How To Move to Portugal From the USA

A small American flag on a stick is planted in the sand on a beach, with a blue sky and ocean waves visible in the background.

Thinking about trading the Stars and Stripes for the Portuguese flag? You’re not alone. More and more Americans are eyeing Portugal as their next home sweet home. So, why Portugal? Picture this: over 300 days of sunshine a year, breathtaking beaches, and cities steeped in history. Sounds like a vacation, right? But you could get that in Italy, Mexico, Panama, or many other places around the world. So why Portugal? Here are just a few reasons: safety, cost of living, …

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Here’s How I’d Open a Bank Account in Portugal As A Non-Resident

Photograph of the entrance to a Millennium bcp bank branch. The facade features a prominent red and white sign with the bank's logo above the doorway. The building exterior is made of stone, and there's a plaque next to the door. Cobbled stone pavement is in front.

I run Portugalist, and this question comes up more than almost any other. Usually from people who need an account for a residency visa (e.g. the D7 or Digital Nomad Visa). Occasionally from people buying property here. So here’s what I’d actually do. If you’re a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen — which includes Americans and Canadians — I’d take one of two routes: I wouldn’t fly to Portugal just to open an account unless one of these applies: For everyone else, the …

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How to Get Your CRUE as an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen

woman holding an EU flag

If you’re from the EU/EEA/Switzerland, you have the right to move to Portugal under EU freedom of movement rules. There’s no visa, no sponsorship, and no embassy process. You can simply move to Portugal and begin living here. However, once you decide to live here (rather than just visit), you need to register that residence and obtain the CRUE: Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (EU Citizen Registration Certificate) This is the document that formally recognises your residency …

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