Relocation Checklist
Moving to Portugal involves a sequence of bureaucratic steps, each depending on the previous one. This checklist will help you organize the process and avoid missing important deadlines.
Warning
Information is current as of February 2026. Bureaucratic procedures in Portugal change frequently — verify current requirements on the official AIMA and Portal das Finanças websites.
Before Moving (3–6 Months Ahead)
1. Determine Your Visa Type
| Visa Type | For Whom | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| D7 (Passive Income) | Retirees, people with passive income, freelancers | Passive income from €820/month |
| D8 (Digital Nomad) | Remote workers | Contract with foreign employer, income from €3,480/month |
| D2 (Entrepreneur) | Entrepreneurs | Business plan, investment |
| Golden Visa | Investors | Investment from €250,000 (funds) |
| D1 (Work Visa) | Employees | Employment contract with Portuguese company |
Details on each type — Visas & Residence.
2. Obtain a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)
What it is: a tax identification number — needed for everything (bank, rental, contracts).
How to get it:
- In person at Finanças (tax office) or via a fiscal representative
- Online through Portal das Finanças (for EU citizens)
- Cost via representative: €100–200
Finanças in Setúbal: Serviço de Finanças de Setúbal, city center
Tip
You can obtain your NIF before arrival through a fiscal representative. This speeds up opening a bank account upon arrival.
3. Prepare Documents
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay)
- Birth certificate with apostille
- Marriage certificate with apostille (if applicable)
- Criminal record certificate with apostille
- Proof of income / bank statements
- Health insurance
- Passport-size photographs
- Certified Portuguese translations of documents
4. Submit Visa Application
- Submit at the Portuguese consulate/embassy in your country of residence
- Processing time: 2–3 months (can be longer)
- Cost: €90 (consular fee)
First Month in Portugal
5. Open a Bank Account
Required: NIF, passport, proof of address (hotel address is acceptable initially).
Popular banks in Setúbal:
- Caixa Geral de Depósitos (state-owned)
- Millennium BCP
- Novo Banco
- ActivoBank (convenient online banking)
Details — Banking & Finances.
6. Find Housing
Where to search:
- Idealista.pt — largest platform
- OLX.pt — private listings
- Local real estate agencies in Setúbal
Average prices (2025–2026):
- Room: €400–600/month
- 1-bedroom apartment (T1): €700–900/month
- 2-bedroom apartment (T2): €900–1,200/month
Required documents: NIF, passport, proof of income, deposit (usually 2 months).
Details — Housing & Real Estate.
7. Register with AIMA
What it is: Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — the migration agency.
Purpose: obtaining/renewing your residence permit (Autorização de Residência).
AIMA in Setúbal: Av. Luísa Todi, 36–40, 2900-450 Setúbal (Mon–Fri 08:30–16:00).
Warning
The AIMA queue is the biggest challenge of relocating to Portugal. As of 2026, wait times for appointments range from 6 to 18 months. Register as early as possible. The AIMA backlog exceeds 400,000 applications.
8. Obtain NISS (Número de Identificação da Segurança Social)
What it is: social security number — needed for employment and healthcare access.
How to get it: at the Segurança Social office or through your employer.
Required: NIF, passport, employment contract (if applicable).
First 3 Months
9. Register at the Junta de Freguesia
What it is: registration at the local parish council (similar to address registration).
Purpose: proof of address for many procedures, including SNS.
Required: passport, rental contract, NIF.
10. Register with the Healthcare System (SNS)
How: visit your nearest centro de saúde (health center) with your passport, NISS, and proof of address.
Result: receive a Número de Utente SNS (patient number) and be assigned a family doctor (médico de família).
Details — Healthcare.
11. Schools & Education (If You Have Children)
Public schools: free, enrollment through the school in your area.
Required: child’s birth certificate, report from previous school, child’s NIF.
Details — Education & Schools.
12. Driving License
EU citizens: licenses are valid, no exchange required.
Non-EU citizens: foreign licenses are valid for 185 days after obtaining residency. After that, exchange through IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) is required.
Details — Visas & Residence.
First Year
13. Tax Return (IRS)
When: April–June (for the previous year).
Where: online through Portal das Finanças.
Rates: progressive scale from 13.25% to 48% (9 brackets).
Tip
The NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) regime in its classic form was closed to new applicants in 2024. It has been replaced by the IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação) regime for qualified professionals. Check eligibility with a tax advisor.
Details — Banking & Finances.
14. Residence Permit Renewal
When: 30 days before expiration.
Where: through AIMA (online portal or in-person appointment).
Required: proof of income, rental contract, tax return.
15. Path to Citizenship
Timeline: 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.
Requirements:
- No serious criminal record
- Portuguese language test at A2 level (CIPLE) — cost €72
- Ties to Portuguese society
Note
The CIPLE (A2) test is held 3 times per year (May, July, November). It takes approximately 2 hours: listening (30 min), reading and writing (90 min), speaking (15 min). Passing score: 55%.
Visual Timeline
6 mo. before 3 mo. before Arrival 1 month 3 months 6 months 1 year 5 years
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
NIF Documents Bank AIMA SNS License IRS Citizenship
Visa Apostille Housing NISS Schools Permit
Junta RenewalCommon Mistakes
- Not getting NIF before arrival — without NIF you cannot open an account or rent housing
- Delaying AIMA registration — the queue takes months, register immediately
- Not getting apostilles in advance — you can only do this in the country that issued the document
- Ignoring the tax return — even with zero income, filing is mandatory
- Not registering at the Junta — many procedures are blocked without this
Useful Contacts in Setúbal
| Organization | Address / Contact |
|---|---|
| AIMA Setúbal | Av. Luísa Todi, 36–40 · Mon–Fri 08:30–16:00 |
| Finanças Setúbal | City center · tel. 217 206 707 |
| Câmara Municipal | cm-setubal.pt |
| Centro de Saúde | Various (by parish) |
| Segurança Social | seg-social.pt |
See Also
- Visas & Residence — detailed visa types and procedures
- Banking & Finances — opening accounts and taxes
- Housing & Real Estate — renting and buying
- Healthcare — SNS, hospitals, pharmacies
- Education & Schools — schools and universities
- Working & Employment — labor market
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