Moving to Portugal in 2026: Step-by-Step Official Guide
A move to Portugal runs through three sets of offices. A consulate issues the visa. The migration agency AIMA issues the residence permit. The tax office, Social Security and the health service issue the numbers you need to work, bank and see a doctor. Two facts shape plans in 2026: the job seeker visa is not yet being issued, and since 19 May citizenship requires seven or ten years of legal residence. This guide walks through each step from official Portuguese sources, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Non-EU citizens staying over 90 days need a national visa: fee 110€, decided within 60 days for a residency visa. It is valid for 4 months, during which you apply to AIMA for a residence permit. Means of subsistence are measured against the minimum monthly salary, 920€ in 2026. After arrival you need a tax number (NIF), which is free, a Social Security number (NISS) and a health service user number. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years with a temporary permit.
Step 1: Work out whether you need a visa
Third-country nationals must hold a long-stay visa to enter and stay in Portugal for over 90 days. Citizens of EU member states, of states party to the European Economic Area agreement and of third countries with which the EU has freedom of movement agreements are exempt, as are their family members.
Step 2: Choose your route
| Route | What you need to show |
|---|---|
| Employment | A work contract, a work promise or a demonstration of interest |
| Highly qualified employment | A contract or work promise for at least six months, at the salary level set by law |
| Self-employment | A contract or written service proposal for liberal professions |
| Remote work (digital nomads) | A contract or employer's declaration, and average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the minimum monthly salary |
| Study | Admission to a higher education institution and enough financial resources |
| Family reunification | An authorisation from AIMA obtained by the family member who already lives in Portugal |
One route is closed for now. The Skilled Job Seeker Visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices, pending the regulation of Article 57-A of the foreigners' law.
Step 3: Apply for the visa
Long-stay visas come in two kinds. A temporary stay visa covers less than a year, is valid for the entire stay and allows multiple entries. A residency visa allows two entries and is valid for 4 months, and its holder must apply for a residence permit with AIMA in that time.
Documents every applicant needs
- The national visa application form, filled in and signed
- 2 recent passport-type photos
- A passport or other travel document valid for 3 months after the estimated date of return
- Valid travel insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent assistance and possible repatriation
- A criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or the country where you have lived for over a year, with the Hague Apostille or legalised
- Proof of financial resources
Money, fee and timing
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Means of subsistence, first adult | 100% of the minimum monthly salary, 920€ in 2026 |
| Each other adult | 50% |
| Each child under 18 or dependent adult child | 30% |
| National visa fee | 110€ |
| Deadline for a decision, residency visa | 60 days |
| Deadline for a decision, temporary stay visa | 30 days |
The visa portal advises submitting the application in advance, so that the authorities have time to decide.
Step 4: Get the residence permit from AIMA
Once in Portugal, residency visa holders apply to AIMA. Applications are made by appointment and handed in in person at any AIMA office. The common documents are a valid passport, the residency visa, a sworn declaration of your address with a declaration from the landlord or host if you rent, and the documents specific to your route.
| Permit | Validity |
|---|---|
| Remote work (digital nomads) | Two years, renewable for successive periods of three years |
| Higher education student | Three years, renewable, or the length of the programme if shorter |
AIMA charges for this separately from the visa. Its fee table, updated on 26 February 2026, lists €133.00 for receiving and analysing an application and €114.30 for granting a temporary residence permit, in person. Applications submitted through AIMA's digital channel get a 25% reduction, bringing those two fees to €99.80 and €85.80.
Step 5: Get your three numbers
The government's guide for foreign residents, updated on 2 September 2026, explains the registrations you need to live and work in Portugal.
| Number | What it is for | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| NIF, the tax identification number | Working, opening a bank account and meeting tax obligations | At a tax office by appointment, with your passport, entry visa and residence title. The request is free |
| NISS, the Social Security number | Access to benefits and paying contributions | Online, through a form on the Social Security portal. An employer can also request it for a new employee |
| National health service user number | Using the National Health Service | Can be requested together with the other two |
One request for all three
The guide notes that foreign nationals with an address in Portugal can request the NIF, the NISS and the health service user number at one time. AIMA describes the service as available to foreigners with a residence permit, EU citizens, applicants for international protection and refugees. It is delivered at citizen service points called Espaços Cidadão, and requires a passport and activation of the Chave Móvel Digital, the Digital Mobile Key.
NISS documents for non-EU citizens
- Passport
- Work visa
- Residence permit, temporary or permanent, or another civil identity document from your country of origin
- Proof of your work situation, such as a work contract, or for digital nomads proof of the contract with the foreign employer
If you are not resident in Portugal when you ask for a NIF, you need a tax representative who lives in the country.
Step 6: Budget for housing
Statistics Portugal (INE) publishes the median rent of new leases each quarter. In the second quarter of 2026 it was 10.17 €/m² nationally, 15.24 €/m² in Greater Lisbon, 17.79 €/m² in the city of Lisbon and 10.83 €/m² in the Porto Metropolitan Area. The national figure rose 10.2% in a year. For comparison, average gross total monthly pay per worker was 1,835 euros in the quarter ending June 2026.
Step 7: Bring your family
A foreign national with a valid residence permit is entitled to family reunification for family members living outside Portugal. You apply to AIMA first. Once AIMA decides in favour, your family members lodge their visa applications at the consulate. Descendants of residence permit holders applying under family reunification are exempt from the visa fee.
Step 8: Stay for the long term
| Year | What becomes possible |
|---|---|
| 5 | A permanent residence permit, with basic Portuguese, means of subsistence and tax and social security obligations met |
| 7 | Naturalisation, for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states |
| 10 | Naturalisation, for nationals of other states |
The citizenship periods come from the nationality law in force since 19 May 2026. Applications that were already pending on that date continue under the earlier rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Portugal without a job?
EU and EEA citizens can. Others need a visa for a specific purpose such as work, remote work, study or family. The visa for looking for work is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices.
How much money do I need to move to Portugal?
For the visa, means of subsistence are measured against the minimum monthly salary, 920€ in 2026: 100% for the first adult, 50% for other adults and 30% for children. The visa fee is 110€.
How long does a Portuguese residency visa take?
The deadline for a decision is 60 days, and 30 days for a temporary stay visa.
What is a NIF and how do I get one?
The NIF is the tax identification number you need to work, open a bank account and pay tax. Residents request it at a tax office by appointment, and the request is free.
How do I get a Portuguese Social Security number?
Foreign nationals request the NISS online through a form on the Social Security portal, attaching their passport, work visa, residence document and proof of their work situation.
How much is rent in Portugal?
The median rent of new leases was 10.17 €/m² in the second quarter of 2026, and 17.79 €/m² in the city of Lisbon, according to INE.
How long until I can get Portuguese citizenship?
Seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states, and ten years for others, under the law in force since 19 May 2026.
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visa portal — Type of visa
- Visa portal — Necessary documentation: residency
- Visa portal — Means of subsistence
- Visa portal — Fees
- Visa portal — Deadlines
- Visa portal — Family reunification
- AIMA — Table of fees (updated 26 February 2026)
- AIMA — Permanent residence permit
- AIMA — Identification numbers for foreign citizens in one request
- gov.pt — How to request the NIF and NISS for foreign nationals in Portugal
- INE — Housing rents at local level, 2nd quarter of 2026
- INE — Average gross monthly pay per worker, 2nd quarter of 2026
- Ministry of Justice — Nationality Law, new rules from 19 May 2026
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Several sources are in Portuguese; the English wording here is our own. Requirements differ by consulate and route, so check the page of the post where you will apply. Information, not legal advice.