How to Move to Portugal? Know Every Possible Way

If You want to move to Portugal and are wondering about how to move to Portugal, we are here to provide the key information about moving to Portugal. Stick around and find out all the necessary information you should know before you move to Portugal.

In this blog, we bring to you all about how to move to Portugal, the eligibility criteria for permanent residency in Portugal, and the monthly expenses of a Portuguese citizen. Continue reading and dive into the detailed guidebook of how to move to Portugal.

A Brief Introduction to Portugal

Before you go to Portugal, you must know what it is like to live in Portugal. One should know how Portugal actually feels and what are the cultural traits and vibes of cities in Portugal. Let us have a brief intro of Portugal and add to our general knowledge associated with Portugal.

To start with, Portugal is the westernmost country in the continent of Europe. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other side of its border lies Spain. In addition to this, those who are really sick of language barriers, we have good news for you if you are about to move to Portugal, the most commonly spoken language here is English. 

Furthermore, you must have also heard of the rich history this country beholds with its historical monuments and vintage infrastructure. Portugal is also known for its fado music and impressive architecture. In addition to this, this country is also quite common among wine lovers, as it is a hub for the finest wine in the world. 

It is a country with an area of about  35,608 sq. mi. (92,225 sq km) has a capital city which is named Lisbon and is known for its vintage architecture and historical landmarks. Other cities of Portugal that are widely known in the world include Porto, Amadora, Braga, and Vita Nova de Gaia. Overall, the population of Portugal reaches up to 10.3 million, out of which roughly 7.6% of the population is foreign-born or are expat. 

As you would expect, Portuguese is the official language in Portugal. Speaking of demographics, 95% of the population in Portugal is ethnic Portuguese, whereas the 5% minority group includes Africans, Brazilians, and Han.

Are you one of those who are confused about whether Canadians and US residents should move to Portugal? Well, here in this section, along with the factual information, we also clear your confusion. If you are a Canadian or a US resident and willing to move to Portugal, you can definitely do that if you have undergone all the legal immigration procedure. 

How to Move to Portugal

You might be wondering how to move to Portugal, and here we are explaining the procedure to you. However, before we dive into the technicalities of how to move to Portugal, let us find out what makes you eligible to step into Portugal.

First off, you must have your passport issued by your home country, which should be valid for at least three months after you plan to depart from Portugal. In addition to this, you should have a visa if you are planning to stay in Portugal for longer than three months. That’s the eligibility criteria for you to move to Portugal as a tourist. 

However, if you are wondering how to move to Portugal not for recreational purposes but to settle there, you must meet an eligibility criteria that is different from the one mentioned above. When you are planning to apply for the residency visa, here are

 the criteria you must meet:

• You should have any sort of professional skill and should be working at any firm based in Portugal.
• In case you are not employed in any of the Portuguese firms, you should have a settled business or an intent to financially invest in Portugal. 
• Furthermore, if you have any relatives living in Portugal and are a permanent resident of Portugal, you are also eligible to apply for a residency visa.
• Also, if you are a retiree and get a monthly pension that can support your expenses, you are eligible for permanent residency in Portugal.
• In addition to this, those who have invested in real estate in Portugal or in any Portugal based company, you can also apply for the residency visa. 
• Even if you are financially independent and can source your lifestyle, you are eligible to apply for residentship in Portugal.

Now that you know if you are eligible for Portuguese residentship or not, you should know what are the required documents when moving to Portugal. Here are the documents you must have when you are applying for permanent residency in Portugal:

• You must have your travel insurance when you are planning to move to Portugal.
• You must not have any criminal record in your home country and should not have any history of felony convictions.
• Furthermore, you must have a document that proves you are capable of earning money and that sources your monthly expenses. You should either provide proof of your investment account or submit your bank statement, which proves you are financially independent.
• You will also need to submit your job letter from a qualified employer based in Portugal.
• Even if any of the Portuguese residents sign an agreement saying they will be responsible for all your financial needs, you might still be eligible for permanent residency in Portugal.

While you are wondering how to move to Portugal, you must also know how to get a visa to Portugal. That way, you will be able to apply for a resident visa in Portugal. To do so, you must fill out an application form for a Portuguese visa and submit it to the Portuguese embassy or the Portuguese consulate in your home country.

In addition to the application form, you will also have to submit an application fee that can be about 90€. Usually, it takes 60 days to process your visa application to Portugal after you have submitted your application fees to the Portuguese consulate in your home country.

What is the Portugal Golden Visa Program?

Now that we are explaining to you how to move to Portugal let us inform you all about the residency visas in Portugal. However, before we unravel all the secrets about Portugal’s Golden Visa program that you must know, we first prefer to answer whether Portugal offers  digital nomad visas or not. 

The digital nomad visa is when you are working remotely for an employer based outside Portugal, and you are living in one of the cities of Portugal.  Portugal offers two options for digital nomads under its passive income visa program.

One of the two options is a short time visa that enables a digital nomad to stay there for a year. Whereas the other option offers a digital nomad to stay in Portugal for the long term. However, you can only apply for a long-term residency visa when you are in Portugal. To put it simply, you can apply for a long-term residency visa program after you have landed in Portugal.

Now, moving on to the Portuguese Golden Visa program which is a residence permit for those who are willing to settle in Portugal. This visa program offers you a residency permit for a longer period in Portugal and can act as a stepping stone to acquiring permanent Portuguese residentship, especially when you are a foreign investor. 

The Golden Visa program was introduced by the Portuguese government in 2012 with an aim to boost the local economy. Although the golden visa program is a good option for foreign investors, there are some criteria that you must meet to avail the opportunity. Here is the eligibility criteria for the Portuguese Golden Visa program:

• Those wondering how to move to Portugal must be a non-Eu national to be able to move to Portugal. The residents of European countries from the European Economic Area are ineligible for the Portuguese Golden Visa program.
• You must not have any criminal record and should not be convicted of any illegal action at any time in your life.
• For you to be eligible for a Portuguese Golden visa, you should invest some amount in the economy of Portugal in one way or another. You must at least invest an amount of €500,000 in the Portuguese investment fund which is officially approved by the government of Portugal.
• If you are willing to earn the Portuguese Golden visa, you should be able to build a firm that creates job opportunities for atleast ten of the Portuguese residents.\
• You can also invest in the preservation of the cultural heritage and culture of Portugal by spending at least an amount of  €250,000.
• However, if you are planning to invest in the research and development industry of Portugal, you must be capable of investing at least €500,000.

That’s it; here we have provided you with the pathway of how to move to Portugal. If you are capable of investing this much money in any of the above-mentioned sectors, you are eligible for the Portuguese Golden visa and, later, for permanent residency.

If you meet any of the above-mentioned eligibility criteria and are wondering how to move to Portugal, you should apply for the Portuguese Golden visa program. You can apply for a Portuguese Golden visa via the Portuguese embassy or consulate office located in your home country. 

What is the Monthly Living Cost in Portugal?

 Now that you know how to move to Portugal, let us find out how much will it cost you when you are living in Portugal. We now know that you need to be financially independent for you to be eligible for permanent residency in Portugal. 

Here is a detailed breakdown of monthly expenses in Portugal when you are living in the country as a citizen:

With this monthly expense structure, you can analyze whether you are capable of affording a standard lifestyle in Portugal or not. This monthly expense chart gives you a glimpse of what a month in Portugal looks like financially. With this chart, you can analyze how much should be your monthly income when you are looking for ways to move to Portugal.

All in all, the way how to move to Portugal is pretty simple. You can go with several residency options offered by the Portuguese government that are suitable to your conditions and are affordable for you. We have provided you detailed insight into different options how to move to Portugal in this blog.