Introduction

Portugal has become a top destination for UK nationals seeking to establish permanent residency. Whether you are looking for a change of lifestyle, a lower cost of living, or a warmer climate, Portugal offers an attractive blend of benefits for those moving to Portugal from UK.

Beaches, mountains, plains, villages, and cities—Portugal has it all. However, it is not only the diverse territory that makes moving to Portugal from UK appealing. This country, with more than 10 million inhabitants, attracts UK residents and others worldwide seeking permanent residency in Portugal.

This article delves into the key visas available to British nationals, such as the D7 and D8 visas. It covers everything you need to know about moving to Portugal from UK and living in Portugal, including the Portugal D7 Visa and Portugal D8 Visa requirements.

Article Summary

This comprehensive guide offers insights into the lifestyle benefits of moving to Portugal from UK. It provides an overview of key visa options, including the D7, D8, and Portugal Passive Income Visa, for individuals looking to establish permanent residency and remote workers. We also explore topics such as housing, cost of living, healthcare, and education, offering practical advice for those considering this beautiful country as their next home.

Key Takeaways

Portugal offers a lower cost of living, exceptional cuisine, and a warm climate that appeals to UK nationals moving to Portugal from UK.

Safety, public healthcare, and quality education are significant factors that make Portugal a desirable place to live.

The Portugal Retirement Visa, known as the D7 visa, suits retirees and individuals with passive income. In contrast, the D8 visa targets active income earners, such as digital nomads.

Both visa options provide a pathway to Portuguese citizenship after five years.

 How it’s like to live in Portugal?

Portugal in comparison with other European countries has a low cost of living. It’s possible to enjoy its wonderful and diverse cuisine and still be on a budget, if necessary. Portugal holds the 4th place on the 100 Best Cuisine in the World TasteAtlas ranking of 2024. So, along with sunny weather for the majority of the year, you have great food and wine. Yes, Portugal is also known for its wine. White, red, rose, or sweet wine. You have multiple choices, but you can’t go wrong when choosing a good old Porto to end the meal.

Even with its problems, Portugal has a good Portuguese public healthcare system, and once you become a resident you are entitled to it. The Portuguese government plays a crucial role in providing access to public healthcare. After getting your residency permit, you can go to any public hospital and get attended without costs.

Safety is another aspect people value when planning on moving to Portugal from the UK. According to the global report from the Institute for Economics and Peace, it’s considered the 7th most safe country in the world. The political rights and civil liberties are respected and residents feel safe.

Safety usually gives assurance to parents who wish to enroll their children in Portuguese public schools. In Portugal, school is mandatory until the last year of high school, so if you have kids who still haven’t completed this level, you won’t find major obstacles to enrolling them besides some bureaucracy.

 What about the housing?

Housing Challenges in Portugal

Like other countries in Europe, Portugal has been struggling with housing issues. There isn’t enough supply to meet today’s demand, which has been driving up renting prices.

High Demand in Lisbon and Porto

The Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas are in higher demand for housing compared to the interior of the country. These coastal regions offer more services, universities, and transportation options, making them desirable for residents.

Quiet Living in the Interior

For those who prefer a quieter lifestyle, the interior of Portugal is a great destination for retirement. Here, you can enjoy proximity to nature, with stunning features like mountains, plains, and waterfalls offering a serene backdrop.

Housing in the Algarve

The Algarve, famous among British expats for its white sandy beaches and excellent weather, is heavily influenced by tourism. Housing in this area often leans toward short-term rentals, pushing up prices for long-term leases. While this trend is seen year-round, it peaks during the summer months.

Living on Portugal’s Islands: Madeira and the Azores

The Azores

Portugal’s Azores archipelago consists of nine islands, with São Miguel being the largest and most service-oriented. Terceira also offers ample amenities and breathtaking scenery. All nine islands boast green landscapes and stunning beauty, though their weather can include multiple seasons in a single day.

Madeira

The Island and Porto Santo, offers a distinct charm. It hosts most services and transportation options, with a humid tropical climate and mountainous landscapes. Despite less greenery than the Azores, its beauty is undeniable.

Choosing the Right Region for Your Future Home

Whether you prefer the dynamic coastlines of Lisbon and Porto, the tranquility of Portugal’s interior, or the unique appeal of the Algarve or islands, Portugal offers a variety of living options. With legal frameworks such as the D7 visa and the digital nomad visa (D8), Portugal is an attractive destination for retirees and digital nomads alike, providing access to Europe and a high quality of life.

I want to move to Portugal. What are the visas for Portugal that can help me obtain permanent residency?

Portugal offers several visa options that can lead to permanent residency, making it an attractive destination for those looking to relocate. One of the most popular options is the D7 Visa, also known as the Retirement or Passive Income Visa. This visa is designed for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who have a stable passive income and wish to live in Portugal. The D7 Visa allows you to enjoy the Portuguese lifestyle while eventually applying for permanent residency and citizenship.

To qualify for the D7 Visa, you need to demonstrate that you have sufficient passive income to support yourself. This can include income from pensions, investments, rental properties, or other sources. Additionally, you must have savings both globally and ideally in Portugal. The D7 Visa is particularly appealing for retirees or those looking to live off their investments in a country known for its lower cost of living, excellent healthcare, and beautiful landscapes.

For entrepreneurs and business owners outside Portugal, the D8 Visa is a suitable choice. This visa is designed for individuals who earn active income through employment or self-employment and want to establish their business in Portugal. The D8 Visa, also known as the Digital Nomad Visa, caters to those who can work remotely and meet the income requirements.

By choosing the right visa, you can pave the way for a smooth transition to living in Portugal and eventually obtaining permanent residency.

D7 Visa Portugal

The D7 Visa is for people that want to retire or live off retirement in Portugal or live off their own passive income. To apply for this, you must ensure you fit into the Portugal D7 Visa Requirements:

Receive monthly at least one Portuguese minimum wage in passive income (Pension, Social Security, dividends, royalties, rents, investments, etc)

Have global savings

Have savings in Portugal

This Visa allows you to live in Portugal comfortably, to enjoy a lifelong well-deserved retirement from the UK, but with Portuguese lifestyle: the weather, the lower cost of living, the free national health system, purchasing property, etc.

D8 Visa Portugal

The Visa for working people, so living off salaries (from an employment contract or service provider – freelancer, business owner), so this means active income.

This Visa is also known as the Digital Nomad Visa, but we should deconstruct that concept to explain why it is not truly suited for travelers by profession but instead for Digital Nomads for Portugal.

Let’s start with the basics, it is considered a Digital Nomad someone who travels constantly and at the same time works remotely, and their job can be done through a computer which allows them to do it in any place in the world.

For Portuguese immigration this type of Visa must fulfill all the normal criteria of residency requirements, having no consideration on the “Nomad” aspect, so there is no exception on matters connected with the permanent nature of staying in Portugal:

The minimum period of stay in Portugal, (6 months in a row or 8 months altogether, per validity of the permit – the first one is for 2 years, its renewal for 3 years);

The need to demonstrate permanent housing in Portugal (1 year).

Those examples just show that the “Digital Nomad” name, which is not an official name, is really at the end of the day tailored to the individuals seeking Portugal as a home instead of as a passage, at least for the first 5 years.

For those who are interested in Portugal as a passage, you can find more information on the Short Stay D8 Visa Portugal section.

If the intention is to come to Portugal and enjoy Portugal to the fullest extent possible, this Visa is your entry point.

The D8 Visa Portugal requirements are the following:

Earning at least 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage;

If the person is an employee, to have proof of this link and have the consent of their employer to the move;

If the person is self-employed (freelancer or business owner) show proof of this and their connection with their clients (invoices, service agreements, etc.);

The employer/clients are not Portugal based;

Have tax residency outside of Portugal and demonstrate it with savings.

Short Stay D8 Visa Portugal

There is a Short Stay D8 Visa Portugal possibility in the cases the person wants to come to Portugal for less than 365 days, and in this case, they could apply for a Short Stay Digital Nomad Visa, and the Visa would have the duration that the person requests within up to that maximum.

The nuance of this possibility is that the person would not need to go to an appointment in immigration in Portugal, and that is not renewable, so one the time frame printed on the Visa is done, the person has to leave.

This option is tailored to the Digital Nomads who want to experience Portugal as something fleeting, temporary, and transitory, so this is the true answer to the nomads who do not want to establish themselves in Portugal.

This can mean people that took a specific time frame to travel, and then will go back to their normal life, or travelers by profession.

What is Common to both d7 Visa Portugal and d8 Visa Portugal?

Where to apply?

You must apply for it outside of Portugal, so in the country of nationality or in the country of legal residence, depending on your residency status – sometimes they are the same, sometimes they are not. See below some examples:

Example 1:
If a British person is living in the United Kingdom, they can apply there.

Example 2:
For a British person living in Mexico with a residence permit, applications can be made either in Mexico or in the United Kingdom.

Example 3:
A person holding dual British and American nationality, residing in Australia with a residence permit, may apply in Australia, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

What is the duration of the process?

To schedule an appointment, it normally takes a couple of weeks. Then we move forward to the submission process which can take about a month, but, sometimes, it goes up to three.

Once this process is complete it is time to collect the visa, which takes about a week at the most. Within the 4 months of the duration of the visa, you enter Portugal and go to an AIMA appointment. The waiting for the residence permit to be issued can be one up to three months.

Why is it necessary to go to the AIMA appointment?

At that appointment, you apply for a residence permit, giving you permission to stay 2 years in Portugal, therefore, a necessary step to accomplish residency.

After the 2-year residence permit expires what to do?

Renew the temporary residence permit, either online or in person, and this second permit will be valid for 3 years.

Is there any benefit from applying for a visa in the UK?

From our experience, the UK is one of the best places to apply for a D7 Visa Portugal or a D8 Visa in Portugal. The process, if properly done, runs smoothly and fast when compared to other countries where the average of the processing time takes three months, and when it comes to the UK the normal is one month.

Both Visas allow you to apply for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years. Once your Portuguese citizenship is granted to can become a Portuguese passport holder and freely circulate in the Schengen countries.

If you are planning on moving to Portugal from the UK, we hope that this article has helped you clarify your doubts. Portugal is a lovely country with great food, weather and people. A great place to retire or to start a new life!

Why Choose Portugal?

Portugal’s appeal goes far beyond its sun-kissed beaches and delicious cuisine. The country ranks among the top places in Europe for quality of life, with its unique combination of modern infrastructure and old-world charm. Retirement Portugal is particularly attractive due to its high living standards, affordable cost of living, and excellent healthcare, making it an ideal destination for retirees.

The key reasons to choose Portugal include:

Affordable cost of living, especially compared to other European countries.

Highly ranked public healthcare system that residents can access.

A safe and peaceful environment, as evidenced by its ranking as the 7th safest country in the world.

Diverse geography with a variety of living environments, from bustling cities like Lisbon and Porto to quiet rural villages or island life.

A welcoming environment for retirees, digital nomads, and families.

Whether you seek to retire in peace, work remotely, or start a new business, Portugal offers a blend of opportunity, tranquillity, and culture.

Tax Implications of Moving to Portugal

Understanding Tax Obligations

When relocating to Portugal, it’s crucial to understand the tax implications and how they will affect your financial situation. As a resident in Portugal, you will be subject to Portuguese tax laws and regulations. This includes declaring your worldwide income and paying taxes accordingly. However, Portugal offers several tax benefits that can make the transition more attractive. However, Portugal offers several tax benefits that can make the transition more attractive.

Banking and Finance in Portugal

Opening a Portuguese Bank Account

One of the essential steps when relocating to Portugal is opening a Portuguese bank account. Having a local bank account is necessary for managing your finances, receiving your salary, paying bills, and fulfilling tax obligations. The process of opening a bank account in Portugal is straightforward, but it requires some documentation.

To open a Portuguese bank account, you will typically need to provide the following:

• A valid passport or identification card

• Proof of address (such as a utility bill or rental contract)

• Proof of income (such as a salary statement or pension document)

• Portuguese tax identification number (NIF)

Some banks may also require a minimum deposit or have specific requirements for non-residents. It’s essential to research and compare different banks and their services to find the one that best suits your needs. Popular banks in Portugal include Banco Santander, Banco BPI, and Caixa Geral de Depósitos.

For expats, some banks offer accounts specifically designed for non-residents, which may provide more flexible terms and conditions. Additionally, having a Portuguese bank account is crucial for receiving your salary and paying taxes as a resident in Portugal.

Professional Guidance: Permanent Residency in Portugal and Global Mobility Expert Advice

Navigating the visas for Portugal process can be complex, but expert advice from global mobility professionals can streamline the process and ensure your application is successful. From choosing the right visa to managing documentation and legal requirements, professional services can provide tailored support to help you secure your residency in Portugal.

For those considering the D7 Portugal or D8 visa Portugal, working with an expert ensures that you meet the criteria for permanent residency and understand the ongoing requirements once you arrive in Portugal. This can include managing financial records, liaising with local authorities, and ensuring compliance with Portuguese immigration law. Additionally, they can guide you through the process of transitioning from a temporary residence permit to a permanent residence permit after five years of residing in Portugal.

Whether you’re planning your retirement or starting a new chapter of remote work, professional guidance is essential for a smooth and successful transition to life in Portugal.

Frequently Asked Questions: Moving to Portugal from UK

What are the main visa options for moving to Portugal from the UK?

The two main visa options are the D7 and D8 visas.  Both visas offer a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

Can I apply for a D7 or D8 visa while still in the UK?

Applicants must submit both the D7 and D8 visa applications outside Portugal. The D7 visa suits retirees and individuals with passive income, such as pensions or investments, while the D8 visa targets working professionals and digital nomads earning active income through employment or self-employment. UK nationals residing in the UK can apply directly from the UK. If you live in another country with a valid residence permit, you can apply from that country or the UK.

What is the minimum income requirement for the D7 visa?

To apply for the D7 visa, you need to prove that you have a passive income that is at least equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage. This income can come from pensions, dividends, rental properties, or other investments. You will also need to show that you have savings, both globally and ideally in Portugal.

What is required to apply for the D8 (Digital Nomad) visa?

The D8 visa requires you to earn at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage if you are a salaried employee or self-employed. You must demonstrate proof of your employment or client contracts, and your employer or clients should not be based in Portugal. Additionally, you must show that you have tax residency outside of Portugal and sufficient savings.

Can I bring my family with me to Portugal on a D7 or D8 visa?

Yes, both visas allow for family reunification.  They will need to meet the specific requirements set out by Portuguese immigration authorities. After your visa approval, you can extend residency to your immediate family members, including your spouse and dependent children.

How long does the visa process take?

The process can vary, but in the UK, it typically takes around two months if all documentation is in order. In other countries, the process can take up to three months. Once your visa is approved, you have four months to enter Portugal and attend an AIMA appointment to finalize your residency.

What happens at the AIMA appointment?

At the AIMA appointment, you will apply for a Portuguese residence permit. This residence permit is initially valid for two years and can later be renewed for an additional three years. After five years of residency, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

How does the cost of living in Portugal compare to the UK?

Portugal generally offers a lower cost of living compared to the UK. Housing, food, and public services are more affordable, particularly outside major cities like Lisbon and Porto. This makes Portugal an attractive destination for both retirees and working professionals looking to improve their quality of life.

Is Portugal a safe place to live?

Portugal consistently ranks as one of the world’s safest countries, making it an attractive destination for families, retirees, and individuals seeking peace of mind.

Can I buy property in Portugal as a UK national?

Yes, UK nationals can buy property in Portugal without restrictions. Many choose to purchase homes in popular areas like Lisbon, Porto & The Algarve. Buying property may also help meet certain residency requirements for visas.

Can I access Portugal’s public healthcare system as a resident?

Once you obtain your residence permit, you can access Portugal’s public healthcare system. Residents benefit from free, highly regarded healthcare, which adds to the advantages of living in Portugal.

Conclusion and Call to Action

With its incredible cuisine, world-class healthcare system and safe living conditions, is a top destination for relocation. It caters to all preferences, offering the vibrant energy of Lisbon and Porto, the tranquil charm of the countryside, and the unique allure of island living.

Ready to make your move to Portugal? Let us help you take the first step toward establishing permanent residency. Our team of global mobility specialists is here to support you with every step, from D7 or D8 visa applications to finding housing and navigating legal requirements.

Contact Us Today

Are you ready to move to Portugal from UK?

At Advice for Expats, we understand that expatriate life comes with a unique set of financial challenges and opportunities.

Our trusted network of professional partners is ready to guide and support you in thriving as an expat.

We nurture meaningful, deep, and lasting client relationships by engaging in dialogue and crafting solutions that resonate with their needs. We stand by the principles of transparency, active listening and extensive expertise as the keystones of our service.

Let us help you make a smooth and successful transition to become legal residents in Portugal.

Start your expat journey with us now

For professional advice you can arrange a free initial consultation with a trusted global mobility expert in Portugal on:

Telephone: +350 5600 5757
Email: [email protected]

Useful Resources

• You can find more information about moving to Portugal on the website: https://adviceforexpats.com/countries/portugal/

• For further information about Portugal please visit the website page: https://residencyoptions.com/residency-by-investment-golden-visas/portugal/

• Other useful sources: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-portugal