Buying guides
The practical side of buying in Lisbon
Practical, honest guides to every stage of buying property in Lisbon — written for international buyers who want to understand the process, not just be told what to do.
01 9 guides
Buying & Legal
Everything to do with the purchase itself — costs, contracts, taxes at completion.
- Popular 8 min read
The complete cost of buying property in Portugal
A clear breakdown of every tax, fee and cost you will pay when buying property in Portugal — so there are no surprises.
Read the guide → - 5 min read
How to get a NIF number in Portugal
Your NIF is the first thing you need before you can buy property, open a bank account or sign any contract in Portugal. Here is how to get one.
Read the guide → - Popular 7 min read
Getting a mortgage in Portugal as a non-resident
Yes, foreigners can get Portuguese mortgages — but the terms differ from resident buyers. Here is what you need to know before you start viewing properties.
Read the guide → - 6 min read
The CPCV — Portugal's promissory contract explained
The CPCV is the most important contract in a Portuguese property purchase. Here is what it is, what it contains and what happens if either party defaults.
Read the guide → - 5 min read
The Escritura — Portugal's final property deed
The escritura is the final step in buying property in Portugal. Here is what happens on the day, who attends, how payment works and what to do once you have the keys.
Read the guide → - 7 min read
Property taxes in Portugal — IMI, AIMI and what you will owe
A clear guide to the ongoing property taxes you will pay as a property owner in Portugal: IMI, AIMI, rental income tax and capital gains.
Read the guide → - 6 min read
Utilisation license (Licença de Utilização) explained for buyers
Every property in Portugal needs a licença de utilização certifying its legal use. Without one, the escritura can't complete. Here's what it is, why it matters, and what to check before you buy.
Read the guide → - 7 min read
Should you hold your Lisbon property in a Portuguese company?
For some buyers — portfolios, non-residents, estate planners — holding a Lisbon property in a Portuguese limited company (Lda) makes sense. For most owner-occupiers, it doesn't. Here's the honest breakdown.
Read the guide → - 8 min read
The key property documents to check before buying in Lisbon
The four legal documents every Lisbon buyer must verify before escritura — Licença de Utilização, Certificado Energético, Caderneta Predial Urbana and Certidão Permanente — plus when the Ficha Técnica is also required.
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02 7 guides
Relocation
Getting yourself here — visas, tax residency and the paperwork of moving.
- Popular 7 min read
Portugal's D7 passive income visa — a buyer's guide
The D7 is Portugal's most accessible visa for people who want to live here without working for a Portuguese employer. Here is how it works and who qualifies.
Read the guide → - 9 min read
Portugal residency visas — the options for non-EU buyers
An honest overview of Portugal's residency visa options for non-EU citizens — D7, D8, D2, Golden Visa, and the path to permanent residency and citizenship.
Read the guide → - 5 min read
Opening a bank account in Portugal as a foreigner
You will need a Portuguese bank account to buy property, pay IMI, manage a mortgage and connect utilities. Here is how to open one — resident or not.
Read the guide → - 8 min read
Becoming a tax resident in Portugal — what property owners need to know
Moving to Lisbon full-time? Becoming a Portuguese tax resident has significant implications for how your income, property and pension are taxed. Here is what you need to understand.
Read the guide → - Popular 7 min read
Social security in Portugal — a guide for expats
How Portugal's social security (Segurança Social) works for expats, employees, self-employed residents and those drawing pensions from abroad.
Read the guide → - 5 min read
Digital Mobile Key (Chave Móvel Digital) — a buyer's guide
The CMD lets you sign and authenticate government paperwork in Portugal remotely. For buyers handling NIF, Finanças and property registrations from abroad, it's one of the most useful free tools available.
Read the guide → - 7 min read
Self-employment in Portugal — a guide for freelancers buying property
Many international property buyers in Lisbon are freelancers or remote workers. Here's how self-employment works in Portugal — Abrir Atividade, Recibos Verdes, tax, and what mortgage brokers will ask to see.
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03 8 guides
Living in Lisbon
Life after you have bought — schools, healthcare, neighbourhoods and cost of living.
- Popular 9 min read
Where to live in Lisbon — a neighbourhood guide for buyers
Honest, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood advice on where to buy in central Lisbon — character, prices, lifestyle and who each area actually suits.
Read the guide → - 8 min read
Cost of living in Lisbon — what you'll actually spend
A realistic cost-of-living breakdown for Lisbon in 2026 — rent, groceries, eating out, utilities, transport, healthcare and example monthly budgets.
Read the guide → - 10 min read
Festas, festivals and events in Lisbon — what's on year-round
An honest year-round calendar of the festas, music festivals and cultural events that shape life in Lisbon — Santos Populares, Rock in Rio, Sónar, NOS Alive, Kalorama, Out Jazz, Web Summit and more.
Read the guide → - 9 min read
Choosing a school in Lisbon — international, bilingual and state options
A practical guide to picking the right school in Lisbon — international, bilingual, Portuguese state and crèches. Curriculum choice, fees, admissions timelines, catchment and what to ask on a tour.
Read the guide → - 9 min read
Santo António and the Festas Populares de Lisboa — what to expect
An honest guide to Lisbon's biggest festa — Santo António on 12–13 June. The marchas populares, the bairros that compete, the sardines, and what living through it really looks like.
Read the guide → - 6 min read
Getting around Lisbon — metro, tram, train and walking
How Lisbon's public transport actually works — metro, trams, buses, ferries, trains and why you probably don't need a car in the centre.
Read the guide → - Popular 9 min read
Renovating a property in Lisbon — costs, contractors and permits
What renovating a property in Lisbon actually costs, how to find trustworthy contractors, what permits you need, and the pitfalls that catch foreign buyers out.
Read the guide → - 7 min read
Healthcare in Portugal for expats — public, private and what to expect
How Portuguese healthcare works for residents and expats — the SNS public system, private insurance options, waiting times, and what foreigners should plan for.
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