Living in Portugal

Residency and visas

You may want to check the entry requirements for Portugal.

You must register as a Portuguese resident if you want to stay in Portugal for more than 3 months. Register at your local Câmara Municipal (town hall) in order to access services such as healthcare, schools and social security. You can find more information from the European Union about registering in Portugal.

After 5 years of legal residence in Portugal, you may apply for permanent residence with the Portuguese immigration authorities (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or SEF).

After the UK leaves the EU, you may need to change your registration document for a new card. We will update this guidance when we know how and when this will happen.

For more information you can read the Portuguese government’s leaflet on your residency rights after the UK leaves the EU.

Further information is available at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs web page (in Portuguese).

In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after the UK leaves the EU, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available. You should sign up to our email alerts.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Portugal. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

See our travel advice for Portugal and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU

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If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA and EFTA country, within any 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, MemberEEA State,and EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, MemberEEA Statesand EFTA country to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

You should ensure you are properly registered for healthcare as a resident in Portugal, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer.

Once you are registered as a resident in Portugal, you are entitled to state healthcare. You need to enrol at your local health centre (centro de saúde) and get a user’s ID number (health number) by showing your residence certificate.

You can read the NHS guidance on healthcare in Portugal and how to register.

If you live in Portugal and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If you are resident in Portugal, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Portugal.

• you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you are registered with Portuguese Social Security, you should apply for a Portuguese-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for visits outside of Portugal. You won’t get a Portuguese Social Security number (NISS) unless you’re working or are the dependent of someone who’s working in Portugal. The Portuguese government has more information on how to apply (in Portuguese). Your Portuguese EHIC will be valid until the UK leaves the EU.

You can read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find English-speaking doctors in Portugal.

You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Portugal.

Send questions about access to healthcare in Portugal to healthcare.portugal@fco.gov.uk

Healthcare after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights of access to healthcare in Portugal will remain the same for as long as you remain a resident in Portugal.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and you are registered for healthcare based on your residency, your healthcare will be protected. If you are registered for healthcare in any other way, your access may change and you should review the status of your healthcare cover.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Portugal to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving cover through the S1 form will need to change how they are currently registered, and register with their local health centre on the basis of residence.

Your EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK is seeking agreement with Portugal on reciprocal healthcare arrangements for UK nationals after UK’s exit.

If you are registered with the Portuguese Social Security, you can be issued with a Portuguese EHIC that will be valid in any EU and EEA member state. Your Portuguese EHIC may not be valid in the UK. You should also buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover anything not covered by your Portuguese EHIC or for travel to countries outside the EU.

You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in Portugal and how it may change after UK leaves the EU.

Working and studying in Portugal

If you are registered as a resident in Portugal, you have the right to work in Portugal. Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a:

• UK police certificate
• Portuguese criminal record certificate (Certificado de Registo Criminal)
• copy of your UK police record (excluding Scotland)
• copy of your Police Scotland record

Working in Portugal after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

If you are planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.

If the UK leaves without a deal, Portugal will continue to recognise the professional qualifications of those who are legally working in Portugal on leave date.

British qualifications

If you are studying, you may need to have your British qualifications recognised in Portugal. You will need to contact:

• National Academic Recognition Information Centre for honours, masters and PhD degrees
• Direção-Geral da Educação for primary, secondary, further education or similar school certificates or diplomas

You can get your diploma or school report officially certified by the UK Legalisation Office.

You can get a local notary to authenticate the translation of your diploma or school report.

You can read our guidance on the certification of British qualifications.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Portugal to make sure that people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

If you are a Portuguese resident, you must declare your global income to the Portuguese authorities, no matter which country it came from. If you are not a resident, you will only pay tax on income that came from Portugal.

If you are liable to pay tax in Portugal, you should apply for a tax number(Número de Identificação Fiscal or NIF). You will also need a NIF if you intend to buy or sell property, open a bank account or sign long-term rental agreements.

You should read the guidance on:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad

• the tax on your UK income if you live abroad

• paying income tax in Portugal

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Portugal. Find a financial advisor or find an English-speaking lawyer in Portugal.

National Insurance

You may be able to pay UK National Insurance while living in Portugal in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your bank card in Portugal. Read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial services if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Portugal. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Portugal, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Please contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Portuguese and UK State Pension from the Instituto de Segurança Social if you have worked in Portugal
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK state pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Portugal, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Portuguese pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period. Your UK state pension will also continue to be uprated as long as you are correctly registered as a resident in Portugal by the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on pensions. The Portuguese government will continue to take into account periods of work in the UK before the date the UK leaves the EU when calculating your Portuguese pension.

The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Portugal. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you are abroad

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many UK income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you.

You may also be eligible to claim some Portuguese social security benefits.

You can request proof of the time you have worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Portugal, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Portuguese contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Portuguese government has proposed they will continue to take periods of work in the UK before the date the UK leaves the EU into account when claiming Portuguese contributions-based benefits. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

Driving in Portugal

Find information about:

• driving abroad
• road travel in Portugal
• driving licence renewal and exchange
• driving licences in Portugal

Register your UK licence with the Instituto da Mobilidade e de Transportes (IMT) within 60 days of taking up residence, or face a fine.

You can exchange an expired UK licence for up to 2 years after the expiration date. After 2 years, you will have to pass a Portuguese driving test.

Alternatively, exchange your UK driving licence for a Portuguese driving licence. You can do this at any IMT office.

Use your Portuguese licence if you need to drive in the UK and other EU countries as a visitor. Exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK, as long as you originally passed your test in the UK or in an EU country.

If you are resident in Portugal, you will not be able to renew a lost, stolen or expired licence with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Portugal

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read our guidance on how to import your vehicle into Portugal.

You should read the EU´s guidance on car registration and taxes in Portugal. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period (until 31 December 2020).

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and you are resident in Portugal, you will be required to exchange your UK driving licence for a Portuguese one. If you are resident in Portugal on the day the UK leaves the EU you will have until 31 December 2020 to exchange your driving licence.

If you move to Portugal after the date the UK leaves the EU, you will have 90 days from the day you become resident to exchange driving licences. If you have not done so, after these 90 days you will be required to take a Portuguese practical driving test.

When you exchange your driving licence, Instituto da Mobilidade e de Transportes (IMT) will issue a temporary permit (guia) as a replacement until your new Portuguese driving licence arrives. You can only drive in Portugal with this temporary permit (guia).

If you are visiting Portugal you will not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to be able to drive here, if you stay less than 185 consecutive days. You may need to hold an IDP to drive through other EU member states.

Find more information on recognition and exchange of driving licences in the Instituto da Mobilidade e de Transportes (IMT) guidance on the UK’s exit(available in Portuguese and English).

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

If you are buying property in Portugal, you should ask a lawyer who is experienced in land law and property transactions. Make sure that they are registered with the law society, Ordem dos Advogados (in Portuguese).

Some notaries, who are trained lawyers in Portugal, offer an independent property purchasing service known as Casa Simples, Casa Segura (in Portuguese).

If you are thinking of buying a coastal, river or lakeside property, ensure it’s not affected by the 2005 water resources law.

If you buy rural property, make sure you comply with the law on preventing forest fires (in Portuguese).

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote
• if you are a resident in Portugal, you can vote in local municipal Portuguese elections and European Parliamentary Elections

Voting after the UK leaves the EU

Once the UK leaves the EU, you may not be able to vote in local elections in Portugal. The UK is pursuing a bilateral agreement with Portugal to secure the right to vote in local elections for UK nationals living in Portugal. We will update this guide when there is a formal agreement on this.

After the UK leaves the EU, you will no longer be able to vote in European elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Portugal, see our guidance on register a birth abroad.

If someone dies in Portugal you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Portugal

• read our bereavement information for Portugal

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need:

• English-speaking lawyers in Portugal

• translators in Portugal

• notarial and documentary services for Portugal

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport. Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number - 112. This is the only emergency number in Portugal.

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.

Returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Portuguese authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

You should read our guidance on:

• returning to live in the UK

• returning to live in the UK in the case of no-deal

• bringing your family to the UK

• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding

• importing vehicles to the UK

• bringing your pet to the UK and importing vehicles to the UK

• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Check if your tax status will change if you return to the UK.

If you get healthcare in Portugal through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Portuguese authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.