
Lisbon
Sunlit hills, river views and a thriving international scene.
Europe · Capital Lisbon
Sunny, affordable and welcoming to remote workers.
LanguagesPortuguese
CurrencyEUR
Population10.7M
EnglishWidely spoken
Overview
A safe, sunny and relatively affordable EU country with clear residence routes for remote workers, retirees and skilled employees.
Portugal regularly ranks among the safest countries in the world, and its mix of Atlantic coastline, historic cities and warm people draws remote workers, retirees, students and families. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, especially among younger people.
Most newcomers get a NIF (tax number) first, then open a bank account, sign a lease and register for healthcare. With a NIF you can do almost everything else.
Last reviewed September 2026
Visas
Non-EU citizens usually apply for a national visa at a Portuguese consulate, then convert it into a residence permit with AIMA.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work freely and simply register with their local council (Câmara Municipal). Everyone else needs a national visa before arriving.
The visa lets you enter. You then attend an appointment with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), which replaced SEF in 2023, to receive a residence permit card.
Last reviewed September 2026
Jobs
Tech, tourism and shared services hire internationally, but local salaries are low, so many foreigners keep remote income.
Portugal has a growing tech scene in Lisbon and Porto, with many international companies running engineering hubs, customer support centres and shared service operations. Tourism, hospitality and real estate are also big employers.
The old NHR regime closed to new applicants in 2024. It was replaced by a narrower incentive often called IFICI or NHR 2.0, which offers a flat 20% rate for some qualifying scientific, tech and research roles.
Last reviewed September 2026
Housing
Rents in Lisbon and Porto have risen sharply, so expect competition and budget for a deposit plus advance rent.
Housing is the biggest challenge for most newcomers. Rents in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve have climbed quickly, while smaller cities such as Braga, Coimbra and Aveiro remain much cheaper.
Last reviewed September 2026
Healthcare
Residents can use the public SNS for low or no cost, and many expats add affordable private insurance for faster access.
Portugal's Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) is available to legal residents. Once you have a residence permit or registration, you can request a número de utente (SNS user number) at your local health centre (centro de saúde).
Private hospitals such as CUF, Lusíadas and Luz Saúde offer short waiting times and English-speaking doctors. Private health insurance is affordable, often 30 to 80 euros a month for younger adults through Médis, Multicare or Allianz.
Pharmacies (farmácias) are everywhere and pharmacists can advise on minor issues. A green cross means open, and a rota of late-night pharmacies is posted on doors.
Last reviewed September 2026
Cost of living
Everyday costs are among the lowest in Western Europe, but rent in Lisbon and Porto takes a large share of local salaries.
Outside housing, Portugal is good value. Groceries, public transport, coffee and eating out are all cheaper than in most of Western Europe.
Electricity and heating in winter, condominium fees, and car costs (fuel and tolls are expensive) can add up quickly.
Last reviewed September 2026
Transportation
Good metro systems in Lisbon and Porto, cheap monthly passes and a fast train link between the two main cities.
Lisbon and Porto both have metros, buses and trams. The Navegante card in the Lisbon area and the Andante card in Porto cover most operators, and monthly metropolitan passes cost 40 euros.
Motorways are excellent but tolled. Via Verde transponders pay tolls automatically. Fuel is expensive.
Last reviewed September 2026
Lifestyle
Long lunches, beaches, football and family life shape a friendly, unhurried culture.
Portuguese culture values family, food and time with friends. Lunch is taken seriously, dinner starts around 8 pm, and cafés are social hubs. People are polite and a little reserved at first, but warm once you get to know them.
Lisbon and Porto have large international communities, with meetups, coworking spaces and language exchanges every week. In smaller towns, integration depends more on speaking Portuguese.
Last reviewed September 2026
Education
Free public schools, a good range of international schools in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, and affordable universities.
Public schooling is free and compulsory from 6 to 18. Classes are taught in Portuguese, and schools offer support (Português Língua Não Materna) for children learning the language. Younger children usually adapt quickly.
Leading public universities include the University of Lisbon, NOVA University Lisbon, the University of Porto and the University of Coimbra. Tuition for EU students is low, while international students pay higher but still moderate fees, often 1,500 to 7,000 euros a year.
Places at public or subsidised creches can be hard to find in big cities, so register early. Private creches typically cost 350 to 600 euros a month.
Last reviewed September 2026
Banking
You need a NIF to open a bank account, and the Multibanco network and MB WAY app make everyday payments easy.
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is your tax number and you need it for almost everything: leases, bank accounts, phone contracts and utilities. You can request it at a Finanças office, and non-EU residents without a Portuguese address may need a fiscal representative at first.
Last reviewed September 2026
Laws
Portugal is liberal and relaxed, but carry ID, respect driving limits and remember that drugs are decriminalised, not legal.
Portugal decriminalised possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use in 2001. This does not make drugs legal: possession is still an administrative offence and selling is a crime. The drinking age is 18.
Short-term holiday letting (Alojamento Local) requires a licence, and rules vary by municipality.
Last reviewed September 2026
Travel
Three international airports, Schengen membership and cheap flights make Portugal a great base for exploring Europe.
As a Schengen member, residents with a valid residence permit can travel within the area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Keep your passport and residence card together. If your card has expired and is awaiting renewal, check current AIMA guidance before leaving, as airlines and border officers may ask for proof.
Last reviewed September 2026

Sunlit hills, river views and a thriving international scene.
2 reviews
Mid-term furnished room via rental platform, Lisbon Arroios· Lisbon
I rented a furnished room in a shared apartment in Arroios for four months through a mid-term rental platform. Booking from Brazil was easy, and I had an address from day one, which helped with paperwork. But at 750 euros a month for a small room, it was expensive. The photos made the room look much bigger. The heating did not work well, and in winter the apartment was cold and damp. Communication with the management company was slow, and a repair took three weeks. I would only use this option for the first few weeks while searching.
Easy to book from abroad
Address for registration from day one
I moved to Lisbon from Belo Horizonte in 2022. Finding a long-term rental was the most stressful part of the move, and it has not become easier. This is what happened, and why I rate the experience a…
Before I moved to Portugal, I spent a month in Porto to sort out my paperwork and get to know the country. The two things I needed first were a NIF (tax identification number) and a Portuguese bank a…
Visas, jobs, housing or daily life: people on the ground usually answer within a day.
Ask a question3 min read
Expensive for the size
Cold and damp in winter
Lisbon· Lisbon
Lisbon gives you sunshine, the river, miradouros at sunset and a safe, relaxed daily life. For Brazilians, the language makes everything easier, although accents and vocabulary are different and some people switch to English when they hear us. The design and startup community is active, and coworking spaces are easy to find. But rents have risen far faster than local salaries, landlords ask for months of rent upfront and there is visible frustration about foreigners and tourist flats. Bureaucracy at AIMA can take months. I love living here, but I would tell anyone to look at Porto or smaller cities before deciding.
Safe and relaxed
Great climate
Rents far above local salaries
Slow immigration processes