Moving to Portugal in 2026

Moving to Portugal: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

1. Before the trip. A tax number, a Portuguese bank account and a one-year lease, all required for the visa. Then a national visa at the consulate on a basis: passive income, remote work, study, work or a startup.
2. First days. Move in under the lease, get a SIM card and register at the local health centre.
3. Weeks 2-4. Visit the agency for integration, migration and asylum to apply for residence: the date is usually set when the visa is issued.
4. First month. A social security number if you work in Portugal, and the resident card after the decision.

Rent is noticeably lower in Porto, Braga and smaller towns. Without a guarantor, landlords often ask foreigners to pay several months in advance. We calculate the family budget in the chat. Euros converted at the rate on 6 October 2026, about $1.12 to the euro.

Portugal at a glance

Portugal is a country in south-western Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, with a population of about 10.7 million. Besides the mainland, it includes the autonomous Atlantic archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores. The capital is Lisbon and the second-largest city is Porto in the north. Portugal joined the European Union in 1986 and is part of the Schengen Area; the currency is the euro.

A mild climate, the ocean, safety and prices that are moderate for Western Europe have made it one of the most popular relocation destinations of the past decade. The economy relies on tourism, services, manufacturing and information technology, while wages remain among the lowest in Western Europe: the 2026 minimum wage is €920 a month.

History and government

In the 15th and 16th centuries Portugal was one of the first great maritime powers: its navigators found the sea route to India, and its possessions stretched from Brazil to Macau. The monarchy was overthrown in 1910, followed by almost half a century of dictatorship, which ended in 1974 with the peaceful Carnation Revolution. Afterwards Portugal let its African colonies go and became a democracy.

Today it is a semi-presidential republic: the president is elected by popular vote and can dissolve parliament, and the government is led by the prime minister. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and other countries, and in Portugal itself many people, especially younger ones, speak good English.

How to move in 2026

Russian citizens need a Portuguese national visa, issued by the consulate, after which Portugal's migration agency grants a residence permit on that basis. The main routes:

• The passive income visa for people living on pensions, rent, dividends or interest: income of at least the minimum wage, €920 a month in 2026, plus 50% for a spouse and 30% for each child.
• The digital nomad visa for remote work for foreign employers or clients with income from €3,680 a month, about $4,130. Details are on the Portugal nomad visa page.
• The golden visa: from €250,000 in cultural projects or from €500,000 in investment funds; buying property has not qualified since 2023. Details are on the Portugal golden visa page.
• The startup visa for founders with a project approved by the state business support agency and funds of €6,445.56 per founder. Details are on the Portugal startup visa page.

The first residence permit is issued for two years and then renewed for three. Permanent residence is available after five years, and since 19 May 2026 citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence for most foreigners instead of five. Portugal allows dual citizenship.

Taxes

You become a Portuguese tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in the country within 12 months or have a home here that you use as your habitual residence. Income tax ranges from 12.5 to 48%, with a solidarity surcharge of 2.5 to 5% on high incomes. Social security contributions are 11% for the employee and 23.75% for the employer.

The former tax regime for new residents is closed to newcomers. It was replaced by the tax incentive for science and innovation, with a flat 20% rate for 10 years, but it is open only to a narrow range of professions and tied to an employer or project in Portugal, so remote work for a foreign company usually does not qualify. Dividends and interest are taxed at 28%, corporate tax in 2026 is 19%, with 15% on the first €50,000 for small businesses, and the standard VAT rate on the mainland is 23%. Details are on the Portugal taxes page.

Property

Foreigners face no restrictions on buying homes; the first step is a tax number. Buyers pay property transfer tax of up to 7.5% of the price depending on the amount, plus 0.8% stamp duty, and since May 2026 non-residents pay 7.5% on the full price of an apartment. The annual property tax is 0.3 to 0.45% of the cadastral value, with the rate set by the municipality.

Buying property no longer leads to a golden visa, but it remains popular for personal use and rental. Short-term holiday lets must be registered with the municipality, and new registrations are restricted in central Lisbon and Porto. Our investment property team handles property search, due diligence and the transaction.

Cost of living

Portugal is cheaper than France or Germany but no longer as cheap as ten years ago. A one-bedroom apartment in Lisbon averages about €1,350 a month, about $1,520. A single person needs €2,200 to €3,000 a month including rent, about $2,470-3,370, and a family with children in an international school from €5,000, about $5,610. A pass for all public transport in Lisbon costs €40 a month.

Rents in Porto, Braga and Coimbra are noticeably lower, and inland houses can be rented or bought for a fraction of coastal prices. Residents use the public health service for small fees, but waiting lists for specialists are long, so many people take private insurance.

Where to live

Lisbon has the most developed environment for newcomers, from international schools to remote-worker communities. Families often choose Cascais and Estoril near Lisbon: the ocean, international schools and suburban trains to the centre. Porto in the north is cheaper and calmer. The Algarve in the south offers warm beaches and many foreign retirees, while Madeira, mild all year round, is popular with remote workers.

Practicalities

The first step is a tax number: without it you cannot open a bank account, rent a flat or sign a phone contract. A non-resident from outside the European Union needs a tax representative in Portugal to get one. Then you open a Portuguese bank account and register with the health service and social security.

Portugal's migration agency has long delays: appointments for applications and renewals can take months, and some cases are resolved only through the courts; see our article on delays and court action. Russian documents need an apostille and a Portuguese translation, and criminal record certificates are valid for a limited time, so obtain them close to the application date.

Pros and cons of moving

Pros: a mild climate and the ocean, safety, life in the European Union, a low threshold for passive income residence, dual citizenship and a path to a European Union passport. Cons: a national visa for Russian citizens with long processing, citizenship only after 10 years, expensive rents in Lisbon and Porto, high taxes on salaries and slow bureaucracy at the migration agency.

Moving with children

Children are included in the parents' residence, and the passive income requirement rises by 30% per child. State schools are free and teach in Portuguese, and Lisbon and Cascais have many international schools with British and American curricula. A child born in Portugal gets citizenship at birth only if a parent has lived in the country legally for 5 years by that day.

Who Portugal suits

Portugal suits remote workers and freelancers with income from abroad, retirees and people with passive income, families who want to live by the ocean in a mild climate, and investors who need a European Union residence permit without having to relocate. It suits less well those looking for a fast passport or low taxes on salaries: the path to citizenship is now 10 years, and the preferential tax regime is open to few. We will choose the route, prepare the documents for the consulate and help with the tax number and bank account; our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.

Moving to other countries

We have the same moving guides for other countries: Spain, Germany, Montenegro, Serbia, Israel, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates. All destinations are compared by budget and main route to residence in our overview where to move from Russia in 2026.

For this country: Portuguese golden visa, nomad visa, taxes in Portugal, Lisbon guide, property in Portugal.