Moving to Portugal: Complete Guide for 2026
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In recent years, Portugal and its regions have become increasingly popular and the number of expatriates is growing. They attract more and more tourists from all over the world, which gives the country a good international reputation.
Today, Portugal is a very popular country to move to due to its cultural richness, its varied landscapes and its sweet way of life.
Unlike some countries in the European Union, the Portuguese administration is very advantageous to expatriates. With that said, how to settle down in this new attractive country? We will discuss all the steps to take to live in Portugal in this article.
Before the steps, our checklist of things to know before moving to Portugal gathers what expats say they wish they had known.
What you need to know before you leave your country and move to Portugal
Portugal is a great place to live, with amazing weather, and though many speak English in the country, it still is a good idea to learn some basic Portuguese before leaving your home country.
Such a recommendation should not be taken lightly as the Portuguese population may not necessarily master English outside the non-touristic areas (think about small villages with no more than 500 habitants), especially if you plan to move outside the big cities, like Lisbon, the Algarve or Porto.
Also, although the average price of a property is lower, the popularity of Lisbon is increasing the pressure on land prices. If you want to live in Portugal, you have to plan for the rent as it represents the main expense, especially in Lisbon. Regarding other expenses, you should know that the standard of living is particularly 20% less expensive than in some other European countries, and when it comes to the US the difference is more notable.
Here are some basic tasks that need to be done by future expatriates wishing to live in Portugal:
- Get a NIF, as it will be needed for every procedure in Portugal
- Get your CRUE if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
- If you are not an EU citizen, choose the ideal visa for your situation
- With a residency visa, apply for your residence permit with AIMA during the visa's 4 months
- Check the local immigrant community, and research life in Portugal as an expat
- Open a Portuguese bank account in Portugal to better manage your finances
List of visas in Portugal
- D1 - Work Visa: Suitable for individuals who have a job offer from a Portuguese company.
- D2 - Entrepreneur Visa: Ideal for entrepreneurs with a business plan and funding who wish to expand their businesses in Portugal, also considering its option of the Start-Up Visa in Portugal.
- D3 - Highly Qualified Worker Visa: Designed for professionals in tech, science, or high-ranking positions who have a job offer in Portugal.
- D4 - Student Visa: For those who plan to study in Portugal and have been accepted into an accredited institution.
- D5 - Mobile Student Visa: Specifically for students or interns transferring from another EU institution to complete their studies or internships in Portugal.
- D6 - Family Reunification Visa: For family members joining a legal Portuguese resident or an EU citizen living in Portugal.
- D7 - Passive Income Visa: Ideal for individuals with passive income from retirement, investments, or property management. For those wishing to retire, we cover the essentials here.
- D8 - Digital Nomad Visa: A solution for remote workers intending to live in Portugal, and dive into its prolific communities in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
- Golden Visa or ARI: A prestigious visa for high-value investments in art or the Portuguese stock market.
Moving to Portugal from your country
Our country guides take you through the move step by step:
- Moving to Portugal from the US: the visa that fits you, the FBI record, US taxes and Social Security
- Moving to Portugal from the UK: which visa since Brexit, the ACRO certificate and your UK State Pension
- Moving to Portugal from Canada: the visa that fits you, the RCMP check, taxes, CPP and OAS
- Moving to Portugal from Brazil: your visa under the CPLP regime, the Polícia Federal record, the Estatuto de Igualdade and your INSS
- Moving to Portugal from Germany: no visa as an EU citizen, your Abmeldung, the CRUE and your German pension
- Moving to Portugal from France: no visa as an EU citizen, the S1 and your French pension
- Moving to Portugal from Italy: no visa as an EU citizen, your AIRE registration, the S1 and your Italian pension
- Moving to Portugal from the Netherlands: no visa as an EU citizen, deregistering, CAK health cover and your AOW
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