Useful Information

Buy in Portugal

Investing in property within Portugal comes with its own unique benefits. There are several good reasons to buy in Portugal such as the beautiful landscape and great weather, but some lesser known benefits include low cost of living and tax breaks for retirees especially with private pensions.

Portugal's Property Market

Portugal's property market has remained stable over recent years and the country's economy has recently seen a resurgence, so investing in property within the country is undoubtedly a good move financially. Whilst Portugal has long been a favourite with the British, it is now proving to be popular with many other Europeans.

Portugal's Non Habitual Tax Resident Scheme

Possibly one of the country's best kept secrets, The Non Habitual Tax Resident Scheme

(NHR for short), is a scheme devised by the country's government to attract temporary and permanent residents to the country.

The NHR regime allows for someone with a private pension to be considered eligible to avoid tax, making this scheme ideal for those seeking to retire to Portugal.

Did you know about the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program?

This scheme is one of the reasons why Portugal is becoming so popular with not only British citizens but other European countries in particular Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland and Italy.

Did you know about the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program?

Now, non-EU citizens can look forward to fast-track immigration to Portugal, thanks to this new program. This special residence permit, also called Golden Visa, will be offered to investors, who fulfil certain conditions.

Visa Requirements for European Settlers

If you are a national of a European Union country and you want to stay in Portugal for longer than three months, then you must request a Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registo) from the City Council of your area of residence.

After you have held a registration certificate for five consecutive years, you may request a Permanent Residence Certificate (Certificado de Residência Permanente) from the Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrageiros e Fronteiras).

Portugal's Visa Requirements for Visitors

If you have family and friends that are likely to visit you in Portugal, the visa requirements for Europeans, nationals of Australia and nationals of New Zealand is just their passport or identity documents.

They are permitted to stay for up to 90 days at a time. American and Canadian nationals can stay up to 60 days with a valid passport. For other nationals, we recommend checking with the Portuguese Consul in their respective country for information regarding Visa requirements and periods of stay.

Languages Spoken in Portugal

The predominant language in Portugal is Portuguese but many of the Portuguese people (in particular the younger generation) speak English and some also speak French and Spanish.

There are many communities of settlers from Europe and the rest of the world in Portugal, this has given the country a vibrant and diverse population.

Emergency Services in Portugal

The national number for the emergency services in Portugal is 112, this number connects you to the Police, Fire and Ambulance services.

In Portugal there are two separate police forces. The Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) deals with most matters within the country and pass matters onto the Policia de Seguranca Publica (PSP) if necessary.