Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishWith its inviting beaches and azure blue waters, beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and easygoing lifestyle, more and more Brits are escaping the gloomier weather of the UK for sunny Portugal. According to the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, a record number of foreign citizens moved to the country in 2023, up 130 per cent on the year before. No wonder when places like the Algarve, for example, have around 300 sunny days each year. More than one million foreign citizens currently live in Portugal (10 per cent of the population) and over the last five years the number has almost doubled. The British are the fourth-most popular group after Americans, Brazilians and French, and there are numerous reasons why it is becoming more and more popular. With the cost of living crisis continuing to bite in the UK, the significant lower living and property purchasing costs in Portugal compared to the UK is one factor driving interest in relocating to the country. It’s welcoming and safe, with English widely spoken. It has a low violent crime rate, indeed one of the lowest in Europe – and the Portuguese healthcare system is inexpensive too. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced in January that he was considering doubling taxes for Brits and other non-EU non-residents. With its inviting beaches and azure blue waters, beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and easygoing lifestyle, more and more Brits are escaping the gloomier weather of the UK for sunny Portugal. Pictured is the Alfama district of LisbonIn contrast, Portugal has made a concerted effort to attract retirees, entrepreneurs, remote workers and start-ups. From visas, to taxes and how to get a job, here’s our complete guide on packing up your life in the UK and emigrating to Portugal… Visas Since Brexit officially ended on 31 December 2020, UK nationals not already registered as Portuguese residents have been treated as third-party nationals. The amount of time permitted in the country without a visa is up to 90 days within 180 days. However, moving to Portugal is relatively straightforward, with a number of visa options available. ‘The Golden Visa scheme is very much alive and kicking with a requirement for capital investment into qualifying schemes rather than property investments,’ says Iain Begg, Vale do Lobo Sales Manager at Savills. ‘It allows unlimited access to the Schengen zone with a minimum commitment to stay in Portugal of only a few weeks a year. ‘The Golden Visa scheme is very much alive and kicking with a requirement for capital investment into qualifying schemes rather than property investments,’ says Iain Begg, Vale do Lobo Sales Manager at Savills. Pictured is Canical, near Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira’The D7 is one of the more popular visas which is built on applicants having a passive income stream of €850/£712 per month (as of 2025). The D2 visa is based on investing or setting up a company or working as a self-employed individual in Portugal, and the D8 visa is the ‘Digital Nomad’ visa for those with employment abroad. ‘We would recommend one seeks professional advice about the best visa scheme available to them. In a recent study by Savills, Lisbon came fifth and the Algarve ninth in terms of global destinations for Executive Nomads.’Job opportunities’Portugal’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 per cent in January 2025 – its lowest level for more than two years,’ says Christina Hippisley. ‘The job market is busy. English is spoken widely in Portugal, and the growth of the country’s digital infrastructure has created a welcoming culture for digital nomads and remote workers.’ Portugal particularly offers employment opportunities for native English speakers. There’s always demand in language education, for example, with language schools always looking for English tutors. And the country having a strong tourism and hospitality industry means tour companies, hotels, resorts and similar companies look for employees with strong English language communication skills. Portugal particularly offers employment opportunities for native English speakers. Pictured is Porto The flourishing residential real estate market means job opportunities in that sector too, while IT and tech firms, largely working in an English-speaking environment, also seek English speakers. ‘Jobs are plentiful, especially in tech, where Lisbon has become a major hub,’ says Marta Espírito Santo at Quintela & Penalva, Knight Frank’s associates in Lisbon. ‘Many expatriates are also launching businesses, creating jobs.’ Setting up a business Setting up a company is relatively simple. The government supports foreign investment and the setting up of new businesses. ‘The process is straightforward but requires a local lawyer to ensure compliance with regulations,’ says Marta Espírito Santo. ‘Portugal is doing much to encourage entrepreneurs to settle there, which is why visas such as the D2 exist,’ says Christina Hippisley. ‘It ties residency in with establishing a professional activity or setting up a business in Portugal. The government is keen to attract talent; making it easy to set up a business and gain residency is key to that aim.’Education ‘Schooling and childcare is much more affordable when compared to countries such as the UK and Ireland,’ says Iain at Savills. ‘Schooling and childcare is much more affordable when compared to countries such as the UK and Ireland,’ says Iain at Savills. Pictured is Olhao, in the Algarve’The public schooling system offers free after hour care for working parents, creches are approximately €500/£419 per month, and international schooling can start from approximately €6,000/£5,023 in the lower years with prices rising dependent on age and school.’Politics and culture Two political parties dominate the government, the centre-left social-democratic Socialist Party, and the centre-right, liberal-conservative Social Democratic Party. Both support the welfare state and market economy and are pro-European. The Portuguese are known for being welcoming, and family and community are especially important, with extended family and all generations playing a significant role in social life. Though secular, Catholicism remains prominent. There’s rich cultural tradition, from melancholic Fado music and a strong folklore heritage to thriving festivals and distinct architectural styles through the ages. Taxes The UK has a double taxation agreement with Portugal and therefore you will not have to pay tax on the same income in both the UK and Portugal whilst living in Portugal. Pictured is MadeiraThe UK has a double taxation agreement with Portugal and therefore you will not have to pay tax on the same income in both the UK and Portugal whilst living in Portugal. If you are resident in Portugal then you will be required to declare your global income to the Portuguese authorities, irrelevant of where it came from. Non-residents only pay tax on income from Portugal. ‘Residents in Portugal are taxed on their worldwide income at progressive rates varying from 13 to 53 per cent for 2025,’ says Iain Begg. ‘The Non-Habitual Residents (NHR) scheme ended in 2024 which offered preferential tax rates for those who were not tax residents in Portugal in the preceding five years and with qualifying professions. ‘NHR 2 replaced the scheme with stricter qualifying criteria. We would recommend one speaks to an expert in this field to get the best advice.’ Cost of living ‘Generally speaking, daily life in Portugal is more affordable than it is in the UK,’ says Christina Hippisley. ‘The cost of living varies from one region to another.’ According to Numbeo, a three-course meal for two would be around €45/£38, a half-litre draught beer in a bar or restaurant €2.50/£2.09, a litre of milk €0.94/79p, a kilogramme of tomatoes €2.18/£1.83, a one-way public transport ticket €2/£1.67, basic utilities for an 85m2 flat (electricity, heating, cooling, water, refuse) €115/£96. ‘Generally speaking, daily life in Portugal is more affordable than it is in the UK,’ says Christina Hippisley. ‘The cost of living varies from one region to another.’ Pictured is Ponta da Piedade near Lagos in Algarve’One can eat & drink incredibly cheaply with exceptional quality,’ says Iain Begg. ‘The cost of housing is on the rise for both buying and renting with demand outstripping supply and not enough houses being built. ‘One surprising expense is the cost of cars, with import duties raising prices but on the flip side cars then tend to hold their value better.’ Retirement and pensions With its low cost of living, warm climate and a thriving expat community in areas such as the Algarve, Portugal is particularly popular with retirees. You can claim your UK State Pension in Portugal. You are required to contact the International Pensions Centre and complete an international claim form, and have your pension paid into a Portuguese bank. As the UK and Portugal have a double taxation agreement, you won’t be taxed on your pension twice. Housing UK citizens can buy property in the country without restrictions, whether they want to live there, rent the property out or use it as a holiday home. As a rough guide, renting a home averages around 27 per cent cheaper and buying property is around 45 per cent cheaper than the UK. However, rental and purchasing costs can vary greatly. While major cities like Lisbon, unsurprisingly, can be significantly higher than rural areas, they have increased more substantially in the last few years, with rental prices in Lisbon and Porto increasing by more than 40 per cent in that time too. Rental prices in Lisbon and Porto (pictured) have increased by more than 40 per cent in the last few years According to Numbeo, renting a city centre one-bed apartment is €936/£784, outside a city centre €738/£618. But the Algarve is especially expensive.’For a three-bedroom villa you would probably be looking to spend at least €2,500/£2,093 per month,’ says Iain. ‘The same villa for sale might start at €1m. Going west or east, prices for rental and sale will be lower for the same villa. ‘Of course, there are apartments and townhouses to rent too. But due to a strong holiday-rental market there is a shortage of property for rent.’ Moving your belongings from the UK to PortugalBrexit has made transporting belongings from the UK to Portugal more complicated than before. You will require a baggage certificate called a Certificado de Bagagem to prove you have owned your belongings for a minimum of six months to qualify you for duty-free import. Using an experienced relocation company may simplify the process. Healthcare Anyone registered as living in Portugal can access the Portuguese national health service (SNS) and is entitled to the same healthcare as a Portuguese citizen. Anyone registered as living in Portugal can access the Portuguese national health service (SNS) and is entitled to the same healthcare as a Portuguese citizen. Pictured is Porto Moniz in Madeira You receive your health number (número de utente de saúde) to access care by registering at your local health centre (Centro de saúde). The healthcare system in Portugal is not free and instead, there are standard user fees (taxas moderadoras) depending on the service. A GP appointment would be around €4.50/£3.77 to €7.50/£6.28, with a private consultation typically anywhere form €20/£17 to €70/£59 or so. An A&E visit is around €15/£13, with inpatient services around €10/£8 to €20/£17 per day. There are fee exemptions, such as for the unemployed or pregnant. Private healthcare is very good value and of a high standard too. ‘We quit UK for Portugal – we’re on the beach every week!’Estate agent Iain Begg moved three years ago from London to the Algarve with his wife Laura and two children, Isla, nine, and Lochlan, six. Isla attends international school and Lochlan is in Portuguese state school. Estate agent Iain Begg and his wife Laura (both pictured) moved three years ago from London to the Algarve with their two children, Isla, nine, and Lochlan, six’I play padel and golf and explore the country in my spare time,’ he says. ‘We love to explore the Algarve and the Alentejo, just north of the Algarve. ‘The Algarvian coastline is really diverse. On the western section you have beautiful beach coves beneath the cliffs which make for dramatic scenery whilst the central and eastern Algarve have a more flat terrace, and the Ria Formosa natural park. ‘The Alentejo is more rural and has beautiful scenery too – very different from the Algarve. There are stunning lakes and historic towns to visit. We go camping on lake in the Alentejo numerous of times a year with about seven other families where the kids run wild. Other than that, we go out for lovely lunches, head to a different beach every weekend, see friends, or just laze by the pool. ‘The majority of people speak excellent English but you do come across the odd time when language becomes a barrier – especially during bureaucratic administrative processes. I´m learning the language but it´s not the easiest language to learn. ‘The summer can be a little hot but a regular breeze keeps things manageable. ‘Local salaries fall behind a lot of Europe, so finding local employment to sustain a certain lifestyle might be challenging. One can live frugally depending on where you are located within the country though. ‘For a family of four, groceries would generally start at €150/£126 per week. ‘Eating out can be substantially cheaper than the UK. One can have a three-course meal for as little as €10 in some restaurants. Of course, there are a lot of high-end restaurants too including those with Michelin stars but should one go to the right places then you can eat out very well at little cost.’
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