Moving to Portugal : Complete guide - 2024

What you need to know before you leave

Even though Portugal is a great place to live, it is still necessary to know some basic Portuguese before leaving your home country. Such a recommendation should not be taken lightly since the Portuguese population does not necessarily master English, especially if you plan to move outside of big cities, like Lisbon or Porto.

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.

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 procedures in Portugal
• Get your CRUE if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
• Go to the town hall and ask for a certificate of civil status
• Open a Portuguese bank account in Portugal to better manage your finances
• If you are retired or self-employed, then you can apply in writing for non-habitual residence
• etc…

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.
• 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.
• D8 - Digital Nomad Visa: A solution for remote workers intending to live in Portugal.
• D9 - Golden Visa: A prestigious visa for high-value investments in art or the Portuguese stock market.

On our site you will find a list of country-by-country guides to relocating to Portugal :

• Move to Portugal from USA 🇺🇸