A Guide to Retiring Abroad in Portugal

If you have dreams of selling your home and setting off for Europe and retiring overseas in Portugal you should familiarize yourself with all of the requirements and conditions that must be met for you to retire abroad.

Most foreigners that are planning to retire overseas in Portugal do not need to be in possession of a residence visa, or a visto para residencia, from the Portuguese consulate. However, immigration rules and conditions often change, so you may want to check in with your local consulate and embassy to ensure that this information is still up to date when you are ready to retire in Portugal.

Currently all European Union nationals, and those from the European Economic Area (EEA), are entitled to up to six months of stay in Portugal as visitors. Even so, they must get an extension to remain in the country as a visitor after only 90 days in the country. The extension will allow you to remain for an additional 90 days. Or you also have the option of getting a residence card, or autorizacao de residencia, instead of a stay extension.

If you are a non European Union national and are arriving in Portugal by plane you will be required to complete a form before you exit the plane that will allow you to stay for up to 60 days in the country as a visitor. This form is typically given out during the flight and in part it serves as a residence visa. This can be extended to lengthen your stay twice at 60 days each, for a total of no more than 180 days. If you intend on staying in Portugal for more than 180 days you will need to submit an application for a residence card before your 180 days are up.

When you come to Portugal to retire you will not be given a work permit. As an unemployed resident of Portugal you will be required to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and any dependants while in Portugal without taking up employment or starting a business. You will need either a statement from a Portuguese bank showing that you have at least 3,000 Euros in an account or a letter from a Portuguese bank manager testifying to the fact that you regularly transfer in money equivalent to 3,000 Euros.