Living in Portugal

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Visa and permit

Entering Portugal

You need a long-stay visa (temporary stay visa if the stay does not exceed one year or visa to obtain a residence permit if the length of stay is longer) to stay in Portugal for more than 3 months or to establish your residence.

The type of visa to obtain depends on the purpose of travel:

  • Work
  • Healthcare
  • Study and research
  • Vocational training, internship or voluntary work
  • Youth Mobility
  • Family Regrouping
  • Religious training
  • Establishment of residence
  • Living off own income

Where to apply

At the Portuguese Consular Office in the country of residence.

See the list of Consular Offices here.

Cost

  • Temporary stay visa - 75 €
  • Visa for residence permit - 90 €.

You don't need a long-stay visa if you are:

(you need only to present an identification document or passport)
  • National of a Member State of the European Union;
  • National of a State belonging to the European Economic Area;
  • National of a third State with which the European Union has an agreement on the free movement of persons;
  • Family member of a Portuguese citizen or of a foreign citizen in one of the above situations.

More information here.

Living in Portugal

If you are a national of a Member State of the European Union, a State party to the European Economic Area, the Principality of Andorra or Switzerland:

You should apply for an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen Registration Certificate. which is a temporary residence permit.

Where to apply

At the Municipality of the area of Portuguese residence.

After five consecutive years as a holder of a Registration Certificate, you can apply for a Certificate of Permanent Residence Registration

Where to apply

Service counters of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), with prior booking.

 

Consult the service counters here.

 

Book your appointment online here.

If you are a citizen of a Third State:

Portugal offers you special regimes for granting a temporary residence permit in a simple and fast way.

Benefit

  • Residence visa exemption for entry in Portugal
  • Live and work in Portugal
  • Visa waiver for travel within the Schengen area
  • Family reunification
  • Access to the Portuguese national health system
  • Obtaining the status of Non-Usual Resident for tax purposes
  • Apply for permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence
  • Applying for Portuguese Nationality after 5 years of legal residence

Golden Visa

Residence permit for investment activity
Not applicable for EU and EEA nationals.

Eligible activities

Any investment activity involving one of the following situations in Portugal:

Setting up a company in Portugal or increasing the capital of an existing one based in Portugal, with a minimum investment of 500,000 euros, combined with the creation of five or maintenance of ten jobs (5 of them permanent)

Creation and maintenance of 10 full-time jobs during the required period (8 in low-density territories)

Investment or donation in artistic production or reconstruction of the national cultural heritage, in an amount equal to or greater than 250,000 Euros (can be reduced by 20% if the investment is destined for low-density territories)

Making a contribution to a Qualified Investment Fund of at least 500,000 Euros

Contribution to scientific research or technology in an amount equal to or greater than 500, 000 Euros (may be reduced by 20% if the investment is destined for low-density territories)

Other conditions required

  • The investment activity must be maintained for at least 5 years, as from the moment when the residence visa was granted;
  • The residence permit is renewable for two periods of two years, and the applicant must remain in Portuguese territory for seven days (consecutive or interpolated) in the first year and 14 days (consecutive or interpolated) in the subsequent two-year periods.

Taxes

More information here

Start-up Visa

Residence permit for entrepreneurship and/or innovation activities
Not applicable for EU and EEA nationals.

Hosting programme for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to develop an entrepreneurship and/or innovation project in Portugal

 

Foreign entrepreneurs who want to start an innovative company have access to a residence visa that will give them the possibility to create from scratch or relocate an existing Start-up to Portugal.

It shall be proven

  • who intend to develop activities for the production of innovative goods and services in an internationalisation perspective;
  • that their projects and/or companies focus on technology and knowledge, with prospects for developing innovative products;
  • that have the potential to create skilled employment;
  • who have the capacity to set up a business;
  • that have the potential to achieve, within 5 years of the incubation contract, a turnover greater than 325 000€/year and/or an asset value greater than 325 000€/year.

More information here

Tax incentives
Tax system for non-habitual residents
Portugal offers incentives to foreign citizens who change their tax residence to Portugal, which operate on two levels:

Income obtained in Portugal

Income from Portuguese source of services considered of added value of scientific, artistic and technical nature (dependent and independent work) are taxed at a flat rate of 20%, instead of the progressive tax rate applicable to regular tax residents, which can go up to 48%.

Income obtained abroad

Application of the exemption mechanism or a flat tax rate, provided that certain conditions are met:
  • Not have had resident status in any of the previous 5 years:
  • Register as a tax resident in Portugal at the Tax Office.

Condition

 

Has stayed more than 183 days in Portugal, consecutive or interpolated, in any period of 12 months or, having stayed for less time, has housing there in such conditions that make presume current intention to maintain and occupy it as habitual residence.

  • The non-habitual resident acquires the right to be taxed as such for a period of 10 consecutive years.
  • The taxpayer must register as a non-habitual resident in the taxpayer register of the Tax and Customs Authority.
Double taxation agreements
To avoid double taxation, Portugal has bilateral agreements with other EU/EEA member states, so you should examine the conventions concluded between Portugal and the country of origin.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Portugal is the lowest among European Union countries
Source: Movehub

Cost of living in Lisbon

  • 50% cheaper than in New York
  • 16% cheaper than in Munich
  • 28% cheaper than in Amsterdam
  • 13% cheaper than in Brussels
  • 29% cheaper than in Paris
  • 43% cheaper than in London

#117

In 227 cities around the world

Cost of Living City Ranking 2023 – Mercer

#39

In Europe

Cost of Living City Ranking 2023 – Mercer

Source: Expatistan

Reference prices

Water

 

With Lisbon as a reference, the tariffs have differentiated values according to consumption levels:

  • up to 5 m3/metre: 0,4203 €/ m3 (plus VAT at 6%)
  • from 6 to 15 mS/month: 0,7860 €/ m3 (plus VAT at 6%)
  • from 16 to 25 m3/month: 1,8990 €/ m3 (plus VAT at 6%)
  • over 25 m3/month: 2,5433 €/ m3 (plus VAT at 6%)

Electricity

It is possible to choose a free market operator. Prices vary depending on the contracted power and the type of timetable. Example of EDP Comercial tariffs (the oldest operator in the market} – BTN (Normal Low Voltage), for a contracted power of 20.7 kVA. simple tariff, 0,1846€/ kW/h energy cost, plus the value relating to the price of power (1,2194€ €/day), plus VAT at the rate of 23%.

Natural Gas

 

At the time of this update, the Galp Energia tariff is 0.08888€/kWh; for a consumption of 205 kW over a 30-day supply period, this is approximately 28€ per month, including the subsoil occupation tax and VAT at the rate of 23%.

Fuels

 

The prices are updated in line with the variations in the price of a barrel of oil, and may present differences in the market. Minimum and maximum reference price values:

  • Petrol 95 (litre); from 1,73€ to 1,98€
  • Petrol 98 (litre); from 1,76€ to 2,12€
  • Diesel (litre); from 1,73€ a 2,05€.

National Minimum Wage (monthly): 820€

Food and beverages at the supermarket

 

Minimum and maximum prices, on average, for some products Included in a standard shopping basket:

  • Milk (1 liter): 0,58€ to 1,98€
  • Bread (1 Kg): 1,63€ to 5,70€
  • Eggs (6 units): 1,19€ to 2,68€
  • Meat (pork. 1 Kg); 4,98€ to 17,95€
  • Meat (beef, 1 Kg): 6,99€ to 34,75€
  • Cod (1 kg): 7,99€ to 24,88€
  • Fish (Hake, 1 Kg): 6,99€ to 17,49€
  • Oranges (1 Kg): 0,99€ to 1,85€
  • Apples (1 Kg): 1,49€ to 3,99€
  • Potatoes (IKg): 0,85€ to 1,49€
  • Beer {1 liter): 0,99€ to 4,99€
  • Bottle of wine (0,7Slt): 1,49€ to 50,00€
  • Coca-Cola (11 litre): 1,09€ to 2,00€

Leisure

  • Cup of coffee: 0,75€ to 1,20€
  • Cinema ticket: 7,10€ to €8,60
  • Theatre ticket: 10,00€ to 30,00€
  • Big Mac (McMenu): 6,50€
  • Meal at Snack Bar: 7,00€ to 9,00€
  • Restaurant Meal (2nd class): 15,00€ to 25,00€
Source: EURES – The European Job Mobility Portal

Teaching

#35

Best Higher Education in the world

QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings 2018

The quality of the Portuguese education system is above the average of the OECD countries in the areas of science, reading and mathematics.
PISA Report – Programme for International Student Assessment: 2018

International schools

Portugal has several schools that offer, in mainstream education, international programmes such as the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or the general certificates of the British education system General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE).

Eight universities in the ranking:

  • Universidade do Porto
  • Universidade de Lisboa
  • Universidade de Aveiro
  • Universidade de Coimbra
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Universidade do Minho
  • ISCTE-IUL
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa - UCP

QS World University Rankings 2024

Portugal has adopted the Bologna Process in its universities and polytechnics, a European reform process that aims to establish a common framework for higher education across Europe. According to this structure, Portuguese universities offer three levels of degrees:
  • Bachelor's Degree - Three to four years
  • Master's Degree - One to two years
  • PhD - Five years

Health care

#12 /190 countries

- #6 /UE 28

Better healthcare system

World Health Report 2019

services are integrated in the SNS – Serviço Nacional de Saúde (National Health Service), supervised by the Ministry of Health, comprising health centres and public hospitals.
  • EU citizens are SNS beneficiaries.

Registration in the SNS

To benefit from the healthcare provided by the SNS. you must register at the health centre in your area of residence, presenting:
  • Valid identity document
  • Social security card
  • Proof of residence
  • For each consultation or health care in the SNS. the beneficiary pays a usage fee (there are situations of exemption).
  • In addition to health centres and public hospitals, there are several private health establishments and health professionals practicing in a liberal regime, who complete the offer of health care in a private regime or through agreements or conventions with the SNS.
  • When you travel to Portugal, bring your European Health Insurance Card, which facilitates access to health care until identification as an SNS user is obtained.

Willing to move to Portugal?

We have a qualified and experienced team, with insights into the industry and an extensive network of partners, prepared to accompany you along the way.

Contact us