Portugal

📍 Lisbon 💱 EUR 🗣 Portuguese

A nomad and retiree favorite. Mild climate, English widely spoken, EU access, and one of Europe's friendliest residency paths.

Available visas

3 visa pathways for Portugal

The cleanest EU residency path for anyone with steady passive income. €870/month minimum, 5 years to permanent residency, 5 years to a Portuguese (EU) passport. The standard playbook for US retirees, UK pensioners, Canadian early retirees, and Australian FIRE households moving to Europe.

Min. monthly income

€870/mo

Processing time

60–90 days at the consulate, then 4-month entry visa → AIMA appointment for the actual residence card

Initial duration

2-year residence permit, then 3-year renewal, then permanent residency at year 5

The fastest path to an EU passport for high-earning remote workers. €3,480/month income from foreign clients or employers, 2-year residence permit, 5-year route to Portuguese (EU) citizenship. The standard play for US tech workers, UK fintech engineers, Canadian consultants, and Australian SaaS founders looking to land in the EU without giving up their remote income.

Min. monthly income

€3,480/mo

Processing time

60–90 days at the consulate, then 4-month entry visa → AIMA appointment for residence card

Real estate is gone. The Lisbon-flat-for-a-passport era ended in October 2023. What's left is a €500,000 fund route that still gets serious investors to EU citizenship in 5 to 7 years — with just seven days a year on Portuguese soil.

Min. monthly income

€0/mo

Processing time

12–18 months minimum to first card; full process 6–7 years end-to-end

Setup essentials