Residency in Portugal for UK Citizens: What You Need to Know

Post-Brexit, many UK citizens displayed their dissatisfaction. After all, for years, Britons were used to traveling, studying, and working freely across the EU. And post-December 2020, their right to do so without visas and permits was taken away.

However, if you’re looking to swap the grey skies of the UK for the golden sunshine of Portugal, the latter offers a range of residency options, including the D7 visa and the Golden Visa scheme.

In this guide, we’ll break down how exactly UK citizens can seek residency in Portugal, what post-Brexit rules mean for them, and how services like Bitizenship help make the process smoother.

Why Portugal is a Top Choice for UK Citizens

Before jumping into the nitty-gritties, the legal, the paperwork side of things, let’s talk about a few reasons why Portugal is such a tempting destination for UK citizens:

• Year-round mild weather: It’s hard to say no to 300 days of sunshine, especially if you’re tired of the same old gloomy skies. While endless grey and drizzle can wear you down, Portugal flips the script with warm summers, mild winters, and plenty of bright, blue-sky days.
• Lower cost of living: From housing and groceries to nights out, the day-to-day cost of living in Portugal is noticeably lighter. Even in Porto or Lisbon, prices feel gentler than London or Manchester, and in smaller towns, your money stretches even further.
• High quality of life and healthcare: Portugal scores high on all global quality of life indices. These indices measure things like healthcare efficiency, public safety, and the overall happiness and satisfaction levels of the citizens. There is public healthcare for residents, which is heavily subsidised, and private healthcare, too, at a much cheaper cost than in the UK.
• Strong expat community: A major issue when moving to another country is simply the feeling of isolation that may gloom over you, especially when you don’t speak the language. However, there is a well-established British expat community living in Portugal.

From pubs showing football (Cristiano Ronaldo’s home turf, after all) to doctors who speak English, Portugal feels familiar fast. With a community of fellow Brits, home suddenly doesn’t feel so far away.

How Brexit Changed the Rules

Brexit changed a massive part of UK nationals’ cultural freedom: the freedom to live, work, and travel anywhere in the EU without restrictions. You can still move, but now there are a few hoops to jump through.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Stays over 90 days now require a visa or residency permit.
• Working in the EU requires a separate work authorization.
• For short visits, a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) works. But if you’re staying long-term, you’ll need to register with the local healthcare system.
• Social benefits aren’t automatic anymore because you’ll need residency to qualify.

What This Means for Visas, Work Rights, and Residency

UK citizens now have to plan their time in Portugal more carefully. Short trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period are still visa-free under Schengen rules. But if you want to stay longer, you’ll need the right visa, like the D7 (for retirees or passive income earners) or the Golden Visa (for investors). This applies whether you’re retiring, studying, or working.

Since automatic work rights are gone, any job in Portugal now requires a valid work visa or permit. That means doing your homework, because overstaying or working without authorization can lead to fines or even deportation. The good news? Portugal offers clear, structured routes for both work and residency.

One thing that hasn’t changed: UK citizens can still buy property in Portugal with zero restrictions, making it a solid choice for investment and residency applications. Health insurance is required at first, since automatic reciprocal coverage no longer applies, but once you have residency, you can register for Portugal’s public healthcare system.

Your Residency Options in Portugal

Portugal offers several pathways to residency, each suited to different preferences and financial situations.

1. Portugal Golden Visa

The Golden Visa program is designed to attract foreign investors. This increases foreign investment in the Portuguese economy. In exchange for qualifying investments, you’re offered residency rights. While some routes, like residential real estate, have been restricted, the program still has attractive options.

Key benefits and requirements include:

Qualifying investments can include any of the following:

• €250,000 minimum donation to arts or cultural institutions
• €350,000 to €500,000 investment in qualifying real estate (depending on location and property age)
• €500,000 investment in Portuguese investment funds
• €500,000 investment in scientific research
• Creation of at least 10 jobs in Portugal (no minimum investment specified)

Application Steps

• Submit initial application with documentation
• Complete the qualifying investment
• Attend biometric data appointments in Portugal
• Renew residency permits every two years with continued investment

Costs Involved

• Application fees and residence permit cards cost around €605 and €6,045 per person initially
• Renewal fees is about €3,023 per person every two years to maintain residency
• For professional assistance, translation, document preparation, expect between €5,000 and €10,000 or more l egal and processing fees depending on complexity
• Document preparation and notary fees can start around €1,000
• Travel insurance is often required for visa applications and usually about €400 per person annually

Other costs include real estate purchase, health insurance premiums until enrolled in public healthcare, and moving expenses

NOTE: These costs are approximate and can vary. Always confirm current fees with Portuguese authorities or your advisor.

2. D7 Visa

The D7 visa, sometimes also referred to as the Passive Income or Retirement Visa, is designed for people who can support themselves financially. This includes remote workers, retirees, passive income earners, people living off investments or rental income, and the lot. Essentially, it is for those citizens who do not depend on work in Portugal directly, enabling them to get full-time residence with access to healthcare and social systems.

Key benefits and requirements include:

Remote workers and digital nomads highly favor this visa because it doesn’t require a job offer from a local employer.

3. Other Routes for Residency in Portugal for UK Citizens

If you don’t qualify for the Golden Visa or D7, all hope isn’t lost. You’ve still got the following options:

• Work Visas: If you receive a job offer from a Portuguese company, your employer can sponsor your visa. This process is common in the tech, tourism, and healthcare industries.
• Study Visas: Portugal’s universities are increasingly international. Students from the UK can apply for a residence visa valid for the duration of their studies, often renewable annually.
• Family Reunification: If you have a close family member who’s a legal resident or citizen of Portugal, you can apply to join them. This applies to spouses, dependent children, and sometimes parents.

Life in Portugal as a UK Expat

With plenty of UK nationals living in Portugal, a fair idea about what life is like in Portugal as a UK expat can be conceived. Let’s talk about the essentials:

1. Housing and Cost of Living

Lisbon and Porto are popular but pricey, similar to London. Thankfully, whether you intend on renting or buying, Portugal has plenty of housing options. Expats report they found more value in Alentejo, the Silver Coast, or interior regions. From coastal villas to city apartments, there are plenty of options out there. A modest lifestyle in Portugal can cost around €1,200/month for a single person or €2,000/month for a couple.

Daily expenses like groceries, eating out, transport, utilities, and entertainment tend to cost less, making day-to-day living comfortable even on a moderate budget.

2. Healthcare Access

Once you become a resident, you can register for the Portuguese public healthcare system (SNS), which covers most treatments for a low fee. Private insurance is also widely available for around €50/month.

Doctors tend to speak English in both the public and private sector, and the healthcare in Portugal is ranked well in Europe, with private care often available at much lower costs than in the UK.

3. Education Options

Portugal has plenty of options when it comes to schooling, so bringing your kids along wouldn’t result in setbacks for their or your education.

Public schools come with free access. There are numerous excellent international schools, especially in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto, and the Algarve. Curricula offered include British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB), as well as universities offering degrees in English, a major attraction for international students.

4. Integration Tips

Getting comfortable in any country can seem difficult at first, but give it some time. The best way to understand the people and the culture is to understand the language, so we recommend learning Portuguese. Even basic phrases go a long way toward making you feel connected with the locals. Start with basics to greet and interact politely, as it’s respectful and helpful for citizenship.

From there, you can start building social connections. Many expat clubs exist, and one is always welcome to join local classes or community events. Embrace the local culture, food, festivals, and traditions to feel at home.

How Bitizenship Helps UK Citizens Get Portugal Residency

Getting a visa, making the right investments, and navigating a new country’s legal system isn’t exactly simple. It’s even trickier if your wealth isn’t sitting in a traditional bank account. Many people today hold most of their assets in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, and that’s where Bitizenship comes in.

We help Bitcoin-first investors and crypto holders secure European residency (and even citizenship), with a strong focus on the Portugal Golden Visa. With 8 years of on-the-ground experience in Portugal and 110 Golden Visas managed to date, we guide clients every step of the way, including:

• Legal support
• Tax representation
• Bank account setup
• Concierge services

Plus, through our partnership with the Unbound Fund, we offer a direct route to Golden Visa eligibility via private equity investment that is compliant, secure, and crypto-friendly. This makes it perfect for those who’ve built wealth in crypto and want EU freedom without converting everything to fiat first. Get in touch to start the process right away.

Closing Thoughts

Portugal is still very much within reach for UK citizens. The Golden Visa remains one of the most reliable routes, but it’s not the only one. You can also apply through the D7, work, study, or family reunification.

With its warm climate, friendly culture, and affordable lifestyle, Portugal is an attractive choice no matter your path. The process can be complex, though, so either do your homework or let the experts at Bitizenship guide you. Portugal is ready when you are.

FAQs

Ale is the co-founder of Bitizenship. He cares about the craft of building quality products that make life better for people. He writes about these topics, as well as freedom, wealth, and global mobility, in a newsletter read by thousands of modern citizens.