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Knowledge base

Real questions, honest answers. One question — one page.

📊Data & numbers 🔔What changed 📖Glossary ✍️Blog 📰News

🧭 Deciding & planning 2

D7 vs D8 — which visa fits my situation? → Retiring in Portugal: which visa, healthcare and tax — the honest version →

🛂 Visa & documents 8

How long does it take to get a NIF — and can I get one before moving? → Can I open a Portuguese bank account before residency — and will Wise or Revolut do? → Which documents need an apostille and certified translation — and in what order? → What is the cheapest safe way to move money to Portugal? → How much do houses and rent cost in Portugal in 2026? → How much income do I need to show for a Portuguese residence visa? → What changed in Portugal's foreigners law in 2025–2026 — and what does it mean for you? → My partner is an EU citizen and I am not — how do I get residence in Portugal? →

🛬 Arrival & registration 8

What happens with AIMA after I arrive — and what if my case is stuck? → How do I register with the SNS and get a número de utente? → Moving to Portugal with a dog or cat: rules, costs and steps ★ interactive → How do I set up utilities in Portugal — electricity, water, gas, internet? → Proof of address in Portugal — and how to change your morada → AIMA in 2026: how do appointments and renewals work, why is it so slow, and what are my rights while I wait? → Living in Madeira — is the island right for you? → Can I work while I wait for my residence card? →

🏠 Housing 2

How do I avoid rental scams in Portugal? → My landlord won't sign my proof of address (declaração / atestado de morada) — how do I prove where I live? →

🔑 Buying property 7

What is the CPCV and the sinal (deposit) when buying property? → Do non-residents really pay a flat 7.5% IMT — and from when? → Can a foreigner get a mortgage in Portugal — and how much deposit is needed? → How do I build or renovate a home in Portugal — licensing, the 6% VAT and the pitfalls? → What is the caderneta predial urbana — and why does it matter when buying? → What are my rights as a tenant in Portugal — and how do I get my deposit (caução) back? → What is the NISS and how do I get a Portuguese social security number? →

🌱 Settling in 12

How do I exchange my foreign driving licence — and how long are IMT queues? → Can I bring my car to Portugal — and can I avoid the ISV import tax? → Is it true renovation and construction works now have 6% VAT? → How do I enrol my child in a Portuguese school — and when are the deadlines? → International schools in Portugal: a directory with 2026 fees ★ interactive → Healthcare in Portugal for expats: SNS, private insurance and costs ★ interactive → What insurance do I need in Portugal — health, home, car? → Moving to Portugal from the UK — how are my taxes and pension treated? → Moving to Portugal from the US — taxes, FATCA and what changes → How does a condomínio work in Portugal — fees, meetings, debts, and can they stop short-term rental (AL)? → What will I actually pay in Portuguese income tax (IRS)? → I am a non-EU resident — does my Portuguese driving licence now expire with my residence permit? →

🏛️ Long term 4

Do I need to learn Portuguese (A2) — and how do I prove it? → Can I rent my place short-term (Airbnb) — how does Alojamento Local work? → How long do I need to live in Portugal to get citizenship — and what changed in 2026? → How does family reunification work in Portugal in 2026 — and how long does it take? →

📖Glossary of Portuguese terms

The words you'll meet in contracts, tax offices and queues — each explained in plain language.