Ex-pat laws

Dreaming of buying a property in Portugal and starting a new life under the sun? It should be an exciting experience, but for many expat buyers, the process can feel overwhelming and complicated.

Portugal is often considered one of the best places to retire, offering a relaxed lifestyle and great value for money. In 2025, many retirees are choosing Portugal as a haven from global challenges like the pension crisis, Brexit, and rising living costs.

The extinction of the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF-Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) has been the subject of much debate over the last two years, when the end of the service was approved in Parliament. And now it's official.

The entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners in Portugal has a new legal regime. The Parliament decree, promulgated by the President of the Republic on 4th August 2022, proceeds with the 10th amendment to Law No.

The Portuguese Government wants to tighten the rules for smoking in enclosed spaces.

With the COVID-19 pandemic stealing the headlines in recent months, Brexit seemed to take a back seat. Now in 2021 in the blink of an eye, the Brexit transition period has ended, as of 1st January 2021, the UK is no longer a member of the EU, and we are now living in a post-Brexit world.

Portugal's new nationality law has been passed by the President of the Republic. This means that the children of immigrants who have been living in the country for at least a year, even illegally, can become Portuguese at birth.

The end of issuing so called "golden visas" in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto, which was approved in detail following a proposal to amend the State Budget for 2020 (OE2020), will finally becomea reality later this year. The decision to change the rules of the scheme (in major u

We’ve been a little distracted lately with the surprise of the COVID-19 pandemic filling the headlines in Portugal and across Europe.

The children of immigrants who have been living in Portugal for a year may be able to get Portuguese nationality if an amendment to the nationality law, which is under discussion in Parliament, is approved.

The Portuguese parliament has approved a measure which will limit the issuance of what are known as ‘golden visas’ for real estate investments made across the Portuguese coastline, including in Lisbon and Porto.

Will I still be able to access healthcare in Portugal after Brexit? This is a question asked by many British citizens in the wake of the Brexit deadline, both by tourists and expat residents in Portugal.

Besides plans to end golden visas in Lisbon and Porto, the ruling Socialist Party in Portugal has introduced an amendment to this year's state budget which will levy a 10% income tax (known in Portuguese as IRS) on the foreign revenue of foreign pensioners who move to Portugal.

Launched in 2009, the regime for non-habitual residents in Portugal adds up to more than 27,000 beneficiaries and has been a strong driver of property investment in Portugal, especially in recent years.

With Brexit finally here, one of the biggest questions being asked by British expats is about residency in other countries. If you’re a British citizen living in Portugal and are worried about possible Brexit consequences, then we’re here to put your mind at ease.

This is just one of the many questions on the lips of British expats in Portugal and throughout the EU now that Brexit is finally a reality.

We’ll forgive you for saying you’ve lost track of what’s happening with Brexit - even those paid to understand it are somewhat confused! No-one is quite sure what exactly life will look like post-Brexit, especially for British expats living overseas.

Apart from new number plate formats, those of you driving in Portugal will soon notice a new traffic sign.

If you're bringing your pet to Portugal or if you’re thinking of getting one, you should know that the current laws for pet owners are about to change.

At the end of October owners will have to register their dogs, cats and ferrets in the pet information system (Sistema de Informação de Animais de Companhia - SIAC). The fee is 2.50 euros and covers 2019 and 2020.

The Portuguese government has passed a law that affects the number and car license plate format that will come into force in four months. The new Portuguese license plates will consist of two groups of letters and two central digits (AA-01-AA).

The new Portuguese Citizen Numbers (Números de Identificação Fiscal or NIF) will start with the number 3, the government has announced, with the change expected to take place in June or July 2019.

Many British ex-pats who live in Portugal and elsewhere in Europe have been worrying about their status recently, but thanks to the new Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill going through parliament, they will be covered in terms of healthcare after Brexit. Since the UK is still a member of

When you move to Portugal, it’ll really make you feel at home to have your car there. Whether you take your car from home or you buy one there, you’ll need to get insured, so how does car insurance work in Portugal? What do you need to get insured on your vehicle in Portugal?

We know moving to a new country is no easy task. It can all be a bit overwhelming and you might sometimes need a helping hand to figure things out. With that in mind, we have gathered together 10 tips that will make your life in Portugal a lot easier! 1.