Post-Brexit, UK citizens no longer have automatic EU residency rights in Portugal; you now need a specific visa or residency permit to live here legally.
After Brexit, UK nationals lost the right to live, work, and retire in Portugal without a visa. You now need to apply for a specific residency permit, just like any non-EU citizen. The options depend on your situation: employment, self-employment, retirement income, or family reunification.
If you're employed by a Portuguese company, you'll need a work visa. If you're self-employed or running a business, you'll apply for a self-employment visa. Retirees typically use the passive income route, proving a monthly income (currently around €1,260 for a single person) from pensions or investments. Family members of Portuguese citizens or residents may qualify for family reunification visas. All require proof of health insurance, accommodation, and financial means.
UK citizens now need a visa to live in Portugal—plan ahead and choose the right residency category.
The application process is now longer and more formal than it was under free movement. Start early, gather documents carefully, and consider working with an immigration lawyer if your situation is complex. Many UK expats have successfully navigated this; you can too, but it requires planning.
Source: original report ↗
Free alerts
Free: the visa and tax changes that move your plans.
Get the immigration, residency and tax changes that actually affect living abroad — verified, dated, and explained, in your inbox. Free, and one click to leave.
Free · weekly · unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.
Knowing the rule changed is the easy part.
Seasoned Expat Pro tells you what each visa change, tax rule and residency decision actually means for your move — and the paperwork it changes — in a two-minute read.
Get the edge · $20/mo
Join the readers who move before the rules do. Cancel anytime, one click.
