Moving to Portugal from the UK: How Does Brexit Affect Things?

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Written by: | Last updated on February 8, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes

For countless Brits, the dream of basking in the sun, especially during retirement, has been a long-cherished aspiration. However, the post-Brexit landscape has reshaped this dream, introducing new rules and formalities. Gone are the days when Brits could spontaneously decide to spend extended periods in Europe without a second thought about paperwork.

While France and Spain have traditionally been the go-to destinations for many Brits, Portugal is emerging as a favoured choice, especially in the wake of Brexit. Its more attainable visa options have made it a hotspot for pensioners and digital nomads alike.

Another big selling point of Portugal? You can apply for Portuguese citizenship after just 5 years and there’s no need to give up your British passport. Other countries, like Spain, require you to live in the country for 10 years before applying and don’t necessarily recognise dual citizenship. Plus, Portugal’s language requirement for citizenship is only the A2 level and you only need to get 55% or more in the exam.

The dream of living in Portugal is very much alive; it just requires a bit more preparation and commitment. Embracing the Portuguese way of life now means not just integrating culturally, but also navigating the new residency requirements. But for those who take the plunge, the rewards are as enriching as ever.

The following are some of the main changes to consider post-Brexit.

You Can Still Visit for 90 days in every 180 days

For those who love Portugal but aren’t quite ready to make the full leap of relocating, there’s good news. The Schengen Area, which includes Portugal, allows UK citizens to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without requiring a visa. This means you can still soak up the Portuguese sun, culture, and lifestyle for a significant portion of the year without the commitment of permanent residency.

  • Maximizing Your Stay: While it’s not the extended stay many might dream of, 90 days can be quite substantial. Imagine spending three blissful months during the winter, escaping the UK’s chill, and then returning for another three months to bask in the summer warmth. This pattern can offer a balanced experience of both your home country and Portugal.
  • Benefits of Short-Term Stays: One of the primary advantages of this approach is the simplicity. There’s no need to navigate the complexities of changing your residency or adjusting your tax status. You can enjoy Portugal as a long-term tourist, experiencing its beauty without the administrative hurdles of full-time relocation.
  • When 90 Days Isn’t Enough: However, for those who find themselves yearning for a deeper connection and a more permanent base in Portugal, 90 days might feel limiting. If you’re looking to truly immerse yourself in the Portuguese way of life, build lasting relationships, or even start a business, then a short-term stay won’t suffice. In such cases, the next step would be to explore the various visa options available and consider making the move official.

You Now Need A Residency Visa To Live Here

With the UK’s exit from the EU, British citizens now find themselves in a new landscape when it comes to residing in European countries like Portugal. Previously, Brits could live in Portugal without much bureaucratic hassle, but now, a residency visa is essential if you don’t have an EU passport, such as an Irish or French passport. Most of us, unfortunately, don’t.

Fortunately, Portugal offers several visa options tailored to various needs and circumstances. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular ones:

  • Golden Visa: For Brits with the financial capability to invest, the Golden Visa presents an attractive route to Portuguese residency. By channeling funds into investment opportunities, such as venture capital funds, you can establish your residency rights in Portugal. As of 2023, the typical investment stands at €500,000. The standout feature? The requirement to spend just an average of 7 days annually in Portugal, offering significant flexibility. This is perfect for those
  • D7 Visa: Designed with retirees and those with a passive income in mind, the D7 visa is an excellent option for Brits seeking the tranquillity and charm of Portuguese life. The financial criteria are pegged to the Portuguese minimum wage, necessitating a monthly income of at least €820, as of 2024. This visa is ideal for those wishing to enjoy Portugal’s relaxed pace without the pressures of regular work.
  • Digital Nomad Visa (D8): Portugal’s rich cultural tapestry combined with its modern amenities makes it a magnet for digital nomads. The D8 visa is crafted for this very demographic. If you’re a British remote worker or freelancer, this visa offers a seamless transition to Portuguese life. The financial requirement for 2024 is a monthly income of over €3,280.
  • D2 Visa: For Brits with entrepreneurial ambitions, the D2 visa is the key to unlocking Portugal’s potential. Whether it’s a dream of a quaint B&B, a tech venture, or a creative agency, this visa caters to those keen on business endeavours in Portugal. With Portugal emerging as a dynamic tech hub in Europe, it’s an enticing proposition for enterprising Brits.

Those aren’t the only residency visas, of course, but they’re some of the most popular. As you may have noticed, job seeker visas haven’t been highlighted. While there are visas for people that can obtain a job offer in Portugal, these aren’t particularly popular as Portuguese wages are low, being able to speak Portuguese is a requirement for most jobs, and most companies aren’t looking to hire internationally.

It Could Be Worth Applying For A Second Passport

In the wake of Brexit, many Brits are re-evaluating their options when it comes to living in the EU. One avenue that’s gaining traction is the pursuit of a second passport. If you have lineage or ties to another EU country, this could be a game-changer for your plans to move to Portugal or elsewhere in the EU.

  • Tracing Your Roots: If you have a parent or grandparent from an EU country, such as Ireland or Italy, you might be eligible to apply for citizenship of that country. This would grant you an EU passport, making your move to Portugal much more straightforward. Regrettably, claims based on great-grandparents often don’t meet the criteria, but it’s always worth investigating your family tree.
  • Partnerships and EU Spouses: If you’re in a relationship with someone from an EU country, this can also pave the way for your move. While Portuguese law acknowledges long-term relationships spanning 3 years or more, having a marital status can simplify the process. That said, there’s no need to rush into a wedding. Portugal is progressive in its approach, and while being married might make things smoother, it’s not the only route. A lawyer can advice on the best approach.
  • The Waiting Game: Securing a second passport isn’t an overnight affair. The process can be lengthy, often taking between 1 to 2 years, depending on the country. Each nation has its own set of requirements and timelines. If you’re eager to make the move to Portugal sooner, it might be prudent to explore residency visa options in the interim.

You Will Need to Become Tax Resident, Probably

The landscape of relocating to Portugal has shifted dramatically for Brits in the aftermath of Brexit. Gone are the days when many UK citizens could enjoy the best of both worlds, flitting between their homes in the UK and Portugal without much bureaucratic entanglement. The casual, unofficial relocations of the past are no longer feasible.

  • Truly Settling Down: If you’re considering making Portugal your new home, it’s essential to understand that this now means a full commitment. For instance, if you’re bringing your car, it will need to be officially imported into Portugal, or you’ll have to consider purchasing a vehicle locally. The days of driving back and forth with UK plates without a care are behind us.
  • Tax Implications: Another significant change is the shift in tax obligations. By officially moving to Portugal, you’ll likely become a tax resident of the country. This means that your income could be subject to Portuguese tax rates, which differ from those in the UK. It’s crucial to consult with an accountant or financial advisor who is well-versed in both UK and Portuguese tax laws to understand the implications fully and ensure you’re not caught off guard.
  • Golden Visa – The Exception: The Golden Visa program stands out as an exception to many of these new requirements. Because it mandates only an average of 7 days per year in Portugal, it’s possible for holders of this visa to maintain their tax residency in the UK. However, to be officially recognized as a tax resident in Portugal, the general rule is that you need to spend at least six months in the country and have your primary residence there.

In essence, the post-Brexit era demands a more deliberate and informed approach to relocating to Portugal. While the sun-soaked beaches, delightful cuisine, and warm culture remain as alluring as ever, the logistics now require a deeper level of consideration and planning.

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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There are 111 comments on this article. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts, reviews, and stories of life in Portugal. However, please remember to be civil.

Comments

  1. Hi,
    My husband & I are looking to move to Portugal with the D7 visa. To obtain this is European travel insurance including medical cover acceptable to cover the 4mth visa whilst there & is the S1 accepted as healthcare when applying for the residency permit ?
    Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Hi, thank you for the article.
    I am looking to move to Portugal and find a job. I don’t qualify for the D7 visa (but will look for remote jobs as a last resort). I can’t find any information about work visas or their process. For example, do you need a visa before finding a job or vice versa etc.
    I called SEF Brexit helpline who said I didn’t need a job, but their website says differently. Could you please point me in the right direction?

    Many thanks,

    Aimee

    Reply
    • This Portuguese work visa is necessary for non-EU nationals who intend to work in Portugal longer than six months. As Portugal is in the Schengen Area, the work visa is in the form of a long-term Schengen Visa (type D), enabling the holder to travel across the 26 Schengen area countries. Even more information on the Schengen area is available in our guide to Portuguese visas.

      Due to bilateral agreements, citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Israel can apply for this visa from within Portugal, within 90 days of arrival. All other non-EU nationals will need to apply in advance of traveling to Portugal.

      Source: https://www.expatica.com/pt/moving/visas/portugal-work-visas-1030874/

      Reply
  3. When you say ‘living in Portugal prior to the 31st of December 2020’ does that include living in a static caravan in a camping site ?Or is it impossible to get residency if living in a caravan pre-brexit and continuing to do so ?

    Reply
  4. Hello

    Really glad to find this website – it’s so informative and well-presented – thank you!
    Would you be able to advise me on this matter please: My husband and I live and are legally resident in France, but we’re British nationals. Is there any difference in the way that we would apply to live in Portugal as we’re legally living in the EU ?
    We’re not yet of pensionable age.
    Thanks so much for any advice.

    Reply
  5. Hi useful information thank you. Can you advise where you apply retrospectively for the 5 year residency please.
    Kind regards Ailsa

    Reply
  6. Hi, I am considering moving to Portugal in about 2-3 years from now.
    I want to move to one be with my Partner (she’s a Portuguese citizen) and two to be able to work there from scratch by applying from ground basis etc, no clue on what kind of job or if it is even possible to work as a UK citizen in Portugal and what kind of visa I will need? I need help with a lot of this… I don’t have much of a clue on how to work my way around it.
    Any advice would be so amazing!

    Reply
  7. James, I have just read your very clear, informative article “Moving to Portugal from the UK After Brexit” and hope you are still taking queries. I am a UK citizen and was in Portugal between February-August 2020 living with my girlfriend, a Portuguese national. I returned here in May 2021. My queries :
    1. Can I now claim Residency on the basis of my 2020 period of residency ;
    2. If I did claim it, would I be penalised and/or have my claim rejected by reason of the fact that in 2020 I failed to claim Residency after 90 days residency (we were in lockdown at the time) ;
    3. Would an easier route for me be a D6 Visa application by my girlfriend ;
    4. Finally, does Residency confer a right to health care under the Portuguese NHS?

    Reply
  8. Hi, James, can you tell me why Portugal seems so inviting to the British since leaving the EU and the pandemic. What are the reasons they seem so intent on Portugal? Are there more jobs, more houses, or better wages? Is life more relaxed? why is Portugal observing an enormous amount of interest from Britons now?

    Reply
    • There’s been an Anglo-Portuguese Treaty since 1373, the oldest of it’s kind in the world. This relationship far transcends that of the EU.

      Reply
  9. Hi
    I managed to get residency and nhr sorted out prior to end 2020 but was unable to drive my UK car down to Portugal becuase of all the Covid restrictions. I am planning to do this as soon as possible now (end May) having been physically stuck in the UK. However, I am getting conflicting reports about the cost of importing and reregistering the car post Brexit. Some say it is prohibitively expensive now and not viable, others that it is still possible to bring in a car for personal use after owning it for more than 6 months with a tax exemption. Can you help with this please? Also, if I were to drive my UK car into Portugal even temporarily, would I be liable for a fine?

    Reply
  10. My wife and I are thinking of retiring to Portugal in the near future and wouldn’t be getting any pensions for 5-6 years. Would there be a major problem trying to retire to Portugal on a D7 and just living on savings until our pensions are activated? We would have a good amount of savings to live on till that happens or is a regular monthly payment needed.

    Reply
  11. Hi James
    I am looking to move to portugal in Feb2022 but will still be employed by a UK company so working and travelling remotely from Portugal i have had a house bank account and my Nif numbers already do you think i need the D7 Visa?
    Also my partner is coming with me who is a UK national too but we are not married so would that be okay ?
    Another question is about bringing cars into portugal this also seems rather confusing any connections you have would be useful
    Thankyou
    Steve

    Reply
  12. Hi there

    Can the D7 visa be applied for while in Portugal for a UK Citizen if moving there first under the 90 day rule out of 180 days.

    Regards
    Toby

    Reply
  13. Great website.

    We have owned a house in Portugal since 2004 – could we use that as a basis to apply for e Golden Visa now?

    Reply
  14. Hi James
    Great website.
    I’m keen to leave Brexit Britain and live and work in a more forward-thinking country.
    The favourable tax rates for cryptocurrency are a big draw – although I am, of course, keen to pay my tax wherever I live.
    Anyway, are there any websites that advertise freelance/digital roles for English speakers in Portugal? I need to get job hunting!

    Cheers!

    Reply
  15. Hi James,
    Me and my boyfriend are hoping to move to portugal on the D7 visa this year. My main question is, has anyone from the UK moved to portugal this year via the D7 visa so far? With the pandemic going on, are the Portuguese embassy in London still taking applications or have they all come to a halt? We don’t want to start the process and pay all the legal fees if the embassy are not accepting applications. Second question is, is it possible to to meet the financial requirements of the D7 visa with just savings? E.g (€7.200 + €3.600)x2. As the first residency permit covers 2 years. If not then how many months of passive income from rent do you need to prove before making the application? Thanks

    Reply
  16. Hi, I’ve a non-EU passport, but living in Scotland. As a three-year freelancer with about £20K p/a business, do you think I could explore this visa. I read from your post that €12K in savings is recommended. I appreciate you have an extensive pre-requisite list on your website , but do you offer a consultation service for introductory questions, so I know what I need to prepare in order to begin the D7 process?

    Reply
  17. About the golden visa programme, where do you apply for it? Do I have to go the Portuguese consulate or go to a website? Do I apply for the visa before applying for a job in Portugal when I’m in the United Kingdom? Is it true that you can invest 250,000€ for a culture/artistic project or something like that. I’m doing law in university in the uk and I also got a business diploma from college and I’m interested in moving to Porto Portugal. What websites shall I look for a job in Portugal? Can I do marketing there? Do I look for the apartments when I’m in UK?

    Would love to contact you more about Portugal, is it possible if you can drop your email for me please?

    Reply
  18. Hi James your blog is very intuitive thank you. My wife and I hate the UK since the Tory Government has got stronger and stronger, our house is up for sale now. We will have a reasonable nest egg, both in our 50s. Unsure whether we can rent somewhere long term and be self sufficient or would we have to purchase somewhere? Thank you

    Reply
  19. Hi James

    My husband and I are British citizens and we are hoping to move to portugal in 2023. We first looked at spain, but we will both need to work and the job market for non Spanish persons does not seem favourable.
    We aim to sell our house in the uk to fund the move, and should have around 60k in the bank. We also have 2 young children.
    My questions are;
    1. is there a visa which will allow us to work in portugal straight away
    2. Will the funds we have enable us to gain a visa?
    3. Are we likely to be able to find jobs?

    My husband runs pubs/ b&b and I work in admin/client services.

    Many Thanks

    Reply
  20. Hi James,

    Thanks for your posts, they’re super helpful!

    I have a question I need help with, me and my partner came to Portugal in November with no real plan on how long we would stay. We’re still here now and in talks about applying for residency (with the proof that we were here before December 31st). We both work in the UK and I would potentially need to be back by around May/June, so the idea is that we start the residency application so we can legally be here past the 90 days (which would be April 1st)

    Would you foresee an issue with this, if we started the residency application but left Portugal instead, I don’t know how long it takes for the residency to come through but could potentially be leaving before it’s granted. Also regarding taxes, will this have an affect on my taxes if I start a residency application but don’t live in Portugal long term?

    Any advice would be SUPER helpful!
    Many thanks

    Reply
    • Hi James,

      Thanks for getting back to me

      We were under the impression that the 90 day rule only begun from January the 1st when Brexit was ‘official’ so we’ve been counting 90 days from then, is this incorrect?

      The key is we wouldn’t want to stay in Portugal long term (well we’d love to but don’t think our work will allow) so we’d only be applying for residency to extend our stay slightly, as we’ve been told that once the application is underway we are legally allowed to stay here? So in a sense we realise we may never actually get the residency even after applying, particularly as we don’t think we would be able to stay in Portugal for more than 6 months in the year. We’d be using it as a buffer to try and stay past the 90 day mark (as of Jan 1st). Is our thought process incorrect here, is it not worth undergoing the process in this instance?

      Best,

      Reply
  21. Good morning James,

    I have had a Portuguese property for 20 years. I pay all my utility bills, IMI etc. I also have a Portuguese car.
    I currently have my money in UK banks/funds.

    Would you be able to advise me on 3 questions:
    1. If this is enough evidence to get a VISA before the June deadline even though I have not been able to get to Portugal since October 2020 due to covid restrictions (Assuming I get to Portugal before end June)?

    2. Will I have to move all my UK money to Portugal or can I move just a portion of it?

    3. My partner is going to continue to work in the UK and maintain her property, just using the standard 3 months in Portugal every 6. Will it be easier for her to get a VISA on the back of my residency 2 years from now?

    May I just say. This is a very clear article that makes simplifies a complex topic.

    Reply
  22. Lots of great information here, I wish I had found it earlier as all my questions would be solved!

    I had plans to move to Portugal last year/this year before the cut off date however was really confused as my rights and what to do and didn’t get done in time.

    I was living there from October 2020 – February 2021 – I wanted to stay permanently and missed the cut off date for the 31st December 2020 and then became confused about how long I could stay or not and what to do so I left and am now back in the UK.

    Ideally, I would like to go back permanently and my landlord said the place is available.

    Do you know if it’s possible I will still be eligible under the EU rights from before 31st December 2020 and who I should contact to try and sort this?

    Lastly, I wonder if you know about capital gains tax in Portugal? I currently have investments which would be subject to UK capital gains tax so that is something on my mind if I did get residency there.

    Any help is appreciated!

    Reply
  23. James,
    I would like to retire to Portugal when I’m 55 in two years with my wife. We both currently hold UK passports, however I can obtain an Irish passport as I was born in Ireland. Financially we will be able to purchase a property without a mortgage and I will have a good private pension. As my wife will not have EU citizenship or income in her own name what do we need to do about a visa and healthcare. Thanks

    Reply
  24. Hi James,

    I’ve got some questions about moving to Portugal, wondering if you could put me in touch with someone who can help?

    Many thanks,

    Jason

    Reply
  25. Thank you for the really useful article,

    I have a UK passport, my partner has a Dutch passport, we can marry if it makes life easier.

    We are looking to purchase a property in Portugal and spend half the year there and half the year in the UK, is this possible? Would I still be able to claim citizenship and obtain my own European passport after 5 years?

    Many thanks

    Ella

    Reply
  26. Hiya
    My husband is a self employed builder and has been offered work in the algarve. As a subcontractor he would still be self employed so am I right in thinking we would need to apply for D7 visas?
    I would be looking to expand on my VA business remotely so would also be self employed. Our daughter is only 5 months old so I’m assuming she wouldn’t require a visa?
    I feel like I’ve read 500 different things today and confused myself, but your website is by far the clearest.
    If you have any recommendations for people we can talk through the application with that would also be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks in advance 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Olivia,

      Thanks for the kind words about the website.

      I will pass your details onto someone who has more expertise as they would be better able to say whether your husband is more suited to the D7 or D2.

      Reply
  27. I’m a UK citizen based out of Switzerland working full time and have owned a property in Portugal (but not lived in it) since 2017.

    Because of the Covid situation my employer has changed their policy so that employees can work remotely without restrictions in the future.

    Therefore I would like to relocate to my property in Portugal and live and work from there for around 6 months a year.

    However, it is not clear which resident category I could fit into. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, including company’s who could help with the paperwork.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  28. Hi James,

    Thank you for the article, a good and useful read!

    My husband, myself and two children are currently in the UK from Cape Town where we used to live until December, planning to relocate to Portugal when the lockdown eases.

    He and the children are Portuguese citizens (as well as SA), but I only have British citizenship. Our marriage was registered in Lisbon several years ago, and we all have NIF numbers.

    We are planning to go over to Portugal around July time, do I need to apply for a visa to enter prior to arrival, and if so, what sort of visa would I require?

    Many thanks for any information in advance!

    Best regards,

    Dee

    Reply
  29. Hi
    Looking to take early retirement later this year….will have a lump sum and roughly £18k a year for 15 years..state Uk pension 10 years after I retire..
    My wife and I have been looking at a Park home on a residential site to purchase..would buying this help with any visa ?
    My wife is looking at doing nails/manicure/etc as a side line
    Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

    Thanks

    Reply
  30. Hi James.
    My fiancé and I are hoping to move to Portugal in mid 2022. We will have a small passive income from a business in the UK but will need need employment once we are there. Obviously this is something we’ll look at nearer the time, but we would both be looking at something along the lines of personal training or coaching. We have just started learning Portuguese too.
    As well as visa options, is there any other bits of advice you could share please? Many thanks, Scott.

    Reply
  31. Hey!

    I arrived in Portugal on 7th of December 2020, with no return ticket. I’m staying with close family friends and I intend to stay for at least a year. I work remotely (still working in the UK) but have a steady salary (it’s not huge though!). Because I arrived before Brexit, what can I do? How do I obtain the 5-year residency permit? I can’t seem to find anything online, and I’m not sure who to contact.

    Any advice would be much appreciated!
    Shivaike

    Reply
  32. Hi there, I am a non-resident non-domiciled British citizen living in the UAE. I also have a Jordanian passport. I do not have an income at the moment but have small savings. I am looking to share a property with friends in Portugal and create income by selling farm produce and healing retreats ie. we each pay a share to purchase one property. Will this be a problem for me to get a residency in Portugal?
    Thanks

    Reply
  33. Hi! Name’s Kenny. I am a business owner looking to move to Portugal, to buy a plot of land and live “off-grid” with my mrs – Claire. My business’ income would be our main support at getting us there – and is fast reaching a point of self sustainability. We would be looking at making money in many ways once we are there – our 2 main skills being my barbering, and her artisnal soap-making and other products. We would also look at selling goods from our allotments etc. I’m fairly confused at the extent of visa options and very inexperienced with it all. Any advice on where to start? I’d hate for us to go about things in the wrong way or order, or make an application at the wrong kind of visa. But still, great info on here – definitely the clearest of websites so far – i think it just takes a bit of life experience to understand these things. Thank you.

    Reply
  34. Hello.
    Great piece. Question please we are brits have NIFF NHR Atestado from the Junta Freguesia and have been living in Portugal since Feb 2019 have all the evidence you highlight but stupidly never got our European residency. My question is how do we get our CRUE and can you recommend someone who can help us?

    Reply
  35. Hiya, I just found your site. I am living in Scotland since 2005, but have Dutch nationality. Do I need a visa to emigrate to Madeira for retirement? Thanks

    Reply
  36. Hi there

    I am British citizen come to Portugal on 27/12/21 tried to register my self but there was no appointments in December I have proof of my flight ticket one night hotel proof and also bayed some stuff from the shop proof my question is still I am under withdrawal agreement or not
    Thanks

    Reply
  37. Hello everyone,

    Does anyone know if the same rules for living in Portugal apply to Madeira?

    We had planned to move there last year before Brexit but the pandemic got there before us!

    Cheers

    Steve

    Reply
  38. Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

    My mom lives since 28 years in Monchique and we want to join her there this year. My husband is British. I am German. As a European I believe I have the right to bring my husband? Is there a route through marriage or do we have to apply for the D7 scheme for him as well?

    Thank you for your kind advice!

    Heidi

    Reply
  39. Hi James,

    Really helpful post!

    I work in digital and am self-employed, and I’m looking at moving to Lisbon early this year from the UK. I’m a UK resident, and my contracts will not be disrupted by location.

    What is the first thing that I need to do? I know that UK residents get 90 days automatically as part of the Brexit agreement, so does that mean that I need to do nothing until I land in Portugal? Or do I need to apply for something in the UK?

    Any help or advice or just a point in the right direction would be really helpful!

    Thank you,

    Josh

    Reply
    • Hi Josh,

      I think the post could probably do with an update now Brexit has actually happened, but it’s still a little unclear what the relationship between the two countries will look like. Basically, will UK citizens be offered anything different to what already exists to 3rd country citizens.

      Reply
      • Thanks James.

        It is very confusing – not least because I can’t get an appointment at the Portuguese Consulate in London.

        It seems that I need to do things when I come over, and yet, I have to come back to the UK to apply at the Consulate…

        A post about this now that Brexit has happened would be amazing – I’m sure I’m not the only person who’ll be asking questions like this!

        Reply
      • James, in a follow-up to this, do you know any Lawyers in Portugal who can assist me with applying for the D7? I believe that I need a fiscal representative to create a NIF as well as offering some help/advice.
        I have been able to arrange an appointment at the London Portuguese Consulate for the 28/01 but need some help before this!
        Thank you!

        Reply
  40. hi I am looking to move to Portugal for better life and work I am looking at how to rent homes and looking at visa and residency is there anything els that i should be looking into

    Reply
  41. Hi
    I am a British citizen, I could not manage to get my Proof of residency and NIF of portuguese before 31 December 2020 because of the Pandemic and flight banning.
    Can I do it now i mean after brexit.
    Thank you

    Reply
  42. Hi James
    My wife and I are about to embark on moving to Portugal for retirement. We would go down the NHR D7 route. Could you please forward details of any professional people who might assist with the process?
    Many thanks
    Tony

    Reply
  43. Hi there,

    I have a holiday home in Portugal, and am out here at the moment but working remotely for a UK business. Will I still be able to do this? I have tried getting a NIF and residency but need a representative? Is that correct?
    Thanks,
    Ellie

    Reply
    • Hi Ellie,

      It’s all become a little more complicated due to Covid. You would normally get an appointment with Finanças and, as an EU citizen, wouldn’t need a representative.

      It’s now possible for someone who’s resident here (basically, someone who has a NIF) to get one for you as your representative. If you have someone who can do that for you, I’d recommend it. You should also set this to your PT address if you want to show you’re resident here. There are also companies that offer this service with fees that start at around €50. That could be an easier option.

      There is a grace period for registering until June but I would try and get this sorted as quickly as possible in January. You basically want to prove that you’ve been living here (so copies of your flight ticket, card purchases in Portugal etc could all help, if needed). I’m imagining if you do it in January, it’ll be a little simpler but who knows.

      Working remotely won’t be an issue, but being resident here does mean being tax resident here too. Hopefully your company are on board with this. Many are but some are not.

      Reply
  44. Hi,

    Do you have any recommendations for citizenship lawyers in Pt? My father left Lisbon 40 years ago and has lived in Britain since where I was born, however, never renewed his Pt passport in this time. My grandfather remained and is now buried in Lisbon for which I believe there is a route to citizenship via a grandparent(?)

    I’m thinking a week today would be a good time to think about getting EU/Portuguese citizenship if permitted; I’m comfortable speaking Portuguese also.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Reply
  45. Hi,

    I’ve been living in Portugal June but do not have a residency permit – will i be able to get a permit in the grace period from January?

    Reply
  46. Hi there.

    I’ve managed to get a certificate of registration from the town hall, but not a NIF as yet. I will be returning to England shortly to visit family and then returning to Portugal early next year – Jan or Feb. Do I need to get a NIF now, or can it wait until I return? Also do you know about driving licences? I understand these also need to be changed to a Portuguese licence, but does that need to happen before Dec 31st as well?
    Thank you!

    Reply
  47. Hi There,

    I am a dancer and UK citizen, I will be joining a Portuguese junior dance company on 6th January 2021, I have an official contract of this also. I won’t be getting paid but I also won’t be paying for the course either, I’m not sure if this makes me a student or not. I have researched a lot, but I haven’t found any information on what I need to do in terms of applying for residency or visa. Please could you advise on what I should do?

    Many thanks,

    Reply
  48. Hi There,

    I am a dancer and UK citizen, I will be joining a Portuguese junior dance company on 6th January 2021, I have an official contract of this also. I won’t be getting paid but I also won’t be paying for the course either, I’m not sure if this makes me a student or not. I have researched a lot, but I haven’t found any information on what I need to do in terms of applying for residency or visa. Please could you advise on what I should do?

    Many thanks,

    Reply
    • Hi Hayley,

      It’s very difficult to say because nobody knows what’ll happen to the status of UK citizens on the 1st of January.

      It depends a lot on how long you need to stay in Portugal for. Many people are assuming that, if there’s no Brexit deal, UK citizens will still be able to visit Portugal for 90 days in every 180 days as is the case with people from the US for example. If you’re going to be less than 3 months, that could be fine.

      Unfortunately your move to Portugal starts at a very awkward moment in time!

      Reply

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