Did you know that in Portugal, families with children in public schools don’t have to pay for textbooks? Yes, really. Thanks to a government program called Mega Manuais, parents get free vouchers to collect their kids’ schoolbooks. And unlike most bureaucratic adventures here, this one is refreshingly simple.
No queues, no hidden fees. Just log in, download a PDF, and head to a bookstore. Five minutes later — boom, free books.
What Is Mega Manuais?
Mega Manuais is a government platform that gives parents digital vouchers for free school textbooks.
- It covers primary school (1st to 4th grade) and most other years in public education.
- The vouchers can be redeemed in participating bookstores (livrarias aderentes).
- Instead of spending €100+ per child, you just show a code, and the books are yours.
Who Actually Gets Free Books?
Not everyone. Here’s the quick filter:
✔️ Your child is enrolled in a public school.
✔️ They’re in primary school (grades 1–4), with vouchers for older grades released a bit later.
✔️ You (the parent) have a NIF (Portuguese tax number) and can log into the platform.
❌ If your child attends a private school — no vouchers, sorry.
When Do the Vouchers Drop?
Usually in July or August. The exact date shifts every year, but schools and the platform will announce it.
Until then, parents all over Portugal sit around refreshing the website — a kind of national summer sport.
How to Get Your Vo
1.Log in → Go to manuaisescolares.pt or use the Edu Rede Escolar app (iOS/Android).
2.Enter details → Use your NIF and your Portal das Finanças password.
3.Select your child → If you’ve got more than one, they’ll each appear separately.
4.Click “Obter Vouchers” → The system generates a PDF with unique codes.
5.Save or print → You’ll need this PDF at the bookstore.
Collect the books → Take the codes to a participating bookstore, and voilà — free textbooks.
Parent-to-Parent Tips
- Handle with care → Some books must be returned at the end of the school year. If your child doodles all over them, you may need to pay.
- Expect second-hand → Not all books are new. The program encourages reuse, so don’t be surprised if your child’s book already has a bit of history.
- Budget for extras → While textbooks are free, you’ll still need to buy notebooks, pens, backpacks, and pay for lunch or extracurriculars.
- Save time with the app → The Edu Rede Escolar app is handy for tracking vouchers and schools.
Why Parents Love This System
If you’ve just moved to Portugal, this system will feel like a gift. Schoolbooks here aren’t cheap, and for families with multiple kids, costs add up quickly. Mega Manuais eliminates that burden — one less stress when adjusting to a new country.
Best of all, it’s one of the few processes in Portugal that doesn’t involve endless queues, multiple offices, or mysterious stamps of approval. You simply log in, download a PDF, and collect the books. Done.
Good luck this school year — may it be full of learning, friendships, and new adventures!
