Portugal · Europe
Moving to Lisbon
Lisbon quick facts
Cost of living in Lisbon
Getting set up in Portugal
NIF, residence permit & AIMA
Two things gate everything in Portugal: a NIF (tax number) for any contract, and a residence permit handled by AIMA, the agency that replaced SEF in 2023. Get the NIF first, then brace for the AIMA appointment backlog. Here is the real sequence.
Read the full step-by-step guideExchange your driving licence
If your licence is from the EU/EEA you can largely keep driving and exchange at leisure. Non-EU licences hinge on a bilateral agreement: agreement countries swap without a test within 2 years, others must take a driving exam. Either way you need an electronic medical certificate. Here is the IMT process.
Read the full step-by-step guideOpen a bank account
The order matters: get your NIF first, because no Portuguese bank opens an account without one. Bring your passport, NIF, and proof of address. High-street banks (Millennium BCP, Caixa Geral de Depositos, Novobanco) are everywhere; ActivoBank is the popular app-first option for newcomers; some banks let non-residents open remotely with a video call. Here is the real sequence.
Read the full step-by-step guideHealthcare (SNS) & insurance
Portugal's SNS is public and low-cost or free at the point of use. As a resident you register at your local centro de saude with your NIF, NISS (social security number), and proof of residence to be assigned a numero de utente (user number) and, where possible, a family doctor. Public waits can be long, so many expats also carry private insurance. Here is how to get set up.
Read the full step-by-step guideGet a Portuguese SIM / eSIM
Portugal has three big networks - MEO (Altice), NOS, and Vodafone Portugal - plus budget brands like Moche (MEO's youth label), WTF/Yorn, and the cheap-international favourite Lycamobile. Grab a prepaid SIM or eSIM with just your passport in minutes; a monthly contract comes later once you have a NIF and a bank account. Here is the practical path.
Read the full step-by-step guideIncome tax (IRS), residency & NHR/IFICI
Portuguese personal income tax (IRS - Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares) is progressive, reaching roughly 48% at the top, plus a solidarity surcharge on very high incomes. The big news: the famous NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) regime, which gave a flat 20% rate and broad foreign-income exemptions, was closed to new applicants from 2024. It is replaced by a narrower successor - the IFICI, informally called NHR 2.0 - aimed at qualified roles in science, tech, and innovation. This is nuanced and worth professional advice; treat the detail here as orientation, not tax advice.
Read the full step-by-step guideEach guide has verified costs, timelines, required documents, and the non-obvious gotchas — sourced from official government pages.
Essential Portuguese phrases
What to know before you go
Lunch and dinner run late
ImportantLunch is typically 1-3pm and dinner rarely starts before 8pm, often 8:30-10pm. Turn up at 7pm and many kitchens are not even open yet.
The couvert is not free
CriticalThe bread, olives, cheese, or pate placed on your table before you order is the couvert and it is charged per item. If you do not want it, politely wave it away and it goes back.
Order a bica, not a coffee
Good to knowAn espresso in Lisbon is a bica (in Porto, a cimbalino). Say uma bica, se faz favor. Ask for um cafe and you will still get an espresso, but bica is the local word.
The pace is relaxed, so plan for it
Good to knowService is unhurried and bureaucracy slower still. Things happen com calma. Build buffer time into appointments and do not read a slow waiter as rude.
Saudade and fado run deep
Good to knowSaudade, a wistful longing, is central to Portuguese culture and to fado music. Catch live fado in an Alfama or Mouraria tasca for the real, mournful thing rather than a tourist dinner show.
In August, the city empties out
ImportantMany Lisboetas decamp to the Algarve or the coast for much of August. Family-run restaurants and small shops post a closed for holidays (fechado para ferias) sign for weeks, so check before you go.
Top industries & employers
Tech & Startups
Web Summit, Unbabel, Sword Health, Remote, Feedzai
Web Summit's move to Lisbon supercharged a now-thriving startup scene with several home-grown unicorns.
Tourism & Hospitality
Pestana, Vila Gale, TAP Air Portugal
A pillar of the economy; hotels, F&B, and travel are major employers across the city.
Finance & Shared Services
Millennium BCP, Novobanco, BNP Paribas, Natixis
Lisbon is a fast-growing hub for banks' shared-service and back-office centres hiring multilingual staff.
Renewable Energy
EDP Renovaveis, Galp, Greenvolt
Portugal is a European leader in wind and solar, and EDP runs a global renewables business from here.
Remote-Work & Nomad Economy
Second Home, Heden, Outsite, Selina coworking
The D8 digital-nomad visa fuels a dense web of coworking spaces, cafes, and nomad services.
Aviation & Mobility
TAP Air Portugal, Bolt, Embraer (Evora)
TAP anchors aviation and Bolt, the Estonian mobility giant, runs large engineering teams in Portugal.
Where to go in Lisbon
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Hidden gemLandmark · Graca
The highest of Lisbon's viewpoints, with a sweeping panorama over the castle, rooftops, and the river.
Local tip: Skip the packed sunset crowd at Portas do Sol and come here instead; locals bring a beer from the kiosk and sit on the wall.
Time Out Market vs the local tascas
Food · Cais do Sodre / Mercado da Ribeira
The famous food hall gathers top chefs under one roof; fun, but pricey and tourist-heavy.
Local tip: Go once for the buzz, then eat where residents do: a no-frills tasca with a paper-tablecloth prato do dia for under 10 euros.
LX Factory
Culture · Alcantara
A converted industrial complex under the 25 de Abril bridge, full of bookshops, studios, restaurants, and Sunday markets.
Local tip: The Ler Devagar bookshop is the photo everyone wants; come on a weekday morning to beat the crowds and parking chaos.
Cais do Sodre & Pink Street
Nightlife · Cais do Sodre
A former red-light district turned the city's nightlife core, anchored by the pink-painted Rua Nova do Carvalho.
Local tip: It gets going very late. Start with a ginjinha (sour-cherry liqueur) and bar-hop; Pensao Amor is a local favourite.
Jardim da Estrela
Hidden gemNature · Estrela
A leafy, romantic 19th-century garden with a bandstand, duck pond, and shady cafe, opposite the Estrela basilica.
Local tip: A genuine resident's park rather than a tourist stop; great for a weekend morning with a book and a galao.
Principe Real
Neighborhood · Principe Real
An elegant, hilly district of concept stores, garden squares, and some of the city's best brunch and dining.
Local tip: The Sunday organic market in the central garden is where the neighbourhood actually shops; the rooftop bar at the EmbaiXada palace is a quieter sundowner.