Portugal

Main residence routes

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.

• D7 (passive income): for retirees and people with stable income from pensions, rentals or investments. You need at least the Portuguese minimum wage (870 euros a month in 2025) plus savings.
• D8 (digital nomad): for remote workers employed by or freelancing for foreign clients, with income of at least four times the minimum wage (about 3,480 euros a month in 2025).
• Work visa: requires a job offer and contract with a Portuguese employer.
• Highly qualified activity (D3) and EU Blue Card: for skilled professionals with higher salaries.
• Job seeker visa: lets you look for work in Portugal for a limited time.
• Student visa (D4): for enrolled students at Portuguese institutions.

After you arrive

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.

The job market

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.

• In demand: software engineering, data, cybersecurity, multilingual customer support, nursing and skilled trades
• Typical pay: the national minimum wage is 870 euros a month in 2025, and many professional roles pay 1,200 to 2,500 euros gross
• 14 salary payments: most employees receive extra payments in summer and at Christmas

Where to look

• LinkedIn, Net-Empregos and ITJobs.pt
• Landing.jobs for tech roles
• The IEFP public employment service

Tax incentives

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.

The rental market

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.

How renting works

• Listings appear on Idealista, Imovirtual and Facebook groups
• Landlords often ask for a NIF, proof of income and sometimes a Portuguese guarantor (fiador)
• Without a guarantor, expect to pay several months of rent in advance
• A typical move-in cost is one or two months of deposit plus the first month
• Leases must be registered with Finanças by the landlord

Things to check

• Many older buildings have poor insulation and no central heating, so winters can feel cold indoors
• Ask whether utilities, condominium fees and internet are included
• Check for damp and mould before signing

The public system (SNS)

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).

• Primary care consultations at health centres are generally free
• Emergency visits without a referral may carry a small fee
• You may be assigned a family doctor, though shortages mean some people wait

Private healthcare

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

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.

Typical monthly costs

Outside housing, Portugal is good value. Groceries, public transport, coffee and eating out are all cheaper than in most of Western Europe.

• Rent: 1,100 to 1,600 euros for a one-bedroom in central Lisbon, less in Porto and far less in smaller towns
• Groceries: 250 to 350 euros per person
• Transport: monthly Navegante or Andante passes cost 40 euros
• Coffee: an espresso (bica or cimbalino) is often under 1 euro

Budget examples

• A single person in Lisbon renting alone needs about 2,000 to 2,500 euros a month to live comfortably
• A couple in a smaller city can manage on 1,800 to 2,200 euros

Hidden costs

Electricity and heating in winter, condominium fees, and car costs (fuel and tolls are expensive) can add up quickly.

City transport

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.

Trains and buses

• CP (Comboios de Portugal) runs intercity trains, including the Alfa Pendular between Lisbon and Porto in about 3 hours
• A national rail pass (Passe Ferroviário Verde) offers unlimited regional and intercity travel for 20 euros a month on most services
• Rede Expressos and FlixBus link towns across the country

Driving

Motorways are excellent but tolled. Via Verde transponders pay tolls automatically. Fuel is expensive.

• EU licences are valid indefinitely
• Many non-EU licences can be exchanged, but check the rules with IMT soon after becoming resident

Daily life

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.

What people do

• Surfing and beaches: Ericeira, Peniche, Nazaré and the Algarve coast
• Food and wine: grilled fish, pastéis de nata, vinho verde and port
• Festivals: Santo António in Lisbon and São João in Porto every June
• Football: Benfica, Sporting and FC Porto rivalries run deep

Community

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.

Things to know

• Shops in small towns may close for lunch
• Greet people with "bom dia" or "boa tarde"
• Portuguese people appreciate it when you do not speak Spanish to them

Schools

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.

International schools

• Lisbon and Cascais have the largest choice, including British, American, French and German schools
• Porto and the Algarve also have several international schools
• Annual fees range from about 6,000 to over 20,000 euros

Universities

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.

Childcare

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.

Getting your NIF

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.

Opening a bank account

• Traditional banks include Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Millennium bcp, Santander and Novo Banco
• ActivoBank and online options are popular with newcomers
• Bring your passport, NIF, proof of address and proof of income or employment

Paying for things

• Multibanco ATMs let you pay bills, top up phones and buy tickets
• MB WAY is the national instant payment app for splitting bills and paying friends
• Cards are widely accepted, but some small cafés prefer cash for small amounts

Everyday rules

• Carry ID: adults should carry an identity document or residence card
• Register your address: keep your details up to date with AIMA and Finanças when you move
• Taxes: you become tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in Portugal or have your habitual residence here

Drugs and alcohol

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.

Driving

• The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, and 0.2 g/l for new and professional drivers
• Speed cameras are common and fines are high
• You must carry a reflective vest and warning triangle

Rentals and property

Short-term holiday letting (Alojamento Local) requires a licence, and rules vary by municipality.

Airports

• Lisbon (LIS): the main hub for TAP Air Portugal, with long-haul links to Brazil, Africa and North America
• Porto (OPO): strong low-cost connections across Europe
• Faro (FAO): gateway to the Algarve
• The Azores and Madeira are short, affordable flights away

Schengen travel

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.

Weekend ideas

• Sintra, Óbidos and Évora from Lisbon
• The Douro Valley wine region from Porto
• Seville and the rest of Andalusia by car or bus from the Algarve

Before you travel

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.