IFICI
NHR 2.0 · open- Who it’s for
- New residents in eligible skilled roles, for eligible companies
- What it does
- 20% flat rate on eligible Portuguese work income; most foreign income exempt, except pensions
- How long
- 10 years in a row
Excellent
Free check
Takes 2 minutes
IFICI (NHR 2.0) in Portugal: the 2026 guide.
Who qualifies, what the 20% rate covers, how to apply and by when. Then check your own case for free in the AnchorLess app.
Your free IFICI checkIn the AnchorLess app · Personalised
- Compare your taxes, with and without IFICI
- See what it takes for your role
- Talk to our team in Portugal
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We've sent your access link to Tap it to open the AnchorLess app and start your IFICI check. The app is free forever, and the link stays valid for 30 days.
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What happens next
- 1Tap "Access my account" in the email. The app opens in your browser, no password needed.
- 2Answer a few questions about your plans. It takes 2 minutes.
- 3Compare your taxes in the Tax Simulator, then book your free 20-minute call.
10,000+ expats helpedby Rafaela, Guilherme, Rosa and our team in Portugal
The first question everyone asks
Does IFICI apply to me?
IFICI, often called NHR 2.0, gives skilled work in Portugal a flat tax rate. Here is what it offers, and what gets checked.
IFICI (NHR 2.0) · 2026
20%flat rate
on eligible Portuguese work income, for 10 years in a row, instead of the standard progressive brackets.
What gets checked
- Your role or activity
- The company you work for
- No Portuguese tax residence in the previous 5 years
- Your application, by 15 January
Article 58-A of Portugal's Tax Benefits Statute and Portaria 352/2024/1, checked on 4 October 2026.
Foreign salary, business, investment and rental income and capital gains are generally exempt under IFICI, though they still count when setting your rate. Pensions are not covered.
Who qualifies
Two things are checked together
Your role, and the company or institution you work for. Both need to fit, and the paperwork depends on the route.
1Your role
- ICT specialists and engineers
- Directors and managers
- Researchers and university teachers
- Other highly qualified professions on the official list
2The company or institution
- Startups certified by Startup Portugal
- Tech and industrial companies exporting at least 50%
- Companies recognised by IAPMEI or AICEP
- R&D teams, universities and research centres
Usually not covered
Remote work for a foreign employer, freelancing for clients abroad, pensions and passive investment. Other routes can exist, such as a Portuguese employer or your own company under conditions: we’ll look at them with you.
How to apply
Your IFICI application, step by step
One application, online, after your first year as a resident. Here is the order.
IFICI · The process
- Before you signCheck your role and the companyThe route depends on both: your employer or a certifying body will confirm your activity.
- Your first yearBecome a Portuguese tax residentMore than 183 days in Portugal, or a home you keep as your usual residence.
- By 15 JanuaryApply on the Portal das FinançasIn the year after your residence starts. Late? It still counts for the remaining years.
- By 31 MarchGet the tax authority’s answerIt often comes later in practice. You keep filing your yearly tax return as usual.
- For 10 years20% on eligible work incomeYear after year, as long as you stay resident and keep an eligible activity.
Portaria 352/2024/1, Article 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute and Article 16 of the IRS Code.
Compare
IFICI, the old NHR and IRS Jovem
Three regimes people often mix up. You can only use one at a time.
The old NHR
Closed to newcomers- Who it’s for
- Residents registered by the end of 2023, and some transitional cases
- What it does
- 20% on high-value Portuguese activities; foreign income often exempt, pensions at 10% since 2020
- How long
- 10 years
IRS Jovem
35 or under- Who it’s for
- Workers aged 35 or under
- What it does
- Part of work income exempt: 100% in year 1, down to 25% in year 10, up to a yearly cap
- How long
- Up to 10 years; can’t be combined with IFICI
Sources: Article 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute, Articles 12-B and 81 of the IRS Code, Portal das Finanças FAQ, checked on 4 October 2026. General information, not tax advice.
IFICI today
You’re in good company
Fewer than 1,000 people had registered by May 2026. Most work in management or tech, and most live around Lisbon.
946people registered for IFICI by May 2026
3 in 4are managers, directors or IT specialists
2 in 3live in the Lisbon area
1 in 102025 applications were not certified by the certifying body
Source: Tribunal de Contas, Parecer sobre a Conta Geral do Estado 2025, p. 184 (data at May 2026).
Your free IFICI check
What’s inside your free check
Everything starts in the free AnchorLess app, right in your browser. If you need a lawyer, you see the price first.
Your Tax Simulator
Try the standard brackets, IFICI or IRS Jovem on your own income, with every step of the calculation.
A free 20-minute call
Talk to our team in Portugal about your role, your employer and your timing. Book it in the app, at a time that suits you.
A tax lawyer, when you need one
For a firm answer on your case, a Portuguese tax lawyer reviews it in a private 40-minute call, with a written follow-up.
- IFICI application with our partner lawyers: scope and fees agreed before you start
- Our expat community on Reddit, to ask people who’ve made the move
- Partner perks: discounts with trusted housing, insurance and money partners
The app, the Tax Simulator and your call are free. A tax lawyer consultation is €249, and help with your application is quoted before you commit.
How it works
Your IFICI check in 3 steps
Nothing to download, no password, nothing to pay. Just your name and your email.
-
1Today
Create your free account
Your name and your email. It takes 30 seconds.
-
2A minute later
Open the email from AnchorLess
One tap on the link opens the AnchorLess app in your browser. Here is the email to look for:
-
32 minutes later
Answer a few questions
Where you'll work and what you earn. Then compare your taxes and book your free call.
Step by step guidanceCommunity access
10,000+ expats helped
Real people, based in Portugal
The team that answers your questions lives here. They know the paperwork, the towns and the small things nobody tells you.
RafaelaRelocation Manager
GuilhermeRelocation ExpertWorking with Portuguese partner lawyers
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Good to know
Your questions, answered
Is the IFICI check really free?
Yes. Your AnchorLess account, the Tax Simulator and your 20-minute call with our team are free, with no credit card. If you’d like a tax lawyer’s opinion, the consultation is €249. Help with your IFICI application through our partners is quoted before you commit.
Is IFICI the same as the old NHR?
No. The old NHR closed to newcomers at the end of 2023. IFICI, often called NHR 2.0, is narrower: it covers specific skilled activities carried out for eligible companies and institutions in Portugal.
Which jobs and companies qualify?
Two things are checked together. Your role: for example ICT specialists, engineers, managers, researchers or university teachers, usually with a degree and professional experience. And the company: certified startups, tech and industrial exporters, companies recognised by IAPMEI or AICEP, R&D teams, universities and research centres.
I work remotely for a company abroad. Does IFICI apply?
Usually not: IFICI needs an eligible activity for an eligible entity in Portugal. Other routes can exist, such as a Portuguese employer or running your own Portuguese company under conditions. We’ll look at them with you, honestly.
What does the 20% rate cover?
Net employment and self-employment income from the eligible activity, for 10 years in a row. Foreign salary, business, investment and rental income and capital gains are generally exempt, but count when setting your rate. Pensions are not covered, and other Portuguese income follows the standard rules.
When is the deadline?
You apply on the Portal das Finanças by 15 January of the year after you become a tax resident: 15 January 2027 if your residence started in 2026. A late application still works, but only for the remaining years.
What happens after I apply?
Depending on your route, your employer or a certifying body (such as IAPMEI, AICEP, Startup Portugal or FCT) confirms your activity, then the tax authority checks your file. Its answer is due by 31 March, and often comes later.
Can I combine IFICI and IRS Jovem?
No, you choose one. IRS Jovem is for people aged 35 or under: part of their work income is exempt over their first 10 years of work, up to a yearly cap. Your Tax Simulator lets you try each regime on your income.
Does setting up a company qualify me?
Not on its own. Running a Portuguese company as its managing director can be a route, under conditions on the company and on your actual role. Holding shares isn’t enough.
Do I need to download an app?
No. The AnchorLess app opens in your browser, on your phone or your computer. Your free account saves your simulation, so you can come back to it and book your call. There’s no password: we email you a secure link.
I didn’t get the email.
It usually arrives within a few minutes. Check your Spam or Promotions folder and look for “AnchorLess”. Still nothing? Fill in this page again with the same email address and we’ll send you a new link.
Can you guarantee I’ll get IFICI?
No one can: the certifying body and the tax authority decide. Our job is to tell you honestly where you stand, and to help you file a complete application.
Who is AnchorLess?
A private relocation company with a team based in Portugal. We are not a government website, a law firm or a tax adviser: tax advice comes from Portuguese lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados.
You know the rules. Now check your case. Start with a free IFICI check.
Free check
Takes 2 minutes
AnchorLess is an independent, private service provider and is not affiliated with any government agency. You can apply for IFICI yourself, free of charge, on the Portal das Finanças. Our free check is general information, not tax advice: tax advice comes from Portuguese lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados. Eligibility is decided by the certifying bodies and the Portuguese tax authority, not by AnchorLess. Photos: Unsplash.
AnchorLess is not a bank, accounting, tax, investment, or legal advisor. We serve as an intermediary, streamlining your access to accredited financial and legal professionals for your relocation in Europe.
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