Portugal

PRT

Portugal's immigration administration was restructured in 2023 with the dissolution of SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) and the creation of AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), which now handles residence permits, renewals, and immigration case processing, though it has faced significant backlogs inherited from the SEF transition. The Golden Visa program was reformed in October 2023 to eliminate real estate acquisition as a qualifying investment route, shifting eligible investment categories toward regulated investment funds, business creation/job creation, scientific research, and cultural heritage contributions. The D7 (passive income) and D8 (digital nomad) visas remain the primary non-investment residency routes and continue to be the most common paths used by remote workers and retirees relocating to Portugal.

Naturalisation: 5 years
Tax system: Residence Based
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: Lisbon
Region: europe
Population: 10,290,000
Cost-of-living: 47 /100

Passport Rank

Visa-Free

188

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Lisbon
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Languages: Portuguese
Population: 10,290,000
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 5 years
Schengen / EU: Schengen / EU
Climate: Mediterranean
English Proficiency Rank: #8

The NHR 2.0 (IFICI) regime offers a 20% flat tax on Portuguese-source income and exemptions on foreign income for 10 years for new tax residents in qualifying professions.

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

168

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 5 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Special Tax Regime: The NHR 2.0 (IFICI) regime offers a 20% flat tax on Portuguese-source income and exemptions on foreign income for 10 years for new tax residents in qualifying professions.

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Lisbon	$1,400	$950	$320	$110	$45
Porto	$1,050	$720	$290	$100	$40
Algarve (Faro)	$1,100	$780	$300	$115	$35

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Lisbon

13°J

14°F

16°M

18°A

20°M

24°J

28°J

28°A

25°S

21°O

16°N

13°D

Rainfall range: 3–111 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Porto

12°J

13°F

15°M

17°A

19°M

23°J

26°J

26°A

23°S

19°O

15°N

12°D

Rainfall range: 14–175 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Faro

15°J

16°F

18°M

20°A

22°M

26°J

29°J

29°A

27°S

22°O

18°N

15°D

Rainfall range: 1–82 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 14h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Schengen C
D7 Passive Income
D2 Entrepreneur
D8 Digital Nomad
Golden Visa
Tech Visa
Student
Job Seeker
Family Reunification
Highly Qualified

Authority: AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo)
Official Portal: aima.gov.pt
Phone: +351 21 515 8100
Email: atendimento@aima.gov.pt

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 5
Language Test: Yes (A2)
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $250
Processing: ~24 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $5,000
Transaction taxes: 8%

Foreign buyers: No restrictions on EU/non-EU buyers; Golden Visa real-estate route closed in urban areas since Oct 2023.

International Schools

← scroll the table →

International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
St Julian's School	Carcavelos	British	$12,000–$20,000
Carlucci American International School of Lisbon	Lisbon	American	$15,000–$25,000
Oporto British School	Porto	British	$9,000–$16,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

150 Mbps median

92% fibre coverage

eSIM: NOS, MEO, Vodafone PT

Driving

IDP not required

Exchange eligible: EU member states, UK, US (some states) +1 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre not required

EU pet passport: accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠ATM skimming in tourist areas
⚠taxi overcharging at Lisbon airport
⚠pickpocketing on tram 28

Examples of areas to avoid: Martim Moniz late night, Mouraria periphery after midnight

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Legal
Civil Partnerships: Recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: Yes
ILGA Rank: #4

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Widely available
Prayer Facilities: Limited

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. What is the official language of Portugal?

Answer: Portuguese

Source: IRN Naturalisation Guidelines

Q2. In what year did Portugal join the European Union?

Answer: 1986

Source: IRN Naturalisation Guidelines

Q3. What is the name of Portugal's parliament?

Answer: Assembleia da República

Source: IRN Naturalisation Guidelines

Related Guides

Fastest paths to an EU passport in 2025

A sourced comparison of the shortest EU naturalisation timelines, from 2-year descent fast-tracks to 5-year residency routes — plus the hidden requirements that extend them in practice.

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Min. Income

$11,500/mo

Citizenship

10y

Verified 2026-07-07

Portugal D3 Visa (Highly Qualified Activity Visa)

Portugal PRT

Skilled Worker

Processing

6mo

Min. Income

$34,000/mo

Citizenship

10y

Verified 2026-07-07

Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)

Portugal PRT

Family

Processing

10mo

Min. Income

Lisbon, Portugal PRT

JCI

OncologyCardiologyOrthopedicsNeurology+2

4 languages18k intl. patients/yr

Citizenship by Descent

Portuguese Citizenship for Sephardic Jewish Descendants

Portugal

Est. Cost

$5,000– $25,000

Processing

12–48mo

Verified 2026-04-20

Company Formation in Portugal

Portugal Lda (Sociedade por Quotas)

portugal

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-20