How to Move to Portugal from Australia

If you’re an Australian looking for a gateway to Europe, a change of pace, or simply a different way of life, Portugal is increasingly worth considering. The country offers a mild climate, a slower pace of life, stunning coastlines, rich history, and generally lower day-to-day expenses compared to major Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

According to the Relatório de Migrações e Asilo 2024 (published by AIMA, October 2025), there were 1,161 Australian citizens officially residing in Portugal as of 31 December 2024. So, yes, Australians can move to Portugal.

However, unless you hold an EU/EEA or Swiss passport, you’ll need a residency visa to live here full-time.

Below is what Australians need to know.

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Residency Visa Options for Australians

Popular Residency Visa Options Explained

D7 visa (Passive Income / Retirement)

This is the most popular option for Australians, especially retirees who’ve accessed their superannuation. At €920 per month for an individual in 2026, the income requirements are comparatively low and can often be met through super pension drawdowns, rental income from Australian (or other foreign) properties, or dividend income. You’ll need to show regular income plus around one year of savings, but it’s generally one of the most straightforward routes.

Important for Australians: If you’re accessing your super before preservation age, check how this affects your eligibility and tax obligations both in Australia and Portugal.

Bringing a spouse or long-term partner? Add 50%. Bringing the kids? Add 30% per dependent child.

Read more about the D7 Visa

Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Workers)

This is aimed at Australians who work remotely for a non-Portuguese employer or freelance for clients abroad. At €3,680 per month for a single applicant, the income requirements are higher than the D7, but it’s a strong choice if you don’t have passive income yet or are still working. Unlike the D7, your income doesn’t have to be passive—it just must be earned outside Portugal.

Bringing a spouse or long-term partner? Add 50%. Bringing the kids? Add 30% per dependent child.

Read more about the Digital Nomad Visa

Golden Visa (Investment Residency)

Portugal’s Golden Visa remains one of the most flexible and desirable residency pathways in Europe—especially for Australians who want a foothold in the EU without committing to full-time relocation. While the rules have evolved, the essence remains: make a qualifying investment or donation, and you can gain Portuguese residency with minimal physical presence requirements. It’s ideal for Australians who want a foothold in Europe and the ability to spend more than 90 days in every 180 without committing to a full-time move or becoming a tax resident.

As of 2023, Portugal officially removed the real estate and bank deposit routes, which were previously the most popular choices. That means buying property no longer qualifies. The remaining paths now focus on productive investment, innovation, and cultural contribution:

• €500,000 investment in qualifying funds – Venture capital or private equity funds registered in Portugal, as long as they aren’t real-estate focused. These funds typically back Portuguese startups, green tech, or innovation projects.
• €500,000 investment in a Portuguese company – The business must either create at least five new jobs or help maintain ten existing jobs, making this an appealing option for those interested in entrepreneurship or business development.
• €500,000 donation to scientific research – Support public or private institutions engaged in research that advances Portugal’s science and technology sectors.
• €250,000 donation to arts or cultural heritage projects – Contribute to restoring historic buildings, supporting Portuguese artists, or preserving national culture.

Read more about the Golden Visa

EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens (and Their Families)

If you hold a passport from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you can move to Portugal without a visa. This also typically extends to family members, such as:

• Spouses and long-term partners
• Dependent children

This can simplify the process dramatically if you or a family member has EU/EEA or Swiss citizenship.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to properly move to Portugal but just want to spend extended time exploring Europe, you can spend up to 90 days in every 180 days in Portugal through the Schengen Tourist Visa.

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Read more about moving to Portugal as an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

Why Australians Choose Portugal

A Gateway to Europe

For many Australians, this is the biggest attraction. Portugal offers one of the most accessible routes to European residency—and, eventually, citizenship—opening the door to life across the entire EU, EEA, and Switzerland.

After years of living somewhere where everything feels far away—where even Bali is a six-hour flight and New Zealand is your nearest “international” neighbour—the idea of hopping on a two-hour flight to Spain, France, the UK, or even Morocco feels nothing short of life-changing.

Portugal can be your European launchpad: a place where weekend getaways to Paris or Madrid replace long-haul holidays, and where the world suddenly feels a lot closer.

Cost of Living

Portugal is no longer the “cheap secret” it once was, especially in Lisbon, Porto, and popular parts of the Algarve coast, where housing prices have risen sharply. That said, day-to-day costs—groceries, dining out, public transport, services—remain consistently lower than in major Australian cities.

For context: while Sydney and Melbourne have become eye-wateringly expensive, Portugal still offers better value for everyday living. However, don’t expect Bangkok or Bali prices.

If affordability is a priority, look at:

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• Smaller cities (e.g., Braga, Évora, Coimbra)
• The Silver Coast (the area between Lisbon and Porto)
• The interior countryside (dramatically better value)

These areas offer a slower pace of life and access to authentic Portuguese culture, often at much more reasonable prices than the main coastal metros.

Climate and Sunshine

Portugal has a mild climate that many Australians find comfortable, though it’s different from what you might expect.

Summers: Warm and sunny, especially in the south (the Algarve can reach 35°C+). This will feel familiar.

Winters: This is where it gets interesting. While winters are mild outside (10-15°C), houses are often cold and damp inside due to poor insulation and lack of central heating—something you might actually find familiar from Australian houses. You may be colder indoors in January than you’d be in Perth or Sydney.

It’s worth noting that Portugal has multiple climates:

• The North (e.g., Porto, Minho): greener, cooler, can be damp in winter
• Lisbon and South: milder winters and warmer summers
• Algarve: 300+ days of sunshine per year, mildest winters
• Madeira: spring-like weather year-round

Like Australia, Portugal offers climate variety—but it’s all contained in a much smaller country.

Surf Culture

If you’re coming from Australia’s incredible surf culture, you’ll find familiar vibes in certain Portuguese towns:

• Ericeira: World Surfing Reserve, considered one of Europe’s best surf spots
• Nazaré: Home to some of the world’s biggest waves
• Peniche: Strong surf community and consistent breaks
• Lagos: Popular with surfers and digital nomads

The water is colder than Australian beaches, and you’ll need a wetsuit year-round, but the surf culture and coastal lifestyle will feel somewhat familiar. Portugal is also generally safer for surfing—far fewer sharks and dangerous marine life than Australia.

Flights and Time Zones

This is where the realities of moving from Australia to Portugal hit hardest. While Portugal is wonderfully connected within Europe, it’s a long way from home.

Distance:
Expect a journey of around 24 hours from Sydney or Melbourne to Lisbon, usually with a stopover in Dubai, Singapore, or Doha. From Perth, it’s slightly quicker—around 22 hours—but still a major trip.

Time Zone:
Portugal sits 10 to 12 hours behind Australia, depending on your state and daylight savings. This time difference makes regular contact with friends, family, or clients back home tricky. For remote workers, that often means early mornings or late-night calls to stay synced with Australian time.

Cost and Frequency:
Return flights typically cost between $1,500 and $3,000+, and most Australians living in Portugal fly home once a year, maybe twice. It’s not a quick trip or an easy Christmas visit—it’s a genuine commitment.

Pro Tip:
Direct flights between Lisbon and Australia are rare, so expect to connect through major hubs like London, Madrid, or Dubai. Portugal’s airports are well connected within Europe but more limited for long-haul routes, so you’ll need to plan trips home well in advance.

Healthcare Access

AuPortugal provides residents with access to two main healthcare options:

• The public healthcare system (SNS) – Portugal’s state-run system offers broad coverage and low costs, though it can sometimes involve longer wait times.
• Private healthcare – Widely used by expats, private clinics and hospitals are modern, efficient, and surprisingly affordable compared to Australian standards.

Many Australians living in Portugal choose a combination of both: using the public system for basic care and emergencies, while relying on private insurance for faster access to specialists and elective procedures.

Private health insurance is typically much cheaper than in Australia, and out-of-pocket costs for appointments, tests, and medication are usually reasonable, making it easy to maintain good healthcare coverage while living abroad.

Permanent Residency and Citizenship

After moving to Portugal on a qualifying residency visa, you may apply for:

• Permanent Residency after 5 years, and
• Citizenship after 10 years (subject to basic language and residency requirements)

This is a significant change: In 2025, Portugal extended the citizenship requirement from 5 to 10 years. For many Australians, 5 years was an attractive commitment to spend time in Europe. Ten years is much more significant and requires careful consideration.

Permanent residency reduces paperwork and provides long-term stability. Citizenship opens the door to living anywhere in the EU—which is the ultimate prize for many Australians seeking European access.

Where to Live in Portugal as an Australian

One of the advantages of Portugal is choice. Australians are spread throughout the country—there’s no single “Australian enclave.” Most people choose based on weather preferences, budget, and lifestyle (city vs. small town vs. beach). Below are the regions most commonly considered.

The Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal’s sunshine capital, with 300+ days of sun per year and some of the best beaches in Europe. It’s the warmest part of Portugal in winter and has long been popular with retirees seeking year-round sunshine. More recently, places like Lagos and Portimão have grown popular with remote workers and freelancers, and there’s a growing community of young families in the area too.

Pros:

• Warm winters (you can have a warm Christmas here, similar to parts of Australia)
• English widely spoken
• Strong expat and retiree communities
• Excellent beaches and coastal lifestyle
• Popular surf spots (Lagos, Sagres)

Cons:

• Can be expensive (not as bad as Sydney/Melbourne, but higher than other parts of Portugal)
• More touristy and less authentically “Portuguese”
• Can feel resort-like in popular areas

Popular with: Retirees, remote workers, and surfers

The Silver Coast

If the Algarve doesn’t fit your budget—or you want something more authentically Portuguese and less resort-like—the Silver Coast is worth considering. Stretching roughly from Lisbon to Porto, this coastline is more affordable, authentic, and laid-back.

Popular towns include:

• Caldas da Rainha: walkable, affordable, friendly
• Nazaré: famous for massive waves and surf culture
• Peniche: strong surf community and coastal charm
• Ericeira: surf town and digital nomad hub

This region is very popular with retirees and remote workers, especially those looking for better value than the Algarve with good coastal access.

Lisbon (and Ericeira)

LPortugal’s capital offers a blend of old-world charm and modern European living. It’s cosmopolitan, creative, and full of life—but on a smaller, more manageable scale than the big Australian cities many expats are used to.

What Lisbon offers:

• A vibrant, international atmosphere with people from all over the world
• Excellent restaurants, cafés, and markets (though the food scene isn’t as expansive as Sydney or Melbourne’s)
• Reliable and affordable public transport
• A relaxed rhythm compared to most major capitals
• No real need for a car, especially if you live near the metro or tram lines

However, it’s worth setting expectations: nothing in Portugal truly compares to Sydney or Melbourne for sheer size, variety, or cosmopolitan buzz. Lisbon is smaller, sometimes feels more provincial, and the nightlife and dining options, while improving, are more limited. If you thrive on endless choice and urban sophistication, you might find Lisbon quieter than you’d like.

Housing is the main downside. Rents in central areas like Príncipe Real, Campo de Ourique, or Alfama can be steep, though your Australian salary or remote income will typically stretch further than back home.

For those seeking sea air and surf instead of city life, Ericeira—about 40 minutes away—has become one of Europe’s most popular digital nomad hubs. It offers a laid-back surf culture, ocean views, and a growing expat scene without the bustle of Lisbon.

Best for: Digital nomads, remote workers, and anyone wanting a balance of culture, climate, and convenience.

Madeira

Located in the Atlantic, Madeira has mild, spring-like weather year-round. Winters are warm but never humid, and summers stay comfortable. The island is known for dramatic scenery, forests, levada walking trails, and a calmer lifestyle.

Why Australians like it:

• Consistently pleasant weather
• Growing digital nomad scene (Ponta do Sol has a digital nomad village, but Funchal is even more popular)
• Outdoor lifestyle and hiking
• Island living without the heat of tropical climates

Good for: Retirees, remote workers, nature lovers

The North (Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Chaves)

The North of Portugal has a different feel: greener landscapes, cooler temperatures, strong cultural traditions, and fantastic food.

• Porto is Portugal’s growing “second city,” more relaxed and less expensive than Lisbon while still offering urban life, culture, and direct flights.
• Braga is very popular with retirees—safe, historical, clean, and walkable.
• Guimarães and Chaves are gaining interest among Australians seeking excellent value and traditional charm.

Climate note: Winters here can be cooler and damp, so climate tolerance matters. This is not sunny Queensland.

You can live anywhere in Portugal, and many Australians do. The question is less where Australians are, and more what lifestyle you want.

What About the Cons?

Portugal has a lot going for it, but life here isn’t all sunshine and sardines. Australians considering the move should go in with eyes open. Being realistic about the challenges means you can plan better, adapt faster, and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Distance and Isolation

This is the big one: Portugal is roughly 20,000 kilometres from Australia.

That distance has real consequences.

• Visiting home is costly and time-consuming.
• You’ll likely see family and friends once a year—if that.
• Emergencies back home are hard to respond to.
• Time zones make staying in touch tricky.

For some Australians, that distance is liberating—a clean break and a fresh start. For others, especially those with close family ties or aging parents, it can be emotionally tough.

Bureaucracy Can Be Slow and Frustrating

Portugal’s charm comes with a fair bit of paperwork. Administrative processes are notoriously slow and often inconsistent. Expect:

• Long waits for appointments (residency, driver’s licence, healthcare)
• Contradictory answers depending on which office or staff member you speak to
• Everything in Portuguese
• Processes that can take months rather than days

It’s not impossible—just slow. Patience and persistence are essential, and many Australians hire a lawyer or relocation service to handle the first year’s red tape.

3. Limited Job Market

Unlike the UK or Ireland, Portugal doesn’t have a strong job market for foreign professionals.

• Salaries are much lower than in Australia (the minimum wage is about €920 per month in 2026)
• Even professional jobs pay far less than their Australian equivalents
• Visa sponsorships are rare

For that reason, most Australians who move here:

• Bring a pension or other passive income
• Work remotely for overseas employers
• Run location-independent businesses

If you plan to rely on local income, budget conservatively and manage expectations.

4. Quality of Life Trade-offs

Portugal’s cost of living is lower—but so is the standard of housing and amenities. Expect:

• Older buildings with poor insulation or dampness
• Little or no central heating
• Smaller apartments and fewer modern conveniences

Remote workers also face trade-offs. Internet speeds are excellent, but working across time zones with Australian clients can mean late nights or early mornings. Coworking spaces exist, but mainly in more expensive parts of the country like Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, Lagos, and Ericeira.

5. Missing Australian Culture and Amenities

Portugal’s food scene is growing, especially in Lisbon, but it’s nowhere near as diverse as Sydney or Melbourne’s.

• Limited Asian food options
• Portugal has its own native coffee scene (although third-wave coffee shops exist)
• Fewer multicultural influences overall, particularly outside Lisbon and Porto

You’ll also miss a few Aussie staples—no AFL, no meat pies or Tim Tams (unless imported), and a more reserved social atmosphere. Portugal loves football (soccer), not cricket or rugby. The easygoing friendliness of Australians is harder to find at first.

6. Cultural Differences (Subtle but Real)

Both cultures pride themselves on being laid-back, but it means different things.

• The Portuguese are warm but reserved; relationships take time to form.
• Saudade—a kind of wistful melancholy—is part of the national character.
• Australians tend to be more direct, humorous, and immediately friendly.

You’ll make friends eventually, but the process takes longer. Most newcomers find their first social circles are other expats.

7. Language Barrier

English is common in Lisbon, Cascais, and the Algarve—but Portuguese dominates daily life. You’ll need it for:

• Government paperwork
• Healthcare
• Local schools
• Building deeper friendships

To apply for citizenship, you’ll need A2-level Portuguese, so investing in lessons early pays off. You can survive with basic phrases, but to truly feel at home, learning Portuguese is key.

8. Taxes and Financial Planning

This is where things get complicated. Becoming a non-resident for tax purposes can significantly affect your obligations in Australia, including how your overseas income and capital gains are taxed. 

• Superannuation is taxed differently in Portugal.
• Portuguese taxes can be higher than expected, and public services feel less efficient.
• You’ll lose Medicare access and face dual reporting headaches due to mismatched tax years (Portugal’s runs Jan–Dec; Australia’s runs Jul–Jun).

Australia signed a new tax treaty with Portugal on November 20th 2023, but as of November 2025, had not entered into force. Most Australians benefit from consulting a cross-border tax advisor familiar with both systems before relocating.

9. Cold Houses in Winter

Portugal’s winters might look mild on paper—temperatures rarely drop below 10°C in most regions—but inside the house, it’s a different story. Many homes, particularly older ones, were built for summer rather than winter. Thick stone walls and tiled floors keep interiors cool in the heat but trap in cold and damp during the cooler months. You’ll probably end up buying space heaters, heat pumps, or pellet stoves.

The silver lining? If you’ve lived in older Aussie houses, this won’t be a total shock.

10. Buying Property Isn’t Easy

Just like in Sydney or Melbourne, buying property in Portugal has become increasingly difficult. Prices in Lisbon and Porto have surged in recent years, driven by strong demand, limited supply, and international interest. While homes in these cities can still be more affordable than in Australia’s biggest markets, they’re far from cheap by local standards.

If homeownership is part of your long-term plan, it’s worth exploring smaller cities and rural areas, where prices drop dramatically. Towns in the Silver Coast, Alentejo, or northern Portugal often offer far better value and a more traditional lifestyle.

In short, you can still find affordable property in Portugal—but not in the trendy postcodes everyone else is chasing.

11. Citizenship Timeline Increased

Portugal previously offered citizenship after five years of legal residency, which made it especially appealing to Australians seeking a quick path to an EU passport. That period has now doubled to ten years.

For those planning to make Portugal their long-term home, this change won’t make much difference—you can still apply for permanent residency after five years, which offers many of the same rights with far more flexible physical stay requirements.

However, for anyone who saw Portugal as a short-term base to explore Europe, it’s understandably frustrating. Ten years is a significant commitment.

12. It’s a Small Country

At just 92,000 km², Portugal is tiny compared to Australia’s 7.7 million km². You can drive from north to south in about six or seven hours, which means there’s no sense of vastness or “epic road trip” scale that Australians are used to.

That said, what Portugal lacks in size, it makes up for in diversity. Each region feels like a different country:

• Lisbon offers a cosmopolitan, coastal capital vibe with a mix of culture, nightlife, and modern energy.
• The Alentejo is all golden plains, cork forests, and whitewashed villages—slow, spacious, and deeply traditional.
• The Algarve has year-round sunshine, cliffs, and beaches that draw both retirees and surfers.
• The north (Porto, Minho, and Douro Valley) is greener, cooler, and famous for wine and hearty food.
• Madeira and the Azores—Portugal’s Atlantic islands—offer volcanic landscapes, rainforests, and some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe.

So while you won’t find Australia’s outback deserts or tropical rainforests, there’s still plenty of variety packed into a much smaller space.

The upside: everything is close. You don’t need long flights or multi-day drives to explore. Weekend trips can take you from vineyards to surf beaches, mountain villages to island hikes—all within a few hours.

Conclusion

For many Australians, moving to Portugal isn’t just about finding somewhere warmer or more affordable—it’s about gaining access to Europe. It means being able to explore Spain, France, Italy, and Morocco on weekend trips rather than needing a $3,000 flight and two weeks off work. It’s about morning coffees in historic squares, seafood lunches by the ocean, and a culture that values slowing down.

Portugal offers a chance to live in Europe while still enjoying a relatively mild climate, coastal lifestyle, and more affordable cost of living than Australia’s major cities. You’ll find walkable historic town centres, Atlantic beaches and dramatic coastlines, colourful tiled buildings, weekly markets, and a pace of life that feels less rushed than Sydney or Melbourne.

But it’s not without trade-offs. You’ll be 20,000km from home, navigating bureaucracy in a foreign language, earning less if you work locally, and living in smaller, less modern spaces than you might be used to. The food scene won’t match Australia’s multicultural variety, and you may miss the easy, outgoing nature of Australian culture. And with citizenship now requiring 10 years, it’s a significant commitment.

Whether your goal is to retire somewhere sunny, work remotely while exploring Europe, establish a European base for your family, or simply try something new for a few years, Portugal offers a realistic path to make that happen. With the right visa, solid remote income or retirement funds, some planning, and an openness to adapting, it is entirely possible to build a life here that feels balanced, slower-paced, and deeply connected to European culture.

If Portugal is calling, it may be because it offers exactly what many Australians are now looking for: a foothold in Europe, more time, walkable days, rich history, and access to a whole continent—rather than being stuck at the bottom of the world.