Wazo.work › Moving to Portugal
🇵🇹 Moving to Portugal: what you actually need to know
Portugal is one of the most popular destinations for remote workers, freelancers, and people leaving high-cost English-speaking countries. The D7 and D8 visas are among the most accessible in Europe, the cost of living outside Lisbon is still reasonable, and the country has a clear bureaucratic path once you know the order of steps.
Start my Portugal move plan
Book a 1:1 session
Visa routes
Your main options for moving to Portugal
D7: Passive Income Visa
For people with passive income (pension, rental, dividends, remote employment). Minimum income: approximately €820/month. Processing takes 2–4 months via the Portuguese consulate in your country.
D8: Digital Nomad Visa
For remote workers and freelancers earning income from non-Portuguese sources. Minimum income: €3,480/month (4x the minimum wage). Processing: 2–4 months. Requires proof of remote work contract or freelance income.
Work Visa (D1)
Requires a job offer from a Portuguese employer. The employer initiates the process. Despite a 60-day official processing target, real timelines have been 4–8 months at AIMA (formerly SEF).
EU Blue Card
For highly qualified workers with a job offer above the salary threshold (approximately €44,000/year). Processed through AIMA after entry on a work visa.
Ready to map out your Portugal move? The free tool tracks every visa step, cost, and document in one place.
Start your Portugal plan →
Cost of living
What it actually costs to live in Portugal
Lisbon
€1,600–2,400/month
Rent for a 1-bed apartment: €1,100–1,800. Groceries, transport, utilities: €400–600.
Porto
€1,200–1,900/month
Rent for a 1-bed: €800–1,300. Notably cheaper than Lisbon while still offering good infrastructure.
Smaller cities (Braga, Coimbra, Setúbal)
€900–1,400/month
Rent under €700 for a 1-bed is achievable. The trade-off is limited English-speaking services and longer visa appointment wait times.
Key steps
What to do and in what order
1
Get your NIF (tax number)
You can get a NIF before moving at the Portuguese consulate in your country, or at a local Finanças office in Portugal. You need it for almost everything: bank accounts, rental contracts, AIMA appointments.
2
Book your AIMA appointment
AIMA (the immigration authority that replaced SEF) handles all residency permit appointments. Book as early as possible: wait times have reached 6–12 months in Lisbon. The online portal is at aima.gov.pt.
3
Open a Portuguese bank account
Requires your NIF and proof of address. Novo Banco, Millennium BCP, and Caixa Geral are the main options. Some non-residents use Wise or Revolut as a bridge.
4
Register for NISS (social security number)
Required if you are working or self-employed in Portugal. Done at a local Segurança Social office after your residency permit is issued.
5
Register with a local health centre (USF/UCSP)
Your local health centre gives you access to the national health service (SNS). Bring your NIF, address proof, and residency permit. Wait for your SNS user number.
Common mistake
The single most common mistake is not booking the AIMA appointment early enough. People arrive, get their NIF and bank account, then discover there are no appointment slots for 8–10 months. Book it the day your visa is issued.
Free planning tool
Build your complete Portugal move plan
The free tool covers country comparison, visa route selection, document checklist, cost breakdown, and a step-by-step arrival guide for Portugal and 46 other destinations. No account required. Your data stays on your device.
Start my Portugal move plan →