Where I Can Live
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Europe · Portuguese · updated 2026-10

Moving to Portugal: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,100 a month to live in Lisbon, and a family of four about $4,550, including rent. Portugal usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 10 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the D8 digital nomad visa and the D7 passive income visa.

Monthly budget
$2,100
Low cost
Safety
77
Very safe
Stability
72
Stable
Family
80
Excellent
Main city
Lisbon
Language
Portuguese
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
10 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Portugal?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Portugal, per month in US$

One person
$2,100
Family of four
$4,550
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Lisbon centre
$1,150
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,150
Estimate
Price level
65
US = 100
Income per person
$2,494
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
77
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.72
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.70
Rule of law+1.05
Control of corruption+0.77
Government effectiveness+1.02
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (72/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
80
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.769
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.2
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82.4 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$2,971
per person / year
Education spending
4.6%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
D8 digital nomad visa4× the minimum wage: €3,680/month in 2026.
Passive income
D7 passive income visaAt least the minimum wage: €920/month in 2026.
Job offer
D3 highly qualified activitySkilled job offer, fast-track processing.
Investment
Golden Visa€500,000 in qualifying funds, research or cultural support. Real estate no longer qualifies.

Some passports also get: CPLP mobility visa, and citizenship after 7 years instead of 10.

Who gets easier access to Portugal

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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CPLP mobility visa, and citizenship after 7 years instead of 10 (8 nationalities)

CPLP mobility visa, and citizenship after 7 years instead of 10.

Flag of AngolaAngolaFlag of BrazilBrazilFlag of Cape VerdeCape VerdeFlag of Equatorial GuineaEquatorial GuineaFlag of Guinea-BissauGuinea-BissauFlag of MozambiqueMozambiqueFlag of Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and PrincipeFlag of Timor-LesteTimor-Leste

Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
10 yrs
Raised from 5 years on 19 May 2026; 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals. The clock now starts when the permit is issued
Dual citizenship
Allowed

The general job-seeker visa was abolished in October 2025 and replaced by a narrower one for highly qualified people.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: aima.gov.pt

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Portugal?

About $2,100 a month for one person and $4,550 for a family of four in Lisbon, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,150 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,150. Prices are 65% of US levels. Portugal is the 50th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Portugal safe to live in?

Portugal scores 77/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 20th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.72 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Portugal politically stable?

Portugal scores 72/100 for stability (stable), ranking 29th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Portugal good for families?

Portugal scores 80/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 16th of 76. Life expectancy is 82.4 years and under-5 mortality is 3.2 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Portugal?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Portugal?

Usually 10 yrs of residence. Raised from 5 years on 19 May 2026; 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals. The clock now starts when the permit is issued. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Portugal without a job offer?

Yes. D8 digital nomad visa: 4× the minimum wage: €3,680/month in 2026. D7 passive income visa: At least the minimum wage: €920/month in 2026.

Does Portugal have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the D8 digital nomad visa. 4× the minimum wage: €3,680/month in 2026.

Who can live and work in Portugal without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Portugal can move