According to reviews of emigration to Portugal , it is a safe, hospitable country with a comfortable climate and a leisurely pace of life. Moving to this European country is suitable for freelancers, remote workers, retirees, entrepreneurs and anyone who values tranquility. According to a 2020 UN report , the average life expectancy in Portugal is 82 years. For the last few years, Portugal has been among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of safety and environmental conditions. The state has a significant unemployment rate (7.1%).
Most often, people immigrate to Portugal through investment, work, education, or family reunification. Having received a residence permit and lived in the country for 5 years, you are allowed to request permanent resident status, and then citizenship. In this article we will talk about the pros and cons of living in Portugal, according to reviews of Russian immigrants.
Pros of Portugal
- The country’s membership in the European Union: permanent and temporary residents can travel freely within member states, and Portuguese citizens can even live without additional permits.
- Mild subtropical climate: in summer the average daily temperature ranges from +25 to +28 °C depending on the region, in winter – +14 °C.
- Safety: Portugal’s crime index is 29.89, lower than Belarus (60.27), Ukraine (48.28), Russia (40.13) and France (49.20).
- Diverse landscape: living in Portugal, you can go to the mountains or relax on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Residents have the opportunity to go surfing, diving, fishing, and organize mountain hikes.
- Tax benefits: foreigners who live in Portugal with a residence permit for at least 183 days a year and have living space are exempt from paying tax on income received outside the country.
- Calm pace of life, leisurely and friendly residents.
Cons of Portugal
- Unemployment: more than 11% of people aged 15 to 64 years are unemployed, and finding a job is difficult – there are few high-paying vacancies, and few people are interested in low wages.
- High taxes: for residents who do not have Non-habitual resident status, the tax rate is progressive and ranges from 14.8 to 48%.
- Low level of salaries: the minimum wage in Portugal is 775 EUR, while in neighboring Spain – 1,125 EUR, France – 1,554 EUR.
- Bureaucracy: Communication with officials can be delayed due to long lines and slow work of government agencies.
- Difficult traffic: the country has many narrow roads with many turns and dangerous descents, all highways are toll. For example, travel on the A8 Lisbon-Leiria highway will cost 9.55 EUR, on the A2 Lisbon-Paderni – 20.95 EUR.
Immigration methods
Portuguese legislation provides for 6 main methods of immigration. Let’s look at them briefly below.
Family reunification
The holder of a Portuguese residence permit, permanent residence status or passport can invite close relatives to the country and obtain a residence permit for them. The right to move has the spouse, natural and adopted children under 18 years of age, and in some cases, brothers, sisters and parents of the inviting person.
Business and startup
An entrepreneur can create a new startup in Portugal or transfer an existing one, subject to the support of a certified incubator, and on this basis become a temporary resident of the country. The main requirements are the intention to produce an innovative product, create jobs and achieve turnover or obtain assets in the amount of EUR 350,000 within 5 years.
It is also possible to move when opening a new business or purchasing an existing one, or registering a branch of a foreign company in Portugal.
Investments
Moving to Portugal for permanent residence is possible through investing in one of the following options:
- acquisition of real estate, investment and venture funds, research activities or creation of a commercial company – from 500,000 EUR;
- restoration of real estate located in special zones or built more than 30 years ago – from 350,000 EUR;
- artistic production, maintenance and restoration of cultural heritage – from 250,000 EUR;
- transfer of capital (for example, opening a deposit) – from 1,500,000 EUR;
- creation of 10 jobs.
Refugee
Residence permits may be issued to victims of criminal offenses related to human trafficking or illegal immigration. A Portuguese residence permit is granted even to persons who arrived in the country without an entry permit and do not meet the basic requirements for the issuance of residence.
Employment
Portuguese resident status is issued to foreigners who legally entered the country for the purpose of permanent work. To obtain a residence permit, an immigrant must provide a concluded employment contract with a Portuguese employer.
Education
Immigration to Portugal is available to foreign citizens who have enrolled in any local higher education institution. To obtain a residence permit, you must provide an order for enrollment and confirmation of payment for the educational course.
Housing
The classification of housing in Portugal differs from that familiar to people from the CIS countries: in the descriptions of apartments and houses you can find the designations T0, T1, etc. The number next to the letter “T” corresponds to the number of separate bedrooms. T0 is a studio apartment, T1 is housing with a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen, that is, a two-room apartment.
There is no central heating in the apartments; people use split systems, electric heaters, fireplaces and heated sheets. Near the coast, residents complain about dampness and have to use dehumidifiers.
When renting out apartments and houses, owners prefer native Portuguese rather than immigrants. You can offer payment for a year in advance – this will increase the applicant’s chances, but will not provide guarantees. As a rule, the owner allocates 1-2 days to show the property to everyone. Candidates make rental offers to the owner, and he chooses the one he likes best. Most apartments are rented without furniture and household appliances. As for the purchase of real estate, if you purchase housing worth EUR 500,000 or more, you can obtain a residence permit on this basis.
Housing prices upon purchase
| City/Region | Housing type | Purchase price, € |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 420,000 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 720,000 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 1,000,000 | |
| House, 3 bedrooms | 1,100,000 | |
| Cascais | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 580,000 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 660,000 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 800,000 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 1,600,000–2,700,000 | |
| Porto | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 300,000 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 300,000–600,000 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 500,000–800,000 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 755,000 | |
| Algarve | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 300,000–500,000 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 500,000 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 500,000–1,200,000 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 545,000–1,500,000 |
Rental prices
| City/Region | Housing type | Rental cost per month, € |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 600-1300 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 700-1300 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 800-1500 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 2,000-3,750 | |
| Cascais | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 950 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 1 100-1 800 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 1,500-4,000 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 3,000-5,000 | |
| Porto | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 550-1,000 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 600-1 500 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 700-1 500 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 1,500-5,000 | |
| Algarve | Apartment, 1 bedroom | 650 |
| Apartment, 2 bedrooms | 700 | |
| Apartment, 3 bedrooms | 1 100 | |
| House, 4 bedrooms | 2,000 |
Work and salaries
Qualified employees are in demand in Portugal. For big salaries it is worth going to major Portuguese cities. The most active life is in Lisbon and Porto, where the offices of large companies are located. If you know Portuguese or English, there will be no problems with employment. In the south of the country, mainly seasonal vacancies are offered; in winter there is little activity there. You can find a job through the Employment Service, private agencies, websites, forums, groups on Facebook, LinkedIn. Most often required:
- doctors;
- IT specialists;
- general workers – painters, welders, tilers, etc.;
- teachers;
- workers in the tourism sector.
Due to the significant level of unemployment in the country, there are few vacancies offering high wages. Finding a job with an above-average salary can take several months.
To hire a foreigner, a Portuguese employer must publish the vacancy publicly. If it is not possible to find a candidate among Portuguese or EU citizens, the employer issues a work permit for a foreigner. The position must be approved by the Employment and Training Institute. The applicant needs to conclude an employment contract, apply for an entry visa, and after arriving in the country, proceed to obtain a residence permit, tax code and social security number.
The contract is for a year; after five years of working for the same company, you can sign up for an indefinite contract. According to Portuguese law, each employee is entitled to 22 working days of paid leave and 13 days of salary – a Christmas bonus in the amount of a month’s salary. Overtime is not welcome, but if it happens, it must be paid for. The average salary in the country is 1200 EUR gross. In general, an experienced specialist can ensure a decent standard of living in Portugal: a family of two people needs a total income of 2,500 EUR per month.
Average salary in Portugal by specialty
| Profession | Gross salary, € |
|---|---|
| Doctor | 1,500–5,500 |
| IT specialist | 1,500–5,000 |
| Nurse | 650–2,000 |
| Teacher, kindergarten teacher | 600–1,000 |
| Auto Mechanic | 650–1,150 |
| Sales Manager | 500–2,200 |
| Economist | 800–2,000 |
| Waiter | 300–1,500 |
| Accountant | 1,000–1,800 |
| Lawyer | 1,500–2,600 |
| Marketer | 700–1,600 |
| Teacher | 1,400–3,400 |
| Engineer | 750–2,500 |
| Hairdresser | 600–1,900 |
Taxes
The personal income tax rate in Portugal is significantly higher than in the CIS countries. If in Ukraine and Belarus it is 18%, then on Portuguese territory it can reach 48%. Depending on your tax status (resident or non-resident), the interest rate is different. A resident is a person who lives in the country for 183 days a year. He has the right to pay taxes at a reduced rate for 10 years (20% on domestic income), and is also exempt from tax on foreign income. To receive benefits, a foreigner must submit an application to the Portuguese tax office.
For non-residents, the income tax rate is 25%; income from other countries is not taken into account. In all other cases, the percentage is calculated depending on income.
| Annual income, € | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 7 112 | 14.5% |
| 7 113–10 732 | 23% |
| 10 733–20 322 | 28.5% |
| 20 323–25 075 | 35% |
| 25,076–36,967 | 37% |
| 36,968–80,882 | 45% |
| From 80 882 | 48% |
If the annual income of an individual is more than 80,882 EUR, an additional tax is charged on the excess portion. From the first 170,000 EUR over 80,000 EUR you must pay a fee of 2.5%, from the remaining amount – 5%.
For example, the annual income of a Portuguese resident is EUR 300,000. From this amount 48% is deducted at a progressive rate (EUR 144,000), 2.5% from EUR 170,000 (EUR 4,250) and 5% from EUR 50,000 (EUR 2,500). In total, after all deductions, the individual will have a little less than half left (149,250 EUR).
Taxes are paid by the employer, but individuals must independently submit a return to the tax service during the period from April 1 to June 30. Over the course of a month, the service processes the application and issues an invoice, which must be paid by August 31.
In addition to income tax in Portugal, the following are also provided:
- social (11%, deducted from the salary by the employer);
- for the sale of real estate (28%, non-residents pay from all income received, residents – from half);
- stamp duty (from 0.8 to 10%, applied when purchasing real estate, donating or inheriting);
- for transfer of ownership (up to 8%);
- municipal for real estate (0.3–0.5% in cities, 0.8% in rural areas);
- for dividends (28%).
Pension
You can retire in Portugal upon reaching 66 years of age with at least 15 years of work experience (not necessarily consecutive). The retirement age is the same for women and men. If a person worked in an area where social contributions are not mandatory, he must pay them for 144 months to receive payments. The legislation also provides for special cases. For example, if a 60-year-old resident of Portugal has 40 years of work experience, then the age for receiving a pension will be reduced by 4 months for each year exceeding these 40 years.
The pension system provides two types of payments:
- based on contributions paid by the employee during his working career;
- social (minimal) – for those who did not work.
The minimum pension is 275 EUR, the average is 500. The exact amount of payments is calculated individually depending on length of service and earnings. Pensioners in Portugal receive payments not 12 times a year, but 14, along with Christmas pay in December and vacation pay in July.
Local pensioners note that the minimum payments are not enough to provide normal support, but with average payments one can live very modestly, so they have to continue working. A suitable option for Russian wealthy pensioners is to purchase several properties in Portugal and receive passive income. If an immigrant becomes a tax resident, he will be able to receive a pension from another country without paying taxes on it for 10 years.
Money and banks
Portugal has the official currency of the EU countries – the euro. The country has its own bank card system called Multibanko, which operates on the basis of the Visa payment system. At ATMs, you can withdraw no more than 200 EUR at a time from any cards, including those from foreign banks. Contactless payment in Portugal, unlike the CIS, is rare; some small stores only accept cash. You can exchange foreign currency for euros at the cash desk of any bank or exchange office.
To open a bank account, a resident of the country must provide a passport, a residence permit or permanent residence permit, a rental/purchase agreement and a tax number. You must immediately deposit 250 EUR into your account. Bank employees can easily open a regular or credit account for a working person, but without official employment they may refuse or agree only to the condition of paid service (5-7 EUR per month).
Loans, including mortgages, are popular in the country. The interest rate on them is 2% per annum. Banks have convenient mobile applications and terminals. In general, according to immigrant reviews, the quality of banking services is above average.
Personal and public transport
Public transport in Portuguese cities is well developed in contrast to the suburbs. You can travel to large populated areas by buses or trains, which run every hour. There is a metro in Lisbon and Porto; in other cities there are only buses and trams. At the stops there are route schedules and approximate arrival times of transport. A single trip on public transport costs 1–3 EUR; you can take a pass for all types for 30 EUR per month. There is also rental of electric scooters, bicycles and scooters. Taxi services are available, including Uber. A 20-minute trip will cost 10–15 EUR.
Due to the low prices of public transport, most local residents prefer it instead of private transport. If a foreigner decides to drive a car, he must exchange his driving license for a European standard within the first three months after moving. If you miss this deadline, you will have to take the exam without prior training. While waiting for an invitation to take the exam, the immigrant is issued a temporary certificate, valid only in Portugal.
You can buy a new car in the showroom: a Volkswagen Golf will cost 26,000 EUR, and a Citroen C3 – 13,300. The same car models, but older and used, cost 8,500 and 7,250 EUR, respectively. Cars are also sold at auctions and in consignment stores. A liter of gasoline in Portugal costs about 1.7 EUR. Immigrants note that the level of service in local workshops is low: repairs take a long time and are not very high quality.
Language
The official language of the state is Portuguese. In the city of Miranda do Douro and in the areas closest to it, the Miranda dialect has formed. In areas close to the border with Spain, the population prefers to communicate in Spanish. In general, Portuguese is considered easy to learn. Those who know Spanish will find it easier to learn: these languages are similar in vocabulary and grammar.
Internet and communications
There are three mobile operators in Portugal: Vodafone, MEO and NOS. Vodafone has the highest quality coverage, but because of this, its tariffs are expensive. For example, the Vodafone You tariff plan offers 5 GB of Internet and 500 minutes with unlimited use of instant messengers for 20 EUR per month. MEO offers a wide range of tariffs – for 4.25 EUR per week you can buy 3 GB of internet, 500 minutes and 10 GB for using instant messengers, and the most budget option costs 3 EUR per week. SIM cards are available for sale in official stores or stalls.
As for home Internet, these same three operators offer packages that include TV, Internet and a SIM card. The contract is concluded for 2 years. If this package is not suitable, you can buy a prepaid router and use the Internet for 30 EUR per month.
Weather
In summer the air temperature can reach +30 °C, but in the evenings it becomes cool. There are drinking water fountains on the streets, and anyone can go to a cafe and pour themselves a glass of water for free. Autumn, winter and spring in Portugal are wet and rainy. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below +10 °C, but the weather is changeable: if it is hot during the day, it can be cold in the evening. Snow falls mainly in the mountains. Residents prefer multi-layered clothing to easily adapt to the weather, and also always carry raincoats and umbrellas.
Portuguese mentality
Residents of the country are open and friendly people. Russians in Portugal are treated differently, but in most cases they are loyal. A distinctive feature of the nation is slowness. Unlike the CIS countries, where people are accustomed to getting back to work as quickly as possible and maintaining an intense rhythm of life, this is not the case in Portugal. Here people live slowly, like to relax a lot, and the daily routine depends on meals. If a notary has lunch, he will never pick up the phone at this time. The Portuguese do not hold back their emotions and are distinguished by their sentimentality. The main values of the residents are the history of the country, family and football.
Leisure
The Portuguese spend their free time with their family. Together they travel out of town, go on picnics, and gather for dinner with their siblings and siblings. In Portugal, celebrations are often held for any occasion: fairs, saints’ days, etc.
Trips
The country has a large number of interesting and diverse places where you can go on vacation or for a weekend. For example, go to Alentejo – there is the least light pollution in the whole country and you can watch the stars. A night in a spa hotel with breakfast will cost 130 EUR. Surfing enthusiasts can head to Ericeira or Peniche, where the biggest waves are observed from January to March. One lesson costs about 25 EUR. The country also has many castles and palaces – Marfa, Sintra, Obidos and others. In summer you can go to the Algarve to the warm ocean with excellent beaches.
Compared to Europe, traveling around Portugal is inexpensive. A train ticket from Lisbon to Porto or Algarve costs about 20 EUR, and a plane ticket costs about 10 EUR. You can fly to the Azores from Lisbon and back for 81 EUR. For example, a train ticket from Paris to Nice will cost 175 EUR, and in Russia a plane ticket from Moscow to Sochi in the summer costs about 60 EUR.
Entertainment
Residents of the Portuguese capital can head to the coast after work. From Lisbon to Cascais it takes about half an hour by motorbike.
For those who love running, city races are held. Anyone can participate in them by paying a fee. For example, the cost of participation in a 7-kilometer race will be 20 EUR.
A movie ticket will cost about 7 EUR, a monthly gym membership will cost about 30 EUR. Also in the summer, various festivals, fairs and concerts are held in cities.
Cafes and restaurants
The main components of the national cuisine are seafood and meat. Lunch with a drink in a cafe will cost 6 EUR; in a mid-level restaurant, prices per dish are in the range of 10–15 EUR. Brunches are popular in Portugal; the cost for two people will be approximately 13 EUR. A traditional local dessert (basket with cream) costs 1 EUR, oysters – 2 EUR each.
Products
Traditionally, various types of sausages and meat, salted and dried cod, and seafood: various fish, octopus, and shrimp are common in Portugal. The Lidl hypermarket and farmers’ markets are popular in the country. In supermarkets you can find discounts of up to 70% on cheeses, wine, vegetables, fish and meat. A liter of milk costs 0.6–1 EUR, cheese – 6–12 EUR, meat – 5–12 EUR. Residents of the country spend about 400 EUR on groceries every month.
Medicine
The country has a National Health Care System, according to which patients who are citizens or permanent residents of the state are treated completely or partially free of charge. The family doctor acts as an intermediary between the patient and the specialized specialist. Medical centers have emergency services where you can immediately contact a specialized doctor. Reviews about emigration to Portugal often mention that immigrants prefer to turn to Russian specialists who see in local clinics and private offices.
The cost of services in public hospitals without insurance is usually affordable: a consultation with a family doctor will cost 4.5 EUR, and a highly specialized specialist will cost 7. Basic emergency care costs 14 EUR, surgical care – 16.
The most popular insurance for visiting private clinics costs from 8 EUR per month, with which you can get dental services with a 20% discount. Without discounts, tooth extraction in a private clinic costs about 270 EUR, installation of a filling costs about 50 EUR. Some drugs cannot be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription, while in the CIS these same drugs are freely available.
Education
The education system in Portugal includes the following levels:
- preschool (up to 5 years);
- school (compulsory from 6 to 15 years old);
- secondary (15–18 years);
- higher education (18–22 years, sometimes up to 26 years).
Obtaining higher education in this country is not only prestigious, but also the most accessible among the countries of the European Union. In the 2021 QS World University Rankings, four Portuguese universities are included in the top 500 universities in the world: Lisbon, Coimbra, New Lisbon and the University of Porto. Diplomas are quoted in Europe and valued in Latin America. At public universities, education is free for those who have lived in the country for at least 2 years, have an EU passport or are a child/spouse of a citizen of the European Union.
A paid form of education is available to applicants from the CIS countries. The price per year is 2,500–8,000 EUR. To enter a Portuguese university, you must provide a school certificate (for undergraduate studies) or a diploma (for master’s / doctoral studies). In some cases, you need to pass entrance exams. Exact prices and rules for admitting applicants must be clarified at the university.