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Can a foreigner get a mortgage in Portugal — and how much deposit is needed?

Re-locant.com · Cosmic Vortex · Updated 2026-08-27 ✓ sourced ✓ Current for 2026

Yes — Portuguese banks lend to non-residents routinely. The difference is how much, and since 1 August 2026 the rules on whether you qualify have tightened.

Deposit: non-residents typically borrow 60–70% of value (deposit 30–40%); residents up to 80–90% (deposit 10–20%).
Rate, July 2026: the implicit rate across all outstanding loans is 3.135%; loans signed in the last three months average 2.910%.
Instalment reality: €414 average across all loans, but €731 on new contracts — new borrowers pay far more.

What changed on 1 August 2026

New Banco de Portugal guidelines for housing credit came into force, tightening how the taxa de esforço — the share of your income a loan may consume — is applied when a mortgage is approved. The new recommendation replaces the previous one. Separately, banks have been raising their own approval standards even as applications fall. The practical effect is the same: an application that would have passed in spring may not pass now, so get a pre-approval before you sign anything with a deadline.

What you need

A NIF and documented income. Approval is smoothest for EU, UK, US and Swiss income, because banks know how to verify it. Budget the side costs too: bank valuation, roughly 0.5–1% bank commission, plus stamp duty on the loan.

If you are under 35

The crédito jovem state guarantee can push financing to 100% — but only for a permanent home (not investment) and only for properly licensed property.

⚠️ Rates move monthly and the affordability rules were just rewritten. Ask your bank or broker for the limit that applies to your case today, and run the total on our purchase-cost calculator before you commit.
Calculate your mortgageMonthly payment, total interest and the deposit you need — free, instant.

Sources

INE — taxa de juro implícita no crédito à habitação (julho 2026) Banco de Portugal — recomendação macroprudencial (crédito à habitação) Re-locant — calculadora de custos de compra

Frequently asked questions

Can non-residents get a Portuguese mortgage?
Yes, but banks usually lend a lower share to non-residents — roughly 60–70% of the price, versus up to ~90% for residents. You will need a NIF and a Portuguese bank account. Indicative — varies by bank.
What extra costs come with the loan?
Budget a bank valuation, roughly 0.5–1% arrangement commission, and 0.6% stamp duty on the loan amount — on top of the normal purchase costs.
Which income do banks accept most easily?
EU/UK/US/Swiss income is smoothest, because banks know how to verify it. Documented, stable income matters more than the headline figure.

Keep reading

Your pre-approval predates Portugal's 1 August mortgage rules A non-resident mortgage: the 30-40% deposit nobody budgeted for Two tax deadlines on the same day — and new residents meet both

And in your actual case?

The article gives you the rule. What decides your case is the detail — the area, the price, the state of the paperwork. Tell me what you are looking for and I will tell you what to check first.

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