The gradual adaptation to the new Portuguese spelling reform (AO90) started in May 2009. That was the reason that took me 4 months to Brazil back then, in order to better understand the idiosyncrasies of our language overseas.
All 8 Portuguese speaking countries have signed the reform, only Angola did not ratify it so far. Officially, it should be implemented everywhere by 2015/2016, after a 6-year transition period.
This week, on May 13th, the reform came into force, only in Portugal so far. Unfortunately, it is not consensual and although it is official, not everyone agrees with its use. On the contrary, in Brazil, where it shall come into force next January, a colleague who works for the Brazilian Presidency informed me that it has been in use since 2009 without further ado. The fact that the changes in the Brazilian version imply only 0,5% of the words, whereas in Portugal this figure is approx. threefold may be a good reason for that.
The important information I wish you to keep is that, no matter whether the reform is accepted or not, please do not expect to have one version only. There will always be differences between the Afro-European and the Brazilian Portuguese versions!
So far we have been working according to the client’s wishes, i.e., with / without the reform, for Brazil or for Portugal. In your place, I would inform clients that the reform is now official in Portugal, but please do keep asking them whether they need the translation for Portugal or for Brazil, and according to the new or the old reform.
In order to keep abreast of the evolution of the spelling reform — and also to qualify as a Proofreader to help you implement the so-called Four-Eye-Check — in June I will be finishing the course Advanced Studies in Text Revision and Editing at the Universidade Católica in Lisbon.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need further information.
indie.ana words 
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