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Moving to : Portugal

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Portugal, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Portugal 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Portugal 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Portuguese culture is defined in many ways. From their stunning beaches and amazing holiday resorts to their art and history which can be traced back to both pre-historic times and into the Roman and Moorish eras. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Wikipedia - Culture of Portugal
Kwintessential - Portugal
Go Lisbon - Portuguese Culture
Portugal Live - Culture

Each area of Portugal will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Portugal you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Portugal you are investigating.

As an EU national you do not need a work permit to work in Portugal.  However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go. You are able to enter the country as a tourist and to look for a job once you arrive.

As an EU Citizen, you are entitled to stay freely in Portugal for up to 3 months.  If you plan to stay in Portugal for a period longer than three months, or you plan on working, you must apply to the Portuguese immigration Service – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) - for a Registration Certificate sometime during the 30 days following the three-month period.  You should speak with your local town hall to arrange this.

Gekko Portugal - Residency
Homes World - Portugal
World of Property - Portugal

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Portugal.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

You will need your employment contract in order to apply for temporary residency and anything else that requires proof of income or a credit agreement. You must also apply for your segurança social number which is your personal health insurance card which proves you are paying into the countries social security fund. 

More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities).

If you are planning on going to Portugal and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

In addition, you must apply for information via the ICEP.

If you're going to study in Portugal, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University
IIE Passport - Studying in Portugal
Study Abroad - Portugal
European Youth Portal - Portugal

Daycare spaces are very limited and heavily fought for, so if you find one apply in plenty of time. Speak to your local town hall for information on daycare facilities in your local area.  Finding a Portuguese/English one outside of Lisbon is also very difficult, however other expats in the local area may be able to help.

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 5 or 6 depending on their date of birth. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Portuguese school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Country Studies - Portuguese
British Council - Portugal/UK Equivalencies
Shelter off shore - Portugal
Anglo Info - Portugal Schooling
Foreign Office  - International Schools

If you are considering retiring to Portugal, then the following sites should be useful:

Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad
Retire to the sun - Portugal
Shelter off shore - should you retire to portugal?

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Portugal can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Paradise in Portugal
Overseas Property Online - Buying Property in Portugal
How to - Why buy Property in Portugal?  
Right Move - Property Website
World of Property - Information about Country
How to - Real Estate Agents
Primelocation - Estate Agents in Portugal 

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords. Check out local newspapers and Real Estate Agents, and if possible, speak with locals who may be able to help.

Viviun - Rentals in Portugal  

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Portuguese nationals.

NHS Guide   
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance 

The British Embassy in Lisbon has the following to say about the Portuguese Health Service:

"Under EU legislation and the Protocol on Medical Treatment that was signed between Portugal and the UK on 15 November 1978, British citizens who are legally resident in Portugal are entitled to state medical treatment on the same terms as any Portuguese national who is covered by the National Health service.  Non-resident British visitors to Portugal are entitled to emergency medical treatment at state facilities on production of their British passport or European Health Insurance Card.
 
In order to benefit from state-funded health care as a resident, you should apply for a national health service "user card" (cartão de utente) at your local health centre (centro de saúde) producing your passport as evidence of national status, and your registration certificate (see paragraph 1 above).  Until such a time as a registration certificate has been issued, you will only be entitled to emergency treatment from state facilities.  Routine consultations, complementary exams, such as x-rays and blood tests, and prescriptions for existing illnesses only become available on national health service terms once a registration certificate has been issued and a user card has been applied for. 
 
There is, however, one exception to this rule.  If you are retired and are in receipt of a UK state retirement pension, you may apply for a user card and enrol with a state GP immediately on arrival, simply on the production of your passport and pension receipts.  Though not obligatory, it is also advisable to obtain Form 121 from the Department for Work and Pensions before leaving the UK.  This  confirms your status as a UK pensioner to the Portuguese authorities, and speeds-up the issue of a Portuguese health service user card.
 
Please note that the only medicines that are available free-of-charge in Portugal, are those used to treat the sufferers of certain chronic illnesses.  All other medicines have to be purchased, though many are subsidised to some extent when obtained on prescription and on presentation of a health service user card.
 
There are several good but extremely expensive private clinics in Portugal.   If you are considering using private health facilities, you may wish to take out health insurance, either in the UK or locally on arrival."

Many Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, especially in the more commercial areas of Portugal. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.  If you are living near a resort town, finding and English speaking Doctor/Dentist should not be an issue at all.  In addition, many health care proffessionals advertise in the expat press. If based in or around Lisbon, this site may help:

Anglo Info - Lisbon English Speaking Doctors & Dentists

Before taking any medication into Spain make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Most pharmacies are open from 09:30 until 13:00 and from 15:00 until 19:00 from Monday to Friday and 9:00 until 13:00 on Saturday. Outside of those hours a notice will be posted of the nearest pharmacy (farmácia de serviço) open out of hours. There are 24 hour pharmacies in most towns.  Although most pharmacies will have a list of the "on call" phamacy on their doors, you can also telephone 118 to ask for your local out of hours cover.

Private medical insurance is a personal choice if you are entitled to the public health system in Portugal, however if you are not, it's essential. You will have to provide proof of this either way if applying for residency.  Many people would recommend a private health plan anyway since the public health service is often less than adequate, with long waiting lists much in the same way as the UK.  Private health care can also act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account is pretty simple. Hopefully, this site should give you the information you need.

Gekko Portugal - Banking in Portugal
Gekko Portugal - Opening a bank account
How to - Banks in Portugal

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.    

Like BT, PT has the largest influence in the Telephone and Internet market. Both theirs and others websites can be found here:

Portugal Telecom
World Telecom
Novis (not in English so you will need someone who understands the language with you)

Like most countries, you can get TV, Internet and phone packages.  Do your research and speak with neighbours, they will be able to advise on the best deals for your area. 

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

There are many mobile phone operators and offers available.  Talk to people, and shop around for the best deal for you. If you choose to get a mobile phone contract, you will need to prove both your identity (passport or ID card) and your Portuguese address and will also need your tax number.

With the exception of World Telecom, the following sites are in Portuguese so you will need a native speaker with you if you intend to seach their websites for information.  It may be worth instead, popping into their local shops for better information in the hope that someone speaks English! 

World Telecom
TMN
Optimus
Vodafone

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanetly. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Foreign Office - Importation of Vehicles
Gekko Portugal - Registering a Vehicle
Pure Portugal - Permanent Importation of Vehicles
Portugal 4 Life - Importation of motor vehicles into Portugal

Note that although tax exempt in most cases, the cost of registering the vehicle can be expensive.

The following site, will help you to calculate the tax you are likely to pay if you are not tax exempt:

Millennium - Tax Calculator  (not in English)

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Portugal.  Pets must be brought in via specific ports.  The DGV can inform you of the latest list.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)
DGV - Portuguese Veterinary Director General

Also be aware that in a mediterranean country there are additional things to worry about... mosquitoes and some other native parasites carry deadly diseases to both your pet and to you.

Take your pet to the vet immediately (especially if you arrive between May and October when the mosquitoe season starts) to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against local conditions too.

Pure Portugal - Pets and Animals

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Portugal:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting