Since I’m kind, I’ll introduce them to you.
First of all, the European Union citizens can enter and work in Portugal freely, as long as they provide a valid identity card or passport. For stays over 3 months, it is important to register your residence at the city hall and then apply for enrollment in the Portuguese healthcare system. For UK citizens, please read the guidance here.
If you are willing to work in Portugal, feel free to read our special page Work in Portugal.
To drive in Portugal, your national driving licence is valid, but if you plan to stay in Portugal for an extended period, you will need to report it to the IMTT local office (Instituto para a Mobilidade e Transportes Terrestes) within 60 days of your arrival. Make sure to bring these following documents with you :
1- certificate of residence (issued by the City Hall (Câmara Municipal)).
2- form 13 IMT
3- photocopy of driving licence (and original)
4- ID
Let me warn you right away that, in a country where nearly 75% of the population are property owners, rental accommodation is becoming scarce. Demand is higher than supply, especially in Lisbon, which is a extremely trendy city for digital nomads.
Finding a place to live in Lisbon is becoming more and more complicated. Unless, of course, you’re knocking on the right door !
Concerning rental prices in Lisbon, they have soared. Even after the COVID-19 crisis, cost of living remains high. For a furnished room, you can expect to pay between € 400 and € 600 per month, depending on location and quality. For a furnished studio or 2-room apartment in Lisbon’s City Center prices range from € 700 to € 1200, depending on the location and the amenities offered.
Fortunately, there are some websites where you can find the perfect place to stay in Portugal.
Spotahome is a Spanish company specializing in student accommodation across Europe. It can be compared as the « Airbnb » for student housing. Unlike other competitors (such as Uniplaces or Housing Anywhere), Spotahome sends its ambassadors to inspect each accommodation !
Operating in major student cities (Lisbon, Porto), Spotahome proves to be the solution to the problem faced by all international students : finding the perfect accommodation, the one that will become their home for the entire period of their internship or Erasmus semester.
All the apartments offered by Spotahome are inspected in person and detailed information is provided to avoid any doubts. Booking your room takes only one click.
With the voucher code VISITMYLISBON15, get a 15% discount on the tenant fee when you book an accommodation on the website SPOTAHOME !
With 4.5/5 on Truspilot, Spotahome offers a high-quality service for those seeking secure housing. Not satisfied ? You will have 24 hours after your arrival to cancel your reservation once you arrive and Spotahome will relocate you to a hotel while you’re looking for new accommodation.
Although Portuguese people often use the Idealista website to both rent and buy property in Lisbon, Facebook remains a powerful platform for advertisements. Just take a look at Facebook Marketplace to see for yourself.
As far as renting rooms or even apartments are concerned, there are countless ads various social groups. Among them :
- Rooms to rent in Lisbon
- Casas e apartamentos para arrendar em Lisboa
- Apartments and rooms in Lisbon – flat sharing
- Houses/Rooms to rent in Portugal // Casas/Quartos para arrendar em Portugal
- Apartments & Rooms for Rent – Greater Lisbon
- Lisbon flatmates/ flats/rooms for rent
Our final piece of advice: if you don’t like the accommodation once you get there, learn Portuguese and talk to the local elders. They often have contacts that can help you find accommodation at a fair price.
Portugal is a pleasant country, with a must-see infrastructure and afairly affordable standard of living (housing excluded). These are all good reasons why more and more people are moving there every year !
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further details.
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