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Portugal Country Profile

Passport
For more details visit Portugal Passport Ranking
  • Passport Grade
    A
  • Passport Ranking
    22/198
  • Passport Score
    176.8/198
  • Visa-free Countries
    158
  • Visa-required Countries
    40
  • Access to the World's GDP
    75%
  • Access to the World's Surface Area
    60%
  • Access to the World's Population
    46%
  • Access to the Unesco Sites
    80%
Citizenship and Naturalization
Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
  • Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
    Restricted
    Restricted: A child born in Portugal will become a citizen at birth in the following cases: 1) At least one of the parents have been a resident of Portugal for at least 1 year before the child's birth, OR 2) One of the parents was born in Portugal and is resident there during the birth. Also, a child born in Portugal can naturalize after only 1 years of legal residency, if a parent was a legal resident at the time of birth or if a child completed 1 year of local schooling.
Naturalization - Standard Conditions
  • Minimum residency period
    5 years
    Permanent residency is not a requirement for naturalization.
  • Physical presence requirement
    At least 6 months a year
  • Language test
    Yes, Portuguese
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
  • Can minor children naturalize?
    Yes, minor children naturalize along with parents
  • Can naturalized parents pass citizenship to a child born abroad?
    Yes
  • Can you lose naturalization due to prolonged absence/ naturalization elsewhere?
    –
Naturalization - Your Spouse is a Citizen
  • Living IN the country: Residency/marriage requirement
    0 years / 3 years
    Must be married for 3 years. No in-country residency requirements.
  • Living ABROAD: Marriage requirement
    3 years
    Can reside abroad. If married for less than 5 years, must demonstrate "effective connection" to Portugal - frequent trips to Portugal, Portuguese real estate, participation in Portuguese cultural clubs abroad, establishing residency in Portugal, etc.
  • Language test
    Yes, Portuguese, unless have been married for 5 years or longer.
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
Naturalization - Other Beneficial Provisions
  • Your child is a citizen
    No provisions
  • Citizens of specific countries
    No provisions
"–": The provision has not been analysed.
Visas and Residencies
Visas and Residencies
Taxation
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Taxation Type
    Residence-based
A tax resident of a country with a RESIDENCE-BASED tax system pays taxes on their WORLDWIDE income. However, if you lose tax residency status there (e.g., by moving out), the country will generally stop taxing you.

The Non-Habitual Residence (NHR) regime is available to new residents, under which, your worldwide income can be tax-free for 10 years.
Portugal is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing its citizens to live and work in any other EEA country, plus Switzerland. (The EEA consists of 27 European Union countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.)
Schiff Sovereign's Take on Portugal
Portugal is one of Sovereign Man’s most favorite countries. 

For starters, bordering Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is one of the continent’s touristic gems.

The country’s attractions include the vineyards of the North, the medieval villages of the Central region, and the glamorous southern Algarve region, famous for its resorts and golf courses. 

And the cost of living is more than reasonable, attracting scores of digital nomads and retirees alike.

In fact, we think Portugal is a great option even for American retirees, considering the relative proximity to the US. (A direct flight from New York to Lisbon takes about seven hours.)

And it doesn't hurt that Portugal constantly ranks as one of the safest countries in Europe.

But outside of these obvious drawcards, Portugal has many other selling points. 

First, you can obtain a flexible residency there through its world famous Golden Visa program. Investments start at only €250,000. 

However, the Golden Visa only makes sense if you don’t plan to live in Portugal – on average, Golden Visa holders need to spend only seven days per year in Portugal. 

Otherwise, the country’s D7 Visa for “people with means” should be a better choice – and it requires no investment at all.

Another reason to like Portugal – it currently does not tax crypto gains, making it a great option for folks sitting on unrealised crypto gains.  

Portugal is also a great place to become a citizen. It takes only five years of residency to become eligible for naturalization, and the process is straightforward. Plus, a Portuguese passport is a great travel document.

And if you have any Portuguese blood in you, the country also enables you to obtain Portuguese citizenship based on your ancestry. 

One thing to watch out for in Portugal is taxation. The personal tax rates there reach an astounding 48%. 

However, thanks to the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime, for the first ten year of your life there, all of your worldwide income becomes tax-free, while any of your Portugal-based income is taxed at a flat 20%. You need to apply for the NHR separately.

(And if you spend less than six months per year in Portugal, you won't become a tax resident there – in which case you won’t have to worry about Portuguese taxation at all.)

Portugal is also a great country in which to have a baby. Your new child will become a Portuguese citizen at birth if born in the country. But unlike in most countries in the Americas, there is a condition you will need to fulfill for this to happen – one of the child’s parents needs to have been a Portuguese legal resident for at least one year before the birth.
Schiff Sovereign's Rolodex
Service Providers available in Portugal
  • Immigration (residency, citizenship)
  • Full relocation services (real estate search, bank account opening, driver's licence, etc.)
  • Tax advice (attorneys and/or accountants)
  • Corporate services (company formation, etc.)
  • Real Estate (agents, lawyers)
  • Banking contact
Obtain access to our Rolodex by signing up for Sovereign Confidential Join Sovereign Confidential Today

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Portugal Overview
  • Region
    Europe
  • Capital City
    Lisbon
  • Largest City
    Lisbon
  • Currency
    Euro
  • Languages
    Portuguese
  • Population
    10.3 million (90th)
  • Life Expectancy
    81.5 years (38th)
  • GDP (Nominal)
    $255.9 billion (50th)
  • GDP/Capita
    $24,733 (48th)
Useful Data
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Cost of Living
    Moderate (4/7)
  • Climate
    Very comfortable (1/5)
  • Safety
    Very Safe (2/7)
  • Pollution
    Very clean (1/5)
  • English Proficiency
    Very High (1/5)

Sovereign Global Explorer

Benefiting from over a decade of our team’s boots-on-the-ground experience, Global Explorer is where your international journey begins.
Explore Now
Found a mistake /
Have a suggestion ?
Please let us know if you spot any inaccuracies on this page or have a suggestion on how to make it even more useful.
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PREMIUM REPORTS
Portugal inside Schiff Sovereign resources
Resource TitleProductTypeDate
October 2024 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A31-Oct-2410/31/24
August 2024 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Aug-2408/30/24
No Tax, All Gain: Crypto Havens of 2024Sovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert23-Apr-2404/23/24
European Golden Visas 2024: A Comprehensive RoundupSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper05-Mar-2403/05/24
February 2024 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A28-Feb-2402/28/24
European Golden Visas Update: Fewer Choices, but Some Bright Spots AheadSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter16-Feb-2402/16/24
November 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Nov-2311/29/23
October 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Oct-2310/30/23
August 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Aug-2308/30/23
June 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Jun-2306/29/23
March 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Mar-2303/30/23
Digital Nomad Visas Roundup: Part I (Europe and Asia)Sovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper06-Mar-2303/06/23
February 2023 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A27-Feb-2302/27/23
November 2022 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Nov-2211/29/22
Europe Offers Great Tax Incentives for New ResidentsSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert25-Oct-2210/25/22
Total Access Monthly Call Recording: Portuguese Residency & Citizenship with Patricia Valadas CorielSovereign Total AccessTAMonthly Calls19-Oct-2210/19/22
September 2022 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Sep-2209/29/22
Plan B Strategies of Team Sovereign ManSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Sep-2209/15/22
Legally Counter the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022Sovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert22-Aug-2208/22/22
Case Study: A South African in PortugalSovereign ConfidentialSMCCase Study06-Jul-2207/06/22
June 2022 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Jun-2206/29/22
A Common-Law Partnership Can Lead to Foreign Residency Similar to MarriageSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert06-Jun-2206/06/22
Total Access Special Report - Country Profile: PortugalSovereign Total AccessTAOther03-Jun-2206/03/22
May 2022 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-May-2205/30/22
The Blue Card: European Residency for ProfessionalsSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Feb-2202/15/22
December 2021 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Dec-2112/29/21
The Ultimate Plan B Guide: How To Be Free in an Unfree WorldSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper24-Nov-2111/24/21
10 Residency Options for Digital Entrepreneurs, Freelancers & Remote EmployeesSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Oct-2110/15/21
European Citizenships by Ancestry: Part I (Southern Europe)Sovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper05-Oct-2110/05/21
August 2021 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Aug-2108/30/21
Best European Visas for People with Independent MeansSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter17-Jul-2107/17/21
Here Are 15 Factors to Consider Before Your International MoveSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Jun-2106/15/21
Global Cyptocurrency Regulations and Taxation: A RoundupSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert10-Jun-2106/10/21
February 2021 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A26-Feb-2102/26/21
Important incoming changes to the Portuguese Golden Visa programSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert19-Feb-2102/19/21
The Sovereign Man Starter GuideSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper09-Feb-2102/09/21
January 2021 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A29-Jan-2101/29/21
Reporting requirements when applying for residency/citizenship programsSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper25-Jan-2101/25/21
Portugal’s Golden Visa: Real estate in Lisbon, Porto, and coastal areas will soon NOT qualifySovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert11-Jan-2101/11/21
Obtain these foreign residencies without leaving your home countrySovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Dec-2012/15/20
November 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Nov-2011/30/20
Why Portugal has gone from great to amazing option to consider for your Plan BSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert20-Nov-2011/20/20
October 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Oct-2010/30/20
These eight countries are offering 12-month visas or temporary residencies to digital workersSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Sep-2009/15/20
August 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A31-Aug-2008/31/20
July 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A31-Jul-2007/31/20
June 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A01-Jul-2007/01/20
January 2020 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A31-Jan-2001/31/20
Madeira: This island offers low tax and easy access to EuropeSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert24-Jan-2001/24/20
Have a Jewish ancestor? You might qualify for Spanish or Portuguese passportSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert25-Oct-1810/25/18
Best startup programs around the worldSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper05-Oct-1810/05/18
Another Portuguese residency option for retirees and online entrepreneursSovereign ConfidentialSMCCase Study25-Apr-1804/25/18
Portugal and Spain residency visas: Here is how to ditch winter for goodSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert04-Aug-1708/04/17
Golden Visas - a Roundup of Economic Residencies around the WorldSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper06-Jul-1707/06/17
Sovereign Man Country Rankings: The Right Country for YOU, with Simon's insightsSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper06-Apr-1704/06/17
Portugal: A firsthand experience of applying for the Portuguese Golden VisaSovereign ConfidentialSMCCase Study25-Oct-1610/25/16
Meet FATCA’s even nastier cousin: CRSSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert26-Feb-1602/26/16
SMC Comprehensive Residency Update: 2015 EditionSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert03-Mar-1503/03/15
Portugal: A Fast Track to EU Residency (and a tax scheme for current EU nationals)Sovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert10-Aug-1408/10/14

Articles featuring Portugal

Second Residency

Portugal introduces new Jobseeker Visa in 2022

Looking to move to Portugal and work there, but don’t have an offer of employment yet? Thanks to the introduction of a new jobseeker visa category, you’ll soon be able to enter the country for up to six months while you look for employment. Let’s get into the details below… Considering Portugal as your Plan […]
Trends & News

How to Start a New Life in Portugal for Under $300,000

Could you imagine yourself owning a quiet countryside home in an area of southern Europe with a low cost of living? What if living there legally allowed you to pay NO income taxes for the next ten years? And you could do it all for €300,000 or less (currently about $294,500 USD)… Something like this […]
Second Citizenship

Getting Citizenship By Descent in Portugal in 2023

Got Portuguese parents, grandparents or earlier ancestors? In today’s episode, we unpack how you can get Citizenship By Descent in Portugal — for next to nothing… Join Sovereign Confidential to… Getting Portuguese Citizenship By Descent In a recent Knowledge Series episode, we looked at Greece as a Citizenship By Ancestry destination. In today’s installment, we […]
New Portugal Golden Visa Investment Options
Second Residency

Introducing Portugal's New Artistic Production Golden Visa

PLEASE NOTE: The Portuguese authorities announced serious changes to their Golden Visa program on February 16, 2023. Here’s the details on the latest program changes. The Portuguese Golden Visa has been a class-leading program for the past decade. But given the latest announcement and present uncertainties around how and when the program will end, caution […]

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