Interest from international buyers in Portuguese property remains strong, despite the end of the golden visa programme, tighter rules for non-habitual residents, and changes to the foreigners’ law. According to idealista data, many visits to property listings come from France and the United Kingdom, with other countries like Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, and Canada also showing significant interest.
At the start of 2025, foreigners bought 2,098 homes in Portugal, representing around 5.1% of all property transactions—the lowest share since the second quarter of 2021, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). This decline is largely due to the end of the golden visa scheme and the replacement of the non-habitual resident programme with a stricter regime.
Top locations for foreign buyers in Portugal
Despite these changes, demand from abroad remains high in several key areas. The island of Madeira tops the list, with 42% of property listing visits coming from foreign countries. Faro follows with 36%, the island of São Miguel in the Azores with 34%, and Viana do Castelo with 30%.
Lisbon, Évora, Setúbal, and Porto attract fewer international visitors, with foreign interest accounting for less than 15% of total property searches. In these areas, most property searches come from within Portugal, by Portuguese citizens, immigrants, and digital nomads.
Which countries are most interested in Portuguese property?
European countries dominate foreign interest, with France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain leading the way. The United States also ranks among the top three sources of visits in several regions.
- France is the leading foreign buyer in Viana do Castelo, Bragança, Vila Real, Guarda, Leiria, Braga, Aveiro, and Porto.
- The United Kingdom leads in Faro, Castelo Branco, Beja, Santarém, Setúbal, and Évora.
On Madeira, Germany (18%), the United Kingdom (17%), and the United States (10%) generate the most foreign traffic. In Faro, the United Kingdom (17%), France (12%), and Germany (12%) dominate. On São Miguel, the United States leads with 34%, followed by Canada (25%) and Germany (9%).
In Lisbon, the strongest foreign interest comes from the United States (14%), the United Kingdom (13%), and Spain (8%). In Porto, international visits mostly come from France (15%), the United States (12%), and Brazil (9%).
Portugal remains a top destination for foreign buyers
Despite domestic policy changes, Portugal remains a highly attractive destination for international buyers, particularly in islands and southern districts. Whether seeking a holiday home, investment property, or relocation, foreign interest in Portuguese real estate continues to grow, making the country a hotspot for buyers from Europe and beyond.