Portugal
An overview to prepare your move
A newcomer-friendly setup, readable D7 and D8 visas, an established French-speaking community. The trade-off: Lisbon and Porto have seen rents soar and the administration (AIMA, formerly SEF) is running significant delays.
Our services for Portugal
Each service below is adapted to the local procedures of Portugal.
Cost of living in Portugal
| 1-bed flat, central | €1,300/ month |
|---|---|
| Studio, outside centre | €850/ month |
| Utilities (water, electricity, heating) | €110/ month |
| Transport pass | €40/ month |
| Groceries | €240/ month |
| Restaurant meal, mid-range | €13/ meal |
| Coworking desk | €130/ month |
Estimates for a single person, excluding extras. Sources: national statistics institutes and Rootovia surveys, updated quarterly.
Key administrative procedures
- 1
Get a NIF
The Número de Identificação Fiscal is obtained at the Finanças or via a tax representative. Essential to rent, open an account, set up electricity and internet.
- 2
Social-security number (NISS)
Requested from the Segurança Social, often by the employer for an employee, or directly for a freelancer (recibos verdes).
- 3
Health number (SNS)
Requested at your neighbourhood health centre (centro de saúde) with proof of residence and NISS; it gives access to a family doctor.
- 4
AIMA appointment
After entering on a D visa, converting to a residence permit goes through an AIMA appointment. Delays are long: book the appointment as soon as you arrive.
Visa and right to stay
EU/EEA: free settlement, certificado de registo at the town hall after 3 months. Non-Europeans: the D7 visa targets regular passive income (pension, rents, dividends; benchmark close to the Portuguese minimum wage) and the D8 visa targets digital nomads (income of about €3,480/month from remote work). The job-seeker visa allows entry to look for a job for 120 days, renewable once. The NHR tax regime has been heavily restricted since 2024: do not treat it as a given.
FAQ — Portugal
Verified review — Portugal
« A D7 file for two, put together without stress. The checklist was exact: apostilled criminal record, funded Portuguese account, compliant insurance. Visa granted on the first try, and they prepared us for the AIMA appointment. »
« They were honest from the start about the gap between Portuguese salaries and Lisbon rents. We targeted roles paid on an international scale: offer signed at a scale-up, a salary that holds up against the rent. »
« The advice to spend 6 weeks furnished before signing a long lease saved me from a real scam: the “too good” listing in Príncipe Real was fake. We found a place in Marvila, well connected, for €400 less. »
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