James Cave

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of Moving to Portugal Made Simple, now in its second edition with more than 450 reviews on Amazon. He also wrote German Men Sit Down to Pee and Other Insights Into German Culture, a humorous guide to German culture, which has more than 650 ratings on Goodreads. Originally from Ireland, James Cave has lived in northern Portugal, Lisbon, and the Algarve, and has written about moving to Portugal since 2016. He is known for no-fluff guides to the D7, the Golden Visa, and the Digital Nomad Visa, along with citizenship and buying property in Portugal. Follow James Cave on Amazon, Goodreads, and LinkedIn, or at james-cave.com.

Buying Property in Portugal: A 14 Step Guide For 2026

A practical 14-step walkthrough for first-time foreign buyers. From your first market research to keys in the door: what to do, in what order, and where to be careful. Can foreigners buy property in Portugal? Yes. There are no nationality or residency restrictions on buying property in Portugal. You’ll need a NIF (Portuguese tax number) and, in practice, a Portuguese bank account. Since 2026, non-residents pay a flat 7.5% IMT on homes, so budget more than the old 6–8% rule …

A person in a pink shirt is using a laptop on a white desk. The laptop screen displays a photo of an outdoor patio with greenery. Also on the desk are a glass of water, a pen, a notepad, a calculator, and a rotary phone.

If you’re familiar with Zillow or Realtor.com in the US—or Rightmove and Zoopla in the UK—your instinct is probably to look for “the one big website” that lists every property for sale. In Portugal, that doesn’t exist. There is no MLS system, and that means two things: Think of Portugal as a patchwork: different agents upload to different portals, some post only on their agency website, and a surprising number of rural owners still list only on classifieds. Below is …

A couple sits on a white couch in a modern living room, watching TV. One holds a remote control, and the other has a laptop. The room features a stone accent wall, sleek furniture, and a black rug on a polished floor.

Can You Still Watch Your Usual TV in Portugal? Mostly, yes. Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and Apple TV+ all work in Portugal, with the Portuguese library rather than the American or British one. The Premier League and the NFL are both on DAZN, legally and without workarounds. The hard parts are British catch-up TV and live American channels. For most people, especially in the first few months, I’d get fiber internet with a TV package that includes the …

A person with short hair and glasses is sitting at a round table with an open laptop, holding an open book in one hand and a notebook in the other. They appear to be studying or working, with additional books on the table. The view is from above.

What does it mean to be fluent in Portuguese? According to the CEFR level, it can be measured at C2 level, although ultimately C1 is going to get you very far. For those looking to work professionally in Portugal, particularly at a high level, C1 and C2 are the levels you’re ultimately going to have to aim for, with C2, essentially a native-level speaker. Now, obviously, that’s challenging to get to. It takes a lot of work, but it’s challenging …

Two barefoot children dressed as bride and groom sit on wooden steps, playfully interacting—likely at a celebration in Portugal.

Yes, you can get Portuguese citizenship through your spouse. And—the part people don’t realize—you can get it through a long-term partner you’re not married to, through a união de facto. Both are three-year routes, and neither requires you to live in Portugal to apply. The other thing worth clearing up early: you don’t actually need citizenship to move to Portugal. If your spouse or partner is Portuguese, or a citizen of any EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you can …

A hand holding a Portuguese passport in front of a blurred background resembling the colors of the Portuguese flag, green and red.

Most weeks, someone emails me a version of the same question: my great-grandmother was born in Porto—can I get a Portuguese passport? It comes from all over—Canada, the UK, Australia—but far and away the most often from the United States. People who never used to think about a second passport suddenly want the option, and a great-grandparent from the Azores or mainland Portugal looks like a route in. So here’s the direct answer. You cannot claim Portuguese citizenship by descent …

person calculating costs with calculator

People ask me this constantly, and for years I gave the same unhelpful answer: it depends. It does depend. But “it depends” is a cop-out, so here’s a real number. A single person moving from the US, renting a mid-range apartment at €900 a month, handling the paperwork themselves, should expect to spend around €7,100 getting the D7. From Canada it’s around €6,000. From the UK, around €4,000. Add a lawyer and you’re looking at €1,500 to €5,000 on top …

A person sits on a white cushion next to a turquoise swimming pool, working on a laptop. They are partially shaded by large green leaves. Two teal pillows are placed by their side, and white pebbles surround the wooden deck area.

Ask most people what it takes to move to Portugal on the digital nomad visa, and they’ll tell you the same thing: meet the income requirement and you’re in. That’s the goal everyone fixates on. Hit the threshold — €3,680 per month for the main applicant, more if you’re bringing a family — and Portugal is yours. The visa is the finish line. Clear it and you’re done. Except that’s not how it actually works. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most …

Getting a Mortgage in Portugal as a Foreigner: What Banks Actually Want

Dreaming of owning a little slice of Portugal — maybe a sunny apartment overlooking the Algarve coast, a stone cottage in the Alentejo, or a city apartment in Lisbon? The good news is that getting a mortgage in Portugal is absolutely possible for foreigners. The process is more straightforward than you might think — as long as you understand how Portuguese banks work, what paperwork you’ll need, and what kind of deposit to expect. Since 2016, Portugalist has helped countless …

If you’re a freelancer, the confusing thing about Portugal’s D2 visa and Digital Nomad Visa (D8) is that, at first glance, you can seem like a fit for either. In theory, that’s true. But in practice, the general rule is simple: if you qualify for the D8, that is usually the visa you should apply for (especially if your income comes from outside Portugal). The D8 was designed for people who already have established remote income, whether that’s from freelancing, …

Buying Property in Portugal: A 14 Step Guide For 2026

Property Websites in Portugal: The Rightmove, Zillow and Realtor Equivalents

TV in Portugal: What You Can Watch and How to Get American & British Shows

How to Learn Portuguese to C1 & C2 Level

How to Get Portuguese Citizenship Through a Spouse or Partner

Can You Get Portuguese Citizenship Through a Great-Grandparent? Yes, But It Isn’t Straightforward

How Much Does Portugal’s D7 Visa REALLY Cost in 2026?

Can You Move to Portugal as a Remote Worker? Yes, But it’s Not That Simple

Getting a Mortgage in Portugal as a Foreigner: What Banks Actually Want

D2 VS D8: Which Is Better For Freelancers & Entrepreneurs Moving to Portugal?