Guide
Moving to Portugal: the essentials.
Last reviewed: September 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we confirm your case with our partner lawyers.
Residence routes (overview)
D7 (passive income)
For people with stable passive income (pensions, rental, investments). In 2026 the reference is the national minimum wage of €920/month for the main applicant, +50% for a spouse and +30% per child.
Source 1
D8 (digital nomad / remote work)
For people working remotely for clients or employers outside Portugal. The income reference in 2026 is 4× the minimum wage (€3,680/month) for a single applicant.
Source 1
Golden Visa (ARI)
Real estate purchase is no longer an eligible route (Law 56/2023). Current routes include investment funds (min. €500,000), scientific research (min. €500,000), cultural heritage (min. €250,000) and job creation (10 jobs). Minimum stay: an average of 7 days per year.
Source 2
Path to citizenship
Since the 2026 amendment to the Nationality Law, naturalisation requires 7 years of legal residence for EU and CPLP nationals (including Brazilians) and 10 years for other nationalities. The count starts from the date the residence permit is issued. It applies to applications submitted on or after 19 May 2026.
Source 3
Tax: IFICI ("NHR 2.0")
New residents who were not tax resident in Portugal in the previous 5 years and who work in eligible activities may benefit from a flat 20% rate on qualifying Portuguese-source income for 10 years, with most foreign-source income exempt. Foreign pensions are taxed at normal rates. The application is due by 15 January of the year after you become resident.
Source 4
Buying costs: what to budget for
Property transfer tax (IMT, varies with price and use), stamp duty on the purchase (0.8%), notary/registry fees, and, where applicable, mortgage costs.
We give you a full cost estimate before any offer.
Buying process in 5 steps
01
NIF & bank account
02
Search & due diligence
03
Offer & promissory contract (CPCV) with deposit
04
Financing approval (if any)
05
Deed (escritura) & registration