Moving to Portugal from the United States

Entering Europe

U.S. citizens enter the Schengen area without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Since April 10, 2026, every entry and exit is recorded in the Entry/Exit System (EES). ETIAS, an online travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers, is planned but not yet in operation and has no official start date; follow only the official ETIAS website. This exemption covers visits, not living in Europe. Each EU country issues its own national residence visas; the EU Blue Card, for highly qualified work, follows common EU rules.

Living in Portugal

1. Choose your route. D7 for passive income and pensions, D8 for remote work, D2 for entrepreneurs, D3 or the EU Blue Card for qualified work, or the Golden Visa. Compare them in our guide on which Portuguese visa to choose.
2. Gather your U.S. documents. The FBI Identity History Summary is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State; state-issued birth, marriage and divorce records are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state. See apostille and document translation.
3. Get your NIF, usually before the visa application; you need it to lease a home and open a bank account. See Portuguese tax number (NIF).
4. Apply at the post with jurisdiction over your state: the Embassy in Washington or the consulates in Boston, Newark, New York, San Francisco and New Bedford, with VFS Global in Washington, New York and San Francisco, according to the MNE visa portal. Book only through official channels.
5. Travel on your residence visa. It is valid for four months and two entries; within that period you apply for your residence permit (Art. 58 of the Foreigners Act).
6. Obtain your residence permit from AIMA. The first permit is valid for two years. See Portugal residence permit.
7. Settle your NIF, SNS and Social Security numbers. The residence visa comes with a provisional NIF, National Health Service (SNS) user number and Portuguese Social Security number, which you then regularize.
8. Renew on time. Renewals are for three years. Absences of six consecutive or eight non-consecutive months without valid reasons may lead to cancellation.
9. Permanent residence and citizenship. After five years you may apply for permanent residence, which requires basic Portuguese. Naturalization requires 10 years of legal residence for U.S. citizens. See Portuguese citizenship by residence.

Sene & Araújo acts directly in Portugal on the visa, AIMA, NIF and citizenship steps and, at your request, works alongside your CPA or U.S. attorney. Decisions rest with the authorities, and we do not promise results or timelines. Talk to our team.

Many guides written for Americans before 2024 are now out of date. The main changes are:

• Golden Visa without real estate (October 7, 2023): Law 56/2023 (Lei), known as Mais Habitação, repealed the real estate purchase, urban regeneration and €1 million capital transfer options and prohibited the remaining options from being directed, directly or indirectly, to real estate.
• End of NHR (January 1, 2024): the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime was repealed by Law 82/2023, which created IFICI, a tax incentive for scientific research and innovation (Art. 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute, Estatuto dos Benefícios Fiscais).
• Family reunification (Law 61/2025): Law 61/2025 (Lei), of October 22, 2025, introduced, as a rule, a two-year waiting period before a resident can bring family members through reunification.
• New Nationality Act rules (May 19, 2026): Organic Law 1/2026 (Lei Orgânica) raised the residence period for naturalization to 10 years for U.S. citizens and other nationals of countries that are neither Portuguese-speaking nor in the EU, and added requirements for grandchildren of Portuguese citizens.
• Foreigners Act amendments (September 11, 2026): Law 62/2026 (Lei), of September 10, mainly implements the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. It did not change the D7, D8 or Golden Visa requirements.
• EU Entry/Exit System: since April 10, 2026, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational and records entries and exits of non-EU short-stay travelers, including Americans, in place of passport stamps.

A U.S. citizen can visit Portugal without a visa, but cannot live there on a tourist stay. To move, you apply for a residence visa at the Portuguese consular post with jurisdiction over your place of residence in the U.S., enter Portugal with it and then obtain a residence permit (autorização de residência) from AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum). The residence visa is valid for two entries and a four-month stay, during which you apply for the permit (Art. 58 of the Foreigners Act, Lei de Estrangeiros, Law 23/2007). The first temporary permit is valid for two years and is renewable for periods of three years (Art. 75(1)).

D7: pensions and passive income

Designed for retirees and people living on their own income, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, rent, dividends or interest. You must prove means of subsistence for at least 12 months, using the Portuguese national minimum wage as the reference: €920 a month in 2026 (Decree-Law 139/2025 (Decreto-Lei), Art. 3), plus 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each minor in the household (Ministerial Order 1563/2007 (Portaria)). See our page on the D7 passive income visa.

D8: remote work (digital nomad visa)

For employees and independent professionals who work remotely for employers or clients located outside Portugal (Art. 61-B of the Foreigners Act). The applicant must prove average monthly income from that work over the last three months of at least four times the national minimum wage, which means €3,680 a month in 2026 (4 × €920) (Regulatory Decree 84/2007 (Decreto Regulamentar), Arts. 18-B and 31-A). Passive income does not count toward this threshold. Details are on our D8 remote work visa page.

D2: entrepreneurs and independent professionals

For people who will open a company in Portugal or carry out an independent professional activity there, usually supported by a business plan or service contracts (Art. 60 of the Foreigners Act). See the D2 entrepreneur visa.

D3 and the EU Blue Card: highly qualified work

For professionals hired by an entity in Portugal for highly qualified work, teaching or research, and for holders of an EU Blue Card. The salary and contract requirements are set in Arts. 61-A and 121-A and following of the Foreigners Act. See the D3 highly qualified visa.

Not sure which route fits? Our guide on which Portuguese visa to choose compares them, and the page on citizenship, residence and visas gives an overview of every service in this area.

Keeping the permit

A temporary permit may be canceled if the holder, without valid reasons, is absent from Portugal for six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months during its validity (Art. 85(2)). After five years of temporary residence, you may apply for permanent residence, which requires, among other things, basic knowledge of Portuguese (Art. 80).

The Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI), known as the Golden Visa, is provided for in Art. 90-A of the Foreigners Act. U.S. citizens, who are visa-exempt for short stays, may apply in Portugal without first obtaining a residence visa. The options currently accepted include (Art. 3(1)(d)):

• creation of at least 10 jobs;
• at least €500,000 for scientific research by public or private institutions in the national scientific and technological system;
• at least €250,000 for artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of the national cultural heritage;
• at least €500,000 in units of non-real estate investment funds set up under Portuguese law, with a maturity of at least five years and at least 60% invested in companies with their registered office in Portugal;
• at least €500,000 to set up or capitalize a company with its registered office in Portugal, with the creation of five permanent jobs, or the maintenance of ten jobs, at least five of them permanent, for at least three years.

The investment must be maintained for at least five years. The minimum stay is 7 days, consecutive or not, in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period (Regulatory Decree 84/2007, Art. 65-C; AIMA). The permit is valid for two years and renewable for two-year periods. Since October 7, 2023, the ARI cannot be obtained through the purchase of real estate. Holders of permits granted before that date may continue to renew them under the transitional regime of Law 56/2023.

A short minimum stay does not shorten the path to citizenship: a U.S. citizen still needs 10 years of legal residence to apply for naturalization. More on our Golden Visa page. We do not recommend specific funds or products and do not comment on investment returns.

Moving together: family members may apply for residence visas at the same time as the main applicant, to accompany them (Art. 58(5) of the Foreigners Act). The household must show sufficient means: for the D7 and D8 visas, the benchmark is 100% of the minimum wage for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each minor or dependent adult child (Ministerial Order 1563/2007).

Family reunification after Law 61/2025: a resident who wants to bring family members later must, as a rule, have held a valid residence permit for at least two years, or 15 months for a spouse or equivalent partner with whom the resident lived for at least 18 months before entering Portugal (Art. 98(1) and (2) of the Foreigners Act). The waiting period does not apply to minor children or dependent children lacking legal capacity, to a spouse or partner who is the parent of a dependent minor, or to family members of holders of an ARI, a highly qualified activity permit or an EU Blue Card (Art. 98(3)). The resident must prove suitable accommodation and means of subsistence without recourse to social support (Art. 101).

Because the D7 and D8 do not benefit from the exemption, families should plan to apply together whenever possible. See the D6 family reunification visa page.

Short stays: 90 days, EES and ETIAS

U.S. citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days (U.S. Department of State, Portugal country information). In the Schengen area, the limit is 90 days in any 180-day period (Schengen Borders Code, Art. 6). The State Department also indicates that your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. Your entries and exits are now recorded in the EU Entry/Exit System.

ETIAS: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a planned online travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers, including Americans. According to the official ETIAS website, as of October 1, 2026 it is not yet in operation, no applications are being collected, and the EU will announce the start date several months in advance. Beware of websites offering ETIAS applications before then. ETIAS will not replace a residence visa.

Where to apply for a national visa

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE visa portal), national visa applications in the U.S. are handled by the Embassy of Portugal in Washington, the Consulates General in Boston, Newark, New York and San Francisco, and the Consulate in New Bedford, according to the applicant's place of residence. The MNE also lists VFS Global as an external service provider in Washington, New York and San Francisco. Check the consular post with jurisdiction over your state, and book appointments only through the official channels, as consulates warn against fraudulent booking sites.

U.S. documents

• Criminal record: the usual document is the FBI Identity History Summary (FBI). It is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State, through its Office of Authentications, can apostille it. The FBI FAQ explains the request options; if you need an apostille, confirm before ordering that the format you choose can be apostilled.
• Birth, marriage and divorce records: state-issued vital records are apostilled by the competent authority of the state that issued them, usually the Secretary of State (Department of State, apostille requirements). The U.S. and Portugal are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so no consular legalization is needed.
• Consular requirements: the MNE also lists a passport valid for three months beyond the intended stay, travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation, proof of accommodation and means of subsistence, and the consular post may request additional documents.

Mismatched names, missing annotations and expired certificates are among the most common causes of delay. Our page on apostille and document translation explains how to avoid them.

Portuguese ancestry

• Children of a Portuguese father or mother: entitled to citizenship by attribution (citizenship by origin), wherever they were born and even if the parent has died. No residence in Portugal is required. See children of Portuguese citizens.
• Grandchildren: entitled to citizenship by attribution under Art. 1(1)(d) of the Nationality Act (Lei da Nacionalidade, Law 37/81). Since May 19, 2026, they must meet the requirements of Art. 6(1)(c) to (h), including sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, proven by test or certificate. The presumption of language knowledge applies only to nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, so an American grandchild who is not also a national of one of those countries will, as a rule, need to prove it.
• Great-grandchildren: either in two stages, through a living parent or grandparent who first obtains citizenship, or by naturalization after at least five years of legal residence in Portugal (Art. 6(8)), with the other naturalization requirements.

Applications filed by May 18, 2026 continue under the previous law. Details on grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Spouses and de fato partners of Portuguese citizens have their own route: see citizenship by marriage or de fato union.

Naturalization by residence: 10 years for U.S. citizens

Under Organic Law 1/2026, in force since May 19, 2026, naturalization requires 7 years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens, and 10 years for other foreign nationals, which includes U.S. citizens. Periods of legal residence, continuous or interrupted, are added together if they fall within a maximum span of 12 years (9 years for the 7-year group). The time spent waiting for a decision on the residence permit no longer counts. Other requirements include sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language and culture, knowledge of the rights and duties of citizens, the ability to support yourself and the absence of certain convictions. Full details on citizenship by residence.

Keeping your U.S. citizenship

According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality, and a U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign country without risk to U.S. citizenship. U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Portuguese law does not require you to give up your U.S. citizenship either.

This section is general information only. Sene & Araújo does not advise on U.S. tax law: on the U.S. side, we work alongside your CPA, enrolled agent or U.S. tax attorney.

The U.S. side

• Citizenship-based taxation: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on their worldwide income and file returns under generally the same rules whether they live in the U.S. or abroad. Those living abroad get an automatic two-month extension to June 15 to file (but not to pay) (IRS).
• Foreign Earned Income Exclusion: qualifying taxpayers may exclude foreign earned income up to $132,900 for 2026 ($130,000 for 2025) per person (IRS). It applies to earned income, such as wages and self-employment income, not to pensions or investment income.
• Foreign tax credit: income taxes paid to Portugal on income also taxed by the U.S. may give rise to a credit, claimed on Form 1116 (IRS).
• FBAR and FATCA: foreign accounts, including Portuguese bank accounts, must be reported on FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) when their aggregate value exceeds $10,000 at any time in the year (IRS). Specified foreign financial assets above certain thresholds, which are higher for taxpayers living abroad, must also be reported on Form 8938 (IRS).
• U.S.–Portugal income tax treaty: signed in 1994 (IRS treaty documents). Like other U.S. treaties, it contains a saving clause, so U.S. citizens generally cannot use it to reduce their U.S. tax (IRS Publication 54); in practice, double taxation is mainly relieved through credits.

The Portuguese side

• Tax residence: you become a Portuguese tax resident if you stay in Portugal for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or have a home there that suggests the intention to keep it as your habitual residence (Art. 16 of the IRS Code, Código do IRS). Residents are taxed on their worldwide income. Holding a visa or a Golden Visa does not, by itself, make you a tax resident.
• IFICI: the regime that replaced NHR allows a special 20% Portuguese income tax rate on employment and self-employment income from certain qualified activities (such as higher education and research, certified startups and other activities listed in the law) for 10 consecutive years, for people who have not been Portuguese tax residents in the previous five years (Art. 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute; Ministerial Order 352/2024 (Portaria)). Retirement income and remote work for a foreign employer do not, by themselves, qualify.

Because both countries may tax the same income, the timing of the move, the sale of assets, retirement accounts and the structure of your income should be reviewed before you become a Portuguese resident. We handle the Portuguese tax registration and residence questions and coordinate with your U.S. tax professional, who remains responsible for your U.S. filings.

Which law governs your estate

Portugal applies Regulation (EU) 650/2012 (the EU Succession Regulation). If you do nothing, the law of your habitual residence at death governs the whole estate (Art. 21). An American who lives in Portugal will therefore, as a rule, have the succession governed by Portuguese law, including its forced heirship rules. You may instead choose, in a will, the law of your nationality (Art. 22). For a U.S. citizen, the U.S. has several legal systems, so the will should identify which state's law is meant; the Regulation addresses this in Art. 36. A chosen law applies without renvoi (Art. 34(2)).

Forced heirship (legítima) vs. U.S. freedom of testation

Under Portuguese law, the spouse, descendants and ascendants are forced heirs (herdeiros legitimários) and are entitled to a forced share of one-half to two-thirds of the estate, depending on who survives (Arts. 2157 to 2161 of the Portuguese Civil Code). Lifetime gifts are taken into account. Most U.S. states allow much greater freedom to dispose of property by will, so a U.S. estate plan may not work as intended if Portuguese law applies.

Wills and trusts

A U.S. will can be formally valid in Portugal (Art. 27 of the Regulation), but many families use coordinated wills: a Portuguese public will (testamento público) for Portuguese assets alongside the U.S. will, with matching revocation and choice-of-law clauses. Note that a Portuguese citizen, including a dual U.S.–Portuguese citizen, who makes a will abroad must observe a solemn form (Art. 2223 of the Portuguese Civil Code). Trusts fall outside the Regulation (Art. 1(2)(j)), so how a revocable living trust holding Portuguese assets will be treated in Portugal, including for tax purposes, must be analyzed case by case. See wills and estate planning.

Taxes on inheritance

• Portugal: transfers on death of assets located in Portugal are subject to Stamp Duty (Imposto do Selo) at 10%, with an exemption for the spouse or de fato partner, descendants and ascendants (Stamp Duty Code, item 1.2 of the General Table and Art. 6(1)(e)). Even when exempt, the estate administrator must report the death and the assets by the end of the third month after the death (Art. 26).
• United States: the estates of U.S. citizens are subject to federal estate tax on worldwide assets; the basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 for 2026 (IRS, Instructions for Form 706). The U.S. has no estate tax treaty with Portugal (IRS). U.S. estate planning is a matter for your U.S. estate attorney.

Our pages on international succession and on assets in the United States and other countries go into more detail.

• NIF: the Portuguese tax identification number is needed to sign a lease, open a bank account or buy property, and is usually obtained before the visa application. Non-residents outside the EU may need a tax representative in Portugal. See Portuguese tax number (NIF).
• Bank account: a Portuguese account is often used to prove means of subsistence and to pay rent and fees. Remember that it counts for FBAR and FATCA reporting in the U.S.
• Social Security: the U.S.–Portugal Social Security agreement has been in force since August 1, 1989. It eliminates dual Social Security coverage and taxation for the same work and may allow you to combine periods of coverage in both countries to qualify for benefits (SSA). Remote workers and self-employed people should confirm with the SSA which country covers their work.
• Healthcare: visa applicants must have travel insurance covering medical expenses, and the D7 also calls for health insurance. The residence visa comes with the provisional allocation of the NIF, the Social Security number and the National Health Service (SNS) number (Art. 58(6) of the Foreigners Act). Many residents also keep private health insurance.
• Driving: according to IMT, the Portuguese Institute for Mobility and Transport, U.S. licenses are accepted for driving in Portugal, even by residents, if no more than 15 years have passed since they were issued or last renewed and the holder is under 60 (Decree-Law 46/2022). Holders who want or need a Portuguese license can exchange it without driving tests, subject to a medical assessment and a certificate of authenticity of the U.S. license.
• Residence permit renewals: AIMA delays remain common. See our page on the Portugal residence permit.

Sene & Araújo is a law firm with lawyers admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados), with offices in São Paulo and Albufeira, in the Algarve. Our work for U.S. clients is organized as follows:

• Direct handling in Portugal: we act directly in Portuguese procedures: visa applications, residence permits before AIMA, family reunification, Portuguese citizenship before the Institute of Registries and Notary (IRN), NIF and tax representation, leases and property purchases, wills and inheritance proceedings in Portugal, and, when necessary, administrative complaints and actions in the Portuguese courts.
• U.S. law: the firm does not practice U.S. law. For U.S. tax, estate, trust and probate matters, you keep your own CPA, tax adviser or U.S. attorney. At your request, we coordinate with them so that the Portuguese and U.S. sides start from consistent documents and assumptions.
• Online meetings across time zones: we meet by video call at times that suit clients on the East and West Coasts, and most documents can be prepared remotely.
• A clear plan: before any application, we review your profile, family, income and assets and explain which routes are legally available, the documents you will need and the points of risk.

Decisions on visas rest with the consulates, on residence permits with AIMA and on citizenship with the IRN. Our role is to prepare each case carefully, meet the deadlines and present the appropriate legal grounds; we do not promise results or timelines. To discuss your move, talk to our team.