We all know that ‘please read’ means boring, but I just want to help you get the most out of this much improved facility, so please bear with me while I explain some things that might help you :

1. Access to this blog - Please bookmark this blog to continue to enjoy easy access, either through adding as a ‘favourite’ on your internet browser, or by creating a shortcut on your computer desktop.

2. Searching – whilst all the old blogs have been put under ‘uncategorized’ all new material, from 5th May 2009, has been designated a label, appropriate to its contents. You can see these in the top left corner. So if you are only interested in sport, click that link, and you will see all the sport news posted since 5th May.

There is also a keyword search box lower down on the right hand side. To use this is easy; Pick the most appropriate keywords for your search, for example cheap imports of pork, and it will bring up the articles containing those keywords. If that is too many to read, try the exact phrase in inverted commas “cheap imports of pork”, and that will narrow down your search results.

3. RSS Feed – For those of you who want to know every time an update is posted here, you might like the ‘RSS Feed’  facility. It is right up in the top right hand corner of this page (in the header), an orange button, with SUBSCRIBE written alongside, in yellow.

Once RSS is set up, one very useful feature is the ability to view all the latest comments and contributions on one page, rather than ploughing through lots of links. Just go to the very bottom of any page, and click on ‘comments’, next to the orange RSS icon.

4. Comments – Each posting by me will have it’s own comments section just below. Click the grey link ‘Comments’ at the bottom of each post, to make a comment or read the comments. A small number in brackets will tell you how many there are. If you REGISTER (top left black button), once you have made your first comment it will need to be checked by me and accepted, and thereafter you will be able to post comments and they will be approved automatically. If you don’t register and make a comment, it will have to be checked by me each time, which could mean some delay, maybe hours. Please register, and I promise your email address will not be given to anyone else.

One advantage of this is that for now, there will be no verification code to be entered. I hope it stays this way, but it depends on the amount of spam postings received. 

Don’t forget that absolutely anyone is welcome to use this facility, there are no members or ‘clubs’ . You can comment at the end of each news posting, or if you just fancy some general chit chat, or want to ask a question, or want to pass on some information, or tell people about an event, the comments section with the daily photo is the best place. If you have something longer and informative that merits a ‘post’ of it’s own please email to blog@madeira4u.com

IMPORTANT – News postings will often be made at various point throughout the day, unlike before when it was just one large post once a day. You can check back during the day, or use the RSS feed, to find new news stories, or just to chat. It is hoped that much of the news will be posted the same day as it is in the media, although this is unlikely to happen all of the time.

5. Photos- Please continue to send in your photographs for publication, as long as they are Madeira related. It is now possible to publish several photographs a day, instead of just the one allowed on the previous blog. Although topical subjects (ie. festivals) will jump the queue and get published whilst they are still ‘fresh’, others will be published roughly ordered by the date received. It is also possible to include videos, music, and other media forms, so please send any material in. Please don’t send in any copyrighted material. Please send visual material as email attachments to blog@madeira4u.com, or if you have a website with the material published let me know the address and details, and I can extract direct from there.

6. Donations - Most readers will already know that this blog is supported nearly totally through blog reader’s  generosity. A PayPal button is provided on the right hand side of this page for your convenience. Or, if you prefer, you can email blog@madeira4u.com for further information on other ways to donate (in € or £).  Also, sponsorship, advertising revenue and commissions help fund the blog. Please use the links and advertisments on this page to help provide funding.

7. Feedback & Suggestions – We hope you don’t have any technical problems with this website, but if you do please email, or put them in the comments attached to the daily photo. They will be read and acted upon to resolve any problem. In the same spirit, we want everyone to feel at home when visiting us, and if there are any improvements you think we could make, please let us know. Please bear in mind that this is not a commercial operation though, just one person with very limited funding, and a bit of technical support.

8. Reader Contributions – Information provided on this blog / website is what is taken from the daily news and any other source possible. Information provided by readers is very important, and shared knowledge and contributions are what keeps us all informed of the real Madeira, and what she has to offer. The comments facility with the ‘Chit-Chat & Daily Photo …’ section is ideal for this, or if it’s a longer contribution it can be emailed to blog@madeira4u.com … thank you!

Thanks for reading this, and hope you enjoy this blog and future news. Der

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Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

1. If you are a tourist or visiting Madeira, you may hire a car. You cannot own and drive, or borrow a car, unless your licence has been registered with the driving authorities. Nearly all of the car rental agencies are based in Funchal, and some also have booths at Madeira Airport. Most international car rental companies cover Madeira, but not all, and so reservations can usually be made online.

Research shows that most problems with car rental generally are the result of surcharges for extras, petrol, and vehicle damage. Keeping petrol receipts, and doing a careful inspection with photographs of any damage might help you later in the event of problems. Also check the terms of the insurance, as if you make a claim and haven’t followed the requirements, your claim could be rejected.

2. If you are resident on Madeira, you have the option to keep your own European format driving licence, having registered it with the authorities, or you may swap your driving licence for a Portuguese licence. You must register with DGV within 30 days of becoming resident on Madeira.

Registering A Driving Licence – The DGV (Direcção Geral de Viação) is the licensing authority, and is based either behind the casino in Funchal or in the ‘Loja do Cidadão’. To register a EU issued driving licence, you need to complete their registration form, copy it, and take two copies of your ID and two copies of your driving licence. Also you may need to provide photographic ID. You can do this by post or in person. They will give you back a stamped document, which you must keep. With the exception of hire cars, you cannot drive a car on Madeira without registering first.

3. In line with most of Europe, in Portugal you drive on the right hand side, and if you buy a new car it will be left hand drive. You use roundabouts in an anticlockwise direction, otherwise the driving rules are similar to the UK, and the traffic signs and warnings should be recognisable, if not readable.

Many of the roads on Madeira are hilly and have sharp bends, so extra attention is needed. The standard of driving is generally good on the island, but as in any country you need to be beware of the odd idiot driver.

Speed limits on Madeira are signposted, and are generally 40 to 50 kph (kilometres per hour) in built up areas, other wise you can drive at up to 80 kph. The major dual carriage ways (via rápidas) have speed limits of up to 100 kph, with lesser limits displayed where road conditions warrant a reduction.

4. You can import a right or left hand drive car onto Madeira, but the importation process is complex and time consuming, and the re-registration will require you to have a new vehicle registration plate. Right hand drive cars are not popular, and if you try and sell one it will be difficult and you will achieve a considerably lower price than for the same left hand drive model.

The car must be registered within 30 days of arrival on the island, and the importation process must be complete within 180 days, on the risk of impoundment for tax evasion.

5. Depending on  your residency status, you may be able to import a car tax free to Madeira if you have owned the vehicle for sufficient time. If you do have to pay tax it is based on the car age and emission rating, and may result in a considerable tax charge. The charges are available at Finance offices, otherwise the company managing the car import should be able to advise on tax liabilities. You are strongly advised to consider tax implications before bringing a car to Madeira.6. Portuguese law states that you must carry a red warning triangle and a yellow reflective vest in the car at all times, for safety reasons, for use in the event of a breakdown or accident. You must wear the seat belts in both the front and back of the car, and children under the age of 12 years must sit in the back seats.

7. You should carry your insurance, car registration documents, and driving licence with you, when out driving. If stopped by the police you should produce these at the time, if not you may be fined and told to report to a police station on Madeira with your documents. All cars on Madeira should also show 2 or 3 stickers in the top right corner of the windscreen.

The first is provided by the insurance company (seguro automóvel). Car insurance is available on 3 main levels, fully comprehensive, third party fire & theft, and third party. Other additions such as windscreen damage are available for an extra premium, and ‘no claims’ are accrued and can normally be ‘imported’ from non-Portuguese insurance companies, and these ‘no claims’ can also be insured for the car owner only.

The second should show that you have paid your car tax for the year. From 2008, the car tax is paid annually on the anniversary of the vehicle registration,  and can be renewed at Finance offices or over the internet. Car tax has been very cheap for many years, but new rates based on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are now in place that will penalise gas guzzling cars. You should receive a bill at the address registered in Finances when the car tax (IUC) is due, although Madeira does not seem to be in line with the rest of Portugal in this respect, so it is best to keep a diary note to avoid a late payment fine. There is more information on renewing car tax via the internet below.

The third sticker is necessary if the car is over 4 years old, and will be issued at one of Madeira’s inspection (MOT) centres. After the first inspection (4 years), the next is at 6 and then 8 years, and annually thereafter. The inspection will give one of 3 decisions. Pass, with up to 7 minor defects (which although not serious safety issues still need to be rectified). If more than 7 minor defects or a safety defect, you can be failed, on the proviso that you bring the car back promptly with the faults fixed. And lastly, failed with a serious defect(s), in which case the car has to be towed to a garage for repair.

Getting Your Car Inspected (MOT test) – In some respects the car inspection system on Madeira is quite advanced, and a lesson in production line methodology that other countries could learn from. No appointment is needed.

Having got yourself to the test centre, going west out of Funchal and turning off after the petrol station at the sign for the Botanical Gardens, you park up and go into the reception.

There you have to produce the car registration documents, insurance, the previous inspection record, and the princely sum of €26 (2007). Strangely there is no receipt issued. You then put yourself and your car in one of the queues at the back of the building, and drive bit by bit into the building where the test is carried out.

At the first stage they test exhaust emissions, lights, horn, and some under the bonnet stuff. Also they check you have the safety jacket and red triangle in the car. The car then goes onto some rollers to test the brakes, and then is driven over a pit where the car is shaken around to test for unwanted movement in steering and suspension mechanisms. And that is pretty much it!

You then park up at the front, and go into the office to wait for the verdict, hopefully a green certificate with as little printing as possible. This is where things may become a little puzzling, as on occasions money changes hands. Whether this may or may not influence the outcome of an inspection is hard to say. Just ‘tips’ perhaps! And, whilst on the subject of ‘puzzling’, you will also find a bar on the premises, so take it steady!

If you are not so lucky, they will explain what you need to do, which could involve a retest (about €13 in 2007). There is a further test centre at São Vicente, but it is a mobile unit but it is worth checking it is in place to avoid a wasted journey.

Vehicle inspections take place on the anniversary of registration of the vehicle in Portugal, and are based on age of the vehicle. Private vehicles have their first inspection after 4 years of age, then 6 years, 8 years, and then every year. You can take your vehicle for inspect in the two months prior to the due date. Do not leave it until the very last day possible, as the queues can be substantial.

8. On the spot fines are normal for minor traffic offences on Madeira. More serious offences, such as drink driving, may land you in court, resulting in a suspension of your licence and a driving ban, as well as a large fine. If you drive with more than 1.2 g/l of alcohol in your body you will be arrested. Using a mobile phone whilst driving is also an offence.

Drink Driving Limits For Portugal & Madeira – If after a test the alcohol reading equals or exceeds 0.5 g/l but is than 0.8 g/l, the penalty varies between €250 and €1250.  If it is equal or exceeds 0.8 g/l and is lower than 1.2 g/l, the penalty varies between €500 and €2,500 and the driving licence is withdrawn. The length of withdrawal depend on the circumstances and the quality of the defence, but in the best cases it is likely to be at least 3 months. Police are now very vigilant for drunk and dangerous drivers, and the local newspaper publish the numbers arrested every week.

9. Portuguese car insurance covers the car, not just the person. If you lend your car to someone they should be covered, but they must have your authority in writing to borrow your car (meeting a specified format). You must check your insurance policy before lending your car to someone.

10. Outside of Funchal, petrol stations can be sparse, so its best to fill up when you see one unless you know where they are situated. You can buy ordinary grade unleaded petrol (gasolina 95), high grade (gasolina 98) and diesel (gasóleo), but they are all fairly expensive due to the importation costs to Madeira.

11. If you breakdown on the Madeira dual carriageway (via rápida) phone 800 290 290 for
assistance. There are plenty of cameras along the busiest sections, so you may find help is on the way before requesting it. Be aware that mobile phones may not work inside the tunnels, and keep clear of any burning vehicles inside tunnels.

12. If you need to park on Madeira, you will probably have to use a car park if you are in or near a town / city centre. There is no established formula across the island for calculating parking charges, but they are comparatively expensive for local people, who tend to know where else to go to avoid paying. Also, some supermarkets will pay for limited parking when you shop with them. 

Where the ‘P’ sign shows the word ‘LIVRE’, it means parking spaces are available. ‘COMPLETO’ means full up.

13. Car Tax is due on the anniversary of the month of the vehicle registration in Portugal. The tax authorities on Madeira are encouraging car owners to renew car tax through the internet, although it is still possible to do so in your local Finance Office (take all your vehicle documents and tax number with you).

To renew on the internet is fairly simple if you understand Portuguese and have a password to access the IRS website. If you don’t speak Portuguese but are happy to give it a go, go to the IRS website and enter your tax number (Nº Contribuinte) and password (senha). Then go to the grey menu on the left, and select CONTRIBUINTES, ENTREGAR, IU CIRCULAÇÃO. You should find your vehicle listed. Once you have selected your vehicle and submitted your application (EMITIR), you then need to make arrangements to pay. This can be done at the Finance office, through the multibanco machines (ATMs), or through internet banking. Whichever way you choose, you will have to refer to the PDF document that will be presented to you after ‘EMITIR’  to obtain the payment references.

The payment references can also be obtained through the grey menu : CONTRIBUINTES, CONSULTAR, IU CIRCULAÇÃO, DOCUMENTOS.

If you go back through the links above a couple of days after payment, the certificate should be updated with your payment details. Print this off and keep it in your car as proof of payment. You should be sent a window sticker to prove you have valid car tax, but this can take some weeks after renewing to arrive by post.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent                                     

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Madeira is well blessed with banking organisations, with at least 7 banks well represented on the island. Outside of Funchal, which hosts the Bank Of Portugal and other international banking institutions, much smaller towns on Madeira will have branches of some if not most of these banks. Hence the customer is king and can pick and choose who they do business with for the best terms and conditions available.

The Main Banks are:
Bank of Portugal (Funchal)
Barclays Bank (only in Funchal)
Banco BPI
Banco Espirito Santo (BES)
Banco Santander Totta
Banif (Banco Internacional do Funchal)
BPN (Banco Português de Negócios)
BPI
Millennium BCP
Montepio Geral
Caixa Geral de Depositos

As well as multiple branches across Madeira, internet banking is also available to manage accounts, bills and services, but not all have English language versions of their websites (BES & BPI definitely do).

All the usual services are available, such as personal current and savings accounts, cheques, cash withdrawals from ‘multibanco’ machines, direct debits for bill paying, credit cards, loans, mortgages, insurance and investment products, and a similar range of products and services for business customers.

The ATM machines, or cashpoints, are called ‘Multibanco’ machines. They are widepread in larger towns, and have numerous functions. As well as cash withdrawals, one can use them to pay bills, set up direct debits, transfer money to other bank accounts, to name just a few facilities. The instructions come up in Portuguese if using a Portuguese bank card to access, but with bank cards from other countries the language presented should be English.

Some key aspects of the banking system on Madeira are the almost instantaneous interbank money transfers, a speedy cheque clearance system, and the ability to manage accounts in different ways by branch, internet, and multibanco machines to the extent of setting up your own direct debit mandates.

Some Madeiran banks charge a monthly fee, others charge certain transaction fees, and some operate on practically no fees whatsoever for normal daily transactions. Banks don’t normally pay interest on current account balances.

To open a bank account you need to choose your ‘supplier’ and go along with your ‘numero de contribuinte’ (taxpayer reference) issued by your local Finance office. Take along also your passport, residência card (if you have one), and proof of address (utility bills). If you don’t have a Madeira address, you can still open an account, but check what documents you need.

If you don’t speak portuguese, you might be well advised to find a bank branch in Funchal or another major town, as explaining your needs and problems can be a little tricky.

If you have savings or wish to put some money away to earn interest, ask to link a savings account to your current account. You might not get the highest interest rate, but the convenience of an easy transfer between the two accounts may make it worthwhile until you find something better.

Normal banking hours are 8.30 am until 3.00 pm weekdays, though some larger branches stay open later for appointments and other services. Visitors to Madeira may be surprised to find that most bank staff sit or stand behind counters with virtually no security arrangements … long may it continue!

Currency Exchange

Banks on Madeira offer currency exchange, as do banks elsewhere, and also in some Funchal hotels. If you are just taking a holiday, then you can use those facilities, but take note that the exchange rate may be poor, and there may be commission charges.

To move large amounts of foreign currency to a Portuguese bank account may also incur conversion charges and a poor exchange rate. There are specialist currency exchange companies that operate low cost exchange deals on high value transactions, and its worth checking some of these out in order to convert your currency at the best rate before sending it to your bank.

There are other currency exchange offices, mainly in Funchal. The usual opening hours are 9.00 am until 1.00 pm, and 2.00 pm until 7.00 pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday hours differ. Portugal and Madeira use the Euro (€) monetary system, which has been in place since 1999.

The notes used are €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, €5, the coins are in denominations of €2, €1, 50 cents, & 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents.

The Euro monetary system bank notes are standard across the Euro using countries (15 in 2008), but each value of note is different in size and colour to assist with easy identification.

The coins are designed by the individual members to a European specification, with their own images one side, but are otherwise identical across the user countries.

 DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent  

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The school education system on Madeira falls under the remit of the Portuguese education system, although there are some important differences outside of the curriculum itself.

The school year commences late September for most students, and runs across 3 terms, with breaks at Christmas and Easter, and then for almost 3 months during the summer. There are no half term breaks in Madeira schools.

Schooling is compulsory from the age of 6 until the age of 16 for all residents, although some children may start earlier if there is a nursery school or other preschool facility available. School registration usually requires a health check and the production of documents relating to identity and health care, and although there are set registration periods, if coming to Madeira from elsewhere there shouldn’t be any problems outside of these periods as long as space is available in the school.

Portuguese children would naturally go to their local state school, but some non-Madeiran parents choose to send their children to the private English school in Funchal, but through that option there is of course a impact on the speed and thoroughness of that child’s integration into Portuguese society and culture.  Fees would be payable, and any private school would have to be registered by the Department of Education and follow national and / or international curricula. 

State schooling is state funded, with the exception of books and equipment, clothes and meals, which are expensive and many parents find difficulty in funding. There are often arrangements in
place for transportation for children living in the more remote areas of Madeira.

Together, the primary and secondary school systems take a child through a minimum of 12 years (grades), and amongst the compulsory subjects, English is due to become taught for a period covering up to 4 years for Madeira’s children.

Primary School (Escola Básica)

Education at this level is split into phases (4, 2 & 3 years), and in the first phase the child may be with the same teacher and classmates for several years, normally studying or learning in less hours than in later years. Before proceeding to the next phase, the children need to be assessed for ability to progress, which can result in some children being retained for a further year.

Due to some issues of supply and demand, some schools work a double shift system, with early morning starts and early  finishes for some, followed by an second shift for other children.

In the second phase, the children generally stay together, working longer hours and may have several teachers, each  covering a group of subjects.

In the final phase, lasting 3 years, which takes the children up to the age of 14, students can branch out into new subjects according to their preferences, and will have a variety of much more specialised teachers.

Getting from year to year involves passing assessments, and if a particular child does not pass the criteria then they stay at the same level for an extra year before moving on, meaning that theoretically the normal finishing age of 14 can be considerably extended.

When each subject module is successfully passed, the student receives a certificate of basic education, and after the final evaluation the successful students gain a diploma which allows them to enter into secondary education, if they choose to do so, or they can finish schooling at that stage.

Secondary School (Escola Secundária)

The students here exercise further choices in more specialised subject matter, in courses spanning over a further 2 or 3 years.  The assessments are continuous, with annual exams in each subject. At the end students take exams, set and managed at a national level, and if they are successful in completing the third year then they are able to proceed to further education on Madeira or elsewhere if they choose to do so.

Education & School ‘Cycles’ for Madeiran Children

1st Cycle 1st Phase
1º  year / grade age 6
2º  year / grade age 7
3º  year / grade age 8
4º  year / grade age 9

1st Cycle 2nd Phase
5º  year / grade age 10
6º  year / grade age  11

1st Cycle 3rd Phase
7º  year / grade age 12
8º  year / grade age 13
9º  year / grade age 14

2nd Cycle
10º  year / grade age 15
11º  year / grade age 16

2nd Cycle for University Entrance
12º  year / grade age 17

University
3 years

Adult Education

Madeira has its own university (UMa), where students can opt for courses to obtain diplomas and degrees, but a noticeable number leave the island to take their course on the mainland, usually Lisbon, rather than stay on Madeira where the choices are understandably more limited.

Adult education classes are available around Madeira, often through night school, with the aim of providing poorly educated adults with an opportunity to better themselves and their careers. They run for up to 3 hours a night on every weeknight, and are free for residents to attend. Some foreigners use these courses to try and learn or improve their Portuguese language skills, but it can be difficult as there is no guarantee that the teacher can speak English.

It is becoming more common to find language courses for foreigners wishing to learn to speak Portuguese, and in recent years classes have been held at Calheta, Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava.

Qualifications

Professional and technical qualifications obtained on Madeira should equate to EU recognised levels, and would certainly be recognised within Portuguese boundaries, but beyond that each country would have its own means of comparison. Demonstrating that difference, it would suffice to say that a degree gained at an English university would enable you to announce yourself as ‘Doctor’ on Madeira.

Standards Of Education

Madeira and Portugal are like any other country where good and not so good standards vary from school to school. By enlarge, it is usually reported in the local press that Madeira underachieves compared with the Portuguese national averages, but given the differences in the economy, maybe that is not so surprising.

Also, teacher moral is not high on Madeira due to issues such as pay, and changes in employment conditions and the teaching curriculum, with the latest issues being over retirement conditions and teacher evaluations, and there have been several strikes in recent years. The issue of teacher evaluations was overcome on Madeira, when the regional government unwisely decided to give them all a blanket evaluation of ‘good’ in 2008.

However, the measures for child assessment on Madeira are set nationally, and it is at least possible to monitor a child’s progress and spot at an early stage if the educational targets are not being met, and then it is not too late to take remedial action through further tutoring, or as a last result a change of school.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent      

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If you are resident on Madeira, you are entitled to make use of the health service and enjoy the same benefits & standards of health care as a portuguese citizen with doctors & health centres. However, in order to obtain residency it has been necessary in the past to demonstrate that you already have medical protection in this respect, but you will be told this when you apply for residency at the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras in the Loja da Cidadão, in Funchal. If you use the website link above you can click a button to see the english language version.

Once you have residency, any need for health and medical insurance becomes optional, as you can then apply for your medical registration and ‘health card’. Depending on your working circumstances, you may also need to show that you are registered with your local social security office (Segurança Social) and pay national insurance contributions.

There are cases where applicants have gone to their local health centre and been issued a ‘health card’ showing no more than their passport, and have seen a doctor that same day.

Anyway, however you manage it you will end up with a card called the ‘Cartão De Utente’, which will hold medical information about you on its magnetic strip, or you may be issued with a substitute document. Once you have registered you are covered (even if you have been issued with a temporary document), and you can then seek help or treatment from registered doctors at any of the health centres or hospitals on Madeira. The card will also entitle the owner to discounts on prescription medicines.

If you are unable to obtain the registration, particularly if you are waiting for your residency permit, then you will need to have a medical insurance policy to cover you. As a traveller, you can use the European Health Insurance card (formerly the E111) obtained in your own county, or use your travel insurance policy to deal with any emergencies, and in addition, some countries like the UK have reciprocal agreements with Portugal for assistance and treatment of each others citizens. This will cover any emergency treatments in health centres and hospitals.

Health Care Standards

Unless there is something to compare with, it’s hard to make comparisons, but feedback from people who have used the Portuguese health service has been pretty positive in all respects. Of course each hospital or health centre has good days and bad days, but the bad days are apparently few and far between, and it is fair to say that Madeira provides a very satisfactory medical service, that would compare well with the top european countries.

However, Madeira is a small island, and health problems of very specialised natures may not be familiar to the doctors here, or they may not have the equipment, hospitals or facilities to deal with particular specialist problems. In this case, if you are properly registered in the health care system of Portugal, you may be sent to the mainland to receive consultations or treatment, with nearly everything organised and paid for, including a meal allowance (€18 per day). Flights will be prepaid, but taxis to the airport will not be fully reimbursed for example (75%). If going to the mainland, you have an option to take a companion to help you as necessary. Normally an administrative and help contact is provided in your city of destination, so you can phone at any time for advice and support.

Doctors on Madeira may be reluctant to send foreigners to Portugal, so if necessary you should insist, and as a last resort complain.

Of course some things are done differently than elsewhere, and there have been adverse comments about food quality, hygiene issues, and lack of privacy..

How The Health System Functions

The hospitals on the island are located in Funchal, but major towns have their own Health Care facilities, and even some smaller towns have some facilities, known as the ‘Centro de Saude’. The health centre, depending on the size, will have a number of medical staff (médico/a = doctor, and enfermeiro/a = nurse). If you are making a routine visit, or are well enough to travel yourself, then you should go to your nearest ‘Centro de Saúde’ and report to the reception (if there is one), needing only to take your ‘Cartão de Utente’. If you don’t have one, take your European Health Insurance Card, or your health insurance policy, and also your passport (and Residency Permit if you have one). If you don’t have any protection, it is likely you will have to pay for any treatment.

You will need to wait until a doctor is available to see you, and if he cannot treat you, then it may be that you will be referred or transferred immediately to a hospital. Most doctors speak english very well, so a good dialogue should be possible. The doctor may give you a prescription to obtain medicine, which you will need to take to a chemist. If you need a repeat prescription, ask the receptionist at the ‘Centro de Saúde’, if possible show a copy of the previous certificate.

In the larger ‘Centro de Saude’, you will find facilities to deal with accidents and emergencies as well as the more routine problems and illnesses, and doctors will be available for longer hours.

Private Medical Insurance

If you don’t have the entitlement to use the Portuguese Health Service free then you need to ensure you have one of the other forms of protection previously mentioned. If private medical insurance is the only option open to you, for example as a non EU citizen, then you should keep it valid and present any documents at the request of medical staff.

Private Doctors

Private Doctors and Specialists are plentiful on Madeira with over two whole pages in the yellow pages in the telephone directory under ‘Médicos’. You should enquire about the cost before you agree to have treatment done.

Ambulances

You should dial 112 if you need an ambulance in an emergency, or find a listed number here bearing in mind you may be talking to the fire brigade, who provide ambulance services. Ambulance journeys can be chargeable, so if you can find your own way it may be quicker and cheaper. Road accident attendance are normally charged to the policyholder to reclaim on their vehicle insurance.

Dentists

Dental care falls outside of the Portuguese health system, so you will always need to consult a private dentist, and their services are not cheap, a fact supported by the fact that a great many Madeirans never go to the dentist, or only in the event of an emergency. You should ask the dentist about the cost before you agree to have treatment done. You will find over 30 dentists in the yellow pages of the telephone directory listed under ‘Médicos – Dentistas’.

Opticians & Eye Care

Opticians are plentiful on the island, with a shop or more in most large towns. You need to pay for everything, as they operate outside the Portuguese health system. You will probably find them very helpful if you need a screw replacing in your glasses, but if you need to buy new glasses then you might find them comparatively expensive against prices in other countries. It is possible to have an eye test and then use the prescription to order glasses on the internet or use the same prescription in another country. Likewise, it is possible to see an optician in another country to obtain a prescription and use it on Madeira. You will also find over 20 opticians in the yellow pages of the telephone directory listed under ‘Oculistas’ and several opticians advertise in the daily paper ‘The Diário’.

Chemists /  Pharmacies

Chemists / Pharmacies are well represented across the island, with around 100 listed in the yellow pages and a presence in most towns, the shops with the green cross outside. If you have a minor ailment or just need some advice, your local ‘farmácia’ may well be a good port of call, as the staff are well trained and helpful, and are able to recognise most medicinal products you may be familiar with. Chemists / pharmacies also carry large stocks of non prescription items.

Many chemists / pharmacies open in the evening, some until late at night, and there are even 24 hour chemists / pharmacies. The YELLOW PAGES directory on-line may help.

Prescriptions are issued by doctors in the health centres and hospitals, and this is taken to the pharmacy. If you have a ‘Cartão de Utente’, present that also, as it may earn you a discount on the marked price. Often the medicine prescribed may have a much cheaper generic alternative, but the pharmacist is not permitted to make a substitution. It is often worth asking for an generic alternative, as it may be available without a prescription.

Tax Concessions

Medicines and many medical expenses are tax deductable for tax payers in Portugal. Ask for and keep any receipts safe. Also medical insurance is a allowable tax deduction.

Complaints

‘ORDEM DOS MÉDICOS’ – This is the governing body covering doctors and medical facilities and specialists. You can contact them if you have a complaint about medical personnel, services and facilities on Madeira.

Complaints about public health institutions, including hospitals and health centres should be directed to the regional health administration office if they are unresolved at the point of origin.

However, you can now access an online complaints book, instead of asking for the ‘Livro de Reclamacões’, go to: Health Care Complaints Book Online

At this stage, this is only for complaints on matters of health care, but the principle is good, and hopefully it will extend to other areas. It’s certainly a lot easier than doing this in the environment where the complaint was incurred. The form is in Portuguese, but is not too hard to understand with the help of a dictionary.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent 

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For citizens and nationalities outside of the European community countries the rules are more complicated and the requirements are more stringent, so you should definitely check with your nearest Portuguese Consulate or Embassy to see if you are eligible for a residency permit.

The process to apply for a residency permit has been much simplified over recent years because of the developments within the European community. If you intend to stay on Madeira for more than 183 days, you should apply for either a temporary or permanent residential permit. If you stay for shorter periods (longer than a normal holiday), then it is necessary to register your presence on Madeira. Residency will be granted for between one and 10 years, depending on your circumstances, and can be renewed by following a similar but simpler quicker process than your original application.

Short term residence can be registered by the hotel or owner of the house in which you are staying, or you can also go your consulate (in Funchal, for British Citizens already on Madeira), who will register you and stamp your passport.

Applications for a Residency Permit should be made at the  Serviço De Estrangeiros E Fronteiras (SEF), Unit 16, Loja Do Cidadão, Avenue Arriaga, n.º42-A, 9000-064 Funchal. Opening Hours 8.30 to 19.30 Monday to Friday, and 8.30 to 13.30 on Saturdays. If using the website link below, it can be switched into the English language.

The information you need to take depends on your circumstances, for example if you are working or retired, your residential permit will be granted after production of different documents.

The best way to find out what you need to do is to attend the SEF, taking as many documents with you as you can think of. Include your NIF number issued by your Finances Office, birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, bank statements that show you have sufficient money to live on, or evidence of a private income, medical insurance policy (if you have one), proof of pension, employment contract and any other official documents that you can lay your hands on. You may be asked to obtain a translation into Portuguese for some documents, and you will be told what additional documents and information you need to provide. There will be some costs involved, and depending on your circumstances you should budget at least €300 per person, though this could well be lower. Renewal costs just a small fee of under €10, and will result in a 10 year permit.

If you can’t find out what you need on this page, go to the SEF website – CLICK HERE and select the English version if required.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent    

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If you live on Madeira either all of the time or most of the time, you automatically become resident for tax purposes for your Portuguese and worldwide income, regardless of whether you have a permit to work or reside on the island. Tax status is not a matter of choice, its a matter of fact, and if you fail in your obligations you will be fined as a minimum.

You may be deemed to be ‘tax resident’ if you have been present on Madeira for more than 183 days in a tax (calendar) year, or have a permanent place of residence on Madeira at any time during the year. This status will normally absorb the immediate family of the taxpayer, regardless of where they live. The tax system for Madeira is governed from Portugal.

If you already pay tax on your income in another country, then that does not affect your tax status in Portugal. Although Portugal has Double Taxation Treaties with most countries to avoid that situation in future years, where the two tax authorities agree between each other how taxes already paid and due should be allocated.

Even if you do not meet the criteria for tax residency stated above, you may still be liable for payment of taxes where income has been earned for you within Madeira, for example where you let out a holiday home in exchange for rental payments.

Annual Tax Submissions

Madeirans are subject to a tax year equivalent to a calendar year, and with the exception of pensioners receiving only very low pension incomes and those who pay a final and accepted withholding tax, everyone else who meets the criteria of financial residency is legally obliged to submit an annual tax return, or face a penalty for late or non return.

With possible annual variations, those on only salary or pension incomes are expected to file their tax return by the middle of March, and those with other incomes have until the end of April. To do this, you go to your local Finanças and ask for the form Modelo 3. That form will act as your tax return, and will also tell you which other forms (appendices) you will need to complete, depending on the different types of income and allowances you are declaring.

However, it is possible to extend those dates by several weeks if filing by internet, but you will need to check the exact deadline dates on the website FINANÇAS to make sure you are not late. Unfortunately the site is only in Portuguese, and although you can email them for help, experience shows that there is no guarantee of getting a reply.

If you wish to use the internet, then as long as you have your ‘numero de contribuinte’ issued by your local finance office and your address is correctly registered, you can apply for a password, which may take several weeks to arrive. To apply, you should click on the link ‘Pedir Senha’ on the dark bar near the top of the page.

If you proceed to file your tax return by internet, then clearly you should keep supporting documentation that is permitted by the Portuguese IRS, in case you are asked to produce it.

If you are filing a return on behalf of a company, then you will need to follow different procedures from those stated above.

Important Tax dates For Madeira (these are approximate dates, and may vary a little year to year).

February 1st to March 15th
Delivery of IRS Modelo 3 Tax Return in paper format for income solely from salaries or pensions.

March 10th to April 15th
Delivery of IRS Modelo 3 Tax Return by internet submission for income solely from salaries or pensions.

March 16th to April 30th
Delivery of IRS Modelo 3 Tax Return in paper format for income that includes sources other than salaries or pensions.

April 16th to May 25th
Delivery of IRS Modelo 3 Tax Return by internet submission for income that includes sources other than salaries or pensions

April (and September, if 2nd payment due)
Property Tax Payment(s) due -  ‘Imposto Municipal Sobre Imóveis’

For a late tax submission you can be fined between €50 & €5000

Taxation Highlights

1. In Portugal a system of tax credits exist (rather than tax allowances), but they apply for residents only. For a couple paying tax in 2007, that would amount to over €4,600, or over €2,700 for a single person, with a 50% uplift if disabled. Subject to confirmation by the IRS, dependent children and relatives may also add to the tax credits of an individual or couple.

2. Tax credits (that offset taxation payable) are also allowed in part or full to cover certain expenses meeting the IRS criteria. For example: medical expenses, health & life insurance, nursing costs, pension contributions, housing costs, certain educational expenses, and charitable donations.

3. Pensioners and disabled taxpayers in some cases have different taxation rules than those mentioned above.

4. In 2008, starting at €0, the lowest rate of taxation payable was 8%. This rose across 7 bands to 41%. Tax credits would be offset after the calculation of gross tax.

Income Tax Rate Bands For 2008 (IRS)

Band 1 – 8% Earnings €1+ (down from 8.5% in 2007)
Band 2 – 10.5% Earnings €4639 – €7017 (11%  2007)
Band 3 – 22% Earnings  €7017 – €17401
Band 4 – 32.5% Earnings €17401 – €40020
Band 5 – 36% Earnings €40020 – €58000
Band 6 – 39% Earnings €58000 – €62546
Band 7 – 41% Earnings €62546+

Tax is payable across all the bands above covered by an individuals earnings, at the rate shown for each band. So example, if you earned €15,000, part of your income would attract 8%, part 10.5%, the rest 22%. The rate shown are for Madeira, but are set by and are different to those in Portugal.

All income of any type is taxable, and once tax liability has been calculated, personal allowances and other allowable expenditures are then deducted from that liability through a system of tax credits.

Taxation … Further Essentials

All of  your income to be declared will need to be converted into Euros, based on the exact exchange rate at the time of the transaction, or using an official supplied rate applicable at the end of the tax (calendar) year.

Couples may file a joint declaration, whether married or not.

Benefits in kind, tips, and any other form of reward benefit outside of normal earnings, should be declared for IRS purposes. There may be allowances to offset against some of these liabilities.

Interest and payments from savings and investments worldwide need to be declared. That includes interest, share dividends, and capital gains from any source.

Any profit from the sale of a property on Madeira will be assessed for capital gains tax, although it may be possible to offset or defer some or all of this.

Tax assessments and demands for outstanding demands are normally issued in July and August. You have 30 days to pay from the date of issue of an assessment.

The Portuguese way of recognising mistakes, lateness, non-compliance or anything that renders a tax return less than acceptable, is normally through a system of fines and interest charges.

There are accounting companies that specialise in assisting foreigners with their tax affairs, as there would be for local people. Although it is an unwelcome expense, they can in fact end up saving you money as well as keeping you within the law. Until you understand what your obligations are and know the correct procedures to make an accurate tax declaration, it is strongly recommended that you seek such financial advice.

VAT (IVA) – Taxation on Purchases & Expenditure

Madeira enjoys the lowest rates of VAT / IVA in Europe, attracting much international business to the island, even if only for tax and administrative purposes. The top rate is 14%, with the lowest rate (apart from zero rated goods) at just 4% for life’s essentials.

Council Tax (Imposto Municipal Sobre Imóveis)

Although outside the scope of fiscal taxation, Portugal has some strange but beneficial rules about home ownership.

Whilst only each council can tell you how much you will need to pay each year in rates, to cover the running costs of your town or area, the odd quirk is the exemption scheme.

A very few people are exempt from council tax because they have insufficient income, but there are many with exemption periods stretching for up to 10 years, for people who don’t have pressing financial problems. New rules were introduced after 2003 to restrict the exemption to 6 years.

When you buy a property, the council assesses its value for rateable purposes. and if your property is assessed at below €225,000 then you are entitled to 3 years exemption, and below €150,000, 6 years. This benefit is not available for holiday homes.

Taxation Fact

Madeira is a cash society, other forms of payment are the exception rather than the rule between individuals, and small businesses, and although both are legally accountable for their earnings and turnover, if the opportunity presents itself to some people, many transactions go unrecorded. That is the way of life, and the taxman seemingly turns a blind eye … until he catches you of course.

In a Madeiran newspaper in September 2007, it was reported that only 1 in 2 two people paid any tax. What wasn’t clear, was whether the 50% who didn’t pay didn’t have sufficient earnings, or didn’t declare sufficient earnings in order not to attract a tax liability.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent    

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There are numerous sources for finding property for sale, newspapers, websites, and estate agents being the most common. Those not advertised, but for sale, often display a sign "VENDE-SE".

Having found the house you want to buy, take the attitude that property prices are always negotiable, even if you don’t speak the same language as the seller. As the selling prices are usually over inflated, especially where a foreigner is involved, you ought to try and negotiate the price. You can also negotiate on other factors, such as furniture and fittings (commonly left by the sellers), repairs and improvements, but make sure everything is documented, including the exact specification of the properties boundaries, and the existence of all the necessary documents of legal ownership, registrations, and permits.

You may need a bilingual Lawyer, as all agreements are included in the initial contract (Promissory Contract) and must by law be translated if necessary to be readable by both parties, before signing. It is not a legal requirement to use a lawyer, as sometimes Madeirans do buy and sell properties without one. The lawyers are generally expensive, and base their fee on a percentage of the purchase price, plus other costs and expenses, regardless of the amount of work involved. Not all lawyers are honest, so ensure their charges are clearly documented and understood, and what you are getting in return. If you are asked to pay the full fees in advance, negotiate a ‘down payment’ and a final payment, or find another lawyer. The British Consulate can provide a list of English speaking lawyers.

Unless agreed otherwise, you should look to your lawyer as a minimum; to check that all the necessary documentation is correctly held by the seller, and that there are no ‘surprise’ liabilities transferred with the house to the buyer; creation / provision of all the necessary documents including certified copies for yourself; the complete management of funds between buyer and seller; the making of all necessary registrations to fulfil legal requirements and those of the local authorities; management of the transfer of the utilities from the seller to the buyer; ensuring the house seller has fulfilled all promises made to the seller as part of the initial promissory contract; and to liaise with Finanças regarding the payment of the necessary taxes and formalise the exemption process for council tax, if applicable.

If you are buying property on Madeira but don’t live on the island, it is almost essential that your lawyer has email, to allow the transaction to progress quickly and smoothly. The sale and transfer of properties can be done very quickly if all parties involved  show willing.

Unfortunately, Madeira still has a culture of ‘back handers’ (bribes) embedded in its property industry. If you are asked to pay for a bribe and you do, you may be breaking the law. If you don’t pay, then ‘wheels might not turn’ and your dream house or apartment may remain just that, a dream.

It is normal for the seller to request a deposit, and that will also legally secure the house or apartment. That is negotiable, but 20% seems to be around about the normal rate. The deposit is non refundable unless the seller pulls out, in which case you would be entitled to compensation based on double the amount of the deposit paid. You should speak to your lawyer to ensure you understand how this works.

You should be aware that there may be two values associated with the purchase of a property, the actual price paid, and the ‘declared price’. The latter price is a price that suits the seller, and reduces their tax liability, and also reduces the amount of purchase tax the buyer would pay, which is based on a percentage. However, when you come to sell your house or apartment, unless you can do the same thing with the new buyer, your capital gains tax liability will be based on the difference between the ‘declared price’ that you paid and the selling price. This practice has been deemed to be the normal way of conducting business on Madeira for many years, but doubts can be heard about the legality, and it is just a matter of time before someone quite rightly completely puts a stop to it.

The documents you will be dealing with in the course of a property purchase, are as follows.

1. Registration Certificate (Certidão de Registo) – The ownership history, property description, and details of any liabilities or encumbrances. A public record obtainable from the local registration office of where the property is situated.

2. Tax Registration Certificate (Caderneta Predial) – Used by the Finance office (Finançias) in its calculations for council taxes. This will probably not be immediately available if the house or apartment is newly built, but can be applied for.

3. Permit for Use (Licenca de Utilizaçcão) – A licence that tells you that the house or apartment has been approved for use or habitation. This may not exist for older properties.

4. The Promissory Contract – The agreement between seller and buyer, detailing both parties and the property involved, deposits and payments, agreements on furniture & fittings, repairs and improvements, and critical dates.

5. The Title Deeds (Escritura) – The final document which completes everything, and destroys the Promissory Contract. This needs to be witnessed and endorsed by a Public Notary.

There will be other documents involved, such proof of identity, a tax payment certificate, or perhaps a ‘Power of Attorney’. You should check this with your lawyer and ensure you have what is needed, and where necessary are given an original document or a certified copy.

A Lay-Mans Guide To Selling Property On Madeira

Once you have decided to sell your property, think carefully about how to market it. Estate Agents can prove expensive, with charges of up to 5% of the selling price, plus IVA (VAT), usually on a no sale no fee basis. There are plenty of estate agents, mostly in Funchal, to choose from, as well as a number of websites, that will carry advertising for a set fee.

If you choose to use an estate agent to sell your house or apartment, they should be able to provide a rough valuation, and although professional valuers do exist, the whole property market valuation system is pretty much one of try it and see. The Finance Offices (Finanças) do have some guide valuations, but they are based pretty much on the overall area of the property and land, and their guide price per square meter applicable at that time, as used to calculate council tax. Be warned, that if you sell beneath the valuation of Finanças, they might think there is something untoward going on to avoid capital gains tax, and you may be asked to provide an explanation, or even worse pay more tax.

Capital gains tax is payable on any profit made from the sale of a properties. The amount payable depends on a number of factors, in particular on the amount of time you have lived there.

Broadly speaking, the capital gains liability is based on the difference between the declared purchase price (the ‘declared price’ is lower than the actual price paid, to benefit the sellers tax liability), and the sale price. Certain expenses are deductible, which include certain documented investments made to improve the property, and certain taxes and selling expenses, but this is a complex area, and ultimately it will be Finanças who calculate the overall tax liability.

You can achieve total exemption from capital gains tax if you purchase another property in Portugal within 2 years or an equivalent or higher value. This rule may change in 2008, as the European authorities have criticised Portugal in applying this restriction in a free European market, and it seems likely that soon you will be able to take your money and buy property elsewhere, or not buy at all.

The actual selling procedures and legal requirements can be gleaned from the buying procedures, looking from a sellers point of view of course.

A Lay-Mans Guide To Property Renting On Madeira

There are numerous properties to rent on the island, and numerous sources to find properties to rent, including websites, newspapers, and letting agents.

Letting falls loosely into several categories:

The short terms vacation market, the most expensive way to rent, with seasonal variations in charges. The medium term, perhaps for visitors who stay over winter, and for residents in between longer term accommodation plans, and long term, where individuals and families agree to a fixed term (usually renewable) to set up home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. This latter method will normally be the cheapest method of renting.

Portuguese property rental laws require that all properties in existence for the purpose of renting have a licence to do so, and the penalties for not having this permit can be quite severe. Even casual letting can have complicated yet ambiguous requirements, and professional advice may need to be sought.

Many local people use a ‘residential’ to live, often in low occupancy hotels or purpose built buildings, where they can get the benefit of lower rental for long stays, and still have and a low level of commitment. The benefits can be as much as two thirds off the single night rate.

When renting a property, the parties involved should have written agreement showing the term of the rental, the deposit, costs, and payments arrangements agreed, what that covers, and what the landlord is obliged to do and provide. For example, in the short term rentals the landlord will almost certainly pay all the utility bills, and again this is more likely in the medium term lets, whereas long terms lets will need to transfer that responsibility to the tenant (who will need to show the rental agreement to the utilities companies in order to get the contracts changed). Likewise it will need to be clear who is responsible for maintenance, which might well differ depending on the terms of the let involved.

Longer terms lets are more likely to be unfurnished or semi-furnished, but if not an inventory of existence and condition of furniture, fixtures and fittings, may form part of the contract.

Rental prices vary immensely depending on the type of rental, whether there are seasonal rates, and the terms of commitment from both parties, and then of course with the type of property and the location. For illustrative purposes only, a one bedroom flat in Funchal might cost around €400 a month to rent on a medium term basis, with all bills included. You would probably find an equivalent flat elsewhere in a more remote location for between 30 and even 50% less. Longer term lets also confer certain rights upon the tenants, depending how long they have been in situ.

Profits from rental income are taxable within Portugal, regardless of where the owner lives or where payment was made.

COUNCIL TAX (IMI)

This is payable annually and is billed to the owner of the property at the end of the previous year. Payable every April (or 50% in April & 50% in September if over €250). If you are a permanent and personal resident in a property, you may be exempt from IMI tax in the initial years. This is determined by Finances, and is based on the valuation of the property. Exemptions: up to €157,500 – 6 years ; up to €236,500 – 3 years ; over €236,500 – 0 (2008).

The IMI taxation rates vary, and are based on Finanças valuation of a property: 0.2-0.5% or 0.4-0.8% for urban properties (the higher rate is for properties awaiting revaluation) & 0.8% for rural properties. A higher rate exists for those owners living in recognised tax havens.

News – June 2008 – New property legislation that came into effect on 31st December 2003 is causing some unwanted tax bills to drop through owners letterboxes. If you brought a property or had it altered after this date then you may be affected (A ‘modelo 1′ form should have been submitted to report any necessary valuation / re-evaluation). Once the valuation / re-evaluation is complete, a backdated payment may be demanded, back to the date of purchase or alteration (2004 onwards). This will also pick up any underpayment in property purchase tax, where the purchase went through at a understated value at the request of the seller (a common but probably illegal way of tax avoidance in the old days). For the larger bills, Finanças will allow the payment to be made in instalments.

A ROUGH GUIDE TO PROPERTY BUYING COSTS IN 2007

Public Notary Fees (Escritura) including VAT (IVA), depend on the property purchase price:
Below €25,000                         €178
€25,000-€125,000                    €195
€125,000-€200,000                  €212
Above €200,000                       €268

Stamp Duty 0.8% of purchase price

IMT Property Purchase Tax ranges from 0% to 6%, depending on the property value see table here IMT TAX

Lawyers Fees 1% of purchase price upwards (it pays to shop around!)

Property Registration Fee (in the Conservatória do Registro Predial in the district the property is located). €125 fixed fee

Additional Costs : Lawyers Expenses, mortgage set-up costs (including a Registration fee of €135 and an additional 0.6% Notary fee), Admin fees & Copying Costs, ‘smoothing’ payments to officials.

Solicitors / Lawyers on Madeira & Making a Complaint

Most property transactions do not legally require the use of a lawyer to conduct a property transaction, but if you don’t know the ropes and speak the language, then you will definitely need to appoint a lawyer. If you can appoint a reputable English speaking lawyer, and ensure all the requirements are agreed and documented, you shouldn’t have any problems, ie. exact fees payable, any extra costs, dates, and exact instructions about what is to be achieved.

However, things do go wrong, lawyers can be arrogant and heavy handed, and in some cases even corrupt. If you do have a complaint then there is an overseeing body that deals with these matters:

Ordem dos Advogados
Concelho Distrital da Madeira
R. Marquês do Funchal – Palácio da
Justiça, 2.º Dt.º
9000-083
FUNCHAL
Madeira

Tel: 00351 291 227281
Fax: 00351 291236174

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent 

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MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ON MADEIRA

In the event of injury or illness whilst on the Madeira, it is well equipped to deal with most problems locally, and if not it is not so far to reach the main Madeira hospitals in Funchal. If the situation is serious phone 112 for all emergency situations.

‘Out Of Hours’ Emergency – Most of the larger towns have a health centre ‘Centro de Saude’ with a doctors surgery, Some have accident and emergency facilities. If you can confirm your nearest one is open and can get there, then you should try that. You have the option of an ambulance by phoning 112 if the situation is serious. This may be chargeable, depending on your circumstances. If you are in a hotel, ask at reception for help. There are also many private doctors practices on Madeira, but if you are able you should clarify the costs, and establish whether your medical insurance policy would cover these expenses. If possible take your passport, E111 (European citizens health card) or equivalent health insurance document, and/or any private health or travel insurance documents you may have. If you are resident in Madeira then you should have a state health card (Cartão de Utente, or similar). Take this, and any private medical insurance documentation. You apply for the Cartão de Utente, by taking your residency permit to the reception of your local health centre on Madeira.

Madeira Ambulance Services – If you need an ambulance, ask at your hotel reception,  or phone 112 to request one. They are normally provided by the Fire Brigade, although there are private ambulances on Madeira.

Weekday Daytime’ Emergency – If you are staying at a hotel, you can probably ask at reception to arrange a doctors appointment. Alternatively you can go to the local ‘Centro De Saude’ (Health Centre) and wait there to see a doctor. Take your passport, E111 or equivalent health insurance document, and/or any private health or travel insurance documents you may have. If you are resident on Madeira and have a Cartão de Utente, or similar, that should be all you need.

Private Medical Treatment on Madeira – Check in the phone book to find private doctors (Medicos) and large practices respectively. If possible, try and determine the basis of charging and whether you have medical insurance to cover your needs, before committing yourself to treatment. You can also check the yellow pages online, using the keywords ‘médicos’ and the name of your nearest town. YELLOW PAGES

Pharmacies / Chemists (Farmácias) – Pharmacies ‘Farmácias’ are fairly plentiful on Madeira and many are open long hours and are situated in central locations. Chemists are run by well trained staff, and they might be able to offer advice on remedies for minor ailments. There is a duty roster, which means that they take turns to open late. They all display the traditional ‘green cross’ sign outside. There is a 24 hour chemist in Funchal (see below). There are too many to list here, but you can check the section in the yellow pages using the word ‘farmácia’, or search online using the same keyword and the name of your nearest town. YELLOW PAGES

Dentists – Dentists are notoriously expensive on Madeira, so travellers are well advised to ensure their teeth are in good shape before travelling, and also ensuring that they have travel or private medical insurance that
will cover them in the event of dental problems. If you are staying at a hotel it is worth asking at reception whether they have any special arrangements or can recommend a dentist. There is no choice but to go private, and you should check the costs and whether you are covered by medical insurance before committing yourself. If you have a dental emergency on a weekend or public holiday or at nightime, you will probably need to go to Funchal for treatment – telephone 291 207676 for further information. You can find dentists through the yellow pages telephone phone book or online using the keyword ‘dentista’ and your nearest large town, but prices may well be higher for foreigners in an emergency, especially where there might be thought to be private travel or medical insurance covering the cost. YELLOW PAGES

OTHER EMERGENCIES

Madeira Fire Brigade – Known as the ‘Corpo de Bombeiros’, the fire brigade are situated near most major towns. In the event of fire or other serious emergency phone 112 to get assistance or report an incident. Or you can select a number from the list below. You are more likely to find English spoken on the emergency number.

Madeira Coast Guard – ‘Guarda de Litoral’. Phone 112 to get assistance or report an incident, or 291 230 112.

Madeira Police – In an emergency you can phone 112. Most major towns have a police station or police presence throughout the day and night. If the situation is not an emergency, then you can phone 291 208 400 for advice, or ring or visit your local police station (see the contact list below)

Via Rápida (Motorway) breakdown – If you breakdown on the motorway phone 800 290 290 for assistance. There are plenty of cameras along the busiest sections, so you may find help is on the way before requesting it. Be aware that mobile phones may not work inside the tunnels. In the event of a fire in a tunnel, keep well away, outside if possible, as there may be toxic fumes.

Madeira Airport – Phone 291 524 941 for advice if your problem is concerns Madeira Airport.

International Red Cross – Telephone 291 741 115.

British Consulate, Funchal – The British Consulate can assist with the following problems, other consulates and embassies may have different arrangements.
- Issue emergency passports.
- Contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets.
- Tell you how to transfer money. In an emergency, cash you a sterling cheque worth up to £100 if supported by a valid banker’s card.
- As a last resort, in exceptional circumstances, and as long as you meet certain strict rules, give you a loan to get you back to the UK, but only if there is no-one else who can help you.
- Help you get in touch with local lawyers, interpreters and doctors.
- Arrange for next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures.
- Visit you if you have been arrested or put in prison, and arrange for messages to be sent to relatives and friends.
- Put you in touch with organisations who help trace missing persons.
- Speak to the local authorities on your behalf.
The British Consulate is based in Avenida Zarco in Funchal, the daytime telephone number is 00351 291212860. It is only open Monday to Friday 9.30am to midday, but in emergencies only, British Citizens can phone 00351 962720557. Fax number : 00351 291212869

Other Consulates / Embassies :
Austria : Tel (00351) 291 206 100
Belgium : Tel (00351) 291 210 200
Brazil : Tel (00351) 291 227 250
France : Tel (00351) 291 200 750
Germany : Tel (00351) 291 220 338
Holland : Tel (00351) 291 703 803
Italy : Tel (00351) 291 223 890
Norway : Tel (00351) 291 741 515
South Africa : Tel (00351) 291 223 521
Sweden : Tel (00351) 291 233 603
USA  : Tel (00351) 291 235 636

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR POLICE, FIRE BRIGADE, HOSPITALS, CLINICS, & 24 HOUR PHARMACY NUMBER – These are provided on a best endeavours basis

FUNCHAL
FIRE BRIGADE
Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian Ed. 2000, 9000-011 tel: 291 211 014
Rua Matadouro 1, 9050-100 tel: 291 223 056
POLICE (tel : 291 208 400) Rua Francisco Franco, 9000-083 tel: 291 220 800
Rua São João Deus 7, 9000-028 tel: 291 281 230
Rua Infância 28, 9050-039 tel: 291 241 422
HOSPITALS & CLINICS / HEALTH CENTRES.
Hospital Cruz de Carvalho (Central) 57 Avenida Luís Camões, 9000-168 tel: 291 705 600
Hospitais dos Marmeleiros Estrada Marmeleiros, Monte, 9050 tel: 291 705 730
Hospital Doutor João  Almada Quinta Santa, Monte, 9050 tel: 291 780 300 / 291 705 700
Clínica Santa Luzia (24 Hour Service) Rua Torrinha 5, 9054-516 tel: 291 200 000
Clínica Estrada Monumental Centro Monumental Lido tel: 291 771 020
Clínica Rua Pombal 31-Bloco A, 9050-075 tel: 291 755 300
Clínica R Latino Coelho 60,2º-A, 9060-155 tel: 291 204 480
CHEMIST – 24 HOUR
Estrada Monumental 456 tel: 291 776 860

CÂMARA DE LOBOS
FIRE BRIGADE – Rua Carreira 11, 9300-039 tel: 291 911 444
7A, Casas Próximas Curral das Freiras 9030-040 tel: 291 712 533
POLICE – Rua Padre Pita Ferreira, 9300-117 tel: 291 911 040
Rua Doutor João A Ornelas , Estreito C de Lobos 9325-032 ESTREITO tel: 291 948 024
Quinta Grande, 9300 tel: 291 940 666
CLINIC – 9325 Estreito Câmara de Lobos tel: 291 948 151

SANTANA
POLICE – Achada Pampilhar Santana, 9230-083 tel: 291 572 403

SÃO VICENTE
POLICE – Passo Vicente, 9240-217 tel: 291 846 229

CALHETA
FIRE BRIGADE – 9370-133 Calheta tel: 291 827 204
Ladeira Lamaceiros 9370 Arco Da Calheta tel: 291 827 334
POLICE – Vila Calheta, 9370-133 tel: 291 822 422
CLINIC – St da Estrela, Calheta, 9370-111 tel: 291 823 456

MACHICO
POLICE – Vila Machico, 9200 tel: 291 965 574

PONTA DO SOL
POLICE – Rua Padre Leão Henriques, 9360-216 tel: 291 972 223
CLINIC – Vila Ponta do Sol, 9360-217 tel: 291 972 291

PORTO MONIZ
POLICE – Estrada Regional, 9270 tel: 291 853 361
CLINIC – Rua Dr João de Françacosme tel 291 850 170/ 291 853 204

RIBEIRA BRAVA
FIRE BRIGADE – Ponta de Vermelha, 9350 tel: 291 952 114 & 291 952 281
POLICE – Muro, 9350-212 tel: 291 952 159
CLINIC – Largo 1º Maio, 9350-128 tel: 291 957 300

SANTA CRUZ
POLICE Praça Doutor João A Freitas, 9100-157 tel: 291 524 767
Rua Camélias , Camacha, 9135-200 tel: 291 922 530

PORTO SANTO
FIRE BRIGADE – R D. Berta M T Aguiar, 9400-154 tel: 291 982 115
POLICE – Lombas Porto St 9400-065 tel: 291 982 615
Esquadra da Cidade Matas tel: 291 982 423
CLINIC – Rua Dr José Diamantino Lima tel: 291 980 060

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent 

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The Madeirans love to go out and eat, and whilst it is very affordable for many western Europeans, it is comparatively expensive for many people on Madeira on minimum wage of around €500 per month.

Madeira has snack bars and restaurants in vast numbers from one end to the other. Most of the snack bars prepare steak sandwiches and burgers, but there are a great many restaurants specialising in local recipes, and others serving more familiar dishes, including Italian, Indian and Chinese food, with some excellent seafood establishments.

Vegetarians are catered for on Madeira, but mostly in Funchal, where there are several restaurants serving a variety of dishes.

All restaurants and snack bars serve a large variety of soft and alcoholic drinks, and tea and coffee also. The wines are both Madeiran and imported, the main beers on offer will almost certainly come from Coral,
a local producer that has a huge dominance over the Madeira market, and produces light and dark beers, as well as non-alcoholic brews. Many of the soft drinks will be familiar too, with Coca Cola being a major brand. Most of the other juices and fizzy drinks come from Brisa, who also manufacture on the island, with a huge range of the usual and more exotic flavours. 

Most of the locals and visitors like to eat outdoors when out for the night. The people of Madeira tend to eat quite late at night, often with friends and families, including children.

Service charges are not normally included in the bill, and tipping is optional.

FOOD SHOPPING

Madeira is well blessed with 3 large supermarket chains, with one or more represented in most larger towns. Modelo and Pingo Doce are Portuguese national brands, whilst Hiper Sã is a local supermarket, just trying to reach out and establish itself in mainland Portugal. There are plenty of other smaller privately owned supermarkets and food shops to choose from, but the larger ones have a significant pricing advantage, and small businesses struggle in the competition.

However, on Madeira, there is a third source for fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and fish, and that is direct from the farmers and fishermen, of which there are many, If you live outside of the city, and you get to know your neighbours, for sure there will be packages and boxes turning up with bananas and oranges, as these are plentiful and often surplus to requirements. Once you know your way around a bit, if you live in the country you will probably find that a lot of your heavy and fresh shopping comes home this way, with a bit from the neighbours, something from the man in the fish van, some wine from a local winery, and so on.

Having established your bulk food sources, you go out and buy everything else in your local shops or supermarkets, and quite likely end up with some goods imported to Madeira.

The quality of food is good, the fruit and vegetables are wide in variety, and usually good in flavour.  Prices fluctuate widely, due to seasonal availability and importation costs.  The meat (limited in choice) and fish (big choice) prices usually stay more steady.

Here are some rough price guides
for basic food & drink from 2008:
Potatoes €0.60 – €1 / kg
Oranges €0.50 – €1 / kg
Tomatoes €1 – €2.50 / kg
Bread €0.70 – €2 medium loaf
Lean beef €4 – €6 / kg
Chicken €1.70 – €2.50 / kg
Small fish €1 – €3 / kg
Large fish €4 – €8 / kg
Milk €0.40 – €0.70 / litre
30cl local beer €0.20 – €0.45
Wine starts at €0.70 / litre, up to several Euros for a reasonable bottle

The average Madeira family shopping bill for 2007 was €399 per month

EATING & DRINKING OUT

Portuguese & International Cuisine

If you are up for a burger, steak sandwich, chips or whatever, then you will need to walk no more than a few meters in any town to satisfy your appetite, as there are numerous snack bars and cafés on Madeira, catering for the most popular local tastes in snacks. There are also plenty of restaurants, but as you will no doubt wish to try some local dishes, this is where we will start.

Several dishes stand out as being particularly Portuguese or Madeiran, and are very popular with the locals. The first is Espetada, which is a kebab type meal of grilled or barbecued beef, in very large chunks, well flavoured with garlic. You will often see the huge skewers hanging upright on the tables. You may see it served with chips, vegetables, or salad, or fried corn is also popular. This dish and other grilled and  barbecued meat will certainly be found in any restaurant marked or named as a churrascaria, and if you go to a street festivals you will almost certainly see it on sale, and perhaps even cook it yourself.

Fish is also very popular, and one deep sea fish caught locally is called espada (scabbard fish), and although you won’t recognise it on your plate, if you look in a Madeira supermarket it will be the very long black fish with large eyes and wicked razor sharp teeth. The other very popular fish dish is ‘bacalhau’ or cod fish. This is familiar but imported cod, usually dried and salted when brought, but this is unnoticeable when rehydrated and prepared.

There are specialist fish restaurants, mostly in Funchal, but as much of the more exquisite fish is imported, they can appear expensive, and you may pay for the fish by uncooked weight. Look out for ‘Marisqueira’ outside a restaurant.

One stew of worthy note, named feijoada, is made of boiled beans, and can be made with a variety of meats and flavourings, in a sauce. It’s very filling and very popular with Madeirans.

International cuisine restaurants are common place in Funchal, but are much harder to find on the rest of the island, with the exception of Italian style restaurants serving pizza and pasta dishes. In Funchal there are several Chinese and Indian restaurants, as well as the Italian ones, and French, and a few more obscure themes dotted around the city. Also, but barely under the theme of ‘International Cuisine’, you will find MacDonalds & Kentucky Fried Chicken, and familiar looking fast food Pizza outlets in Funchal.

Money Saving Tip – Meals are well renowned in Portugal & Madeira for being rather large, so if you have children with you often you can ask for a half portion "Meia dose de … se faz favor". It will probably cost more than half the price of a full portion, but that’s to be expected.

The Madeiran ‘Café Culture’

Cafés and Bars form a huge part of the social life enjoyed by many Madeirans and Portuguese people. As well as a simple and often practical way of feeding and hydrating yourself, the bigger role is the social environment it provides, with friends and family, business acquaintances and anybody else who might turn up! This life is generally a daytime affair, with little if any alcohol being consumed, but plenty of very strong black coffee in very small cups.

Most of this socialising takes place daily outside the numerous cafes and bars that are spread out across the island, weather permitting of course, and mostly during the day. At night-time, especially later on, it is more normal to see younger people, often with children but still sitting outdoors. Again, drinking mostly coffee and juices.

Not so much these days (unless you ask), the staff will give you a dish of something to eat with your drink, known as ‘dentinhos’, something like the tapas bars of Spain do. Sometimes you will be given a small plate of yellow beans (tromoços), or salted peanuts or monkey nuts, others may give you something hot like tripe, or chicken hearts, or ‘patinhas’ (pigs feet).

Bars, Pubs, & Drinking Establishments

The opening times of most the bars, pubs and cafés is pretty universal, and usually pretty early, but the closing times vary from town to town and from establishment to establishment, with the bars further away from residential areas usually having later closing times (later licences are allowed if the establishment is not going to be disturbing people).

All bars / pubs / cafes sell alcoholic drinks, but they would normally represent the smaller part of the days trade where coffee, juices and snacks give the owners their main income, though that may vary with establishment that serve a lot of tourists.

Many of the bars have TVs, but most people don’t watch them unless there is a big football match on.

Smoking

On 1st January 2008, Portugal introduced measures to stop smoking in public places. Madeira was equally affected, but the president of Madeira, a cigar smoker, had the law changed for Madeira. Now there are bars and restaurants that allow smoking, and by law they have smoke extraction equipment installed.

In public places such as the airport and on buses, smoking is not permitted. Bars, cafes and restaurants can choose to be a smoking or non smoking establishment. There are stiff fines for businesses, and fines for smokers themselves who do not comply with the law. A red sticker is used is used to indicate ‘no smoking’ establishments and areas. The majority of places have opted for the ‘no smoking’ option.

However, for those who still wish to smoke, it shouldn’t be a problem, as with a climate like that on Madeira, who wouldn’t rather sit outside anyway? Cigarettes are priced in the range of €1.50 to €2.80 per
packet, the higher price being for imported cigarettes. Most bars and cafes have vending machines that are operated by a remote control to stop underage use, so you may have to ask for the machine to be switched on.

The prices in bars, pubs & cafes vary enormously around Madeira, and going from one extreme of a café in a busy tourist area in Funchal, to a small bar in a small Madeiran village, exactly the same drink could cost you half as much, maybe less. At the lower end of the scale, a small beer should cost between 80 cents and €1, a large white coffee 70 to 90 cents, a bottled juice or cola probably €1 or just under, a large shot of spirits between €1 and €2, depending on the measure and spirit chosen.

The food is limited in choice, burger and steak sandwiches being more popular with the locals on Madeira, but you can buy your lunch for between €3 and €5 as long as you don’t stray from the regular menu or the dish of the day which should have it’s own price marked up.

The prices discussed above are the prices you should pay and those normally advertised or listed somewhere in view, but legally, owners of bars, pubs & cafes are permitted to charge a service charge if they take your order and serve you outside, and normally this would be as little as 10 cents a drink, but some owners or their waiting staff take this to new levels by adding 50% or 100% or more onto a drinks bill, and this is a big problem with foreigners whether they realise it or not. Normally with food there is never a problem, and most bars, pubs and cafés do employ honest staff.

Another favourite trick is to take your €5 note, and ‘forget’ to give you the change, unless you ask for it of course, so you should keep an eye open for these small but annoying and costly tricks. Another warning, some bars / pubs / cafes & restaurants have tills that can produce different priced bills / receipts for the same item!

The staff and the customers in the Madeira bars & pubs are generally helpful, friendly and understanding, and you will see this manifest itself in different forms, from the busy city centre bars & cafés to the remote snack bar in the middle of nowhere. You ought to experience this for yourself.

Tips To Avoid Being ‘Had’

1. Use the bars / pubs you know and trust.
2. Order your drink at the bar, and make a mental note if you see the price list  (which should be displayed). Likewise, if you order anything from the menu. By law, these establishments are permitted to charge more for outside service. The chances are the locals will not be charged this, or if they are it will be 10 or 20 cents per drink. However, some pubs / bars / cafes will mark up huge amounts in order to charge foreigners more.
3. Where convenient, pay your bill inside the bar / pub / cafe, and check your change.
4. If you don’t see a bill and are unhappy with the amount charged , ask the bar man or pub manager for a ‘recibo’, and check that what is printed is correct.
5. If you want to ask for the manager, ask ….. "quero falar com o gerente"
6. As a last resort, ask for the ‘Livro de Reclamacões’ (complaints book), and that should resolve matters. This should always be as a last resort, as there can be serious repercussions for the business involved.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent 

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