About the Citizen Guide
The Citizen Guide is an independent information platform created to help citizens understand public services, administrative procedures and institutional frameworks in Portugal, based on publicly available information.
Its purpose is to organise, explain and guide information that is often scattered across multiple websites, entities and documents, making it more accessible and understandable for the general public.
The problem the Citizen Guide addresses
In Portugal, public service information is available, but it is frequently fragmented, technical or difficult to interpret. For citizens, this often results in uncertainty, wasted time and difficulty understanding where to go, what is usually required and which authority is responsible.
The Citizen Guide addresses this problem by organising information by territory and topic, explaining procedures in clear language and directing users to the appropriate official channels.
What the Citizen Guide is — and is not
The Citizen Guide is:
- an information platform
- a system for guidance and contextual explanation
- a support tool for understanding public services
The Citizen Guide is not:
- an official government service
- a replacement for public authorities
- a provider of legal, tax, technical or administrative advice
- a decision-making or execution system
How it works
Information within the Citizen Guide is organised by districts and municipalities, providing contextual explanations about services, commonly required documentation and institutional guidance.
The platform relies on governed GPT systems to structure and present information, operating strictly as an aid to interpretation and never as a mechanism for automated decision-making.
Governed AI and ethical framework
The Citizen Guide uses governed GPT instances with explicit operational limits, designed to provide contextual and explanatory information without decision authority or automated execution.
These systems are aligned with the principles of the European Union AI Act, particularly with regard to transparency, human oversight, purpose limitation and accountability.
Users should always confirm information with the relevant official authorities, especially in situations involving legal, tax or administrative consequences.
Territorial coverage
The Citizen Guide provides national coverage, encompassing all districts of mainland Portugal and their respective municipalities, ensuring territorial consistency and equal access to public information.
Independence and neutrality
The Citizen Guide is an independent project, with no political, institutional or commercial affiliation. Information is organised based on public sources, with a focus on neutrality, clarity and the public interest.
Commitment
The Citizen Guide’s commitment is simple: to help citizens better understand public information, to guide without replacing authorities, and to explain without making decisions.