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| Living In Portugal |
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Residence |
Driving |
Healthcare |
Taxation |
Cost of Living |
Banking |
Telephone |
Shopping |
Public Transport |
Pets |
Other Questions?
Residence in Portugal
As a European Union national, you may remain in Portugal, as a tourist, for a period not exceeding 180 days.
If you intend to settle, you must apply for a residence permit from the nearest office of the Serviço
deEstrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) (Portuguese Immigration Authority). British citizens who come to Portugal
to settle are not required to apply for a settlement visa prior to travel.
You will be required to complete an application form and provide two photographs and evidence of your
nationality, together with other documentary evidence depending on the category of permit sought. For
example, a person coming to Portugal to work will have to show an employment contract whereas a retired
person will have to produce his pension receipts and evidence of health cover (private or state-funded).
It is therefore advisable to contact SEF on arrival to obtain an application form and a list of the
documents required to accompany your particular application.
Proof of identity
The Portuguese authorities no longer issue identity cards to EU nationals resident in Portugal.
However, it is a legal requirement to carry some form of identification with you at all times and
your residence permit or passport is acceptable for this purpose.
Driving in Portugal
Non-residents can drive in Portugal on their foreign license for a maximum of 180 days in any
12-month period. It is not yet compulsory to exchange a community model driver’s licence on
settlement in Portugal. These licences may be used until they expire. However, if you intend
to make Portugal your main or permanent home, there are a number of very good reasons for
exchanging your licence for a Portuguese-issued one. These are :
- As in Britain, it is a legal requirement in Portugal for the address on the licence to reflect
the correct address of the holder.
- If lost, stolen or damaged, the licence can only be renewed or replaced by the original issuing
authority. Some licensing authorities, such as the DVLA, will not renew or replace a licence to an
overseas address.
- When the licence eventually expires, the Portuguese authority will not renew it unless the holder
takes (and passes) a driving test in Portugal.
A national driver’s licence (old-style green model) has to be exchanged for a Portuguese-issued licence.
In order to exchange your driver’s licence, you should apply to the nearest office of the Direcção-Geral
de Viação (Portuguese Driver and Licensing Authority). You will be required to surrender your original
licence in exchange for a locally issued one.
Road Tax
Road tax in Portugal is paid to the local government. The fee is related to the individual vehicle.
The average annual cost is approximately 30€
MOT
All vehicles more than three years old are required to an annual inspection similar to an MOT, but called
an ITP, to check the condition of the vehicle.
Insurance
As in the UK, third party insurance is mandatory. If you intend to drive using your English insurance,
you must check that you are covered abroad as this is not standard on all insurances.
Speed Limits
| Motorways: |
120kph |
| Dual Carriageways: |
80kph |
| Urban Roads: |
50kph |
| Residential Areas: |
40kph |
Fines
Fines for speeding are to be paid on the spot and are calculated per kilometre over the limit.
The legal drink-drive limit is 0,5mg per millilitre and a breathalyser test is a frequent occurrence.
Fines for this are very high.
Seatbelts
It is compulsory for both driver and passengers to wear seatbelts.
Driving a car with English registration
As a tourist, you may drive your vehicle in Portugal for a maximum of 180 days in any 12 month
period provided it is for your own private use and you do not loan it to anyone else during that
period. If your stay exceeds 180 days or you intend to take up rsidence in Portugal, you must
apply for the permanent importation of your vehicle to the nearest office of the Direcção-Geral
das Alfândegas (Customs authority) as soon as possible after your arrival.
New and second hand cars are available locally without difficulty and it therefore makes sense
to buy a Portuguese registered car in Portugal. However, vehicles can be imported duty-free from
another EU member state provided you were resident in that country prior to settlement in Portugal
and the vehicle is already fully tax paid.
Healthcare in Portugal
On production of your British passport and residence permit, you will be entitled to apply for a
Portuguese national insurance identity card from your local health centre (Centro da Saúde) and
enrol with one of their GP’s. Once you have evidence that you have applied for the issue of a
national health card, you will become eligible to use the National Health Service under the same
conditions as any Portuguese national. Until then, you will be treated as a visitor to Portugal
who, on production of a British passport, is entitled to receive emergency state treatment.
However, those who are retired and are in receipt of a UK state retirement pension may apply for an
NHS card and enrol with a state GP on arrival, simply on the production of their passport and pension
receipts. If you want to find out more about receiving your state pension while living abroad, you
should contact the Pension Service’s International Pension Centre at Tyneview Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA, Tel # 0191 218 7777, Fax # 0191 218 7291, or consult their website at
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk.
There are several good but extremely expensive private clinics in Portugal. There is a British
hospital in Lisbon which has both in-and out-patient facilities but is not equipped to deal with major
emergencies. Some of the nursing staff is British and all speak English. It is a non-profit making
institution, dependent on subscriptions and patients fees. Further information is available at
Tel # +351 21 395 5067.
Pharmacies
The 2700 Portuguese pharmacies provide an efficient and well-balanced medicines distribution system.
Portugal is one of the EU countries with the best pharmaceutical coverage. In addition to normal opening
hours (09h00 – 19h00) there are backup pharmacies (until 22h00) and night-service pharmacies
(open all night long).
There is a Special Information Service on Medicines, which is provided by qualified professionals. By
calling a toll free number (800 200 028) from 09h00 to 19h00, Monday to Saturday, information on any
medicine is available, particularly their brand names in Portugal.
Taxation
Residents in Portugal are liable to Portuguese tax. Anyone who is due to pay taxes in Portugal should
apply for a taxpayer’s number (número fiscal de contribuinte) from their local tax office (Repartição
das Finances). A tax number is also necessary for opening a bank account, road tax etc.
In Portugal, it is incumbent upon the taxpayer to submit his/her own income tax return annually between
1 February and 15 March for earnings derived from salaried employment and/or pensions, and between 16
March and 30 April for all other sources of income.
The tax year in Portugal is the same as the calendar year (1st January to 31st December).
Information on the Portuguese tax system is available in English on the Direcção-Geral’s website at
www.dgci.min-financas.pt.
The Inland Revenue’s Centre for Non-Residents may also be able to help you with UK tax matters.
For more information, consult their website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
Cost of Living
Portugal is no longer a cheap country. Imported consumer goods are taxed and expensive. The cost of
domestic fuel is high, as are international and regional telephone calls. Grocery bills can amount to
more than is expected though local produce, such as olive oil, fruit, vegetables, wine and tobacco, are
still cheap. Public transport fares are also reasonable in comparison with those in Britain and it is
still possible for a family of four to eat out for little more than 50€ (about 35£) A glass of wine or
beer is between 1€ and 1,50€. It costs about 5 Euros to see a film at the Cinema.
Electricity & Water
Electric voltage in Portugal is 220v 50 cycles. Sockets are two pin round. Electricity costs 0,13€/kwh
including Vat @ 5%.
Tap water is drinkable, although most people drink bottled mineral water which costs about 0,42€ / 5L.
Tap water costs 1,43€/m3.
Gas
Natural gas is increasingly available, but butane gas in cylinders is still widely used for cooking &
water boilers. A 15kg bottle of gas costs about 17,50€ including vat @ 5%.
Banking in Portugal
Both resident British nationals and those who come to Portugal as visitors may open a bank account in
euros or any other foreign currency. Banks are open to the public from 08h30 until 15h00 Monday to
Friday. The use of automatic teller machines is extensive and on-line banking is increasingly popular.
There is no restriction on the amount of currency entering or leaving Portugal, but large sums of money
should be transferred through proper banking channels.
Telephone and Internet in Portugal
For now there is only one company providing fixed telephone lines to homes, Portugal Telecom SA.
Connecting a telephone can be fairly quick, often between 1 and two weeks. On the other hand if your
house is in a remote country area far from the telephone network be prepared for a long wait. To open
a contract you will need to go to one of the telephone company’s offices, provide identification, sign
the appropriate form, and present a copy of form Mod.15. They will need your full name, the full address
of the house, a contact phone number, and your tax registration number.
The cost of having a telephone is about 25€ per month. A Broadband service is available (ADSL) which
costs 120€ per month.
Mobile phones – there are three main mobile phone providers. All provide packages of services with a
range of tariffs and forms of payment, and have frequent promotions.
Shopping in Portugal
Opening Hours
These can vary, but normal opening hours are from 09h00 until 13h00 and 15h00 until 18h00 Monday to
Saturday.
Most of the larger supermarkets are open 7 days a week, and close at 20h00 without a “siesta” break.
Public Transport in Portugal
Public transport is generally good in the larger cities with an efficient bus and rail service. In
the more rural towns, the bus service is limited and only runs until 20h00. The train service is
better, and runs until almost 24h00.
Taxis are easily found, but car rental is the best option in the smaller towns and costs about 140€
per week.
Pets
An animal arriving in Portugal from another EU country must be accompanied by a health certificate
(Atestado Sanitário) issued by the competent authority in the animal’s country of origin. The certificate
should state that the animal is in good health and does not come from a region where contagious diseases,
such as Rabies, prevail. It should be translated into Portuguese and presented to the customs authorities
on arrival in Portugal.
The competent authority in Britain is the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street,
London SW1P 4PQ (Tel # 0207 904 6346/7, Fax # 0207 904 6395/6428).
If the authority in the animal’s country of origin requires official norification of the need to issue a
certificate, such notification may be requested from the Direcção-geral de Veterinária, Largo da Academia
Nacional das Beles Artes 2, 1200-005 Lisboa. (Tel # +351 21 323 9500,
e-mail veterinaria@mail.telepac.pt)
Other Questions?
Should you have other questions, which have not been answered in this general information document,
the UK Embassy in Portugal can be extremely helpful, Tel # +351 282 490 750, Fax # +351 282 417 806,
www.uk-embassy.pt.
Please note, the above information is intended as a general guide only and Barrons can not be held responsible for any
erroneous information, we advise that you check any information before travelling.
Residence |
Driving |
Healthcare |
Taxation |
Cost of Living |
Banking |
Telephone |
Shopping |
Public Transport |
Pets |
Other Questions?
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