How do I get a SIM, internet and call home?

Get a Portuguese SIM in your first days: landlords, banks and government services expect a local number. Fibre is the usual home connection, and most bundles come with a loyalty period, so read the contract.

Your first SIM

Prepaid (pré-pago) is the easy start: you pay up front and need only your ID. A monthly contract (pós-pago) gives more data for the money, but operators usually ask for a NIF and a Portuguese address, and often a 12- or 24-month commitment. In May 2026 the Government approved a bill to make ID checks compulsory for all prepaid SIMs, in line with recommendations from ANACOM, the telecoms regulator. Check whether it has become law

• Make sure your UK phone is unlocked, or use an eSIM
• Start on prepaid with your passport, then move to a contract once you have your NIF and a bank account. See How much tax will I pay in Portugal?
• Many deals bundle mobile with home fibre and TV, which is cheaper but ties you in

The networks

Three groups have long dominated: MEO (Altice), NOS and Vodafone. In ANACOM’s figures for Q2 2026, NOS carried 35.4% of mobile internet traffic, Vodafone 29.7%, the Altice group 28.3%, and the DIGI group (which bought NOWO) 5.4%, with Lycamobile at 1.2%. DIGI launched on 4 November 2024, with mobile plans from €4 to €9 a month and 1 Gbps fibre for €10 a month at launch. Smaller brands rent space on the big networks, so coverage is that of the host network: check its map for your street.

Loyalty periods (fidelização)

The Electronic Communications Law caps loyalty periods at 24 months. MEO, NOS and Vodafone usually ask for 24 months in return for discounts and free installation; DIGI and some smaller brands offer short commitments of around three months. Leaving early costs a share of the monthly fees left on the contract. Contracts without loyalty cost more, and installation can be charged. When a loyalty period ends, it doesn’t renew unless you agree to a new one, so you can switch.

Home internet

Fibre to the home is the normal connection: 66.8% of fixed internet accesses in Q1 2024, with cable and a small share of ADSL making up the rest. Coverage is wide in the cities and towns, but check rural addresses and older buildings. Ask at the viewing which operator’s fibre reaches the flat: see How do I find a place to rent?

Why your number matters

The Chave Móvel Digital (CMD) is the government’s mobile login. It links a phone number to your ID document; foreign residents link it to their passport or residence card. With it you sign in to the Portal das Finanças, Social Security and other services using your phone, a PIN and a one-time code. Many Portuguese banks and the MB WAY payment app also rely on your mobile number: see How do I open a Portuguese bank account?

Calling home and your UK number

• Since Brexit, free roaming for UK SIMs in the EU is no longer legally required. Check your UK provider’s charges before relying on it in Portugal
• UK law still caps data roaming spending at £45 a month unless you choose to go over, with alerts at 80% and 100%
• Portuguese plans include EU roaming, but the UK is outside the EU: check the UK rates on your plan before a trip home
• Internet calls and messaging apps over wifi are the cheapest way to call the UK
• Many UK banks send security codes by text: keep a cheap UK SIM or switch to app-based security before you go