Living in Portugal

Housing, banking, healthcare, tax and everyday life — the practical side of settling in.

Yellow house with blue azulejo tiles and wrought-iron balconies
Photo: Diego García / Unsplash

Housing

Renting, buying and setting up your home.

Money and tax

Banks, cards, insurance and the tax basics.

Work

Jobs, pay, social security and working for yourself.

Health and family

Doctors, schools and childcare.

Everyday life

Phone, post, transport, car and the language.

The essentials

Housing

Housing is the hardest part of moving for many people, especially in Lisbon, Porto and parts of the Algarve. Three principles help:

  • Start short, then sign long. A short-term rental for the first weeks gives you an address and time to learn the neighbourhoods.
  • Insist on a proper contract that the landlord registers with Finanças. It protects you and serves as proof of address.
  • Never pay a deposit (CauçãoThe security deposit for a rental, returned at the end of the lease minus any agreed deductions.) for a flat you haven't seen in person or by live video with someone you can verify. Landlords may ask for a guarantor (FiadorA guarantor who agrees to pay your rent if you cannot. Landlords may ask for one, or for extra months paid in advance instead.) or rent in advance; if a request seems excessive, check the Portal da Habitação or ask a lawyer. Check

Step by step: how to rent a flat in Portugal. Once you have a home, read our guide to home insurance. Before you hand over any money, read how rental deposits work; if you buy instead, budget for property taxes.

Banking

A Portuguese account is not always legally required, but landlords and utilities often expect a Portuguese IBANThe international bank account number. Portuguese IBANs start with PT50; landlords and utilities often ask for one for direct debits., and MB WayA widely used instant-payment app linked to a Portuguese bank account and phone number. needs a Portuguese account and phone number. Banks usually ask for ID, your NIF and proof of address. The Banco de Portugal's Bank Customer Portal explains account types, fees and your rights. Everyday payments here run on debit cards and MB WAY; our guides to credit cards and life insurance cover the rest of your finances. How to set it up and use it safely: MB WAY in Portugal.

Healthcare

The national health service, the SNSPortugal's national health service, available to legal residents. SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) is its triage and advice line; in an emergency call 112., is available to legal residents. You register at the health centre for your address and receive a Número de utenteYour user number in the national health service (SNS). You get it when you register at the health centre for your address.. In an emergency call 112; for health advice call SNS 24 (808 24 24 24). More in our guides to seeing a doctor in Portugal, how to find a doctor and childcare and kindergartens.

Tax

As a general rule, you are likely to become tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Portugal in a 12-month period, or have a home here that you appear to intend to keep as your habitual residence. Tax residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, subject to double taxation treaties, and file an annual IRSPersonal income tax. Tax residents file an annual IRS return through the Portal das Finanças. return. Check Tax is where generic advice causes the most expensive mistakes — talk to a certified accountant, ideally before you become resident. Both tests, split-year residency and treaty tie-breakers are explained in tax residency in Portugal.

Work and pay

Before you compare job offers, it helps to know what is normal here: see average salaries in Portugal, and how social security works for what comes out of your pay and what you get in return. To turn a gross offer into take-home pay, see gross vs net salary.

Everyday life

The small things add up: where to buy groceries, how to order online and how to get by in Portuguese. Start with supermarkets in Portugal, ordering from Amazon and how to learn Portuguese. Keep the public holidays in your calendar, learn how the post office (CTT) works, and if you drive, read about car insurance. Planning to drive? Read about owning a car and Via Verde tolls.

Guides by situation

Official sources

We check our guides against these official pages. If something has changed, the official source wins.

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