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  1. ResearchYou’re here
  2. Making the moveOffer accepted, packing up, or just landed
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Your move · Research

Is Portugal right for us?

Work out whether the move adds up for you before you commit: visas since Brexit, work, regions, healthcare and costs. Start with the numbers, then read the guides that apply to your household.

Start with the numbers

How much do I need to move to Portugal?

Answer a few questions. The total updates as you go.

Adults
Area
Have this much ready before you move€46,563about £39,460 · first 6 months · includes a 1-month safety buffer
Costs in your first 6 months€58,300
Running costs a month€3,502
See month by month →
Cost of living in Lisbon: 2 adults and 2 children€3,752 a monthChange it → £85k UK salary vs €50k in mainland Portugal−£2,653 a monthCompare an offer →

Is it right for us?

3 guides

Is Portugal right for you?

Who it suits, the weather in six places, the British community, costs, language, visas since Brexit, healthcare and the pace of life.

What people wish they’d known

The surprises British movers mention most: AIMA delays, paperwork loops, cold and damp homes, low pay, Lisbon rents and the language.

What rules catch Brits out in Portugal?

Carrying ID, drink-driving, phones, the vest and triangle, speed cameras, electronic tolls, smoking, beaches, street drinking, noise, holiday lets and cash limits.

Work and pay

5 guides

How do I get a job in Portugal?

Unemployment by region, what jobs pay, the 2026 minimum wage, sectors that hire, language and how Britons get permission to work.

Will my UK qualifications be recognised?

Degree recognition under Decree-Law 66/2018, regulated professions and the professional orders (doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers), timelines and fees.

What’s it like to work in Portugal?

Hours, long lunches, 22 days’ holiday, 14 salary payments, fixed-term and permanent contracts, trial periods, meal allowance, the right to disconnect and remote work.

Home, family and health

5 guides

How much does it cost to live in Portugal?

Rent in six places, bills, food, transport passes, eating out, IVA on the mainland and the islands, and a monthly budget by household.+ calculator

Where in Portugal should we live?

Lisbon and its coast, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira, Coimbra and Braga, plus the Silver Coast and the Alentejo, compared on climate, rent and flights.

Which Portuguese visa do I need?

Work and highly qualified visas, the EU Blue Card, D7 and D8, entrepreneurs, students, family, the golden visa now, fees, AIMA and the 90/180 rule.

Where next

Move on to the next step when you have a visa route and a moving date.