How to Move to Portugal in 2026

Portugal has become one of the most sought-after destinations for expats, remote workers, and retirees over the past decade. The combination of affordable living, excellent weather, safety, a strong healthcare system, and a fast path to EU citizenship makes it hard to beat.

Here is what you need to know about moving to Portugal in 2026, including your visa options, what life actually costs, and how the tax system works.

Visa options for moving to Portugal

D7 Passive Income Visa

The D7 is Portugal's most popular long-term visa. It is designed for people who have a stable source of passive income, such as pensions, rental income, investment returns, or remote work income.

Requirements:

• Proof of regular passive income of at least 820 euros per month (the Portuguese minimum wage, updated annually)
• A Portuguese bank account
• Health insurance valid in Portugal or enrollment in the Portuguese public healthcare system
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract or property ownership)
• Clean criminal record

The D7 visa is initially granted for two years, then renewed for three-year periods. After five years of legal residency, you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

Digital Nomad Visa

Portugal introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in late 2022. It is designed for remote workers who earn at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage, roughly 3,280 euros per month.

Key differences from the D7:

• Higher income threshold
• Specifically for people working remotely for non-Portuguese companies
• Can be issued as a temporary stay visa (up to one year) or a residence permit (up to five years)

If your income qualifies, the Digital Nomad Visa is straightforward to obtain and does not require passive income.

Tech Visa

Portugal's Tech Visa is a fast-track residence permit for skilled workers hired by certified Portuguese tech companies. The employer must be on an approved list maintained by IAPMEI (Portugal's business development agency).

Advantages:

• Faster processing times than standard work visas
• The employer handles most of the paperwork
• Covers the worker, spouse, and dependent children

This is an excellent option if you work in software engineering, data science, product management, or other tech roles and are willing to work for a Portuguese company.

Golden Visa

Portugal's Golden Visa program has been one of the most popular residency-by-investment programs in Europe. However, significant changes in 2023 removed real estate purchases as a qualifying investment.

Current qualifying investments include:

• 500,000 euros in qualifying investment funds
• 500,000 euros in research activities
• 250,000 euros for cultural heritage preservation
• Creation of at least 10 jobs

The Golden Visa requires minimal time in Portugal (just seven days per year on average), making it popular with people who want EU residency without relocating full-time. After five years, you can apply for citizenship.

Student Visa

Portugal offers student visas for people enrolled in Portuguese universities or language programs. Tuition at public universities is remarkably affordable by international standards, often between 1,000 and 2,000 euros per year for EU citizens and 3,000 to 7,000 euros for non-EU students.

Cost of living in Portugal

Portugal remains one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe, though prices in Lisbon have risen significantly over the past few years.

• Lisbon: 1,600 to 2,300 euros per month for a single person. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center runs 900 to 1,300 euros. The city has become noticeably more expensive since 2020.
• Porto: Slightly more affordable than Lisbon. Budget 1,300 to 1,900 euros per month. Rent for a central one-bedroom is 700 to 1,000 euros.
• Algarve: The southern coast varies widely. Tourist areas like Lagos and Faro can match Lisbon prices in summer. Year-round residents in smaller towns spend 1,100 to 1,600 euros per month.
• Smaller cities (Braga, Coimbra, Aveiro): The most affordable option at 900 to 1,400 euros per month.

Groceries and dining are affordable across the country. A meal at a local restaurant costs roughly 8 to 14 euros. Fresh produce, seafood, and wine are excellent and inexpensive.

The NHR tax regime

Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime was one of the country's biggest draws for expats. It offered a flat 20% tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income for qualifying professions and, in many cases, exempted foreign-sourced income from Portuguese tax entirely.

Important update: The original NHR program closed to new applicants at the end of 2023. A new version, sometimes called NHR 2.0 or the Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation, launched in 2024. This new regime is more restrictive and primarily targets:

• Researchers and academics
• Jobs classified as "high value-added" activities
• Startups and tech workers

If you do not fall into these categories, you will pay standard Portuguese income tax, which ranges from 14.5% to 48%. Talk to a Portuguese tax advisor to understand your specific situation before making decisions based on the old NHR rules.

Healthcare

Portugal has a public healthcare system (Servico Nacional de Saude, or SNS) that provides free or low-cost care to legal residents. Quality is generally good, though wait times for specialists can be long in public hospitals.

Many expats complement their public coverage with private health insurance. Private plans cost roughly 50 to 120 euros per month and give you access to faster appointments and a wider choice of doctors.

Path to citizenship

Portugal offers one of the fastest paths to citizenship in Europe. After five years of legal residency, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. There is no requirement to live in Portugal full-time during those five years, though you should maintain your tax residency and spend significant time in the country.

Citizenship requirements:

• Five years of legal residency
• Basic knowledge of Portuguese (A2 level)
• No serious criminal record
• Ties to the Portuguese community

Portugal allows dual citizenship, so you do not need to give up your current passport. A Portuguese passport gives you full EU citizenship, including the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.

Getting started

Portugal offers something for nearly everyone: affordable visas for passive income earners, dedicated programs for remote workers and tech professionals, and one of the fastest citizenship timelines in Europe.

If you want to find out which Portuguese visas match your background, income, and goals, create a free Passpoort account and see your options in minutes.