Ever heard those stories about European countries paying people to move there? They’re true! Sardinia’s offering €15,000 to populate its rural villages with populations of 3,000 or less, Spain’s Rubia’s dishing out monthly payments of €150 per month while Ponga is offering €3,000 to young couples willing to stay for five years, plus an additional €3,000 for each child.
But what about Portugal?
Portugal won’t pay you to move there. Sorry. At least, if you’re living in the US, UK, India, Australia, or anywhere else, they aren’t going to pay you to move here. However, they will pay you to move to specific regions of Portugal if you already have the right to live and work here. More on that below.
Incentive to Move to Rural Portugal
If you’re willing to settle in Portugal’s interior regions, there the “Emprego Interior Mais” program.
It isn’t really open to everyone. It’s primarily aimed at those who get a job in the region or start a self-employed business. Unfortunately, this excludes most retirees. However, if you are moving to Portugal to work, this could be an opportunity.
Here’s how the money breaks down:
- €2,633 base grant (plus 20% more for each family member, up to €1,316)
- Up to €878 for moving costs
- Up to €878 for transporting your stuff
Sound good? Here’s what you need to qualify:
- Get a job locally, become self-employed, or start a business
- Actually move there within 180 days of starting work
- Apply within 90 days of signing your employment contract
More information can be found at: https://iefponline.iefp.pt/IEFP/interiorMais.do?action=overview
The big question: is it worth it? If you’re already considering the interior of Portugal and planning to get a job or start a business, it’s definitely worth looking into. However, as enticing as free money is, it isn’t a huge amount of money to uproot yourself if you would prefer to live closer to a major city or the coast.
How to Move to Portugal
Can you move to Portugal easily?
That depends.
If you have EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship, it’s relatively straightforward and more or less a case of moving here, registering at your local câmara municipal, and getting your CRUE. You can even bring non-EU/EEA/Swiss family members such as a spouse or partner or dependent children.
If you are from the rest of the world, whether that’s the US, UK, India, or Argentina, you will need a visa to move here.
The most common residency visas are the D7 (for those with passive income), the Digital Nomad Visa (for those with freelancing income or a remote job), and the D2 (for those planning to start a business in Portugal. There are also visas for students (D4) and those with a job offer in Portugal.
A full list of visa options can be found here: https://www.portugalist.com/portugal-residency-permits/
Other Money-Saving Perks
While Portugal might not be handing out cash left and right like other European countries, it does offer some pretty sweet financial incentives:
NHR 2.0: The Tax Break for Brainiacs
If you’re working in scientific research or higher education, Portugal might have a tax deal for you. We’re talking about a potential 20% flat rate of tax for qualifying roles. Not exactly free money, but it could save you a bundle, particularly if you’re a high earner.
Under 35? Portugal’s Got Your Back
Buying property in Portugal when you’re young just got easier:
- Government guarantees 15% of your mortgage
- Banks can finance up to 100% of your property
- Works for properties up to €450,000
- Only one partner needs to be under 35
Plus, you might dodge some serious taxes:
- No property transfer tax on homes up to €316,722
- Partial exemption for pricier properties up to €633,453
- Wave goodbye to stamp duty
- Skip various purchase-related fees
The Madeira Tax Haven
Want to start a business? Madeira’s offering a tiny 5% corporate tax rate until the end of 2028. That’s one of Europe’s lowest rates – and you get to live on a subtropical island!
What Portugal Won’t Take From You
And, unlike some of its neighbors (cough Spain cough), Portugal:
- Has no wealth tax
- Skips the inheritance tax (just a small stamp duty)
So, Will Portugal Pay You to Move There?
Portugal isn’t throwing cash at everyone who shows up (sorry!), but it does offer some real financial incentives if you know where to look. The interior relocation grant puts actual money in your pocket, and the various tax breaks could save you thousands more.
Just keep in mind who these incentives are for. Every one of them rewards people who are already set up to move — with a job, a business, or the income to support themselves. Portugal won’t fund your move; it’ll sweeten it once you’re on your way.
And here’s the thing: most people don’t move to Portugal for the financial incentives anyway. They move for the 300+ days of sunshine, the incredible food, the welcoming people, and the laid-back lifestyle. Consider any money you get from Portugal as the cherry on top of an already pretty sweet deal!
Another reason so many people choose Portugal over Spain, Italy, or anywhere else with these incentives? The very attainable residency visas.
The D7 visa, for example, requires a monthly passive income of just €920 for an individual. The Digital Nomad Visa, which has tougher requirements, requires €3,680/month (4x the minimum wage).
Better still, you can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after 10. Unlike Spain, Portugal recognizes dual citizenship.
So if you’re ready to make the move, let these incentives be the bonus, not the reason. Come for the life you’ll build in Portugal, and treat any savings as a happy extra.
Thinking about Moving to Portugal?