Portugal, explained plainly.
Clear guides for visiting, moving to, and living in Portugal, plus a checked list of people who can help. We read the rules so you do not have to.
12 guides · 16 businesses we use · rules last verified June 2026
What do you need to do?
The things people ask us about most, in the order they usually come up. Both lists are right here, so you never have to pick a side just to see what is on it.
Moving here
Start at the top. The NIF comes before almost everything else.
- Get a NIF, the tax number you need before anything else12 min read · checked June 2026
- Check if the D7 visa fits you (savings, pension or rental income)12 min read · checked June 2026
- Apply for the D8 visa if you work remotely11 min read · checked June 2026
- See what it actually costs to live here, by city13 min read · checked June 2026
- Understand the IFICI tax break (what NHR became)12 min read · checked June 2026
- Register for healthcare, public or private11 min read · checked June 2026
Visiting
Worth settling before you book anything.
- Pick the right month to come13 min read · checked June 2026
- Follow a 7-day route that works13 min read · checked June 2026
- Get around by train, bus or hire car11 min read · checked June 2026
- Decide between Porto and Lisbon13 min read · checked June 2026
- Find an English-speaking plumber, dentist or anyone else1 checked · no paid placements
Find someone who can help
A short list on purpose: 16 businesses and groups we have actually used ourselves. Nobody paid to be on it, and we would rather leave a category empty than fill it with names we cannot vouch for.
- NIF & Bureaucracy ServicesRemote services to obtain your NIF, fiscal representation and a Portuguese bank account.1 listed
- Tax Advisors & AccountantsCross-border tax specialists for IFICI/NHR, freelancing, company setup and annual filing.1 listed
- Health InsurancePrivate health cover and expat insurers — essential for visa applications and SNS gaps.1 listed
- Doctors & ClinicsEnglish-speaking family doctors and private clinics — the people you see when you are actually ill.1 listed
- International SchoolsEnglish, IB and bilingual schools for relocating families in the major hubs.4 listed
- Portuguese Language SchoolsIn-person and online schools to learn European Portuguese — including A2 for citizenship.2 listed
Or start with a place
Each one covers both sides: what it is like to visit, and what it is like to live there.
- LisbonA sun-bleached capital of hilltop viewpoints, rattling trams and tiled façades you can wander for days without repeating yourself.Lisbon & Central
- PortoA granite, river-cut city of tiled churches, port lodges and a UNESCO old town that rewards aimless wandering.Porto & North
- The AlgarvePortugal's sun-soaked south coast — golden cliffs, hidden coves and some of Europe's best beaches.Algarve
- MadeiraA dramatically green Atlantic island of cloud-forest hikes, sea cliffs and year-round spring weather.Islands
- Cascais & EstorilA polished seaside town a short train ride from Lisbon — sandy bays, marina cafés and an easy Riviera air.Lisbon & Central
How we work
- We date everything
- Portugal changes its rules often. NHR became IFICI. SEF became AIMA. Every guide about rules or money shows the month we last checked it, and links out to the official Portuguese source so you can check it yourself.
- Nobody buys a ranking
- Businesses cannot pay to appear or to rank higher. If a link ever earns us money, the page says so, right where the link is.
- One site, both journeys
- The person booking a week in Lisbon this year is often the person moving there next year. We write for both.
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