Homosexual couples will be allowed the same rights as heterosexual couples in common law marriages.
The bill has passed on the votes of a majority of left-of-center politicians in the 230-seat National Assembly, Portugal´s parliament, while right-of-center parties opposed the bill.
In 1999 a majority of politicians, including some from the governing left-of-center Socialist Party, balked at a proposal to incorporate same-sex relationships in new legislation on common law marriages.
Changes to the bill, including a deal on taxes, persuaded more Socialists to approve it.
