Visas & Residency

How to Stay in Portugal For More Than 90 Days (as a non-EU citizen)

A serene beach scene with calm waves gently washing onto the shore. Rocky cliffs covered in patches of greenery rise in the background under a clear blue sky. The smooth sand reflects the surrounding landscape, creating a peaceful and picturesque view.

For Americans, Brits, Canadians, Australians, and anyone else without an EU/EEA or Swiss passport, Portugal’s 90-days-in-180-days Schengen rule is often the first big headache. It’s fine for a short trip, but not ideal if you’re thinking about moving here— or even doing a longer “test-the-waters” stay. The good news? You can stay longer. But the routes differ hugely in cost, commitment, tax consequences, and how much time you’re expected to spend in Portugal. This guide walks you through your options …

A close-up image of two flags side by side. The flag on the left is the Canadian flag, featuring a red maple leaf on a white background with red borders. The flag on the right is the Portuguese flag, showcasing a complex coat of arms on a red and green background.

If you’re a Canadian looking for a warmer climate, better quality of life, or simply a change of pace, Portugal is increasingly on the shortlist. The country offers a mild climate, a slower and more communal pace of life, stunning coastlines, and generally lower day-to-day expenses compared to many parts of Canada—especially major cities like Toronto and Vancouver. According to the Relatório de Migrações e Asilo 2024, there were 2,876 Canadian citizens residing in Portugal as of 31 December 2024. …

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So you’ve heard the stories: the sunshine, the pace of life, the pastel de nata addiction—and the fact that Portugal is one of the easiest places in Europe to get residency. But if you’re not from the EU, the big question usually comes first: “Can I actually move to Portugal?” Yes. You can. If you’re British, American, Canadian, Indian—whatever. There are visa options available. In fact, Portugal has some of the most welcoming residency pathways in Europe. If you can …

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The Startup Visa is a program run by IAPMEI in Portugal, designed for entrepreneurs from outside the EU/EEA/Swiss region. It’s an initiative to draw investment, talent, and innovation into Portugal’s growing startup scene. As well as dependent family members, up to five partners can be included on the application. With this residency visa, entrepreneurs not only get the chance to live in Portugal but also gain access to the wide array of supports and incentives offered by the StartUP Portugal …

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If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, the D7 visa is one of the most straightforward residency pathways. It’s designed for people who earn income from non-active sources—income that arrives regularly without requiring day-to-day work. To qualify, you must show a stable monthly income of at least per month for a single applicant in . For dependents, add: This is significantly lower than the Digital Nomad Visa, which requires per month in . What Exactly Is Passive Income? For the …

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Portugal’s has one of the most popular golden visa programs in the world, and one of the ways that you can obtain this visa and obtain residency in Portugal is by investing in a qualifying fund (or funds), such as a private equity or venture capital fund. There are a number of qualifying funds, in sectors ranging from startups and technology to renewably technologies, wine, and football teams. After five years of residency, it’s possible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, …

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For Americans interested in Portugal’s Golden Visa, one question comes up again and again: Can I use my 401(k) or IRA to fund the investment — without triggering huge U.S. tax penalties? Technically, the answer can be yes. In practice, the answer is far more complicated. While some advisors present this approach as a clean workaround, the reality is that using U.S. retirement funds for Portugal’s Golden Visa sits in a legally ambiguous and potentially high-risk area of U.S. tax …

On paper, Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (often called the D8; sometimes the D9) sounds almost too simple: If you earn per month, you can move to Portugal on your foreign income, get EU residency, maybe a passport.” If you’re a remote worker or freelancer in the US, Canada, the UK, or elsewhere, that’s an intoxicating promise. You keep doing exactly what you’re doing now – same job, same clients, same laptop – you just do it from Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, …

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If you’re looking at Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (often called the D8), one of the first questions is always: “How much money do I need in the bank?” The short answer: at least for an individual with an additional 50% for a couple and 30% of the main applicant’s requirement per dependent child. Importantly: while you do need savings — you cannot apply using savings alone. The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for remote workers and freelancers who actively earn …

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If you’re planning a move to Portugal, one of the most stressful questions is often not about visas, taxes, or housing. It’s this: can we move as a family, or will one child get left behind because they’re already 18, over 18, or close to turning 18. The answer is: it depends. Portugal does allow some adult children to be included, but the rules are much narrower than they are for minor children. In most standard cases, the adult child …

How to Stay in Portugal For More Than 90 Days (as a non-EU citizen)

How to Move to Portugal from Canada

Can I Move to Portugal If I’m Not an EU Citizen? (Yes — Here’s How)

Portugal’s Startup Visa: A Golden Ticket for Global Entrepreneurs

What Counts as Passive Income for Portugal’s D7 Visa?

Investing in Funds for Portugal’s Golden Visa

Yes, You Use an IRA to Invest in Portugal’s Golden Visa (But There’s A Lot to Consider)

What Are The Pros & Cons of Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (D8)?

How Much Savings Do You Need for Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (D8)?

How to Bring Dependent Adult Children to Portugal