Living in Portugal is a wonderful experience for many people. Portugal has its reasons in attracting people around the world to live here. The all-year-round sunny climate, great beaches, and the amenities provided are a few of these reasons.

Depending on the region you live in, Portugal may offer a metropolitan lifestyle or life in a village or a town. The welcoming and friendly locals make life in Portugal an easier and more enjoyable experience.

Let’s find out more about this country below.

Cost of Living in Portugal

Portugal is relatively an affordable country compared to several European countries like Spain. Rents, for example, are quite affordable if you’re not in big cities like Lisbon or Porto. Real estate sale prices are also suitable enough for purchase. Usually, a couple can live comfortably with an average monthly budget of €1500. It may go up to €2000-2500 if you’re living in a city like Lisbon.

Healthcare in Portugal

Living in Portugal as a resident or citizen means benefitting from the state healthcare system. The public system in Portugal is known as The Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS). You can have access to free healthcare services in public hospitals and health centers. Note that if you’re a tourist, you can’t have access to this system unless there’s an emergency situation. If you’re a foreigner having a permanent residency, then you can have access to public healthcare. 

Private healthcare is also available in Portugal, and it’s available for everyone in the country. Furthermore, you can find appointments in private hospitals and clinics fast. In addition to that, private insurance is available at an affordable cost. It may start from $22 and go up to $110 a month.

Job Market in Portugal

If you want to move to Portugal, you may consider working here as well. The country welcomes foreign workers, especially in tech and IT areas. You can find startups growing in number in Portugal every day. If you speak Portuguese, you can find jobs in several markets here. If not, your chances of finding a job here are higher in sectors like IT or tourism. If you’re a worker in Portugal, you need to contribute to social security as well. It protects you in cases such as invalidity, work injuries, and unemployment benefits. 

Note that the minimum wage in Portugal is €635, and it’s not taxed. In addition, the average salary here is between €1180-2000. 

Education in Portugal

If Portugal immigration is among your plans, you don’t need to worry about the education of your children. There are both public and private education systems in Portugal. For residents and citizens, state education is available for individuals up to 18 years of age. 

Americans moving to Portugal can find the education system in Portugal attractive because they can find schools providing an American curriculum. The number of such schools is higher in cities like Lisbon. Furthermore, the class size in these schools is smaller. 

Living in Portugal: Transportation 

Luckily, various types of public transportation are available throughout the country. These include bus, metro, train, and taxi. The lines of these public transportation cover long distances from each other. You can move from cities to towns with these lines as well.

Social Life in Portugal

You’ll find that living in Portugal is quite enjoyable with the vibrant nightlife and lots of cafes and restaurants. People here are open to conversation with foreigners and expats. 

Visa and Work Permit For Foreigners in Portugal

There are mainly three types of categories to get a visa for Portugal. One of them is the Schengen visa. It’s also known as a short-stay visa and is valid for up to 90 days of stay. Through this visa, you can visit Portugal and the Schengen area for a short term. A seasonal work visa is also a type of short visa.

Another type of visa is a temporary stay visa. These national visas allow for stays for up to one year. You can enter and leave the country for several brief periods of time through this visa. If you’re not an EU/EFTA national but are a third-country national, you need this visa for visits of more than 90 days and less than one year. Temporary stay visas include a study visa and a temporary work visa. 

The third category of visas includes long-stay visas that provide residency for more than a year. Also known as residency visas, these types of visas include the Golden Visa, D7 Visa, and family reunion visa. So, if you wonder how to move to Portugal from USA, you may consider this category of visas. 

Living in Portugal as an American can become possible when you choose to invest in the country through the Golden Visa. You may also consider applying for the D7 Visa if you have a regular passive income. 

In short, you can enjoy living in Portugal as a short or long-term resident.