Guide to Settle in Portugal as an EU Citizen
If you’re a citizen of the European Union (or EEA/Switzerland) and wish to settle in Portugal, you can do so freely, but there are a few legal steps you must follow if your stay exceeds 90 days. Here’s a practical overview of what you need to do — and how we can help simplify the process. Complete Guide to Settling in Portugal as an EU Citizen: Registration, NIF, and Health System.
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
1. Registering Your Residence
After 90 days in Portugal, you must obtain a Certificate of Registration as an EU Citizen (Certificado de Registo), issued by the City Hall (Câmara Municipal) of your area of residence. To do this, you’ll need the following:
A valid passport or national ID card
A declaration stating that you are working (employed or self-employed), or you have sufficient resources and health insurance, or you are studying and have coverage for healthcare and living expenses.
This certificate is valid for 5 years and formalizes your legal residence in Portugal.
2. Obtaining a Portuguese Tax Number (NIF)
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is essential for everyday life in Portugal — from opening a bank account to signing a lease or utility contract.
This is a somewhat bureaucratic process which, due to the potential tax implications it may entail, should always be handled with care and precision.
Luxe Move Portugal has extensive experience in this area, including the acquisition of both regular resident NIFs and non-habitual resident (NHR) NIFs.
No worries — we handle the entire process swiftly and securely.
4. Registering with the Portuguese National Health System (SNS)
Once you have a NIF and proof of residence, we can register you at your local health centre (Centro de Saúde). This allows access to public healthcare services.
NOTE THAT Family members who are non-EU citizens (e.g. a spouse from a third country) must apply for a Residence Card for a Family Member of an EU Citizen, now handled by AIMA (Agency for Migration and Mobility). Also here you can count with Luxe Move to handle this process.
