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Moving to a new country can feel overwhelming - there is a lot of bureaucracy involved, and sometimes it is hard to know where to find the right information. 

If you are looking for guidance on topics such as residency, learning Portuguese, workers’ rights, social security, or family reunification, Portugal provides support through CLAIM – Local Support Centres for Migrant Integration.

These centres offer free, personalized guidance across the country and are designed to help migrants navigate life in Portugal more easily. CLAIMs aim to provide coordinated local responses to integration needs, contributing to an image of Portugal as a constitutional state with a human face — one that follows the law while offering a warm and supportive welcome.

You can find additional information here.

Finding a house can be challenging, as prices have risen significantly in recent years. When renting, landlords often require two months’ rent in advance and/or a guarantor.

You can find below the main websites used to find a house in Portugal:

- Idealista
- Imovirtual
- Home Lovers
- Era
- Remax

You can find additional information about housing in Portugal here.

Lisbon - Public transportation is available through Metro Lisboa (subway), CP (trains), and Carris (bus). You have different ticket or pass options:

• “Viva Viagem”: this option applies to occasional rides and can be purchased at ticket machines
• “Passe Navegante”: this option is a monthly pass applicable not only to the subway but also to bus, train, and tram

Porto - public transportation is available through Andante

• Occasional rides: tickets can be purchased at ticket machines
• “Passe Andante”: this option is a monthly pass applicable not only to the subway but also to the bus and train

Braga - public transportation is available through TUB (Transportes Urbanos de Braga) and CP (trains)

• Occasional rides: tickets can be purchased at ticket machines
• Monthly pass: The TUB Monthly Pass and the CP Regional Pass are available for regular commuters

Healthcare in Portugal ranks 23rd in the 2025 Health Care Index by Numbeo. Portugal has a public healthcare system, and all residents of Portugal can access it as long as they have a valid residence or stay permit. To ensure your entitlement, you must be registered with a local council (Junta de Freguesia) and in the health center in the same area, so a GP is assigned to you – keep in mind that in more populated areas some residents might have to wait longer for a GP.

You can also choose from a variety of private health insurance plans, many of which offer access to English-speaking medical professionals. Unlike the public healthcare system, private insurance comes at a cost, which can vary based on factors such as age, pre-existing conditions, and the specific coverage selected.

Depending on the symptoms you have or the situation, you can either:

• Contact SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) (Public Service) – they will guide you and let you know the steps you should take;
• Go to a public or private hospital:

Lisbon:

• Public - Hospital de Santa Maria; Hospital Santa Marta; Hospital de São Francisco Xavier
• Private - Hospital da Luz Lisboa; CUF Descobertas Hospital; CUF Almada Clinica

Oporto:

• Public - Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João; Hospital de Santo António
• Private - Hospital Lusíadas Porto; CUF Porto Hospital

Braga:

• Public - Hospital de Braga
• Private - Hospital Lusíadas Braga; Trofa Saúde Braga Centro Hospital; Casa de Saúde de S. Lázaro
  
  

You can find additional information about health care in Portugal here.

You are in a new city, it's time to enjoy and explore the best Portugal has to offer!

When in Lisbon...

• Take a forest bath in Monsanto Park
• Visit the youngest museum in town: MAAT
• Try a "Pastel de Belém"
• See the view at Portas do Sol
• All of these and other tips here

When in Oporto...

• Buy a book at a magical bookshop: Livraria Lello
• Try a "Francesinha"
• Visit Douro's Ribeira
• Stroll around Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
• All of these and other tips here

When in Braga...

• Visit the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte
• Explore Braga Cathedral (Sé de Braga)
• Stroll through the historic center
• Relax in the Santa Barbara Garden
• All of these and other tips here

According to the Global Peace Index 2024, Portugal is the 7th safest country in the world. It has a relatively low murder rate of 0.91 per 100,000 people and a Global Crime Index score of 4.55. Portugal has a strong social welfare system and a stable political climate, which contribute to its overall safety and peace.

Although Portugal is a relatively small country (92 212 km²), the climate does differ quite a bit between the north and the south. Overall, the summers in Portugal are warm, dry, and mild. The warmer seasons are from June through September, and the coldest months of the year are between December and March. The northern part of the country does experience some snow.

In Lisbon specifically, the climate is quite warm. It rains much more in the winter than in the summer, and on average, the daily maximum temperature is above 26°C, while in winter it can vary from 8°C to 16 °C.

As Oporto is in the North of Portugal, it’s a bit colder and rainier than Lisbon. In the summer, on average, the daily maximum temperature is above 22°C, while in winter it can vary from 6°C to 15 °C.

Braga, also in Northern Portugal and slightly inland, has a mild but humid climate. It is generally similar to Porto but with slightly more temperature variation. In the summer, the average daily maximum temperature is around 25°C, while in winter it can range from 5°C to 14°C.

Although the official language in Portugal is Portuguese, according to the new EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Portugal has the seventh-highest English proficiency among non-native speakers in the world.

Living in Portugal without speaking Portuguese is manageable, especially in tourist areas where English is commonly understood. However, in government offices, Portuguese is predominantly spoken, and most staff may not be fluent in English, which can make certain bureaucratic processes more challenging for non-Portuguese speakers.

- Education

If you’re relocating to Portugal with your children, the first step to accessing childcare services is to register your child in the Social Security system so they will be eligible for a placement at a public nursery or preschool. Notably, all EU citizens and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) can access daycare services in Portugal, while non-EU/EFTA nationals usually need either a temporary or permanent residence permit.

- Nursery

The nursery is intended for children aged 3 months to 3 years old.

In Portugal, there are private and IPSS (Particular Social Solidarity Institution) nurseries. Generally, these are always paid by the family, although the government subsidizes a part of the value based on the tax bracket of each family for most facilities. The costs depend on a lot of variables, including the area. 

The Portuguese government has recently implemented publicly subsidized nurseries or nannies for free for every child born from September 2021 onwards. However, the spots are limited, and people with lower incomes have priority.

Another thing to have in mind is that waiting lists might be quite long, and you should pre-register your child as soon as possible, although it’s only possible to enter in September.

Most nurseries are often open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.

- Preschool

Pre-school is for ages 3 to 6. Pre-schools in Portugal can be public or private.

The public free preschools have limited spots, so most parents go with a private option. You can register your kid for a public preschool online or in person. To register in a private preschool, you will need to contact the preschool directly.

- School

In Portugal, school is compulsory for children from 6 to 18 years old. It is free of charge to all residents, yet parents need to pay for food, field trips, and personal school supplies. These amounts can be subsidized by the government, according to the social status of the parents.

The school year always starts in September, with longer vacations in the summer (July to August) and a shorter break at Christmas and Easter.

Please note that the public schools will instruct in Portuguese, so some expats consider private schools where the main language is English – these usually are quite expensive.


You can find additional information about education in Portugal here.

There are three things you will need to bring your pet to Portugal from a non-EU country.

• Microchip. Your pet must have an ISO-compliant chip.
• Vaccination and blood tests. You will need to show proof of a rabies vaccination for your pet.
• Health Certificate. A health certificate must be issued by an accredited vet.

You can find additional information about moving to Portugal with domestic animals here.

The minimum gross monthly salary in Portugal is around 870€ gross, and the average monthly salary is around 1500€ gross per 14 months.

In Portugal, annual salaries are divided into 14 payments instead of the standard 12. The extra two salaries are provided as a Christmas bonus paid by the 15th of December and a holiday bonus paid before the employee's annual leave (usually July).

Regarding the average salaries in tech, you can find more information here.