next steps.

What if you cannot get a free place?

Possible alternatives include a private nursery outside the free-place scheme, an authorised ama, family care, or a participating provider farther from home or work. Private fees vary substantially by location, age, schedule and what is included, so ask for a written fee schedule.

When comparing a paid nursery, check the monthly fee plus registration, meals, nappies/supplies, extended hours, activities and holiday-period charges. Ask what happens to the fee when the child is absent or the nursery closes.

What to ask a nursery before accepting a place

  • Is this exact place covered by Creche Feliz?
  • What ages does this room/group accept?
  • What are the opening and collection times?
  • Are meals and snacks provided?
  • What must parents supply: nappies, wipes, spare clothes, bottles or bedding?
  • How does the settling-in/adaptation period work?
  • What is the policy for fever, infectious illness and medication?
  • How are allergies and special diets handled?
  • What are the closure dates and holiday arrangements?
  • If it is private, what exactly is included in the quoted price?

Health, vaccination and development

Keep the child’s health and vaccination records accessible and ask the provider which records it requires. For Portuguese preventive healthcare, vaccination and developmental follow-up, see our guides Pregnancy, maternity and children’s healthcare in Portugal and Vaccinations and preventive care in Portugal.

If there are concerns about a child’s development, Portugal also has early-childhood intervention support for children with developmental difficulties or serious risk of developmental delay. Ask the child’s health team and childcare provider about the appropriate referral route.

If you are moving to Portugal with a young child

  1. Research childcare before the move if employment depends on having a place.
  2. Get the child’s Portuguese administrative/health registrations underway as applicable.
  3. Search Creche Feliz and Carta Social, then contact providers directly.
  4. Do not assume “free creche” means guaranteed immediate capacity.
  5. Keep alternative providers or an authorised ama on your shortlist.
  6. Before accepting, confirm the actual hours, inclusions, adaptation process and all charges in writing.

Useful links

Last verified: 2 October 2026. Childcare capacity and participating providers change continuously. Since April 2026, applications for free Creche Feliz places use the Segurança Social portal, so use the live portal rather than old instructions referring only to the discontinued standalone app.