A third heat wave is coming to Portugal on Saturday, August 20, and will last until September. Minister Jose Luis Carneiro warns that the high temperatures increase the fire risk.
Carneiro says that September is expected to be “50% to 60% hotter than previous years and 40% drier”. He also says that the fire period could last as long as October.
The Directorate‑General of Health of Portugal has published the following protection measures against the heat:
People should stay in cold and ventilated spaces
Increase water consumption and/or drink natural fruit juices without sugar
Avoid alcoholic drinks
Avoid direct sun exposure, particularly between 11 AM and 5 PM
Use loose clothing that covers most of the body, large hats, and sunglasses
Avoid physical activity outside
Special attention to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant people, etc.
Children under six months old should not face direct or indirect sun exposure
Back in July, Portugal saw its hottest summer yet as temperatures reached 47ºC in some areas in the country.
This third heat wave worries the Portuguese Institution of the Ocean and the Atmosphere. The President, Jorge Miguel Miranda says that preventive action is necessary or the fire situation will get more complex. He even gave examples of the fires in Australia and California.
Earlier this week, the fire in Serra da Estrela destroyed 16% of the Natural Park. Miranda says that although every fire is different, “we are living in a complicated monument in our climate history.”
Portugal has a distinct set of social norms and etiquette rules. To internationals, these might seem intimidating and even exaggerated. But to the Portuguese, they are a part of daily life and norms that are no longer questioned. If you are visiting Portugal or moving to the country, many of these might surprise you.
While you are not expected to change your way of life and adapt all the social customs and etiquette rules of Portugal, being aware of them will make your life easier. From greetings and dining etiquette to gift giving, let’s look at the do’s and dont’s of Portuguese social etiquette.
Greetings in Portugal
Portuguese greetings are one of Portugal’s most important parts of social etiquette. If you are going to stick to one thing, stick to greetings.
Greetings in Portugal are highly gendered. Men greet each other by shaking hands. If they are close friends, they might shake hands with a pat on the back, like a half hug. They might also give two kisses, one on each cheek if they are related. This depends on a particular family’s dynamic.
Women greet men and other women with two kisses. The first kiss goes on the right cheek and the second on the left. However, it is common for women to shake hands in a professional setting.
However, it can get a bit complicated. In some areas of Lisbon, some people only give one kiss on the cheek. You will have to figure out which friends do this, or you will be left awkwardly hanging. Many argue that those who give one kiss are what is considered “posh” in Portugal.
In big cities, strangers do not usually greet each other in passing, but this depends on your neighborhood. In smaller villages, this is customary. Use bom dia (good morning), boa tarde (good afternoon), or boa noite (good night), depending on the time of day. Use these greetings if you are running into a neighbor on an elevator or outside your house.
Portuguese Dress Code
Regarding the Portuguese dress code, we believe it’s up to you what you wear. Whether you are living in Portugal or visiting, you should express yourself in whatever way you see fit. However, if you want to know the dress code in Portugal, let’s take a look.
It’s been known that Portuguese people equate nice clothing with status. Many can’t afford expensive clothes but will still purchase them. However, this does not necessarily apply to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton or Gucci. Such displays of wealth are often frowned upon if they are not discrete. This does not mean that you can’t have a luxury bag, but pieces such as a Versace coat with the logo all over are seen as tacky.
The Portuguese dress in a casual and elegant style. Jeans are very popular, but they are usually smart and clean. Shirts are typical in the summer, particularly linen ones for both men and women. Dresses are also worn year-round, but particularly in the warmer months. People of all ages wear sneakers, but they are usually well taken care of and clean.
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It’s common for people to dress up and men to wear suits to work (usually without a tie). Heels are usually worn on special occasions such as weddings, graduations, and black tie parties.
“Revealing clothes” on women are often frowned upon, especially by the older generation. However, younger women tend to wear whatever they want. We suggest you do the same, regardless of age!
We have noticed that American women often take to Facebook groups to ask whether leggings are worn in Portugal? While they were more common in the early 2010s, recently, they are not perceived as “stylish.” But again, wear whatever makes you comfortable!
Gift Giving in Portugal
Gift giving is significant in Portugal. Gifts are a sign of respect, not bribes. In a business environment, it’s common for companies to send gifts to their business clients and partners, usually in the form of gift baskets. Gifts typically include spirits, whiskey, Port wine, or coffee table books.
This is particularly common for Christmas. You are expected to thank the person for the gift, and an extra thank you note is welcomed.
Photo by Dmitry Mashkin (Unsplash)
If you receive a wrapped gift in person, you should open it immediately and thank them. If you are close with the person, usually you would give two kisses to express gratitude.
Bring a gift whenever you are invited to someone’s house for dinner. It doesn’t have to be something expensive; a bottle of wine or dessert will do. If your host says you don’t need to bring anything, do so anyway.
Rejecting any gift is seen as very offensive. Make sure that if you give a gift, never give 13 of that same gift, such as 13 flowers. The number 13 is a bad omen in Portugal, and many older people take this seriously. Some hotels don’t even have rooms with the number 13.
Dining Etiquette in Portugal
Dining etiquette in Portugal can be a bit daunting for first-timers, but you will easily get the hang of it.
The host usually decides where people sit if you are having dinner at someone’s house. You don’t start eating until everyone is served. It’s common for the host to say “bom apetite” or “bom proveito” to signal everyone can start eating.
It gets a bit confusing when it comes to utensils. The knife is held on the right hand and the fork on the left. Do not only use a fork to eat, this is considered rude. The smaller fork and spoon above your plate are for dessert.
When you are done, the knife and fork are set parallel to each other on the plate. This signals to your host or waiter that you are finished. If you are not yet finished, you can lay your cutlery down on either side of the plate. This way, a waiter won’t take your plate.
Photo by Jonathan Borba (Unsplash)
While dipping bread in a sauce is delicious, it is bad etiquette to do so with your hands in fancier settings. Cut a bit of bread using your hands and then use your fork to dip it in a sauce.
Napkins are usually placed on your lap while eating, especially if it’s made of cloth. When you are done with your meal, fold it before putting it down on the table.
Who pays the bill in Portugal? This varies, but it is usually the one who does the inviting that pays the bill, particularly for adults over 40. However, younger people often just split the bill.
Lunches and dinners often go on until later. Forget a quick meal, this is not common unless you tell them you have to be somewhere. It’s commonplace for guests to enjoy coffee after a meal and socialize. Especially if it is a traditional family lunch, known as an almoco de familia, a meal that starts at 1 pm will easily end at 5 or 6 pm. These family lunches are common in Portugal, especially on Sundays.
Public Displays of Affection (PDA) in Portugal
PDA is often frowned upon in Portugal. This doesn’t obviously include holding hands, hugging, and a quick kiss. However, intense kissing is disrespectful and will get you lots of stares. People might actually come up to you and call this behavior out.
However, sadly, what is considered acceptable PDA does not apply to everyone in a traditional society. Although Portugal has been making progress regarding LGBT rights, it is common for gay couples holding hands to get harassed.
Arriving Late
If you have Portuguese friends, you know they are often late to plans. Booking an 8 pm reservation often means they will be there at 8:30. This is generally accepted but, in excess, can be quite rude.
While not being on time for social events is commonplace, this is seen as unprofessional in the business world.
Talking About Money in Portugal
If you have lived in places like the Netherlands, where you will be often asked the price of your rent, Portuguese culture can come as a shock. It is not socially acceptable to ask people you don’t know well how much they paid for a product or the price of their house.
Definitely never ask someone their salary as this is even frowned upon among family members and close friends.
The fire in Serra da Estrela began on August 6 and has already destroyed 16% of the natural park, reports CNN Portugal. The fire reactivated on Monday, and over 1,300 firefighters were at the scene by Tuesday night. The areas of Manteigas, Covilha, and Guarda have been affected.
A total of 14,000 hectares have been destroyed, and all of the burnt trees will have to be taken down.
Andre Fernandes, the national commander of the Civil Protection said in a press conference that the fire has “a violent behavior, in many areas with an elevated intensity.”
Various villages were evacuated as people fleed their homes to safety. 24 people were injured in the fire in Serra da Estrela, three people seriously.
A large fire has just resumed in central Portugal, in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fire was the largest in the country in four years: more than 17,000 hectares were engulfed in flames. pic.twitter.com/poH53Lp4Nr
Along with the fire in Serra da Estrela, around 50 municipalities in the north, center, Alentejo, and the Algarve are classified under maximum fire risk.
This year, 68 people have been arrested under suspicion of starting forest fires, 16 more than last year. A lot of these cases are not deliberate.
For example, in Albufeira, the police arrested a 50-year-old that started a “queimada” (small controlled fire to fertilize soil or burn unnecessary plants), and the situation got out of control.
Portugal is set to enter a third heat wave on August 20.
According to the Portuguese Institute of the Ocean and Atmosphere, the next few days will be hotter, and temperatures could reach 40 degrees. This will make fighting fires harder.
Thousands have been making the choice every year to relocate their lives to the Mediterranean country of Portugal. Between 2011 and 2021, Portugal’s immigrant population increased by a whopping 40%.
With a population of around 10 million people and thousands of kilometers of coastal shore, this small country is making strides as one of the top places to relocate to in Europe. Moving to Portugal is a life-changing decision that allows you to enjoy a relatively affordable cost of living while maintaining a high quality of life.
Portugal boasts more than 300 days of sun, a relatively warm climate all year long, and beautiful natural landscapes. Whether you are looking to move to a coastal town, rural area, or a major city such as Lisbon, preparation is key.
Our Ultimate Guide to Moving to Portugal has everything you need to know. From how to find housing and the work culture to taxes and the cost of living, this guide makes sure you are more than prepared to relocate.
If you are considering moving to Portugal, here are some pros and cons commonly expressed by immigrants that relocated to the country.
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Pros
(Mostly) free public healthcare
Free public education in Portuguese
300+ days of sun
Arguably affordable
NHR tax regime
Attractive visas
Large international community
Cons
No central heating or AC in most houses
Bureaucracy
High energy bills
Overcrowndess due to tourism in Spring and Summer (Main cities & Algarve)
Learning Portuguese is helpful for government services
Cost of Living in Portugal
The cost of living in Portugal will vary by city. Let’s take a look at the average cost of living for Lisbon and Porto. Keep these in mind if you are planning to move to Portugal, but it’s much cheaper to live in rural areas.
While in cities like Porto and Lisbon a single person can live with around €1,500, in other areas €1,000 is enough (after tax). If you make more than €2,000 a month, you can live very comfortably in Portugal.
Cost of Living in Lisbon
Lisbon is around 40% less expensive than Amsterdam and London.
For a single person, expect to need a bit less than €1,500. Let’s take a look at these costs:
Housing & Utilities: You can get a one-bedroom in the city center for around €830, but this can go up to €1,000. Utilities, including electricity, wifi, etc, won’t cost you more than €150 a month.
Transportation: Public transport is extremely affordable at €50 a month.
Groceries: Food shops should not run you more than €200 a month.
Healthcare: You can use the national health service (SNS) as a legal resident. If you want to access private healthcare, insurance is around €50 a month.
Eating Out & Leisure: Budget around €200 a month for restaurants, concerts, going out, and any leisure activity.
Cost of Living in Porto
Porto is more affordable than other European cities, including Lisbon, due to the rent in particular. Porto’s rent prices are 20% lower than in Lisbon and a whopping 65% lower than in London.
For a single person, expect to need a bit less than €1,300. Let’s take a look at these costs:
Housing & Utilities: A one-bedroom will cost you around €700 in rent a month, while some can cost up to €1000 or more. Utilities are around €140.
Transportation: A monthly transport pass costs around €35 which is a lot more affordable than renting a car and paying for fuel.
Groceries: Your grocery budget is around €200 a month.
Healthcare: You can use the national health service (SNS) as a legal resident. If you want to access private healthcare, insurance is around €50 a month.
Eating Out & Leisure: Budget at least €150 for eating out in restaurants and exploring the city’s culture and nightlife.
Housing in Portugal
Whether you are looking to rent or buy in Portugal, the housing market has seen a boom all over the country. While prices are perceived as affordable to many expats, these are detrimental to the cost of living for the general population.
When moving to Portugal, you should figure out if you are looking to purchase real estate or rent to a landlord. Purchasing a house can have visa benefits in some areas, but we will get into that later on.
Before we get into it, just known that central heating is extremely rare in most Portuguese houses.
Photo by Jack Krier (Unsplash)
Renting in Portugal
Finding a rental: Adverts
You will likely have to look for an apartment or house to rent online, as, without the right connections in Portugal, word of mouth will be difficult.
When you’re searching online, you might be shocked to find that most adverts include little information. Many might just say “T1 available in Leiria” without the price and with a low-quality photo.
You will have to contact the person directly. We recommend calling rather than sending an email!
Can you negotiate rent prices in Portugal?
In Portugal, rent prices are usually negotiable. It is never seen as rude to try to negotiate. However, it can be harder to negotiate your rent price down in Lisbon, particularly between February and October when landlords rent to tourists for shorter periods.
A discount of around 10% is a lot of times possible. Just make sure not to accept any shady deals without a contract to save money. We’ll explain this in the next section.
Lack of Contracts
An unusual factor about the renting culture in Portugal is that you might not get offered a contract which is not advisable.
Many landlords choose not to declare their rental income with the tax authorities. These do not pay the tax for non-tourism properties, which is set at 28%. This is obviously illegal.
As a tenant, you will have no protection against rent increases and the security of your deposit. If you need a rental contract for a residency permit, this is also a huge issue.
While you could get a 28% discount on your rent, your tenant rights won’t be ensured.
Tenant Rights
Having an official contract will make sure your tenancy rights are protected under Portuguese law. Portugal is one of the best countries to live in regarding tenant rights. Tenancy laws in Portugal tend to favor tenants as it can be hard for landlords to evict tenants on long-term contracts.
Let’s take a look at some of your rights as a tenant in Portugal:
People living in a place for over 15 years that are over 65 years old or people living with disabilities cannot get evicted
Protection laws against harassment and discrimination by a landlord
If a landlord needs to renovate a home and the tenant needs to leave the space to do so, the landlord must find temporary accommodation for the tenant in the same region.
The tenant also has the right to be refunded for any paid renovations that are necessary.
Tenants in Portugal have the right to live in a rental with their family up to the third degree and their partners.
Tenants can also have three extra guests at any time.
Rental Contracts
What do you need for a rental contract in Portugal?
To rent an apartment in Portugal, you will need your Individual Tax Identification Number, also known as a NIF, and your identification documents.
A rental contract in Portugal, known as a Contrato de Arrendamento, is the same as anywhere else, a document establishing the duties and rights of the landlord and tenant.
A rental contract will include:
The identification of the landlord and tenant, including date of birth, nationality, and civil status
The address of the house
The number and date of the house’s license
The rent amount and when it must be paid. It might also include whether the rent can be altered. If not, the rent will be altered per inflation rates
The date of the contract
Rental Deposits and Guarantors
A rental deposit in Portugal usually amounts to two months’ rent. However, many landlords also require a guarantor, also known as a fiador. If you can’t provide a fiador, you might be asked to many a lot more rent upfront, usually 6 to 12 months.
A guarantor is someone who will be legally obliged to pay your rent if you are unable to pay the landlord. The guarantor must be Portuguese, which can be tough if you are new to the country. They must also prove that they have the financial means, usually by submitting tax returns or payment slips.
However, a bank can also be your guarantor for a fee through a service called Garantia Bancária.
Buying a House in Portugal
If rather than renting, you can afford to buy a house in Portugal, this could be a great choice.
Although during the 2008 economic crisis, the Portuguese real estate market was hit hard, today, buying property in Portugal won’t only provide you with a home but a sound investment. The real estate market has been growing in value all around the country.
Buying a home could potentially even land you Portuguese citizenship if you are eligible to apply for a Portugal Golden Visa.
To buy a house in Portugal, all you need is a VAT identification number, known as a número de identificação fiscal (NIF) or número de contribuinte in Portugal. Anyone can get this by opening a Portuguese bank account or through a tax office in the country.
The best way to buy real estate is to contact a Portuguese real estate agency for help. You can also check out houses and their prices on Idealista.
What are some good real estate agencies in Portugal?
If you are not yet a resident, this impacts how much you can borrow for a mortgage. Non-residents will only be offered loans up to 65-75% of the value of the home or the sale price (whichever is lower), while fiscal residents can borrow up to 90% of the sale price (whichever higher).
Most banks will also not allow your existing debts and your new mortgage payments to go over 35% of your monthly income. Portuguese banks will usually give you a mortgage that runs for 25 years, sometimes up to 30.
When applying for a mortgage with a bank, make sure to get proposals from multiple banks so you can find the best deal. These are written in Portuguese, so hire a translator.
Here are some mortgage-related fees that you might need to pay:
Deed registration: 1%
Mortgage arrangement: 1%
Mortgage administration: 1%
Non-refundable commitment fee: around €600
Survey and appraisal: €500–€800
Legal fees (optional): at least €1,000
You’ll also need to gather the following documents to apply for a Portuguese mortgage:
ID
Current proof of residency
Proof of income
Documentation of existing rent, mortgage, and debt obligations
Bank statements (last 60 days)
Proof of deposit (last 60 days)
Property details (Contract, property plan, or more)
Property Taxes: How much tax do you pay for buying a house in Portugal?
Property owners in Portugal need to pay three main taxes to the government:
1. Municipal Property Tax (IMI)
The IMI translates to Imposto Municipal Sobre Imóveis. The IMI rate differs by the municipality, and the money is invested into public infrastructure. This is why areas with larger houses tend to have more funds to invest in infrastructure, such as Cais.
The IMI rates usually range from 0.3% to 0.45%. To calculate the IMI, you multiply the value of the tax asset with the IMI rate. The IMI is paid yearly in your finance portal.
You must pay the IMI every year. For example, if your property is valued at €500,000 and you live in the municipality of Cascais with a rate of 0.34%, then your yearly IMI is €1,700. You can see the house’s value in the property’s caderneta, and it is often not the value you paid for it but lower.
You can be exempted from the IMI if your annual taxable income of the whole household does not surpass €15,295.
2. Property Purchase Tax (IMT)
The IMT is also known as the Imposto Municipal sobre as Transmissões Onerosas de Imóveis. This tax is paid when a house is bought in Portugal, so it is a one-time payment for buying a house.
The rate of the IMT will depend on the type and value of the property, as well as whether this property is a principal or secondary residence.
This is how you calculate the IMT = value of the deed or net worth tax (the larger amount) x rate – tax reduction. You won’t have to pay IMT if you buy a house in mainland Portugal and the price doesn’t exceed €92,407.
IMT usually will range between 2% to 8%, depending on the case. However, properties acquired by companies located in a “blacklisted jurisdiction” pay 10% for IMT.
3. Tax on Stamps (IS)
You’ll also need to pay an Imposto de Selo, a stamp tax on contracts, loans, documents, and more. The rate also changes depending on the property and task, but it is usually between 0.4% and 0.8%.
For example, for a mortgage of five years, the stamp duty tax is 0.6%.
Step by Step: Buying a House in Portugal
Where to Live in Portugal
Portuguese cities are welcoming internationals with open hands, many even having thriving expat scenes to make sure you will not feel alone. From seaside views to a countryside or cosmopolitan life, here are our top 5 places to live in Portugal.
With 87 different nationalities, the capital of Portugal provides a high quality of life for those coming from abroad. Lisbon has heavily invested in public infrastructure and has quality schools, transportation, and hospitals. Lisbon also has a thriving cultural and nightlife scene, with excellent museums, restaurants, bars, and clubs.
The second-largest city after Lisbon, many expats, digital nomads, and retirees from abroad live in Porto. Porto essentially has everything Lisbon offers but has a lower cost of living. From a UNESCO World Heritage historical center to one of the best cuisines in the country, Porto is one of the best cities in Portugal to live in.
Less than 15 kilometers from Lisbon, Sintra is known for stunning properties that once belonged to royal families and romantic greenery. You can find some of the most beautiful properties in Sintra, particularly if you’re looking for a countryside life, where you are still close to the hustle and bustle of the town center.
Located on the Portuguese Riviera, Cascais is one of the richest municipalities in the whole of Portugal. Cascais has a 30-kilometer seacoast with some of the best beaches in the country, as well as quality restaurants and the largest casino in Europe. This place is a top choice to raise a family due to its nature, clean parks, and quality public schools.
Located on the island of Madeira, Funchal is the home to many internationals, particularly retirees, due to its year-round sunny weather. The city is built between mountainous cliffs, offering views of the Atlantic ocean. If you want to live the island life but still experience a city environment, Funchal is the place for you. It has some of the best weather on the island due to its location in the South, having the most hours of sunlight in Madeira.
Portugal takes 12th place in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s ranking of healthcare systems. Portugal has quality healthcare available at both the private and public level, the latter through the Servico Nacional de Saude (SNS).
Remember that the emergency number in Portugal is 112, which connects you to an ambulance, police, and fire services.
Public Healthcare
All residents in Portugal can access universal healthcare, which is mostly free. The public health system occasionally charges low amounts (less than 20 euros) for particular treatments, prescriptions, and specialists. However, children under 18 and people over 65 can enjoy 100% free healthcare.
To access public healthcare, you must register with your local council, called a junta de freguesia. After successfully registering with your health center, you will be given a Portuguese healthcare numero, a numero de utente. This number will be used whenever you access public healthcare services.
Private Healthcare
Residents can also choose to access the private sector if they prefer. The private sector is naturally an added cost, but that can be covered through medical insurance.
Private healthcare is less expensive than in most countries, with an appointment costing around €40 to €50. However, certain doctors will charge higher prices at around €100, particularly specialists such as dermatologists.
The average price for health insurance is around €50, but again this can increase depending on various factors such as age and existing illnesses.
Public schools in Portugal are 100% free. However, while English is taught as a second language, the education is provided in Portuguese. Portugal has a diverse range of private international schools with curriculums from all over the world, such as the American High School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
However, keep in mind that the tuition for these can range anywhere between €7,000 to almost €20,000 a year, depending on the school.
If you want your children to be enrolled in an international school, here are our top three favorites:
1. Deutsche Schule Lissabon – German School, Lisbon
Founded in 1848, this German-speaking school is the second oldest German school in a foreign country. Despite its quality of education, it is one of the most affordable out of our favorite international schools.
The school has a little over 1,000 students and a staff of 145 teachers and educators. Made up of 8 buildings, the primary school and social sciences have their own buildings. The school also has a library with around 12,000 books, 2 IT rooms, an auditorium, as well as a pool and terrace.
2. St Julian’s School, Carcavelos
Founded in 1932, St Julian’s is the largest British International School in Portugal with a strong record of academic achievements with around 45 different nationalities. For those 17 and 18 years old, the school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), a prestigious diploma. A
long with an international curriculum, the school has a Portuguese section where children between the ages of 6 and 15 can access the Portuguese national curriculum.
3. Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL), Sintra
CAISL has over 700 students of 57 different nationalities. The curriculum includes an American collegial preparatory leading to the American High School Diploma with the option of pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) in the last two years of high school. Students who opt for the IB Diploma will also graduate with an American High School Diploma.
CAISL has a library media center with over 40,000 print items, fully equipped science laboratory classrooms, art, and music classrooms, a state-of-the-art 450-seat theater, cafeteria, and snack bar, 1400m2 covered gymnasium, as well as more than 10,000m2 of outdoor sports fields.
In the last few years, there has been a growth of internationals working in Portugal, making up 3.2% of the working population in Portugal. However, this is still quite low in comparison to other European countries. Let’s take a look at what you can expect trying to find work in Portugal.
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How to find a job in Portugal?
Portugal is still recovering from the 2008 economic crisis so finding a job isn’t always easy. However, if you have the right academic qualifications and past work experience, you can find a good job in Portugal, although salaries are not high.
Most jobs in Portugal require you to speak Portuguese. However, there are many jobs out there, particularly in larger companies, that also tend to pay better salaries that are English speaking. You can also live and work in Portugal remotely as many companies offer this opportunity.
To find a job in Portugal, we suggest searching on the following websites:
Portuguese salaries are low. In 2020, the average grossmonthly salary in Portugal was €1,314, around €18,000 yearly (including holiday bonuses). Considering the average salary in the US is at least €50,000 and in the UK, it’s around €40,000, Portugal falls behind.
However, if you can find a job in certain industries and positions, you could make more money. The highest salaries are attributed to managerial positions in operations general management (Tourism), medical management, legal counsel, purchasing management, and industrial boardroom positions. Many in top management positions, particularly in Lisbon, are making over six figures.
What’s the minimum salary in Portugal?
In 2021, the national minimum wage in Portugal was around €775 per month, and €9,310 per year (with 12 payments per year). The minimum wage has risen in the last few years. In 2010, the minimum wage in Portugal was less than €550.
Labor Rights in Portugal
Even if you are not a Portuguese citizen, you have the same rights as a worker in regard to salary, working conditions, and social security. Let’s take a look at some of your labor rights and laws working in Portugal:
Minimum working age of 16
Maximum work week 40 hours
Maximum daily work period 8 hours
At least one day of rest a week
Night work pay increased by 25%
Work on a rest day or public holiday leads to 50% wage increase
22 working days of holidays + 12 mandatory public holidays + 2 optional holidays
Christmas allowance, which is a 13th-month salary. Paid by December 15
The Portuguese tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Workers must complete their tax returns for 2021 between 1 April and 30 June 2022. Self-employed people can pay their tax in three installments, July, September, and December.
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Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax Regime
If you are moving to Portugal, you might be eligible for the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime. The NHR tax regime in Portugal attracts thousands of residents by offering reduced tax rates and even full tax exemptions for the first ten years of residence. The NHR tax regime was introduced in 2009 and is available to all new tax residents in Portugal that were not tax residents in Portugal for the 5 years prior.
Income Tax under NHR
Those who work in Portugal (freelance or regular employment) under the NHR tax regime only pay a 20% flat rate on personal income tax (IRS). To be considered “high value”, the job must be related to activities of scientific, artistic, or technical character. See what you would save below with a high-value tax rate under the regime. Below, you can see how much you would save under this regime.
You will also not pay any tax on dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains, rental income from real estate outside Portugal, and income from employment in another country.
Known as IVA in Portuguese, VAT is paid by consumers when purchasing goods and services. The seller receives the VAT and then pays it to the tax authorities.
The VAT rate varies around Portugal. For mainland Portugal, the rates are either 6%, 13%, and most commonly 23%. In the Azores, the VAT rate is either 5%, 10%, or 18%. In Madeira, the VAT rate is either 5%, 12%, or 22%.
Self-employed people and companies that produce, market, or provide products and services in Portugal must pay the VAT to tax authorities.
Corporate Tax in Portugal
Corporate tax is set at a flat rate of 21% on taxable profit, slightly below the EU average. Small and medium-sized businesses paid a discount fee of 17% in mainland Portugal, 11.9% in Madeira, and 12.5% in other areas on their first €25,000 of taxable profit.
If your company turns over more than €10,000 a year, you’ll need to pay VAT. Along with corporate tax, you need to pay a surcharge to your local municipality, at around 1.5% on the profit charged by the regional municipality.
Social Security Contributions
If you are working in Portugal, either employed or self-employed, you will also have to pay social security, which will one day assure you a retirement pension.
The Portuguese Social Security is a system that also secures the basic rights of citizens and ensures equality in opportunities, providing measures of support such as unemployment allowances, paternal leave, and other financial support.
Employees pay 11%, while their employers pay 23.75%. Those who are self-employed pay 21.4%.
If you are an EU national, you do not need a visa to move to Portugal. However, if you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, the most famous Long Stay Residency visas in Portugal are the Golden Visa,D7 Visa, and D2 Visa.
All of these visas share similar benefits. From being able to travel freely within the Schengen area, being able to study and work in Portugal, family reunification, and eventually being eligible for Portuguese citizenship, the perks are endless.
For a more detailed look at each visa, take a look at our guides for each: Golden Visa,D7 Visa, and D2 Visa.
The Portugal Golden Visa might be suitable for you if you have the funds to make an investment in the country. It allows non-EU citizens to get a long-term residency permit and eventually citizenship.
There are five types of investments with different capital requirements: real estate, investment fund, capital transfer, job creation, and donation.
Real Estate: Purchase real estate in a low-density area of Portugal for €400,000 or a property that is over 30 years old in an urban rehabilitation area and renovate it for at least €350,000. You can also just purchase property for €500,000 with fewer restrictions. (Lisbon, Porto, and coastal towns are no longer eligible)
Investment Fund: Spend a minimum of a €500,000 subscription in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund that supports Portuguese businesses.
Capital Transfer: This is the most expensive option, a €1.5 million capital transfer. You must show proof of bank transfer deposits to Portugal from a foreign account that adds up to this amount.
Job Creation: Either create a minimum of ten new full-time jobs in a Portuguese business that you own or invest a minimum of €500,000 in an already existing Portuguese business and create a minimum of five new full-time jobs in that business within three years.
Donation: Invest a minimum of €250,000 in preserving national heritage in Portugal or invest a minimum of €500,000 in a research and development activity in Portugal.
The Portugal D7 Visa also called the Retirement or Passive Income Visa s suitable for remote workers and retirees. It requires no investment!
This visa is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who have a reasonable passive income. This income can come from real estate, a retirement pension, a salary, etc.
The minimum passive income required is €8,460 per year for the main applicant. For a spouse, you must add 50% to this (€4,230), and for a dependent child, you must add 30% to this (€2,538).
The Portugal D2 Visa is offered to entrepreneurs, freelancers, or independent service providers from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland looking to reside in Portugal.
If you want to start a business or startup in Portugal, transfer your existing one to Portugal, and invest in a business in Portugal, this could be the visa for you.
To be eligible, one must invest in the company’s share capital, which immigration firms advise should be at least €50,000.
You must also show that you have the financial ability to sustain yourself while living in Portugal and apply with a viable business plan.
The weather in Portugal is all around moderate, but it still varies by location. Mainland Portugal has a Mediterranean climate, with average temperatures of 10-12°C in the north, mostly mountainous, and 16-18 °C in the southern lowlands.
Madeira and Azores, on the other hand, tend to be wetter and hotter due to their geographical location. You can read more information about the average temperatures in Portugal.
The climate also varies by season:
Winter: High levels of rainfall in the northwest, drier in northeastern regions with snow. The Central region is usually wet and humid, while the south is warmer.
Spring: Rain in the first half of spring all over the house, and then sun and warmth come at moderate temperatures.
Summer: Hottest time of year in Portugal. Extreme temperatures in central and south of Portugal with a chance of wildfires. Very little rain in these parts, except in the north.
Over 215 million people around the world speak Portuguese, and it is the 6th most spoken language in the world. While you do not necessarily need to learn Portuguese if you are not planning on staying long, if you are moving long-term, this is advised.
Although most young adults in main cities indeed speak Portuguese, this is not the case for everyone. You will also find that accessing government services without knowing the language is very difficult.
Here are other platforms to learn Portuguese online:
Portugal has a distinct set of social norms and etiquette rules that have been passed down for generations. If you are moving to Portugal for the first time, many of these might surprise you. It is your choice whether you would like to abide by these, of course. Some of them are highly traditional and gendered. Here are some general Portuguese social etiquette rules:
Men greet each other by shaking hands. If they are close friends, they might shake hands with a pat on the back, like a half hug.
Women greet men and other women with two kisses. The first kiss goes on the right cheek and the second on the left.
Strangers do not usually greet each other in passing in large cities, but they usually do in smaller villages.
Gifts are a sign of respect, not bribes. In a business environment, it’s common for companies to send gifts to their business clients.
Rejecting any gift is seen as very offensive.
Bring a gift for the host if you are going to someone’s house for dinner. This can be a bottle of wine or dessert.
Talking about how much money you make is frowned upon. Never ask people about their salary.
Arriving late to personal gatherings is normalized, but doing so at professional ones is seen as rude.
Pilots and hundreds of other TAP Air Portugal workers organized a silent protest in Lisbon on Tuesday. The protest was organized by various aviation unions in Portugal, including SNPVAC, SPAC, and SITEMA.
At 8:30 AM, the protestors engaged in a “silent walk,” wearing their uniforms or black and white. The walk started in Campo Pequeno and ended at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing to deliver a letter.
This is the first TAP airline protest where pilots, cabin staff, and maintenance technicians join forces.
The protestors were not on the clock during the silent walk. The unions said, “we will once again relinquish our days off and vacations, guaranteeing that no passenger is affected by our protest.”
The unions seek to improve the quality of the service provided and criticize the firing of TAP staff. They also critique the “millions of errors” in the management of TAP, such as the expensive rental of planes.
Football has always been like a religion to the Portuguese. However, first founded in 1914, the Portugal National Football Team was not always successful. Great strides were made along the decades, culminating in a stronger team with iconic players such as Eusebio, Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the Portugal National Team, from a historical timeline and key facts, as well as an overview of the women’s team that has been making great strides recently.
Key Facts about the Portugal National Team
Full name in Portuguese: Seleção Portuguesa de Futebol
Assistant coaches: Ilidio Vale, Nuno Sampaio, Fernando Meira
Goalkeeping coach: Rui Ouriques
Top goalscorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (117), Pauleta (88), Eusebio (64)
Team home kit: Portugal’s traditional home kit is red and green like the Portuguese flag. Alterations have been made over the years, such as dark burgundy and light scarlet.
Team away kit: Portugal’s away kits vary a lot. Usually, they are white with blue shorts or red and green highlights. A fully black kit has also been used.
Portugal National Football Team History & Timeline
1930s
Over 15 years after the Portugal National Football Team was founded, things were not looking well. Portugal was not invited to the 1930 World Cup.
Four years later, Portugal took part in the FIFA World Cup Qualification but failed to eliminate Spain. Again in 1938, Portugal failed to eliminate Syria in the qualification for the World Cup.
The next few decades would not prove very successful for Portuguese football.
1950s – Early 1960s
The largest defeat in Portuguese history happened in the 1950 qualification, where Portugal lost 10-0 to England. Portugal did not qualify again in 1954, losing against Austria with a 9-0 aggregate defeat of two games.
In the 1958 FIFA World Cup Qualification, the Portugal National Football Team won their first qualification match, a 3-0 victory against Italy. Sadly, this was not enough for them to qualify.
In 1960, the European Football Championship was created, but Portugal lost 6-3 on aggregate.
In the 1962 FIFA World Cup Qualification, Portugal was in the group against England and Luxembourg. As only the team that won in that group could qualify, Portugal, making second, did not make it.
Portugal did not qualify again for the second Euro in 1964, losing against Bulgaria.
1966 – 1970s
In 1966, took a twist to the positive. Portugal was able to finally qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1966, topping the group against Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Turkey.
The Portugal National Football Team had their best World Cup to this day, defeating the Soviet Union 2-1 in the third place match. The iconic player Eusebio was the top scorer of the World Cup with nine goals.
Four years later, however, Portugal did not qualify as it finished last in its group. The team also failed to qualify for the 1972 Euro and both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup.
1980s – Early 1990s
The very early ’80s were not great. Portugal did not qualify for the 1980 Euro or 1982 World Cup.
However, by 1984, Portugal qualified for the Euro and actually made it to the semi-final against France. This match is considered one of the best in the history of the Euro. France scored in the 114th and 119th minutes, eliminating Portugal 3-2.
Portugal qualified for the 1986 World Cup for the first time since 1966. However, during the competition, the team went on a strike due to the Saltillo Affair, refusing to train between their first and second games, and were later eliminated after a loss to Morocco.
The Saltillo Affair was when the Portuguese Federation accused players of doing, although tests later proved this to be untrue.
Portugal did not qualify for the 1988 and 1992 Euro, as well as the 1990 and 1994 World Cup.
1995 – 2006
While the last 90s were not incredible, the team between 1995 and 2006 is known as the “golden generation.” The team consisted of young players who had won the FIFA U-20 in 1989 and 1991.
While Portugal did not qualify for the 1998 World Cup, it made it to the 2000 Euro but were eliminated in the semi-finals against France 2-1.
Portugal did not make it to the 2002 World Cup. There were many media reports of unprofessionalism and bad attitude by the players. Manager António Oliveira was fired after the World Cup.
The UEFA Euro 2004 was hosted in Portugal, and Luiz Felipe Scolari managed the team. Portugal made it all the way to the final with Greece but lost 1-0. Cristiano Ronaldo was selected for the UEFA Euro All Stars Team that year as his career progressed.
In the 2006 World Cup, Portugal reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1966 but lost 1-0 against France. Portugal won the “Most Entertaining Team” award for their performance in the World Cup.
2006 – 2014
The post-golden generation period saw mixed results, as many young players left their international careers. Portugal qualified for the 2008 Euro but lost a quarter-final with Germany 3-2. After the Euro, Scolari went to Chelsea, and Carlos Queiroz took over the Portugal national team.
In the 2010 World Cup, Portugal beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in a play-off but later lost to Spain in the round of 16, 1–0.
Carlos Queiroz eventually got fired after a series of scandals such as blocking doping testing and being insulting to testers. Paulo Bento took over as head coach.
Portugal qualified for the 2012 Euro, later defeating the Czech Republic 1-0 in the quarter-finals. However, they lost the semi-final against Spain as Portugal lost 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 tie.
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Portugal was drawn into Group G with the US, Germany, and Ghana. Their first match against Germany was the worst defeat in World Cup history at 4-0. While they won 2-1 against Ghana, Portugal was eliminated as it had an inferior goal difference to the US, despite a 2-2 tie with the team.
2014 – Present Day
2016 was one of the best years for the Portugal National Team, with the team winning the Euro that year. However, the qualifiers began badly as Portugal lost 0-1 at home against Albania in 2014. Bento was dismissed and replaced by Fernando Santos.
The team then qualified as group winners and advanced into the knockout stage. Portugal beat Croatia 1-0, Poland 5-3, and Wales 2-0 in the semi-finals.
The final was against France. At the beginning of the game, Ronaldo got injured but was replaced by Eder. To everyone’s surprise, he scored a goal in the 109th minute, winning the Euro!
Fans celebrating the Euro 2016 victory in Little Portugal.
In the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Portugal made it to the semi-finals but lost to Chile, but then beat Mexico in the third place game.
Portugal qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but was eliminated in the round of 16 in a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay.
In 2018, Portugal was announced as the host of the Nations League Finals, as it won against Italy and Poland in the UEFA Nations League. Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the finals in Porto, with Goncalo Guedes scoring the only goal in the 60th minute.
While Portugal successfully qualified for the Euro 2020, the team finished 13th overall after winning against Hungary, drawing with France, and losing to Germany and Belgium. This was Portugal’s lowest ranking in the history of the Euro.
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Madeira, on February 5, 1985. The Portuguese player is a forward for Manchester United and is the captain of the Portugal national team. To many, he is considered the best soccer player in the world.
Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes. His track record is astonishing, with 32 trophies in his career. Ronaldo holds many records, including for most appearances in a game (183) and goals (140).
He was ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017, as he is the first footballer to earn 1 billion dollars in his career.
The forward began his football career in Sporting CP and then signed with Manchester United at 18. In 2009, he was the most expensive football transfer at the time when he signed with Real Madrid for €94 million.
In 2018, he signed with Juventus in a €100 million transfer. In 2021, he returned to Manchester United, where he remains.
Fernando Santos was born October 10, 1954, in Lisbon, Portugal. He is the manager for the Portugal national team, as well as a former defender.
After retiring as a defender, he became a coach in 1988. Throughout his career, Santos managed Portugal’s Big Three (Benfica, Sporting, and Porto). He won five major titles with Porto and also managed Estoril.
In the early 2000s, he relocated to Greece, where he managed mostly AEK Athens and PAOK. In 2010, he coached the Greek national team for the World Cup and Euro.
In September 2014, he was chosen as the manager of Portugal after the dismissal of Paulo Bento. In 2016, he led the team to the finals with France, where Portugal won its first Euro. He is still the current coach for Portugal and will be leading the team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next winter.
Portugal Women’s National Team
While the Portuguese women’s national football team was left under the radar since its founding, in recent years, it has been making major strides.
In 2017, Portugal qualified for the UEFA Women’s Euro, which was the team’s first appearance in a major tournament. However, they finished last in their group.
In 2019, Portugal finished third in their qualifying group for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Although they were unable to qualify, they worked hard to be able to do so for the UEFA Women’s Euro.
In May 2020, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) released a salary restriction announcement for women’s leagues that was deemed incredibly discriminatory. It established a €550,000 salary cap on women’s clubs.
As a result, female players organized an activist movement called Football Without Gender to draw attention to this. In July, the federation retreated from this initiative after criticism.
In 2022, Portugal qualified for the Women’s Euro due to unique circumstances. Portugal won all the qualifying games except for two against Finland and Scotland. The team reached the play-off stage against Russia but unfortunately lost. However, due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia was banned from the Women’s Euro, and Portugal took its place!
Six Portuguese universities have been included in the Xangai Ranking of the top 1000 universities in the world, reports Lusa. The list, published on Monday, was dominated by universities in the United States, with Harvard coming first for the 20th year in a row.
The following Portuguese universities appeared in the top 1000:
University of Lisbon
University of Porto
University of Aveiro
University of Minho
Nova University Lisbon
University of Coimbra
The University of Lisbon and the University of Porto are ranked among the world’s 201st and 300th best universities.
The University of Aveiro and the University of Minho ranked between the 400th and 500th best universities.
Nova University Lisbon and the University of Coimbra were listed between the 500th and 600th places.
The five best universities in the world according to the ranking are Harvard (100%), Stanford (76.8%), MIT (70.1%), Cambridge (69.6%), and Berkeley (65.3%). 39 North American universities made the top 100.
Over 2000 universities were analyzed to receive their position on the Xangai Ranking. The ranking considers several criteria that differ in weight:
Quality of education: Nobel prizes and medals of alumni (10%)
Quality of faculty: Nobel prizes and medals of staff (20%) and whether the institution has highly cited researchers (20%)
Research output: Published research in fields of Nature and Science (20%) and papers in Science Citation Index-Expanded and Social Science Citation Index (20%)
Per Capita Performance: Per capita academic performance of an institution (10%)
Also known as “the Fortunate,” Manuel I was the King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. Manuel was a member of the House of Aviz, and the Duke of Beja and Viseu before taking the thrown. He became King after the heir to King John II of Portugal’s thrown, Prince Afonso, was killed in 1491.
King Manuel I of Portugal is best known for overseeing the formation of the Portuguese empire with several Portuguese “discoveries” made during his reign. He sponsored Vasco da Gama which led to the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498 and began the Portuguese colonization of the Americas, as well as the establishment of a trade empire across Africa and Asia.
Let’s take a look at the mark King Manuel I made on Portuguese history, from the Portuguese Inquisition and colonization efforts as well as his early life and death.
King Manuel I of Portugal’s Reign
Portuguese Exploration Under King Manuel I
King Manuel I promoted the Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic ocean and the development of trade from resources taken from colonization, such as spices from India. In 1498, his sponsorship of Vasco da Gama led to the discovery of the maritime route to India.
During this trip, Vasco da Gama and the rest of the Portuguese navigators spent over 300 days at sea. They consolidated a monopoly over the Indian spice routes, boosting the Portuguese economy.
However, Vasco da Gama used violent tactics of colonization against indigenous people. Many historians say the Portuguese set this violent standard that was then adopted by other European countries.
In 1500, King Manuel I’s empire also “discovered” Brazil. Pedro Alvares Cabral led the exploration of the northeast coast of South America and claimed it for Portugal. The navigator was on his way to India and landed in Porto Seguro, between Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. Brazil remained a colony part of the Portuguese Empire until the early 19th century.
Throughout that time, indigenous Brazilians were beaten and killed. Predominantly Black men were enslaved on coffee plantations. Gold mining in Brazil became the main economic activity for Portugal in the 18th century, causing many Brazilian activists today to call for their gold back.
King Manuel I also sponsored the discovery of Labrador in 1501 and established the monopolies on maritime trade routes to the Indian Ocean and Persian Golf between 1503 and 1515, among others.
These events made Portugal very rich as it developed a profitable overseas empire and boosted foreign trade. Portugal also allied with other countries for commercial purposes, such as China.
The Portuguese Inquisition & Anti-Semitism
King Manuel I sent missionaries to the new colonies during his reign to forcefully convert indigenous people to Christianity. He was extremely religious and, during this time, ordered the construction of religious infrastructure such as the iconic Monastery of Jeronimos, which is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He also enforced highly anti-Semitic practices. While at the beginning of his reign, he released all the Jews who had been arrested during the reign of King John II, this did not last long.
When he wanted to marry Isabella of Aragon of Spain, her parents persuaded him to persecute Jewish people to allow the marriage to take place. In the marriage contract, King Manuel I agreed to this prosecution.
In 1496, King Manuel I declared that all Jewish people in the kingdom had to convert to Christianity. If they opposed doing so, they would be expelled from Portugal on a ship, losing their children.
Science & Culture
In the context of the Renaissance, King Manuel I reign occurred during the development of the arts, science, and European philosophies in Portugal. There were major improvements in astronomy, cartography, medicine, as well as poetry, music, and painting.
A major proof of this is the introduction of the Manueline style, which remained even after King Manuel I’s death. If you have visited Portugal, chances are you have seen the Manueline architectural style.
This style is a Portuguese variation on the Gothic style, marked by iconography that symbolizes power and includes Italian renaissance ornaments. Some iconic examples include the Monastery of Jeronimos, Belem Tower, and the Convent of Christ.
Belem Tower. Photo by Marin Barisic (Unsplash)
Early Life & Death of King Manuel I
King Manuel I was born on May 31, 1469, in Alcochete to Ferdinand, the Duke of Viseu, and Beatriz of Portugal, the Duchess of Viseu. His family line was a part of the monarchy. His grandfather was Duarte, King of Portugal, and his uncle, Afonso V of Portugal. His mother, Beatriz of Portugal, was the granddaughter of King John I of Portugal.
During his childhood, Manuel I saw the conspiracy within the aristocracy again King John II. Many men from his close circle were exiled or killed, including his older brother Diogo. Therefore, when King John II announced he would take the crown after the death of his son Afonso of Portugal, he was afraid something similar would happen to him.
King Manuel I had three wives. First, Isabella of Aragon who died giving birth to his son Miguel in 1498. Miguel later died in infancy. Manuel I then married Maria of Aragon, who was his first wife’s young sister who then later died in 1517. In 1518, he married Eleanor of Austria, his niece. His two other wives, Isabella and Maria were Eleanor’s maternal aunts.
Manuel I had 12 children in total with the three women. He had nine children with his second wife Maria of Aragon, one child with Isabella, and two children with Eleanor.
King Manuel I died on December 13, 1521, at the age of 52 from the Black Plague. Before showing symptoms, he was quarantined inside Ribeira Palace as Lisbon was going through the outbreak. He began showing symptoms in early December and, a little over a week later, died. He was succeeded by John III of Portugal.
His death was marked by a large procession in Belem, and his remains were temporarily placed in Igreja Velha do Restelo, as the Monastery of Jeronimos was not yet completed.
In 1551, 30 years after his death, King John III order the transfer of D. Manuel I’s remains to the church in the Monastery of Jeronimos, along with his wife’s body, Maria of Aragon.
If you are packing up your whole life and moving to Portugal, you might be wondering what this life transition will look like. Portugal has a unique set of customs and realities that might come off as unusual to you at first.
From the lack of central heating in houses to the obsession with football and the bureaucracy, you might face some real cultural shock when relocating to Portugal.
Here are 17 things to know before moving to Portugal. Many of these might come as a surprise, but with time they will become a normal part of your daily life that you won’t think twice about.
While Portugal is generally a pretty warm country all year round, winter nights can still get quite cold.
Unfortunately, central heating is extremely rare in most Portuguese housing. You will find that when you are looking at properties to either rent or buy, they rarely have central heating.
To keep warm, Portuguese people tend to just purchase electric heaters and use those. It’s quite common to layer up on jackets rather than turning these on during the day.
2. Public healthcare is available and is (mostly) free
The 2019 Healthcare are Index lists Portugal’s system as 22nd best out of 89 countries. However, beware that while the quality of public healthcare in Portugal is good, waiting times are often long.
Public healthcare is available through the Servico Nacional de Saude (SNS) for legal residents in Portugal. Under the SNS, healthcare is mostly free of charge as it is funded through general taxation and social security contributions.
However, there are certain costs for specific specialists, treatments, and prescriptions, but these will usually not cost more than 20 euros.
A member of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) celebrating the 25th of April. Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões (Flickr)
If you’re coming from a country like the United States, where democrats and liberals are considered left-wing, Portuguese people will roll their eyes at such a statement. Portugal has a strong history of left-wing politics that is generally accepted in the country.
After over 40 years of fascism, on April 25th, 1974, a (peaceful) military coup led by leftist military officers known as the Carnation Revolution brought about freedom for the Portuguese. The struggle of both Socialists and Communists in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship is respected in Portugal.
This doesn’t mean that anti-communism is not present. However, it is not as mainstream as in the US or even the UK.
In the 2022 general election, the Socialist Party (PS) won a majority government. This is where politics gets confusing in Portugal. Although it is called the Socialist Party, the political party‘s policies are considered center-left.
4. Portuguese people don’t love it when you call Portugal “cheap” and “affordable”
The minimum wage in Portugal in 2022 is €705 BEFORE tax and a large portion of the population lives on this wage. The cost of living in Portugal is on the rise, especially rental prices in Lisbon and Porto. In Lisbon, most apartments are costing around at least €1000, making it impossible for many to live alone.
So when expats move to Portugal and tell citizens that they did so because the country is so “cheap”, this can rub people the wrong way. Although a €1000 rent for a 1-bedroom apartment might seem cheap to you in comparison to US cities, it can come off as out of touch to point this out.
Therefore, the same goes for making comments regarding purchasing a house in Portugal as most Portuguese will never be able to afford their own home. So just beware that comments such as “€150,000 for a house is so cheap” can sound privileged to many.
5. International schools are VERY expensive
If you are moving to Portugal and want your children’s education to remain in English (or German or French), then you will have to enroll them in an international private school.
Although Portugal has some of the best international schools, some can be extremely expensive, particularly the ones in Greater Lisbon.
Private international schools in Portugal tend to cost anywhere between around €7,000 to almost €20,000 a year, depending on the school and your child’s grade. These costs usually don’t even include lunches, field trips, afterschool activities, supplies, and more.
The Portuguese are very into their customs and etiquette. Greetings are important. If you are meeting a Portuguese friend, it is customary to give two kisses on the cheek from left to right. These are called “beijinhos”.
Men do not usually greet other men with “beijinhos”, only if they are family members. Rather, they shake hands or hug.
In big cities, strangers do not greet each other in passing. In smaller villages, this is customary. Use “bom dia” (good morning), “boa tarde” (good afternoon) or “boa noite” (good night), depending on the time of day.
Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões (Unsplash)
7. Expect loads of bureaucracy in Portugal
If you have already applied for a Portuguese visa, you know. Bureaucracy is a part of everyday life. Whether you are trying to open a water contract or get documents in a public sector service, you’ll find that patience is key.
Whatever it is you need to get done, expect to wait a while and have to fill out useful forms. Then they got lost in the mail and you fill out more useful forms.
But throughout any process, you will at least be treated in a friendly way. A lot of times it’s not the workers’ fault, they are as annoyed by the bureaucracy as you so don’t take it out on them.
8. Forget punctuality and expect shops to be closed at unexpected times
Photo by Evan Wise (Unsplash)
If you are moving to Portugal for a slow-paced life, expect to get that! And this applies to getting your groceries, as well as your social life.
If you arrange to meet a Portuguese friend for dinner at 8, chances are they won’t be there before 8:30. This might come as a bit of cultural shock and seem rude at first, but you will get used to it. Tip – don’t leave the house until you know for sure your friend is on their way.
The same applies to businesses and shops. You might see online that a shop is open on a random Tuesday and once you arrive, the “fechado” (closed) sign is at the door. Sometimes business owners will even leave a note explaining why.
Beware that many shops are closed on Sundays and Mondays, with restaurants often closing on Mondays.
As a tourist, no one would expect you to learn Portuguese. A third of people in Portugal can speak English fluently. The cities of Porto, Coimbra, Braga, and Lisbon have the best English speakers.
However, if you are moving to Portugal, the nicest gesture you could make is learning the language. And it won’t be useless if you ever move away! Over 215 million people around the world speak Portuguese and it is the 6th most spoken language in the world.
If you live away from the main cities, chances are many people might not even speak English, especially the older generation. It will just make your life 10x easier if you can speak the language.
But Portuguese can be a hard language to learn if you don’t know languages such as Spanish, Italian, or French. However, it supposedly only takes a native English speaker around 600 hours or 6 months of study to become fluent in Portuguese. Putting in the effort is worth it!
10. If you are working for a Portuguese employer, salaries are low
There’s a reason many Portuguese emigrants don’t return to Portugal – salaries are low. The minimum wage is €705 BEFORE tax. In 2020, the average gross monthly salary in Portugal was €1,314, around €18,000 a year.
So if you are moving to Portugal to work, know that the financial opportunities aren’t the greatest. Still, there are high-paying jobs, but mostly for senior positions.
11. Portugal’s EU passport is the fifth most powerful in the world
Portugal’s passport is the fifth most powerful in the world in 2022, according to the Henley Passport Index. With a Portuguese passport, you have 187 visa-free destinations, including all of the Schengen area.
After 6 years of residing in Portugal, you can actually apply to get a Portuguese passport and citizenship. Take a look at the types of visas in Portugal so that you can start the path to citizenship.
12. Figure out if you are eligible for the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax regime
Photo by Amol Tyagi (Unsplash)
The NHR tax regime was introduced in 2009 in order to attract “high-value” talent and wealth to Portugal. It offers reduced tax rates and even full tax exemptions for the first ten years of residency.
The NHR tax regime is available to all new tax residents in Portugal that were not Portuguese tax residents for the 5 years prior. If this is your case, you might be eligible!
If you have a “high valued” job that is related to activities of scientific, artistic, or technical character, you might be eligible for a 20% flat tax rate.
Under the NHR regime, you will also not pay any tax on dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains, rental income from real estate outside Portugal, and income from employment in another country.
Portugal might have some hot summers, but it does not have a tropical climate. You might be surprised at the temperature of the water when you take a dip in the ocean. However, when temperatures are really high on a hot summer day, the cold water is a blessing.
Some of the best beaches will actually have pretty cold water, particularly beaches in the north, as well as in the south in the Alentejo.
However, the Algarve tends to have the warmest sea temperatures. The water temperature in the Algarve in August averages at around 71.1°F / 21.7°C.
Praia do Almograve, Alentejo. Photo by Vitor Oliveira (Flickr)
14. Buying a home rather than renting has great visa advantages
Purchasing a home could land you a Portuguese Golden Visa and eventually, Portuguese citizenship. Created in 2012, the Portugal Golden Visa is known as one of the most attractive in the world.
The program allows non-EU citizens to qualify for a residency permit and eventually a passport in the country through investments. One of these investments can be purchasing a property.
The general rule is the property must be at least €500,000. However, you can spend less. If you purchase real estate in a low-density area in Portugal, the minimum to spend is €400,000.
You can also buy real estate that is over 30 years old in an urban rehabilitation area and renovate it for at least €350,000.
The Portugal Golden Visa has amazing benefits such as allowing you to travel freely through the Schengen area and family reunification.
After legally residing in Portugal for at least 6 years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
This one is not too difficult to adapt to once you get used to it. While in most European countries a bank card is usually accepted everywhere, many shops and restaurants in Portugal will only take cash. This is also the case if you want to purchase train and bus tickets in certain places.
Cards are usually accepted in Lisbon and Porto, but even smaller establishments only take cash. To be safe, just always carry some with you!
16. Portugal has some of the highest energy bills in Europe
While the cost of living is affordable in comparison to other European countries, the energy bills, not so much. Energy bills in Portugal are actually some of the highest in Europe.
Basic energy utilities average out at €150 depending on the size of the household. It’s part of the Portuguese mentality to save on energy bills as everyone watches their consumption. This is done by not leaving lights on unnecessarily and reducing any heating consumption (yes, even without central heating).
17. Drugs are NOT legal
Drugs are not legal in Portugal, this is a myth! However, all drugs are decriminalized, including largely stigmatized drugs such as meth and heroin.
Portugal decriminalization all drugs on July 1, 2001, making it the first country in the world to do so. The law made drug possession for personal use legally prohibited, while drug trafficking remains a criminal offense.
This does not mean drugs are legal. It means you won’t be fined or arrested for having a certain small amount for personal use.
If you carry over the legal amount of a specific drug, you could face criminal persecution. The legal amount will vary by drug. For cocaine, you can carry up to 2 grams and for hash, you can carry up to 5 grams in Portugal.
Portugal now has some of the lowest drug usage rates in the European Union (EU), where most countries hold criminalization models.
In December 2019, during the European Council meeting, EU President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Portugal is one of the countries most affected by climate change.”
Portugal is a climate hotspot, with the Mediterranean region projected to experience the greatest drying among 26 regions globally.
Portugal is showing a tendency towards more intense extreme weather events, such as heat waves and droughts. The increase in severity of drought, flooding, and wildfires is already having an impact on the population, as well as agriculture and the economy.
In 2017, the BBC reported that climate change would extend Portugal’s standard “wildfire season” from two to five months. That same year, hundreds of people died during the wildfire season.
In 2022, Portugal saw one of the hottest summers and an increase in wildfires. In June, 96% of Portugal was classified as being in extreme or severe drought.
While many ignore the indirect and direct consequences of climate change in Portugal, this article will show you why scientists are worried about its impact on the country, backed by scientific evidence.
Change in Weather Temperatures
Temperatures have increased in the past decades in Portugal, and eight of Portugal’s ten warmest years have happened in the last 20 years. Heat waves have increased in frequency and intensity in Portugal, primarily affecting the northeast and southern regions of Portugal. Porto and Lisbon are also affected but at a smaller magnitude.
In mid-July 2022, many places in Portugal reached record high temperatures at around 47°C in the latest heatwave.
According to Climate Analytics, under a scenario RCP8.5, where global warming reaches 4.3°C by 2100, maximum summer and autumn temperatures in Portugal will increase by up to 8°C. Maximum spring and winter temperatures rise between 2°C and 4°C. Temperatures will never drop below 2°C under this scenario, and temperatures above 40°C will be common.
In 2017, Portugal made worldwide news due to extreme wildfires, burning a record 500,000 hectares and taking 120 human lives.
The increase in wildfires is caused by heat waves, including reduced precipitation and drought. Moreover, the lack of rain and warm temperatures decrease soil moisture, causing an increased fire risk.
As temperatures and instances of drought continue to increase, wildfires will become even more frequent in Portugal.
Photo by Matt Howard (Unsplash)
Lack of Rain and Drought in Portugal
Droughts in Portugal are becoming increasingly common. Between 1902 and 2010, Portugal experienced 10 of the 12 driest winters in the last 20 years alone. As of 2017, annual precipitation decreased by 90mm per decade.
Climate models predict that a decrease in precipitation will continue. Under scenario RCP6.0, where global warming reaches 3°C by 2100, rainfall would decrease by 30% in the south of Portugal and by 15% in the north of the country.
Precipitation decreases are also heavily impacted by the seasons in Portugal. Values above 50% decrease are expected in the summer.
At the end of May 2022, almost all of Portugal was in severe drought, with major dams and bodies of water completely drying out.
Photo by Mike Erskine (Unsplash)
Geographical Area of Portugal & Sea Level Rise
Sea levels have increased worldwide, including on most European coasts such as Portugal. The global mean sea level is about 20cm tighter than at the beginning of the 20th century.
Southern Europe has seen temperature increases and decreases in precipitation due to climate change. Drought frequency and magnitude have also increased in the Mediterranean region.
With a coastline of 2,601 km, the sea level rises are a risk to Portugal and could impact biodiversity, human health, infrastructure, food systems, and even livelihoods. Portugal is predicted to see more than 0.4 change in relative sea level in 2081-2100 compared to 1986-2005 under scenario RCP4.5, where global warming reaches 2.5°C by 2100. This will lead to flooding and coastal erosion.
Estuaries and coastal lagoons will be the most affected by sea level rise in Portugal. Some will have significant socio-economic impacts, such as the Sado and Tagus estuaries, the Ria de Aveiro, and the Ria Formosa coastal lagoons.
Photo by Artem Zhukov (Unsplash)
Impact on Agriculture & Food Production
Climate change is predicted to reduce crop productivity in all of southern Europe, including Portugal. Droughts, floods, and heat waves have already reduced the yield of certain crops, particularly typical Mediterranean crops such as grapevine and olive.
The Portuguese wine industry is thus heavily impacted by climate change, as grapes are one of the most sensitive crops. Wheat production will also be negatively affected in Portugal, with mean wheat yields (-27% to -14%) expected due to drought.
Food production in Portugal could be reduced, causing a food security risk. There will be a more considerable demand for water irrigation to preserve crop yields, leading to a scarcity of water availability.
Photo by Maja Petric (Unsplash)
Economic Impacts
Climate change will also impact the Portuguese economy negatively. Under a projected scenario where global warming increases by 4.3°C by 2100, Portugal’s GDP is expected to decrease by up to 7.75%.
Tourism in Portugal is projected to decline by 2.5% and 5.2% due to temperature increases, reducing the Portuguese GDP between 0.19% and 0.40%.
Farms will also be negatively impacted. The farmland value in Portugal is expected to decrease by more than 80% by 2100.
Economic losses have already been reported in Portugal due to climate change. Between 1980 and 2013, Portugal lost around 6.7 million euros from climate-related hazards, amounting to 0.14% of its GDP.
Photo by Mathieu Stern (Unsplash)
Health Impacts
Climate change is studied to affect human health negatively and lead to fatal illnesses due to increased or decreased temperatures and air pollution levels. Young children and the elderly, the latter of which comprise almost 30% of the population, are particularly vulnerable to heat waves, leading to high mortality rates.
The long-term impact of exposure to reduced air quality will also increase premature mortality rates by leading to illnesses such as lung cancer. Moreover, climate change increases the risk of vector-borne diseases. For example, the number of days in Portugal where the temperature is suitable for malaria survival is rising.
How is Portugal fighting climate change?
According to the European Parliamentary Research Service, Portugal generates 1.8% of the EU’s total greenhouse emissions as of 2021. In 2019, the carbon intensity of the country’s economy (measured as CO2 emissions per unit of GDP) was 22% more than the EU average.
However, Portugal seems to be making progress to combat climate change.
In 2019, Portugal’s share of renewable energy sources was around 30%. By 2030, Portugal is striving to make its target of 47% renewable energy, with electricity alone making up 80%. These targets are some of the highest in the EU for renewables.
The sector with the highest emissions, the transport sector, reduced its emissions by over 10% between 2005 and 2019. The energy section reduced its emissions by 50% in this period.
Portugal’s State Budget for 2022 includes the following measures concerning climate change:
€3.8 allocation of funds to combat climate change and for the environment. The government has stated that this amount is a 30% increase in relation to 2021.
Decabornization efforts will be reinforced by promoting public transport with €250 million in support.
Includes plans to further the objective to reduce 55% of greenhouse gases by 2030, compared to 2005.
Plan to have 47% of energy produced by renewables by 2030, such as through green hydrogen.
Development actions to fight energy poverty by partnering with local entities.
Financial support to purchase private electric vehicles and an increase in public electric vehicles.
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