Portugal

At a glance: Portugal is an LGBTQ+-friendly country located in Europe, with many legal protections for trans people.

Why Portugal?

Portugal is one of the most advanced countries when it comes to LGBTQ+ legal protections and inclusive community. Portugal was one of the first countries to extend legal protections to LGBTQ+ people:

Anti-discrimination laws: In 2004, Portugal added protections to its Constitution, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The legal landscape includes LGBTQ individuals, who are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, education, military service, public services, adoption, and blood donation. Gender identity (or transgender status) is not a protected class in Portugal’s Constitution, but transgender people in Portugal are protected by multiple Portuguese laws, including Lei n.º 38/2018 (the comprehensive Gender Identity Law), as well as separate laws that protect transgender people from discrimination in the workplace (2015), housing (2017 and 2019), and education (2019). In 2013, the Portuguese Parliament added gender identity to the hate crimes provision in the Penal Code. In 2024, Portugal criminalized conversion therapy.

Marriage equality: Portugal legalized same-sex marriage in 2010, and recognizes the validity of same-sex marriages performed in the US. Couples in Portugal on residency permits can get married in Portugal.

Legal gender recognition: In 2011, Portugal passed the Gender Identity Law (Law nº7/2011), which allowed transgender people to legally change their gender and name. In 2018, Portugal passed the Gender Self-Determination Law (Law nº 38/2018), which allowed adults to change their legal gender based on self-determination, while 16- and 17-year olds can do so with parental consent and a professional psychological opinion. Nonbinary identities are not yet legally recognized, but there are associations advocating for change. Many private Portuguese businesses and institutions voluntarily offer gender expansive options in online and physical paper forms. There have been uplifting and affirming PSAs on TV here educating people about nonbinary identities, and there are ongoing efforts to make space for gender-neutral language, though this is more challenging since Portuguese is a gendered language.

Public healthcare: Portugal has a world-class national healthcare system (the SNS) that legal residents can enroll in, as well as a relatively affordable private insurance system for those who choose to opt into it. Gender-affirming healthcare, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some surgeries, is covered by the national health service. Immigrants can become eligible to receive treatment through the SNS after receiving their initial residency card (which currently can take over eight months after arrival). More details about gender-affirming healthcare in the Access to Trans Healthcare section below.

LGBTQ+ community: The main cities of Lisbon and Porto have the most vibrant LGBTQ+ scenes, with many Pride events throughout the year and dedicated queer spaces. Some of the more tourist-oriented towns in the Algarve region are popular destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers, especially sought out for their gay-friendly nude beaches and bars. Smaller cities and regions—such as Aveiro, Leiria, Coimbra, Braga, Évora, and Madeira—have more discreet queer communities.

Safety & security: Portugal is considered 7th safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index in 2025, and is known for having a high quality of life. Portugal also ranks highly on the Freedom House scale on civil liberties and political rights, with an overall freedom score of 96/100 as of 2025.

Climate, culture & history: Portugal features a diverse and relatively temperate climate, and is known for its delicious, fresh food (especially great for seafood lovers!), vibrant culture and rich history, and beautiful landscapes and architecture.

Language: It's reasonably easy to get by as an English speaker in the larger cities while you learn the language, as most people under the age of around 50 speak at least some English. More on learning the language below.

Public transportation: Cities like Porto and Lisbon have especially robust public transportation infrastructure, making it easy to live car-free, and the country is well-connected via a modern network of trains and buses, and of course, air transportation.

Economy: The Portuguese economy has been experiencing steady growth since 2014, especially in certain sectors like tourism, services, and tech.
Energy & environment: Portugal is also considered one of the most environmentally friendly countries, placing 18th on the 2023 Green Future Index. With many ongoing solar, wind, hydropower (and geothermal in the Açores) projects, Portugal aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Why not Portugal?

Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

As with many other countries across Europe and around the world, it's true that Portugal has been experiencing a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, and in 2025’s parliamentary election, Portugal’s extreme-right party, Chega, became the second-largest party in Parliament. Chega is now the official opposition party, and its leader, André Ventura, has made multiple anti-trans statements. Chega’s official platform opposes “trans activism” as well as abortion, gay marriage, and multiculturalism.

Chega’s hallmark rhetoric is its anti-immigrant rhetoric. Its success in the 2025 parliamentary elections have driven changes in Portugal’s immigration and nationality laws (see below). The authors acknowledge that it’s concerning how much traction Chega has received, and how anti-immigrant sentiment is being expressed online and in political rhetoric.

However, the authors also believe that the Portuguese people still remember the brutal oppression conducted under Portugal’s Estado Novo dictatorship, which was overthrown over 50 years ago in the “Carnation Revolution” of April 25, 1974. Portugal still bears socioeconomic scars left by the fascist regime, and we believe when the Portuguese people say, "25th of April, always! Fascism, never again!" they mean it. For more information about the Carnation Revolution and the shifting political landscape today, we recommend this long read in Al Jazeera.

One of the authors—who has lived in Portugal for almost three years and is heavily engaged in national and global politics—remains confident that Portugal is still one of the best places in the world one could live right now. Though they have personally observed an uptick in Far Right political gains since 2023, they have also seen recent evidence of Portugal getting back on track to uphold democratic norms and push back against a populist slide. Their personal observations include that whenever there are demonstrations from the extreme right, they have consistently been dwarfed by the size and energy of counter-demonstrations.

Portugal has a variety of established far-left to center-left political parties. One of the authors notes, “Having been raised in a country where merely entertaining the idea that anything outside of the capitalist system was inherently so evil we shouldn't even dare consider learning about it, I remain consistently delighted to live in a country where an official Communist Party throws a large and well-attended annual festival.”

We believe that anti-immigrant political rhetoric and legislative action in Portugal should also be viewed in the broader demographic context. Portugal is a country with approximately 10.4 million people, and according to recent data, there are slightly over 1 million legal foreign residents in Portugal. But this same data shows there are only around 14,000 American immigrants in Portugal, and around 49,000 British immigrants. In contrast, Portugal has over 350,000 Brazilian immigrants. As American immigrants to Portugal, the authors absolutely are concerned about rising anti-immigrant sentiment; but we also are highly aware of our privilege, and how very little of this sentiment appears to be directed against us, or Americans.

Immigration Bureaucracy and Changing Laws

Bureaucracy in Portugal can be frustrating, generally, and frequent bureaucratic frustrations and delays by AIMA, the agency in charge of immigration, can be especially frustrating. As we discuss in more detail below, in 2025, Portugal instituted multiple changes to its immigration and nationality laws, leaving many immigrants (including one of the authors) facing a timeline for obtaining citizenship that is significantly more difficult than when they first applied. These changes have created significant uncertainty and disruption for immigrants who already made life-altering decisions based on Portugal's established legal immigration framework. The core issue isn't just the changes themselves, it’s that the government’s attempt to institute retroactive rule changes communicates that legal frameworks can shift at any time, based on political priorities. This retroactive change to Portugal’s immigration rules is potentially concerning for trans immigrants seeking long-term stability and certainty when deciding where to build their lives.

Additionally, Portugal's immigration authority, AIMA, is overwhelmed. Residency applications that are supposed to be processed in 90 days are taking many more months (and in outlier cases, years). Instead of giving AIMA more resources to address these delays, Portugal’s 2025 legislative changes effectively penalize recent applicants hoping to apply for citizenship for AIMA’s delays.

Bureaucracy, Generally

American immigrants to Portugal often feel that Portugal’s slower pace of life is a benefit. Yet that same pace and attitude can also be a downside if you are trying to get problems fixed. American immigrants can often feel like Portugal lacks a “customer service culture.”

Among the Portuguese, American immigrants are notorious for having unrealistic expectations and making demands that are simply baffling to the Portuguese people. (The authors have experienced some truly funny examples of this cultural clash!) Our recommendation is to keep an open mind about what is truly important in life, and whenever you're confronting something challenging, like the bureaucracy, try to remain calm. “Calma, calma!” is a phrase that gets repeated to frustrated newcomers regularly, and we think it’s genuinely good advice. Many American immigrants find they’ve mellowed significantly after living in Portugal for a while, adapting to a slower pace that initially felt maddening, but eventually becomes liberating.

Economy

Portuguese wages are low compared to other Western European countries and significantly lower than typical American salaries. Even professional salaries in fields like teaching, healthcare, and office work often range between €1,200-€2,000 per month. Portuguese tech workers and executives can earn more, but still typically earn less than their counterparts in the US or Northern Europe.

At the same time, housing prices have been rising dramatically, especially in Lisbon and Porto. According to a recent study, Portugal has the worst housing access among OECD countries, with affordability 36% worse than the OECD average. Prices in general in Portugal are also rising. YouTube videos and immigration guides from a few years ago extolling the inexpensive cost of living in Portugal are now outdated. Housing prices in Portugal have doubled since 2014, while wages have only increased by 33%.

But Portugal still remains affordable to American and European immigrants, even with the increased pressures on housing from both tourists and immigrants. If you have foreign-sourced income, whether from remote work for an American company, US Social Security, retirement accounts, or investment income, your purchasing power will still be stronger than it would be in the US, especially outside the major cities. Even with the rising prices in Portugal, many American immigrants find they can maintain or even improve their quality of life while spending less than they did in the US.

But if you're planning on finding a job in Portugal and earning a Portuguese salary, you should carefully research typical wages in your field and compare them realistically to the cost of living in the area where you want to live. This is especially true if you're planning to live in Lisbon or Porto, where housing costs continue to rise while local wages remain steady.

Access to Trans Healthcare

The Trans Health Map European Union can answer many of the trans-specific healthcare questions you may have about any of the countries in Europe (last updated in 2024). Note that in Portugal, while the map indicates you must receive a diagnosis of dysphoria to access transgender healthcare services, if you've already transitioned (or have such a diagnosis) and just need to maintain HRT, most GPs will be able to prescribe that for you, at least initially, but they may also refer you to a sexologist for longer term care, especially if you want to pursue surgery or other, more comprehensive gender-affirming care.

The process for getting the appointment and how long it takes will be different depending on whether you are using the public (SNS) or private health system. For example, if using the SNS, your assigned GP will first need to refer you to a sexologist who will then coordinate your gender-affirming healthcare moving forward, and this can take some time, especially if you live further away from one of the major metropolitan areas. In fact, if you live in a more rural region, you may be required to travel into one of the larger cities for some types of care.

Minor children can medically transition from age 16 with parental permission. Apart from needing parental authorization, the rest of the process is the same as for adults.

Estrogen

Trans women have easy access to oral estrogen and oral anti-androgens by presenting a written prescription at their local Farmácia. Initially, a prescription bottle from a US pharmacy will usually do until you can obtain a script from a Portuguese physician. (One trans immigrant reports receiving regular birth control pills because the Farmácia didn't understand what she needed, but she was able to ask specifically for and receive “Zumenon” tablets.)

Out-of-pocket costs for oral estrogen and anti-androgens are quite modest.

Testosterone

Obtaining testosterone in Portugal is more complex than obtaining estrogen, since testosterone is a controlled substance. Trans men and transmasculine people should prepare in advance before moving.

The most important thing you can do before leaving the US is obtain a paper prescription from your medical provider for your testosterone, whether injections or gel. While Portuguese pharmacies cannot fill a US prescription for controlled substances, bringing your existing prescription to a Portuguese doctor makes it much more likely they'll write you a Portuguese prescription without requiring a specialist referral.

Accessing T Through the Public System (SNS)

If you're relying on the public healthcare system, prepare for the process to take several months. You'll need to: receive your residence permit, enroll in the SNS, get assigned a family doctor, obtain a referral to a sexologist, and then wait for a sexologist appointment. The timeline from arrival to first testosterone prescription could easily be eight to twelve months or longer.

Faster Access Through Private Healthcare

You can obtain testosterone more quickly by either purchasing private insurance or paying out-of-pocket to see a private doctor. Private appointments are available relatively quickly and are more affordable than similar care in the US. If you bring your US prescription, many private doctors will simply write you a Portuguese prescription without requiring a specialist referral first.

Many immigrants use private healthcare initially to maintain continuity of care, then transition to the public system once enrolled in the SNS to reduce long-term costs.

Important Notes About Testosterone in Portugal

Portugal does not permit self-injection of testosterone. Medical professionals here expect patients to receive injections at a clinic or health center. The concept of self-injection at home appears to genuinely surprise Portuguese healthcare providers. However, long-acting injectable formulations are available that only require clinic visits every three months, which many trans men find to be a significant improvement over weekly self-injections. Both injectable and gel forms of testosterone are available in Portugal, though you'll need to work with your healthcare provider to determine which option works best for your situation and the Portuguese healthcare system's protocols.

The Neurodivergent Landscape

With so much overlap between those who are queer and/or transgender as well as autistic and/or other minority neurotype(s), those exploring where to emigrate to may wonder about what life would be like as a neurominority member in a country under consideration. As with anywhere else, the answer when it comes to Portugal is, "It's complicated." The biggest things to be aware of are:

Autism is not necessarily considered a disability in Portugal

There is a low level of professional awareness about what autism actually is
Many hold stigmatizing and ableist views (not unlike in the US)
Mental health care, especially with autism-informed practitioners and especially if using the public health system, can be very difficult to access
The bar for diagnosing ADHD is very high, requiring multiple visits and tests; some medications used to treat ADHD may not be available in Portugal (you can search the Infomed database to check whether your medications are available in Portugal)

This may or may not have much of an effect on your day-to-day quality of life as an immigrant, however. As neurodivergent support needs are diverse and variable, some may find their quality of life improves, while some may not. Many autistic people who immigrate find that they no longer feel as stigmatized because autistic ways of being may be attributed to being a foreigner rather than being autistic. Those seeking more information specific to being in the neurominority in Portugal are encouraged to inquire in the Signal chat.

One of the authors is AuDHD and has a traumatic brain injury and mobility challenges. They are available to share their personal insights about living as a disabled person in Portugal for almost 3 years. There may be other neurodivergent residents of Portugal in the Signal chat who can share their own experiences, as well. Some resources specific to autism in Portugal:

Autistic People's Mental Health in Portugal: Experiences and Recommendations from Autistic Adults and Allied Professionals

Autistic Minority International's Review of Portugal: Neglect of Commitments and Autistic Persons (Note: this document is from 2016, and so is not necessarily representative of the present situation. As in the US, a lot has happened in the neurodiversity space over the last 9 years. But it can be compared to the 2024 study above to see the progress and trajectory.)

Also, here's a good blog post about Learning a Second Language as a Neurodivergent Student (Child or Adult!). Helpful info, whatever the language you want to learn.

Immigration Policy

Big Picture Thoughts

As of November 2025, the authors believe that Portugal’s residency visa remain one of the most-straightforward visas to obtain for trans Americans with economic resources or the ability to work remotely.

The authors are active in the TWE Portugal Signal group and are able to provide up-to-date perspectives on recent changes.

Recent (2025) Changes to Portuguese Immigration and Nationality Laws

In 2025, Portugal instituted multiple changes to its immigration and nationality laws, so potential immigrants should be aware that much of the information on the Internet, on social media, and available through AI chatbots may be outdated or inaccurate.

When sorting through these recent changes, potential immigrants should understand that there are three broad categories for Portuguese immigrants:

Step 1: The visa - Visas allow you to enter and stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days.
Step 2: The residence permit (título de residencia) - The initial residency permit must be renewed in two years, and allows you remain in Portugal.
Step 3: Naturalization (citizenship) or permanent residency - This allows you to live in Portugal indefinitely without further renewals. Naturalization means getting Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese passport with full EU rights.

The biggest effect of the laws passed in 2025 are extending the timeline to obtain citizenship. Under the law passed in October 2025, it will be much more difficult to obtain citizenship, with the timeline extended from around 5 years to over 10 years. The law will now be reviewed by Portugal’s Constitutional Court, so there is still uncertainty regarding whether the new deadlines will be implemented. At the same time, AIMA, the bureaucracy in charge of processing immigration paperwork, has instituted multiple new requirements for residency permits and renewals.

Social media along with specialized immigrant and “expat” forums are full of people expressing frustration with these changes. However, the authors strongly encourage potential Portuguese immigrants to understand that these frustrations, which involve recent changes to naturalization or residency permits, are quite separate from the process for obtaining a visa.

While obtaining an appointment to submit visa paperwork can be frustrating, we believe the basic visa process remains straightforward and accessible. Thus, while some recent immigrants are understandably frustrated that they must now wait an additional 5 years before applying for Portuguese citizenship, and are facing increased bureaucratic requirements, the authors continue to believe that the Portuguese immigration system remains an excellent and viable option for people intending to move and stay in Portugal.

Resources and Assistance

Americans & Friends PT Facebook Group

For those of us willing to remain on Facebook, one of the best sources of up-to-date information is the “Americans & Friends PT” Facebook group. Other than smaller online communities of American immigrants already in Portugal, the Facebook group is perhaps the best source of information about the immigration process. However, because of its size and the volume of posts, the group can feel a bit overwhelming to new participants.

Moreover, it may feel like most of the group participants are either Americans of retirement age, or cisgender married couples with children seeking to emigrate. The group can potentially feel unhelpful to trans people with nontraditional families, or potential immigrants without similar levels of economic resources.

The group can also feel unwelcoming to new users asking questions. Likewise, some participants in the group may respond with inaccurate information; or state confidently that certain alternate processes aren’t possible because they didn’t use those alternate processes themselves. But we also suggest that it’s unwise to ignore the group, because the archived discussions and the information available in the group’s “Files” section contain a wealth of knowledge.

If you are unable to access the Facebook group, contact one of the authors on Signal and we can help provide alternate perspectives on ways to access its information.

Lawyers and Immigration Consultants

Anecdotally, many Americans successfully obtain their visas and their residency permits (and even citizenship) without needing to hire lawyers or immigration consultants. While lawyers or other consultants can certainly help you with paperwork and provide some degree of reassurance, at the visa stage they are not required.

As a further caution, because visa policies and AIMA requirements are changing so rapidly, information that lawyers and consultants provide may be inaccurate or not up-to-date. Online groups are full of reports of people who have recently gone through, or are also going through, the exact same processes you’re trying to go through right now. Reliable reports about recent experiences can be more valuable than out-of-date paid consultants.

VFS and Consular Applications

Americans must submit their visa paperwork in-person, at the office with jurisdiction over their US residence. The consulates in Washington DC, New York, and San Francisco outsource the acceptance process to VFS Global; the consulates in Boston, New Bedford, Providence, and Newark directly accept applications.

VFS Global accepts visa applications for many countries besides Portugal. Simply booking an appointment at VFS can be one of the most-frustrating parts of the process. Currently, as of November 2025, VFS appointments can take over six months to obtain. VFS opens up new appointment slots in blocks, but also makes appointments available upon cancellations.

The Facebook group generally contains immediate reports when blocks of VFS appointments become available. In 2025, it has often been a matter of hours from VFS’ release of a block of appointments to all of the appointments being taken.

We offer some quick cautionary notes on VFS workarounds. In 2025, the jurisdictional and scheduling requirements have been applied much more strictly:

The New Bedford consulate used to accept applications from outside its jurisdiction. As of October 2025, they are no longer accepting these applications.

VFS offices in Miami and Houston used to accept applications from applicants anywhere within the Washington DC consulate’s jurisdiction. As of summer 2025, these VFS offices began applying stricter standards and even canceled existing appointments from outside their immediate area.
VFS offices used to accept visa paperwork regardless of the specific appointment type booked. As of May 2025, VFS began rejecting visa submissions booked under different appointment types.
VFS offices used to accept a limited number of “walk in” appointments on certain dates, but as of early 2025, applications are taken by appointment only.

To be clear: If you are applying for a D7 or D8 visa (see below), you should book a “Long Stay” or “National Visa” appointment with VFS.

Big Picture Steps for Portuguese Immigration

Don’t get overwhelmed by the news and complaints on social media about recent changes to Portuguese citizenship laws. Instead, we suggest that you focus on the first step of the process: obtaining your initial visa. With that in mind, the rest of this guide focuses on determining whether you can get a Portuguese visa, and how that process works. This immediate section also helps orient you in what the rest of the process looks like.

Step 1: The Visa

Most immigrants in our Signal group have obtained a D7 (passive income) or D8 (digital nomad) visa. American citizens seeking one of these visas must physically apply in the US, in the jurisdiction of the consulate corresponding to their US residence. It can take several months to obtain an appointment to submit this paperwork, and then applicants usually face a wait of 30-90 days (or more) for the application to be processed.

Upon approval, the visa (good for 120 days) must be physically stamped into your passport in the US, and you must enter Portugal within 90 days from the visa’s initial date.

Step 2: Initial Residency Card

The next step is your initial application for your residency permit, which must be done at an AIMA office. Immigrants often (but not always) have their initial AIMA appointment scheduled when their visa is issued; and as of October 2025 these appointments typically do not occur until around 5 months after the 120-day visa has already expired. Requirements for what must be submitted at the initial AIMA appointment have recently changed. After the submission of paperwork and biometric data, immigrants typically wait 1-2 months before receiving their card, which is valid for two years.

Step 3: Residency Card Renewals

Currently, the temporary residency card must be renewed after two years, and renewals result in the issuance of a card valid for an additional three years. While AIMA has made some progress in improving the renewal process, the changing AIMA requirements and challenges and delays in getting a renewal appointment and renewed residency card make this a source of frustration and stress.

Step 4: Permanent Residency and/or Naturalization

Previously, Americans immigrating to Portugal on a D7 or D8 visa could apply for naturalization—i.e., to obtain Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese passport—after residency in Portugal for five years. In October 2025, the Portuguese legislature passed a law extending this period to 10 years for American and British immigrants. (Slightly shorter deadlines are available for immigrants from Portuguese-speaking countries, like Brazil.) The law will now be reviewed by Portugal’s Constitutional Court, so there is still uncertainty regarding whether the new deadline will be implemented. The newly passed nationality law does not affect the requirements for permanent residency. On a practical level, the timing for obtaining permanent residency or naturalization can be much longer than the deadlines in the law, because the law only establishes when an immigrant can submit their application, and immigrants have experienced delays of months (or even years) before their application is successfully processed.

While there are many new frustrations with Portugal’s residency card and naturalization process, we emphasize our belief that the Portuguese visa remains accessible and a very attractive option.

Visa Types and Logistics

D7 Retirement / Passive Income

Most of the people in the TWE Signal group have obtained a D7 (passive income) or D8 (digital nomad) visa, so our main focus will be on these visas. We discuss other types of visas in the next section.

While some resources characterize the D7 visa as a “retirement” visa, the Portuguese authorities recognize a wide range of “passive income” that that satisfies the D7 visa’s requirements.

How much passive income do I need?

Individuals must be able to demonstrate monthly passive income equal to the Portuguese minimum wage (currently €870 per month in 2025). The base required amount increases by 50% if you include a spouse, and by 30% for each dependent. Thus, a family of a married couple and one child would need to demonstrate monthly passive income of €1,566 per month (870€ + 435€ + 261€).

While the Portuguese minimum wage (and additional funds for partners and dependents) is the minimum amount of passive income required by law, immigration consultants warn that it is “safer” for applicants significantly younger than traditional retirement ages to demonstrate more than the minimum amount of monthly passive income.

What other financial resources must I demonstrate?

In addition to demonstrating your monthly passive income, applicants on a D7 visa must also show the equivalent of 12 months minimum wage in savings, held in a Portuguese bank account. This minimum amount also increases for spouses and dependents. Thus, by the time they apply for the D7 visa, an individual needs to have opened a Portuguese bank account and deposited €10,440. (An individual with a spouse and one dependent would have to deposit €18,792.)

Some immigration advisors – including prominent voices on the “Americans & Friends” Facebook group – are advising that demonstrating greater amounts of savings in the Portuguese bank account is “helpful.” In some cases, well-meaning individuals have asserted that some greater amount of savings (such as 2 years) is required. While we can’t say for certain whether demonstrating more savings is helpful, the law only requires 12 months.

What qualifies as passive income?

Traditional sources of “passive income” include social security, employer-provided pensions (retirements), or SSDI (but not SSI) benefits. Passive income for purposes of the D7 visa can also include expected distributions, following retirement, from a 401k or IRA. Individuals close to retirement age, but not yet receiving social security, have been successful at obtaining a D7 visa by demonstrating that they have sufficient savings in their investment accounts to cover the minimum income requirements until they begin receiving social security or other retirement benefits. However, anecdotally, demonstrating savings alone may cause additional questions.

The more straightforward way to use investments to demonstrate the required “passive income” is to show a stream of interest and dividend payments. Other more-sophisticated investment vehicles, such as annuities or other forms of guaranteed payments, are also accepted.

Anther relatively straightforward source of “passive income” is income from rental properties. Importantly, to satisfy the passive-income requirements, the Portuguese authorities look at gross rental income, not net income.

Strict monthly payments are not required, but what is required, on a practical level, is being able to provide evidence that you have enough yearly passive income

Individuals applying for a D7 visa must also comply with several other common requirements. See below for that discussion.

D8 Digital Nomad Visa

The D8 “digital nomad” visa is intended for remote workers and freelancers who earn “active income” from employment or self-employment outside of Portugal.

Who qualifies for a D8 visa?

The D8 visa is available to workers who can perform their work from Portugal, as well as to freelancers whose clients are located outside Portugal. Family members can be included on the application. As part of your application, you must submit statements from your employer or clients that you are able to perform the work in Portugal.

How much income do I need?

D8 applicants must demonstrate monthly income equal to four times the Portuguese minimum wage – currently €3,480 per month, or €41,760 per year. A D8 applicant with an accompanying spouse / partner, or dependents, must demonstrate increased threshold amounts.

What other financial resources must I demonstrate?

D8 visa applicants must also demonstrate “means of subsistence” held in a Portuguese bank account. At the time of application, they must demonstrate savings equivalent to at least 12 months of the Portuguese minimum wage (€10,440). When applying with accompanying family members, D8 applicants must demonstrate additional savings: 50% (€5,220) for a spouse or parent, and 30% (€3,132) for each child.

What documentation must I provide?

The required documentation differs depending on whether you are employed or self-employed.

For employees:

A document certifying your current tax residence (such as a tax return)
Pay stubs demonstrating average monthly income over the last 3 months meeting the €3,480 threshold
Either a work contract or a promise of employment contract
A statement from your employer confirming you work remotely and have permission to work from Portugal
A NISS

For self-employed individuals:

A document certifying your tax residence (such as a tax return)
Evidence of average monthly income over the last 3 months meeting the €3,480 threshold
Proof of work, such as service contracts or agreements with clients/entities showing contracted dates, compensation, and possibly job duties
Letters from clients confirming the services you provide, similar to employment contracts
Optionally, proposals for additional service contracts demonstrating ongoing work
A NISS

D7 or D8: Which should I choose?

Some freelancers and remote workers with income from outside Portugal may be eligible for either the D7 or D8 visa. The D8 has a higher income requirement (€3,480/month vs. €870/month), but the definition of qualifying income is broader and may be easier to document for individuals with variable freelance income. Anecdotally, some applicants who would otherwise qualify for a D8 have chosen to pursue the D7 instead, because in their particular circumstances the passive-income requirements are easier to document.

Other Types of National Visas

D1 Visa - Employment

The D1 requires a job offer to work for a Portuguese company. Portuguese wages tend to be much lower than US workers (and those from other Western countries) are accustomed to. Portuguese tech companies attempting to hire workers on D1 visas have expressed frustration at how long the process takes.

D2 Visa - Entrepreneurs

The D2 is intended for entrepreneurs who will start a business in Portugal. Approval for the D2 visa is complicated, and requirements include forming a Portuguese company and having a business plan approved by Portuguese authorities and submission of proof of clients or business activities in Portugal, as well as evidence of adequate capital investment.

D3 Visa - Highly Qualified Professionals

Qualifying for the D3 visa requires demonstrating you are a “highly qualified professional, which generally includes management as well as experts in intellectual and scientific / technical fields. However, simply possessing credentials is not sufficient, and you must also show an existing employment contract or a promise of one and your ability to perform the work in Portugal. In practice, the D7 or D8 may be easier for qualified individuals to obtain.

D4 - Students, Interns, and Volunteers

The D4 is for higher education (undergraduate and graduate) students, exchange students, professional interns, or volunteers. To be eligible, projects or studies must last more than one year.

D5 - Not Applicable

The D5 visa applies to EU students already in an educational program.

D6 Visa - Family Reunification

The D6 visa is for “family reunification” and is typically used when an immigrant is already in Portugal and wishes to have their family member join them. Requirements for family reunification have been the subject of recent (2025) legislation.

Portugal’s definitions of eligibility for “family reunification” include legally married spouses, including same-sex marriages. The definitions further include dependent children under 18, and dependent parents age 60+. For considerations for dependent adults not in an educational program (including disabled adults), we suggest you consult with legal counsel.

The D6 visa is usually not used by EU citizens with non-EU spouses, because a simpler immigration process is available to them by exercising EU free movement rights.

Golden Visa

Portugal was one of the leading countries allowing a visa by investment. Perhaps the most-attractive thing about Portugal’s golden visa is that it allows you to bring over your entire family (not just dependents), and it does not require you to live in Portugal the entire year. The visa only requires that you live in Portugal for seven days in the first year and 14 days every two years after the first. These very short requirements mean that you can obtain Portuguese residency (and eventually citizenship) without becoming a Portuguese tax resident. For high net worth individuals, the financial upside from these tax issues can be quite significant.

The most-common qualification method for obtaining a Golden Visa is by making a €500,000 investment in a certified venture capital investment fund. Importantly, this is an investment, not a donation. Investment programs are available that promise to return the investor’s capital, so the actual cost of the Golden Visa is actually quite a bit lower than €500,000. Lower investment amounts are also available. Previously, immigrants could qualify for a Golden Visa by purchasing real estate, but this option was eliminated in 2023.

While the Golden Visa may appear quite attractive to high net worth individuals looking to secure an additional passport, recent (2025) proposed changes to Portugal’s immigration law are likely to extend the time for citizenship to ten years. Moreover, Golden Visa investors have experienced significant delays in applying for residency, placing them in administrative limbo, with AIMA not granting appointments or issuing residency cards for months or even years. The Portuguese court system is full of investors who have filed lawsuits against AIMA, seeking to compel AIMA to grant them an appointment.

Individuals who actually wish to live in Portugal may find the D7 visa to be more straightforward and have a clearer path (and fewer delays) to residency.

Taxation

The United States and Portugal have a tax treaty in place to help US citizens living in Portugal avoid double taxation. Portugal has high taxes compared to the United States, particularly for middle and upper-middle income earners. It is a progressive tax system, with income tax rates ranging from 13.25% for the lowest bracket to 53% for income over €81,199 (as of 2025).

“Pensions,” such as US social security and SSDI payments, private employer pensions, or distributions from employer 401k or traditional IRA accounts are taxed in Portugal as income subject to these progressive tax rates, just like the US tax system. Investment advisors give varying advice about distributions from Roth IRAs; consult with an investment professional or ask in the TWE Signal group regarding the range of ways those accounts can be treated by the Portuguese tax authorities.

Federal and state government employees and military retirees with government pensions receive extremely favorable tax treatment in Portugal. Distributions from federal, state, and local government pensions, including military retirement pay and pensions from federal agencies, and distributions from the federal Thrift Savings Plan or state government 403b plans, are taxed exclusively by the United States. Portugal does not assess any tax on this income. This means people in Portugal with government pensions and retirement accounts can pay substantially less taxes, compared to people with private sector pensions or 401ks.

Portugal previously had a tax-incentive program called the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax program, which ended in 2024.

The new incentive program, called NHR 2.0, IFICI, or TISRI is now available. Under this new program, pension income is taxed at the normal Portuguese rate, but earned income, capital gains, and dividend & interest income is taxed at a flat 20% rate. IFICI / TISRI participation lasts for 10 years, and immigrants must apply for the program by January 15 of the year after they become a Portuguese tax resident. Participation in IFICI / TISRI is limited to eligible professionals (such as executives, scientists, engineers, doctors, and Information Technology specialists) or employees of Portuguese companies in specific industries. Immigration services are providing consulting on IFICI / TISRI as part of their financial and tax consulting practices; this advice can include connecting immigrants with IFICI-qualified Portuguese companies.

Additional tax-related information not specific to Portugal is available on TWE’s Money/Tax Compliance page.

Medical Inadmissibility

Portugal does NOT have immigration laws that would find people with disabilities or health challenges inadmissible to emigrate.

The authors have various disabilities, and emigrated with family members with disabilities. We were never asked questions about our health or disabilities. (We all had to obtain travel health insurance coverage, which did not require disability disclosure, either.)

Cost of Living & Housing

Update coming soon...

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

What are potentially good places to live in?

Lisbon
Porto
Smaller towns—such as Aveiro, Leiria, Coimbra, Braga, Évora—are generally safe, but expect the queer people living there to be more discreet.
Tavira, Lagos, Albufeira, Portimão, Faro, and Lagos in the Algarve, and the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Açores, are wonderful, safe places to vacation, but LGBTQ+ folks may find themselves feeling isolated if they live in these areas year round.

Top Trans-Friendly Cities

Lisbon
Porto
If you need gender-affirming healthcare, plan to travel to Lisbon or Porto if you live anywhere outside of these major cities.

Community Support, Resources, and Events

National/International

This list represents just a fraction of what's available in Portugal for LGBTQ+ people. Seriously, if you have a niche within a niche interest, there's probably already a group for it. Queer Kizomba dance lessons? There's a group for that. Roller Derby team for lesbians? Yep, that exists, too. This includes some of the more general, well-known orgs, groups, events, businnesses, etc.

Misterb&b - site and app to book travel accommodations, caters specifically to LGBTQ+ travelers (along the lines of Airbnb and Booking.com)
The ILGA Portugal Association is the largest and oldest association working on the promotion and defense of human rights for LGBTQIA+ people and their families in Portugal. They host the Centro LGBT (LGBT Information Center) and offer activities/events/regular meetings with multiple support/information groups as well as a helpline.
esQrever - a queer-led online Portuguese news and media outlet "focused on LGBTI and Gender themes, as well as its political, human and social components. It is a space open to community participation, with several people who, either by invitation or on their own initiative, send us their thoughts, their experiences and suggestions."
Queer Lisboa & Queer Porto - International Queer Film Festival

Opus Diversidades - political lobbying and representation, psychological support and therapy, training on LGBT rights, combats sexism, supports immigration rights, LGBTQI+ Seniors, and runs a shelter for vulnerable/homeless gender-nonconforming people. Website, Facebook, Instagram
Clube Safo - is an association that supports and defends the rights of lesbians in Portugal. The Association aims to support and defend the rights of lesbians, a space for social, cultural and political intervention. Website, Facebook, Instagram
Rede ex aequo - LGBTQI support network for youth age 16 to 30 with nationwide chapters and events throughout the year.
Ja Macharavas - intersectional, feminist, LGBTQI+, ecologist, antifascist, antiracist, democratic, progressive, inclusive, participative, collective resources and action.

Lisbon

EuroPride *
Marcha de Orgulho Lisboa *
(Many more should be included here, but input from others who live in Lisbon is requested. Please join via the Signal chat if you are interested in helping expand this list.)

Porto

Porto Pride - the oldest Pride event in the north of Portugal, held since 2001! Website, Instagram
Queer at Heart - choir for LGBTQIA+ folk and allies. Beginners welcome!
Aurora - irregularly hosted queer party
Douro Bats - LGBTQAE+ Sports Association in Porto. Indoor football and volleyball sports team. Website Instagram Email: dourobats@gmail.com
Amplos - Association of Mothers and Fathers for Freedom of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Website Instagram
Gay Expats Porto - Group to connect to the GAY expat community in Porto.
PortoInclusive - LGBTI+ community and mobilisation in Porto! WhatsApp: +351932711447 Email: portoinclusive@gmail.com
Porto Pals - LGBTQ+ social and community support group. Meets in person and has topic-specific Signal and WhatsApp chats. The group consists of a mix of immigrants from around the world and Portuguese people. You must already be living in Porto to join these chats. For more information, inquire via the TransWorldExpress Signal group.
LGBTQ+ Connect - LGBTQ+ Signal chat that has social gatherings for those already living in Porto. For more information, inquire via the TransWorldExpress Signal group.
Caution: there is a Meetup group in Porto called LGBTripeiros, but don't be fooled by the T in their name. It should be read as LGB Tripeiros, as the leader of the group is not inclusive of transgender people, bisexual people in straight-passing relationships, or anyone identifying as "queer." We do not recommend!

*Some have asked why there are two pride marches in Lisbon. Here is how a Portuguese person explained the reasons for there being separate events and the differences between them, paraphrased. "EuroPride is a pan-European LGBTQIA organization where board members are elected from all EU countries to serve. They are all activists who have contributed and participated in local and national organizations. Different cities bid to host EuroPride and are competitively selected based on such bids. Marcha de Orgulho Lisboa is sponsored by ILGA Portugal, a national NGO with Portuguese sponsors. The disagreements are due to politics, about the mayor and council's support or non-support for one or the other, and for not encouraging everyone to come to the table as part of EuroPride, or to support the local initiatives. Due to ongoing investigative reporting and allegations of the corruption of a Lisbon political figure (I've omitted details shared with me), there are now separate marches for Pride. EuroPride will be a global event, with many people coming from other countries to participate. Marcha de Orgulho will be a primarily local/national march." (Porto has two separate pride marches also, for similar reasons.)

Law Enforcement

Update coming...

Censorship & Digital Privacy

Portugal is much stronger on individual protections and freedoms when it comes to censorship and digital privacy than the U.S.

In 2024, Portugal was ranked 7th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, with a score of 85.9 - Reporters Without Borders - Portugal
Report finds that Portugal is low risk in the four major areas analyzed for media pluralism and media freedom - Media Pluralism Monitor 2024
Portugal: Press freedom remains robust even as media face resource strains
According to a 2021 European Cybersecurity Index report, Portugal Crowned Europe’s Most Cyber-Safe Country (Note: this needs further research/better source from someone who understands their way around this topic better... a more reputable source for cybersecurity info is European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, but I can't find any specific rankings from an official source to back up this claim about Portugal being the best in Europe.)

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

It's easy and affordable to fly out of Portugal to many other nearby countries with several budget airline options available, especially if you are located in Lisbon or Porto, which have international airports. I once flew from Porto to London for €19 each way!
It's a bit harder, but not impossible, to connect to the rest of Europe via rail, for now, but there are major infrastructure projects underway seeking to improve on this. It is possible to get to Spain by train from Portugal, but it will take a few changes and many hours depending on where you start from. I think Lisbon to Madrid currently takes at least 3 changes and about 10 hours. The planned high-speed train will reduce travel time from Lisbon to Madrid to about 3 hours. Once you get to Madrid, it's much easier to connect with the rest of Europe.
If you want to avoid flying, for the time being your best option for getting between Portugal and Spain (and then on to the rest of the European continent) is by bus. The bus lines are very comfortable and modern and extremely cheap. I just randomly plugged in a date within the next month and found Flixbus tickets from Lisbon to Madrid for under €15 that will get you there in about 7.5 hours.

Animal Policies

Portugal is very pet-friendly. They boast a higher rate of dog ownership than the U.S. If you are walking your dog, it is very likely that many people you pass will want to stop and love on it. We've actually made friends this way! Don't be too surprised to see dogs wandering free here, especially in the more rural areas. Watch out for the poop though! Some people (like us) pick up after our dogs, but many do not.
Feral cats are a regular sight here, but they are generally well cared for by the community. It is common to see make-shift cat shelters throughout neighborhoods, and people regularly contribute food to these.
When looking at rental housing listings, unless it specifically mentions no pets, it's probably safe to assume that pets are allowed, but it's still always a good idea to ask the potential landlord. Be prepared to pay for any damage your furbabies do, however.
To bring a pet to Portugal takes some advance planning, but compared to many other countries we considered, we found it was among the easiest to meet requirements. I recommend using a local vet experienced with preparing pets to meet international travel requirements, and check the latest information at the official U.S. government site: Pet Travel From the United States to Portugal as well as the official EU site: Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU (there is a drop-down menu to select the country you are traveling from, such as the U.S., for specific info).
See also our Traveling with pets wiki for more information.

Language

While many Portuguese people do speak at least some English, especially in the larger cities, you should make an effort to learn the local language (and you will need to learn it well enough to pass an exam if you want to become a citizen one day). In our experience, the Portuguese people are very appreciative of immigrants who make an effort to learn the language, which they realize is a difficult one! European Portuguese is different enough that we recommend trying to learn it rather than Brazilian Portuguese. Unfortunately, many popular language learning apps like DuoLingo only offer Brazilian Portuguese at this time. It is better than nothing though if that's what works best for you. Beware some online influencers selling (very expensive) language learning courses. There's no need to spend thousands of dollars on bespoke programs that can end up being... underwhelming. The Portuguese government offers free classes, and sometimes you can even get paid to take them! Immersion learning by watching TV, reading, and engaging in conversation is a great way to learn. Here are a few sites/apps for learning European Portuguese:

And for the neurominority folks, here's a good blog post about Learning a Second Language as a Neurodivergent Student (Child or Adult!) no matter what language you're learning!

Additional Resources

Official government sites

AIMA ( Portugal's immigration agency)
Portugal's official government website
U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Portugal
Legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreign nationals from national territory: Immigration-related legislation as of 2022, in English.
Portugal Bar Association Lawyer Search (Ordem dos Advogados Pesquisa de Advogados): Before engaging with someone representing themselves as a legal professional, we recommend ensuring they are registered in this official database.
Infomed - official Portuguese database of medicinal products

Content related to moving to and living in Portugal

Articles and Essays

When Is It Time to Flee? - Trans people and their families are facing hard questions and choices as threats to their safety and rights proliferate

The American Diaspora - An essay from 2023 documenting the growing exodus of Americans, including their own escape to Portugal, as people flee the U.S. due to political and social concerns
Naysayers Gonna Naysay - A personal essay about confronting "naysayers" while emigrating from the U.S. to Portugal, emphasizing that international moves aren't just for the wealthy and are sometimes necessary for survival
Laughing in Portuguese - An immigrant's personal observations on Portuguese humor, cultural misunderstandings, and the complexities of national identity
Yearning for the post-collapse future - Reflections from a Portuguese immigrant on finding hope through a "magical" forest festival and witnessing a touching Pride parade moment where an elderly Portuguese man traded his national flag for a Pride flag
How to socialise as an expat in Portugal - Tips on how to make friends in Portugal from a fellow immigrant

Podcasts

Escaping Abroad - A podcast in which an immigrant shares their experience as an agender, queer, and neurodivergent person who fled the U.S. for Portugal
A stream of our own - A podcast interview of Pussy LeBouton, a nonbinary, queer, and "neurospicy" musical performer and immigrant in Portugal who directs the Porto queer choir, Queer at Heart

Videos

Transitioning in Portugal as a Foreigner - A gay trans YouTuber shares his experience of transitioning in Portugal
Expats Everywhere - YouTube channel by a normie cishet couple, but they do offer a lot of useful personal insights about life as "expats" in Portugal, including tours and information about different cities and neighborhoods within cities, etc. Worth looking into if you're Portugal curious!

Author credit

This guide was written by JD Goulet and Rachel See, and is based on our personal experiences. JD has lived in Portugal for three years, and Rachel emigrated in 2025. An earlier version of this guide has been reviewed by Portuguese citizens for accuracy, as well.

Both authors are active in the TransWorldExpress Signal group and are happy to talk to you if you are deciding whether Portugal is right for you.