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Latest from Portugal
News and updates on moving to, visiting, and living in Portugal — rule changes, deadlines, and what they mean for you. Every post cites its sources.
4 September 2026 · News · Education
Portugal's Years 7–9 School Phone Ban Is Law from 4 September, Not 1 JanuaryDecreto-Lei 176/2026 extends Portugal's school smartphone ban to Years 7–9 and is in force from 4 September 2026. The 1 January 2027 date is the schools' deadline for their regulations, not the ban.
2 September 2026 · News · Property
Portugal Rents Can Rise by Up to 2.56% in 2027, on INE's First EstimateINE's 31 August flash estimate points to a 2.56% legal rent-update coefficient for 2027, up from 2.24%. How the annual update works, the 30-day notice rule, and the sums for your rent.
1 September 2026 · News · Daily life
Portugal's Inflation Rose to 3.3% in August, and Almost All of It Is FuelINE's flash estimate puts August 2026 inflation at 3.3%, up from 3.0% in July, driven almost entirely by fuel. What it means for your budget — and why bread is next.
31 August 2026 · News · Visas & Residency
Portugal's Return Law: Court Clearance and Presidential PromulgationPortugal's Constitutional Court unanimously cleared the contested asylum-and-return law on 28 August 2026. President Seguro promulgated it on 31 August 2026. What changes, for whom, and when.
28 August 2026 · News · News Roundup
Portugal This Week: Euribor Highest Since 2024, Lisbon Watch Robberies, INEM Strike Terms SetPortugal's week of 24–28 August 2026: Euribor at post-2024 highs, luxury-watch robberies in Lisbon, INEM strike minimum services, new benefit rules, and what's on.
27 August 2026 · News · Property
Portugal House Prices: Bank Appraisals Hit €2,240/m² in JulyPortugal's median bank appraisal reached €2,240/m² in July 2026, up 15.2% in a year. Why the appraisal, not the asking price, caps what a bank will lend.
22 August 2026 · Article · Language
Best Apps to Learn Portuguese in 2026: European vs Brazilian, ComparedMost 'best app to learn Portuguese' lists ignore the dialect problem. We compare which apps and tutors actually teach European Portuguese, with 2026 prices.
22 August 2026 · Article · Property
Buying Property in Portugal as a Foreigner (2026): The Process and the Real CostsForeigners, including non-EU citizens, can buy property in Portugal with no permit. The 2026 IMT bands, stamp duty, registration fees, annual IMI and AIMI, capital gains, and non-resident mortgage limits — from the official sources.
22 August 2026 · Article · Visas
Portugal D2 Visa: 2026 Requirements for Entrepreneurs & FreelancersHow the Portugal D2 visa works in 2026: who it suits versus the D7 and D8, business plan and means-of-subsistence requirements, the consulate-to-AIMA process, family reunification, costs and timelines.
22 August 2026 · Article · Practical
eSIM for Portugal: Do You Need One, and Which Is Actually Worth It?Whether you need an eSIM for Portugal depends on where your home SIM is from. If you do need one, we compare Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad and Portugal's own carriers on published prices.
22 August 2026 · Article · Driving
How to Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal (2026 IMT Process)Who must exchange a foreign licence for a Portuguese one, the 90-day and two-year deadlines from IMT, the documents, the €30 fee, and what happens if you miss the window.
22 August 2026 · Article · Healthcare
Health Insurance for Expats in Portugal (2026): Visa Cover vs Living CoverTwo different jobs, two different policies: what a Portuguese consulate accepts for a D7 or D8 visa, and what private health insurance is worth once you live here beside the SNS.
22 August 2026 · Article · Bureaucracy
How to Get a NISS in Portugal (2026): Social Security Registration After Your NIFHow to get a NISS (social security number) in Portugal in 2026: who has to apply themselves, the online and NISS na Hora routes, documents for non-EU citizens, timelines, and the self-employed first-year rules.
22 August 2026 · Article · Relocation
Moving to Portugal From the USA: The 2026 Checklist, in OrderThe sequenced checklist for a US household moving to Portugal in 2026: choosing a visa route, the paperwork before you fly, shipping and pets, the first 90 days, and the US tax and Social Security tails that never switch off.
22 August 2026 · Article · Money
Opening a Bank Account in Portugal (2026): What It Takes and What It CostsWhat a Portuguese bank account needs in 2026 — NIF, proof of address, proof of work — plus maintenance fees from six banks' published price lists.
22 August 2026 · Article · Citizenship
Portuguese Citizenship by Residency in 2026: The Five-Year Rule Has GonePortuguese citizenship by naturalisation now needs seven years of legal residence for CPLP and EU nationals and ten for everyone else. What Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 changed, and what still is not written.
22 August 2026 · Article · Relocation
Are Portugal Relocation Services Worth It? The Honest Cost ComparisonWhat Portugal relocation services do, what they charge in 2026, and what each task costs if you do it yourself — including the recurring fee most people miss.
21 August 2026 · News · Education
Portugal's 2026/27 School Year: New Phone Rules and a Later Start for Secondary PupilsPortugal's 2026/27 school year starts 11–15 September for most pupils and 21 September for secondary — and the school smartphone ban extends to Years 7–9.
20 August 2026 · News · Bureaucracy
Portugal's Registry Backlog: IRN Says 26,000 Cases Cleared, Its Staff Say Delays Are GrowingPortugal's Justice Ministry says IRN recovery teams cleared over 26,000 backlogged registry cases since June 2026 and moved the Brazilian equality-statute queue forward four months. The registrars' union, reading the same official statistics, says delays grew 13% between May and June.
18 August 2026 · News · Transport
Portugal Drink-Driving Crackdown: Nationwide Alcohol Checks Until 24 AugustThe 'Taxa Zero ao Volante' campaign puts extra GNR and PSP alcohol checkpoints on Portugal's roads from 18 to 24 August 2026. The limit is 0.5 g/L — 0.2 g/L for new and professional drivers — and fines start at €250.
17 August 2026 · News · Daily life
Portugal Now Ties Non-EU Citizens' Driving Licences to Their Residence PermitsSince 9 June 2026, Portuguese driving licences held by non-EU residents are only valid while the residence permit is valid or in renewal (DL 114/2026, code 794). A parliamentary petition wants the rule revoked.
14 August 2026 · News · News Roundup
Portugal This Week: Inflation Eases to 3%, More Police in the Baixa, INEM Strike Dates SetPortugal's week of 11–14 August 2026: inflation down to 3.0%, wages up 5.4%, extra policing in downtown Lisbon, INEM strike dates, and free events from the Algarve to Porto.
13 August 2026 · News · Planning
After the Eclipse: Portugal's Dark-Sky Trips, and the Next Dates to WatchThe 12 August eclipse is over, but Portugal's certified dark-sky regions run all year — and three more eclipses are visible from here by August 2027. Where to go and when.
12 August 2026 · News · Transport
Porto-Lisbon High-Speed Rail: First Section Finally Cleared for ConstructionPortugal's environment agency has approved the execution project for the Porto (Campanhã)–Oiã section of the high-speed line. What was approved, why it was stuck, and when the 1h15 Lisbon–Porto trip might actually arrive.
11 August 2026 · News · Transport
Comporta by Bus: Direct Lisbon Coaches Stop There from 1 SeptemberFrom 1 September 2026 Rede Expressos coaches on the Lisbon–Sines route stop at Comporta, Carvalhal, Melides and Alcácer do Sal. Times, fares and what it changes.
10 August 2026 · News · Daily life
Portugal Trims Its Weekly Fuel-Tax Discount from 10 AugustFrom 10 August 2026 Portugal's fuel-tax discount is €59.16/1,000 L on diesel and €35.39 on petrol. Why the rate resets every Monday, and what it means at the pump.
7 August 2026 · News · Visas & Residency
Portugal's 'Fast Track' for Working Migrants: What the Minister Said, and What the Rules Actually SayPortugal's economy minister says migrants with a job and housing enter 'with great ease'. No rule changed — here is what the post-2025 immigration law actually allows.
6 August 2026 · News · Planning
Portugal's Total Solar Eclipse on 12 August: Glasses Are Selling OutOn 12 August 2026 the Moon covers 92–99% of the Sun over mainland Portugal, with totality only near Bragança. Where to watch, exact times per city, and how to still get certified ISO 12312-2 glasses.
5 August 2026 · News · Daily life
Portugal's Volta Bottle Deposit Becomes Mandatory on 10 AugustFrom 10 August 2026, plastic bottles and drink cans without the Volta logo can no longer be sold in Portugal. What the €0.10 deposit means at the till, and how to claim it back.
1 August 2026 · News · Bureaucracy
Portugal's New Building Licence Rules Now Start 1 OctoberPortugal postponed its revised building and renovation licensing regime from 3 August to 1 October 2026. Until then the old RJUE rules and 2024 forms apply.
31 July 2026 · News · Planning
Portugal's Airport Queues in August: Budget an Extra HourEES border checks pushed Porto's passport queues past their reference times on 31 July. What non-EU travellers should expect at Portugal's airports in August.
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