Guides & resources — Blue Ocean Immigration

Moving to Portugal 2026

Moving to Portugal in 2026 means making decisions in the right order: choosing the correct residence route, handling the essential bureaucracy and setting realistic expectations about timing. This guide maps the process end to end — no empty promises, just legal precision.

Cost of Living

In 2026, Portugal remains one of Western Europe's most sought-after destinations for people who want to pair quality of life with a manageable cost of living. But the national average is misleading: living in Lisbon or on the Algarve coast is very different from living in Porto, on the Silver Coast or inland. This guide explains how living costs vary by region, what to expect for housing, healthcare and family budgets, and how all of it shapes your choice of visa and where you settle.

Healthcare & Schools

For anyone moving to Portugal with a family, two questions matter as much as the visa: what healthcare will we have, and where will our children study? This guide explains how SNS access works for residents, when private health insurance makes sense, and how to choose between public schooling and international schools in Lisbon, Cascais and Porto.

Opening a company in Portugal

Opening a company in Portugal as a foreigner is entirely feasible — and, in most cases, simpler than people expect. The secret is the right order: get the NIF, choose the right company type, incorporate the company and obtain the NIPC. This guide maps the process from the ground up, with legal precision and no empty promises.

AIMA: appointments & timelines

AIMA is the authority that decides most immigration cases in Portugal — from residence permits to family reunification. This guide explains what AIMA does, how appointments work and why timelines are variable, with no empty promises and full legal precision.

IFICI (ex-NHR)

IFICI — the Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation — is the regime replacing the former Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) status. Often called "NHR 2.0", it is far more selective than its predecessor: it targets those carrying out qualified activities in research, innovation and high-value-added sectors. This guide explains what changed and how to assess your eligibility, with legal precision and without figures that quickly go stale.

CPLP visas & residence

The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) opened a dedicated mobility route for lusophone citizens who wish to live in Portugal. For nationals of Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde or another member state, this can be the most direct way to regularise residence — but there are nuances worth understanding. This guide sets out the essentials, with legal precision and no empty promises.

Living in Lisbon

Moving to Lisbon is more than choosing an address: it is finding the right neighbourhood, understanding the real cost of living, settling into an international community and handling the bureaucracy that makes it all legal. This guide gathers the essentials for newcomers — precise, and without generic figures that won't apply to your case.