Moving to Portugal from the UK
Moving to Portugal from the UK is no longer as straightforward due to Brexit, but still easier than many other places in the world. Portugal remains a popular destination for retirees, happy to take advantage of low property prices and ready to enjoy some of the warmest winters on the continent.
The benefits of setting up home in Portugal – in coastal Porto or maybe more inland in Braga – go well beyond the economic and practical. The capital city of Lisbon is populated by just 3 million people. A large number of small villages have barely changed in layout since medieval times, offering 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Our guide will cover how you can move to Portugal, the birthplace of the delicious pastel de nata. There is information on how much it costs to ship your belongings from the UK to Portugal, visa information, property prices and what the cost of living is.
If you’re already set on a move from the UK to Portugal, we can help with shipping your belongings. All you need to do is enter a few details about your move in our simple form (or use the form at the top of this page), and we’ll connect you with our trusted suppliers. They’ll contact you with bespoke, obligation-free shipping quotes for you to compare.
Select the size of your move to get free quotes
It is perhaps this outward-looking perspective that led Portugal to develop the world’s first global empire, one that spanned colonies as far flung as Brazil in South America and East Timor in Southeast Asia.
The landscape ranges from craggy coastline to expansive woodland, through to granite mountains. It also hosts a great diversity of wildlife. Portugal offers a home in Europe away from the hustle and bustle of big city living, but that is still vibrant and exhilarating.
Another big draw for English-speaking migrants is the proficiency of the locals in the English language. On a global scale of English skills, Portugal ranks in the top 10 for English proficiency.
Shipping your belongings from the UK to Portugal
Whether you want city life in Lisbon, amazing views in the quiet hill village of Obidos or beach life on the Setubal Peninsula, moving to Portugal offers a variety of places to call home.
It can be challenging moving your furniture abroad, but we’ve put together these cost guides to give you a rough price range for shipping your furniture to Portugal from the UK. Let’s start with sea freight costs:
Sea freight costs from the UK to Portugal
We’ve collected sea freight costs from the UK to Portugal, going from London to some popular destinations in Portugal to give you an idea of costs.
The rates are sourced from Freightos.com, and are based on the port-to-port transportation of a 20ft container with furniture worth £55,000 inside (the typical value of the contents of a three-bedroom home according to the Association of British Insurers).
| Route | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| London to Lisbon | £1,318 | 3-4 weeks |
| London to Porto | £1,211 | 3-4 weeks |
| London to Faro | £1,429 | 3-4 weeks |
Last updated January 2025
Please note: these shipping costs are estimates that exclude add-ons such as insurance and door-to-door delivery. It’s recommended to check with a supplier for full cost details.
Air freight costs from the UK to Portugal
The costs leap up with air freight compared to ocean freight and, while it costs more, it’s definitely the more convenient option. Shipping goods by air is easier because your valuables just need to be sent to the airline with an appropriate flight to your destination, and then it goes through checks and is given to a trucking company to take to your new home – quick and simple.
The downside, though, is that you’ll be looking at a smaller space than you’ll get with either a 20ft or 40ft container, and higher costs to cover things like airplane fuel. The rule of thumb is that the speedier the delivery, the pricier it will be. For the same space sent by air freight, it would cost around 18 times more than to ship it by ocean freight.
These rates are sourced from iContainers.com and are based on the transportation of household goods in a 100kg container measuring 100cm high, and 100cm in width. These prices were last updated in January 2025.
| Route | Cost |
|---|---|
| London to Lisbon | £781 |
| London to Porto | £762 |
| London to Faro | £771 |
Transferring money to Portugal
To open a bank account in Portugal, you’ll need a phone with SMS capabilities, and to bring your Número de Identificação Fiscal, recent payslips, and proof of your new Portuguese address.
While you can still use some foreign cards in the ATM systems in Portugal, once you have a Portuguese bank set up, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the Multibanco system, which allows you to pay bills and even buy event tickets right at the ATM.
If you’re thinking of moving to Portugal from the UK, and/or buying property in Portugal, you’ll need to convert your money into euros, and while setting up a bank account in Portugal is a great option, it can come with high exchange fees.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use international money transfer service that uses the real exchange rate, and charges low fees.
Fill out Wise’s survey below to see how they could help.
Visas and how to become a Portuguese citizen
When moving to Portugal from the UK, British nationals are going to have a harder time getting a visa due to Brexit. The process has become a little more complicated than it was pre-Brexit, when people from the UK would’ve had the right to live, study and work in Portugal for an unlimited period.
Now, UK citizens planning to live in Portugal for more than three months will need to get a certificate of residency (atestado de residência). To qualify for a certificate of residency you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be in Portugal for work
- For study and research
- Be in Portugal for professional training, internship or volunteer work
- Family reunification
You’ll also need to bring the following with you to the Consulate General of Portugal in either Manchester or London:
- Your passport or other travel documents
- Two identical photos suitable for passports
- Transport documents (a return ticket, for example)
- Valid travel insurance (this includes medical insurance)
- A form authorising access to Portuguese criminal record by the Immigration and Border Services (SEF, or Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras)
- Your UK criminal record
- Proof that you can afford your stay in Portugal (you can also prove this with a statement of responsibility, which must be signed by either a Portuguese national, or foreign national living legally in Portugal)
This will also grant you the right – after five continuous years’ residence – to request a Certificado de Residencia Permanente, or Permanent Residence Certificate, to formalise your situation. The next step would be looking into acquiring Portuguese citizenship.
Select the size of your move to get free quotes
How do I move to Portugal after Brexit?
Firstly, yes you can move to Portugal after Brexit. You're allowed to spend three months in Portugal without a visa and during this time, you can start making the move permanent by acquiring a visto para obtenção de autorização de residência – which literally translates as ‘visa to obtain a residence permit’.
You can request this visa for many reasons, including work, scientific research or teaching, self-employment and studying. It’ll allow you to stay in the country for four months and to move on to the next step of your visa process.
Next, do exactly what it says on the visa, and obtain a residence permit (autorização de residência).
When applying, you’ll need to show that you have enough money to get by and afford somewhere to live, along with other requirements that are specific to your reasons for applying (see the section above for more details on exactly what you’ll need).
If you’re successful, you’ll be given the right to reside in Portugal for a year, which can be renewed for up to five years – at which point you can apply for a permanent residence visa.
Healthcare
Since 2002, Portugal’s state healthcare system has undergone major reform and is currently ranked 22nd overall in the world. Healthcare in the country is free to all who have the right to reside there and residents may seek treatment at any state hospital, clinic or GP’s surgery.
Registering for healthcare
In order to access the system as an overseas national, you must register at your local Centro de Saude – or health centre – on your arrival, or visit the local Posto de Atendimento ao Cidadao (these are help desks operated by the Ministry of Health).
You will need to take your passport or ID card, tax number, proof of residence and social security number. EU nationals will also need to present their European Health Insurance Card, as will those from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Cost of living in Portugal
Now you know what to expect of shipping costs and visa applications, let’s take a look at how much living in Portugal will cost.
| Metric | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Milk, bread, rice, eggs and cheese for a week | £13.92 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | £8.36 |
| Domestic beer (0.5 liter bottle) | £2.09 |
| Coke/ Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | £1.42 |
| Cinema ticket | £6.27 |
| Monthly gym membership | £31.50 |
(Data comes from numbeo.com and is correct as of January 2025)
Living costs
While there are certain regional differences when it comes to pricing, on the whole the cost of living in Portugal is refreshingly low. For example, a typical one bedroom apartment in the centre of Lisbon costs around £773 per month. Prices drop even more the further you travel outside the major cities.
Additionally, you can expect to pay basic utility bills and internet bills of around £130 on top of that monthly price.
Food
A meal in an inexpensive restaurant will cost around £6 in the northern city of Braga, £7 in Porto and about £8 in Lisbon, while the cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant is around £38.
A cappuccino in a city centre café ranges between £1 and £1.60, while fresh groceries are also good value wherever you are.
Outings and transportation
Transport costs vary widely according to location and the means of transport used, with public transport unsurprisingly significantly cheaper than private taxis.
You can expect to pay around £33.50 (the average for all of Portugal) for a monthly pass if you need to travel to and from work. Not to mention petrol is fairly cheap too, with prices around £1.42 per litre.
Job hunting
After several stagnant years, the Portuguese job market is picking up, and there are more and more opportunities for Portuguese nationals and expats alike – especially those who speak Portuguese.
Unemployment remains higher than average, particularly among recent graduates and women. This is said to be linked to the digital transition during COVID having caused a mismatch in the skills employers are seeking and those that locals have – meaning there are opportunities for those with more digital-focused skill sets.
The hospitality and tourism sectors are popular choices for expats, especially those with multiple language skills, and these individuals are also in demand within the rapidly growing call centre sector.
Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, offers the broadest range of employment options, from media and entertainment to banking and finance, and just about everything in between. Doctors and IT specialists are in particularly short supply at present, so if you have skills in these areas, it is well worth considering Portugal for your move abroad.
Speaking Portuguese in the workplace
If you are intending to work in Portugal, you will need a high level of proficiency in the language in order to be considered for employment.
Of course, as arguably the most effective way of learning to speak another language is immersion, you can always choose to enroll for an intensive language course when you’re in Portugal to bring your skills up to scratch before you embark on your job search.
Salaries in Portugal
Salaries in Portugal vary widely but are noticeably lower than in many other leading European cities, at an average of £10,500 per annum after deductions. This is, however, rebalanced to some extent by the country’s lower cost of living.
Essential information for Portugal
| Category | Info |
|---|---|
| Official language: | Portuguese |
| Capital city: | Lisbon |
| Currency: | Euro (EUR) |
| Timezone: | UTC |
| International dialling code: | +351 |
| Emergency numbers: | 112 |
| Population: | 10,425,292 |
| Electricity: | 230 volts |
| Internet TLD: | .pt |
| Drives on the: | right |
| Tipping: | 10% or more depending on the service |
| Unusual fact: | As the cork tree is a native tree to Portugal, it is one of the largest exporters of cork products. |
Property information
Renting is a popular choice when you first relocate, providing you with an opportunity to find your feet in your new country before committing to buying in a particular city or neighbourhood.
Typical rents in Lisbon are around £1,330 per month for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment, compared to around £536 in Porto. Smaller one-bedroom apartments, as we mentioned above, are much cheaper and you can expect to spend around £96 on utility bills (heating, electricity, rubbish collection) and around £30 on internet on top of your rent.
Buying property in Portugal
At more than 75%, Portugal has one of the highest rates of home ownership. Prices are rising, particularly in the Lisbon Metropolitan area and in certain areas of Porto, although growth is relatively slow overall.
Portugal has some of the best house prices in Europe, with average prices of £1,449 per square metre, compared to the UK’s average of £2,936 per square metre.
If you are considering buying in Portugal, it is worth exploring the GRP (Golden Residence Permit), which encourages non-Portuguese nationals to invest in the country’s real estate in return for tax reduction incentives and a quicker route to permanent residency (5 years).
In general, there are no restrictions on foreigners owning property in Portugal and purchase costs are relatively low in comparison to other markets.
Schools and education
Education in Portugal begins with optional nursery and kindergarten, followed by compulsory school from first grade until the age of 18. State schooling is free of charge to all residents and Portuguese nationals, although – as in many countries – some families choose to send their children to private school.
Registration for state schooling usually takes place between 15th April and 15th May for preschool and primary school, until the second year of secondary education, which is typically open between 22nd June and 28th June each year. This is carried out via the individual school you have chosen to attend.
If you are arriving in Portugal for the first time with little ones in tow, contact the Direçao Regional de Educaçao (Regional Education Authority) to find out about your options and the necessary steps you need to take to ensure that they are entered into the system.
Note that if your children do not already speak fluent Portuguese, they will be eligible for extra one-to-one language support within the state system until they have mastered it.
International schools in Portugal
If you do not envisage staying in Portugal forever, or you simply want your children to acquire or retain their proficiency in another language, there are plenty of international schools to choose from, especially in and around Lisbon and the Algarve.
English-, French-, German- and Spanish-speaking options are all available, following the respective national curriculum alongside the Portuguese basics.
Universities in Portugal
Studying at university in Portugal will cost around800 EUR (£670) per month. Although you won’t find the universities in top-ranking lists, you will find a high quality of education for much cheaper than in the UK.
For example, The European University of Lisbon, is the country’s best in terms of international education. It offers numerous degrees in games & app development, creative technologies, hospitality, tourism, management and law.
Driving in Portugal
On arriving in Portugal, you are permitted to drive immediately, using your existing UK driving licence or an international licence. However, if you intend to remain in the country, you should apply to the Ministry of Transport (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) for a Portuguese driving licence, for which you will need to produce your original driving licence, ID card or passport and a completed application form.
All drivers must carry a triangle, fluorescent vest and headlamp beam deflectors in their cars. Crash helmets must be worn on motorbikes. Accidents must be reported to the local police, who will attend the scene to evaluate any damage. Speed limits are 120km/h on motorways, 100km/h on dual carriageways and non-urban highways, and 50km/h in built-up areas.
Also, be aware that Portugal has a very low tolerance for drink driving – the limit on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.5g/l (50mg per 100ml). In the UK, it’s 0.8g/l (80mg per 100ml).
Expat communities
With pockets of expats all over the country, when you decide on moving to Portugal from the UK, wherever you settle and whatever your country of origin, you are likely to find kindred spirits around you. The Algarve, Lisbon, Porto and Braga are all popular choices for those looking to start a new life in the sun, and expats are increasingly discovering the beauty of inland Portugal as well.
Even if you find yourself in an area with few expats on your doorstep, there are several online forums in which you can swap news and ideas or seek advice on just about any aspect of your life in Portugal.
Ranking against the world
Portuguese is the world’s eighth most spoken language and Portugal was a founding nation of both NATO and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Lisbon is one of the most ancient cities in the world and has a rapidly increasing economy. Port of Sines has the 16th busiest container port in Europe.
Portuguese cuisine exemplifies the rich and complex yet understated character of the nation perfectly. Fresh local ingredients, such as olives, bread, cheese, red wine and seafood, need little in the way of preparation. A little seasoning, drying or smoking to enhance the flavour and you’re all set. And yet these ingredients are combined in a thousand different ways, each resulting in a sumptuous feast. The Portuguese are no slouches when it comes to feasting either – the calendar is packed with festivals, fairs and parties.
A recent survey by World Digital Foundation indicated that Portugal is the top destination for wealthy expats. Noting they appreciated Portugal’s wonderful culture and great climate, and that they loved the country's cost of living and overall sense of security.
Market research specialist Numbeo ranks Porto in Portugal in the top 100 for quality of life, just after Dubai. It ranks higher for its quality of life than many other countries, including such sought-after destinations as Tokyo and Paris.