Searching for the best ways to move to Portugal in 2024? We have you covered with this guide by a local expert.
You may have noticed that Portugal is one of the top places to move to in the world right now. It has fantastic weather, a low cost of living, and some of the best beaches in the world.
There’s another reason that Portugal has become so popular and that’s down to its residency visas.
Over the past few years, more and more people, particularly from North America, have been looking for a way to move to Europe, and Portugal is one of the easiest countries in which you can obtain residency.
Can You Move to Portugal?
The big question is: can you move to Portugal?
For those with an EU, EEA, or Swiss passport, the answer to that is typically yes. You will need to show that you can support yourself, whether that’s through a pension, a job, or savings, but if you can show that, there’s nothing to stop you from moving to Portugal.
Unlike those from the rest of the world, you don’t need to apply for a residency visa. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can simply move to Portugal and after 90 days register with the local câmara municipal (town hall) to obtain their European residency certificate or CRUE.
If you have a passport from another country (e.g. the US, India, or Australia) then you will need to apply for a residency visa. The good news is that Portugal offers several residency visas, and many of them are considered very attainable.
Popular Visa Options
There are three residency visas that particularly stand out: the D7, golden visa, and the D8 (digital nomad visa).
The D7
The D7 is aimed at those with a passive income, which means income you don’t actively work for. Examples of those would be a pension, social security, income from investments, or income from a rental property.
To qualify, you only need to show a passive income that’s equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage. As of 2023, this is €760 per month, but it’s rising to €820 in 2024.
Dependent family members can be added to the application and you don’t need to double the amount for each family member. For a spouse or partner, add 50% and for each qualifying dependent child add 30%.
According to James Cave from Portugalist.com, “The biggest challenge with the D7 visa is that it typically requires you to have an address in Portugal when you apply for the visa.
For most people this means renting an apartment before you move to Portugal and in some cases, that can mean the apartment will be left empty for a few months while you’re waiting for the visa to be approved.”
James Cave also notes that applicants normally need a Portuguese bank account funded with “sufficient means” and a Portuguese tax number, but the Portugalist website lists and compares multiple relocation companies that offer these services for much less than the average immigration lawyer.
The Golden Visa
The golden visa is aimed at those with cash to invest or donate. Naturally, investing is more popular. Previously, you could qualify by purchasing a property, however, as of 2023, that option is no longer available.
Now the main option is to invest at least €500,000 in a fund, such as a venture capital fund. For those with cash to invest, this is a fairly simple hands-free way to obtain residency in Portugal.
The legal costs of the golden visa are much more than the D7 or D8. However, the major benefit is that you are only required to spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal.
This means you could obtain residency but continue living elsewhere or traveling the world. For high earners in politically unstable countries, this provides a backup plan in case they want to easily move to Portugal at a later date.
The D8
The D8 or digital nomad visa is aimed at those with an actively earned income, such as a salary from a remote job or income from freelancing.
The minimum requirement is the equivalent of 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage, which, as of 2023, amounts to €3,040. This is expected to rise to €3,280 in 2024, based on the minimum wage rise to €820.
Should You Move to Portugal?
While the first question is can you, the next question is should you?
Portugal is a fantastic place to live, but it isn’t for everyone. The bureaucracy is challenging, as is the quality of customer service, and houses can be poorly insulated, meaning they can be cold in winter and noise travels easily between apartments.
The wages are the lowest in Western Europe and the job market is limited, particularly if you don’t speak Portuguese.
However, if you have your own income or you’re lucky enough to find a job that pays well, Portugal can be a fantastic place to live. I
t’s also worth noting that some of the challenges listed above are common throughout Europe and especially in other countries in the south of Europe.
Taxes
On a simple level, Portugal has a progressive tax system like much of Europe. This means that the rates rise, depending on how much you earn. Your first €10,000 will be taxed differently to any income you earn above €50,000, for example.
However, taxes are a complex issue, and you should always speak to an accountant. The reason for this is that everyone’s tax situation is unique.
If you are from the USA, for example, you will have different tax treaties than someone from Canada or New Zealand. If you have a pension and another person has income from a freelancing job, that could be taxed differently.
Basically: speak to an accountant. Although an initial call costs between €50 and €250, you will get a lot more helpful information than you would if you tried to figure it all out yourself.
Finding Property
One of the most challenging aspects of moving to Portugal is finding somewhere to live. This is partly due to the demand for accommodation, especially in popular destinations like Lisbon, but also if you need to show proof of address at the visa application stage.
Idealista.pt is the main property website in Portugal, both for purchasing and renting. There are also other sites like Olx.pt, which is essentially the Craigslist of Portugal.
Facebook groups are another good place to look, and you will find property-focused Facebook groups for different locations that have names like ‘properties for rent in Lisbon’ or ‘property rentals Algarve.’ Other sites include casa.sapo.pt, Imovirtual, and SuperCasa.
Rental agencies and estate agents are another good place to look, naturally. Remax and Century21 are two of the biggest names to begin with. You’ll find others on sites like Idealista, and it’s often worth contacting them directly as they may not have listed all their properties online.
What about Airbnb? This may be an option if you’re moving from the EU/EEA/Switzerland but less likely if you’re moving from the rest of the world.
You will typically need a contract of at least one year in length that is registered with Finanças (the Portuguese tax authority) and Airbnb isn’t usually accepted as it’s considered a short-term let.
Shipping Stuff
Again, those moving from within the EU will have an easier time due to the lack of borders. Those moving from the rest of the world will need to consider customs.
If you’re moving to Portugal from outside of the EU, the good news is that once your visa is granted, you will be able to get a Certificado de Bagagem or baggage certificate. This allows you to ship your belongings to Portugal within a 12-month period.
However, although this piece of paper makes it possible for you to ship your stuff, it’s worth thinking about whether it’s worthwhile.
The cost of shipping a container from the other side of the world is usually in the thousands, but can be more depending on the size of the container and demand.
There’s also the hassle that goes with it. Containers can get stuck in port for inspection and you may be subject to demurrage charges.
If you want to ship your belongings, look into services like Upakweship and shipping container companies. If you can avoid it by downsizing, however, this is the more stress-free route.
Many people bring multiple suitcases into Portugal instead, often asking family members to add extra suitcases to their tickets when they come to visit. It’s a slower process, but you will get all of your important things eventually.
Learning the Language
You don’t need to speak Portuguese to move to Portugal, although you will need at least an A2 level by the time you apply for citizenship.
European Portuguese can be challenging due to the pronunciation and grammar, much more so than Brazilian Portuguese or Spanish.
Thankfully, there are an increasing number of podcasts, courses, and other online resources to help you with your language learning journey. YouTube channels to look at include Portuguese With Leo and Talk The Streets.
However, even though you don’t need to learn Portuguese until you get to the citizenship stage, it’s a good idea to begin that process ASAP. Learning a language takes time and the sooner you start, the better.
Author’s Bio: Andrew McKee is a freelance travel writer, who has visited more than 100 countries worldwide. He speaks four languages and is currently learning Portuguese.
