Do You Need a Fiscal Representative in Portugal?

A person with shoulder-length curly hair wearing a striped shirt and denim overalls is standing against a plain background with their arms outstretched and palms up, displaying a puzzled or unsure expression.

So you’re buying property in Portugal or applying for a NIF number — and someone mentions the phrase “fiscal representative.” Don’t panic. It sounds more complicated than it is, and by the end of this article you’ll know exactly whether you need one, how to get one, and what it’s actually going to cost you. Tip: Novomove offers fiscal representation for €79 Do you need a fiscal representative? Use the decision tree above to figure out where you stand. Here’s …

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Living in Portugal VS Spain: Which Country Is Right For You?

Two flags are displayed side by side, representing Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese flag, featuring a green and red design with a coat of arms, is on the left. The Spanish flag, with red and yellow stripes and a coat of arms, is on the right. Overlaid text reads "Portugal versus Spain.

A lot of people think about moving to Spain or Portugal. Both have a similar climate, they have shared histories, similar cultures, and are located right next to each other, so it’s understandable why so many people lump the two together.  Regardless of which country you choose to live in, you’ll be right next to the other one and so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to travel around both. But travel is one thing and living somewhere is very different, …

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Do They Speak English in Portugal? An Honest Region-by-Region Answer

A man with a beard is looking down while holding a large white sign that reads "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?" in bold, black letters. He is wearing a black vest over a gray shirt and standing against a plain, gray background.

One of the most frequently asked questions on Portugalist is: how widely is English spoken in Portugal? Can I get by with English or do I really need to learn Portuguese?  You may have travelled or lived in other European countries like France or Spain where English isn’t always spoken. Portugal’s not like that. When it comes to speaking English as a second language, Portugal is the 9th most proficient country in the world, according to the EF English Proficiency …

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Living in Portugal VS the UK: What’s Different & What’s the Same?

A bright red British-style telephone box stands on a cobblestone street corner, with a large historic white building featuring arched windows and unique chimneys in the background. The sky above is clear with a hint of clouds.

Every year, thousands of people move from the UK to Portugal, especially to the coastal Algarve region in the south. It’s easy to see why: Portugal has great weather, an interesting culture and history, English is widely spoken, and there’s already a large British expat community. Oh, and let’s not forget the affordable wine as well.  Although most people do a lot of research about Portugal before moving here, and many will have spent a lot of time here on …

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Understanding the Promissory Contract

A man and a woman sit at a table, reviewing and signing a document together. The man, wearing glasses and a light blue shirt, holds a pen and signs the paper, while the woman in a black dress with lace sleeves looks on attentively.

A major step in the Portuguese property buying process is putting down a deposit and signing the promissory contract. You’ve already made an offer, but the promissory contract confirms you want to go ahead with the sale. Although putting down a deposit is a normal part of the buying process in many countries, in Portugal this is a much bigger step as the promissory contract (Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda or just CPCV) makes it difficult for either …

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Review: “The Journey” from Portuguese With Carla

You may have come across Portuguese With Carla before. Carla runs a popular podcast, YouTube channel, and website where she teaches European Portuguese alongside her husband Marlon. Their latest innovation, The Journey, is an incredibly creative way of teaching European Portuguese – from beginner to advanced.  The Journey follows a story, which the trailer below gives a preview of. In it, the main character, Carla, receives a letter informing her of an inheritance left behind by her estranged father. What …

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Health Insurance in Portugal: Get A Quote Today

A doctor wearing a white coat and stethoscope smiles while speaking with a woman and a young girl in a medical office. In the foreground, text reads “Understanding Health Insurance in Portugal.”.

Feeling lost in the maze of Portuguese healthcare? Trying to get health insurance quotes but ending up with a headache instead of answers? We get it – it’s confusing! Health insurance isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a must-have for many visas (hello, D7 and Digital Nomad Visa!) and increasingly recommended for, well, just about everyone else. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got your back! At Portugalist, we’ve been the trusty sidekicks for folks moving to Portugal since 2016. …

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What Are My Accommodation Options for the D7 Visa?

A bright and clear day view of a sprawling cityscape in Lisbon, Portugal, featuring numerous tightly packed buildings with red-tiled roofs. The city is set against a backdrop of rolling hills, with many clusters of buildings extending into the distance under a clear blue sky.

Are you dreaming of moving to Portugal but struggling to find suitable accommodation? Don’t worry: you’re not alone! For most residency visas (D7, Digital Nomad Visa, D2, D1, and D3), you’ll need proof of accommodation before you can even apply. Sounds a bit backwards, right? Well, that’s just how it works. But don’t fret – thousands of people do this every year. What Counts as “Suitable Accommodation”? Don’t worry, we’re here to help make the process a breeze! How to …

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6 Ways to Watch British TV in Portugal

A smiling elderly couple sits on a white couch in a bright living room, both looking towards a television. The man has his legs crossed and the woman is holding a remote control. They appear relaxed and are leaning slightly towards each other.

Over the years, there have been lots of different ways to watch British television from Portugal whether through satellite dishes, VPNs, or just about any other method. Despite attempts from the BBC and other British TV channels to limit British TV to just those physically in the UK, someone always seems to know a way around the system.  These days, most of the workarounds are online-based, which is one good reason to get a good internet connection in your home. If …

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Internet in Portugal: Which Provider, What Speed, and What It Costs

A woman with short curly hair sits on a rooftop terrace using a laptop. She is wearing a white crop top and black and white striped pants. The terrace overlooks a scenic city with a river and distant bridge visible. A tablet and camera are on the table.

Wondering if you’ll be able to binge-watch your favorite shows or video call your friends back home without buffering nightmares? Well, get ready for some good news – Portugal is home to some wonderful high-speed internet.  BUT…(and this is a big but) not everywhere in Portugal has fibre-optic internet. While fibre optic broadband (called internet fixa or banda larga) is available throughout Portugal, and according to our own research, 76% of Portugalist readers have been able to get it at …

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