Bikrant Niure 
Foreigners living in Portugal can request an SNS number through a public health centre or hospital, and eligible applicants can also request it alongside their tax and social security numbers at designated Espaços Cidadão. However, some health centres use their own email instructions for handling requests, so applicants should check the procedure at their local … Read more
Opening a bank account in Portugal can be difficult for immigrants who have not yet received their residence cards, but a residence permit is not the only identity document recognised in the country’s official banking guidance. Banco de Portugal lists a valid passport among the accepted identification documents, while also requiring information about a customer’s … Read more
Getting a Portuguese driving licence does not always mean starting from zero or paying for a full driving-school course. Foreign licence holders may qualify for an exchange, beginners can follow the standard driving-school route, and a new law allows eligible learners to practise with a qualified tutor under specific conditions. Portugal’s mobility authority, the Instituto … Read more
Portugal plans to increase its national minimum wage from €920 to €970 per month in 2027, giving workers an extra €50 in gross monthly pay if the announced target is implemented. The government confirmed the figure in its October 2026 budget announcement, although the final legal measure establishing the 2027 rate still needs to be … Read more
Portugal’s immigration agency, AIMA, provides three main ways for migrants to seek assistance: a telephone contact centre, the email address geral@aima.gov.pt and an online contact form. However, the correct channel depends on the type of request, and applicants dealing with residence permits, missing documents or appointment requests should follow the agency’s specific instructions. AIMA contact … Read more
Portugal has closed the old residence pathway that many foreigners used through QNQ Level 4 and 5 vocational and professional training courses. The change became law on 11 September 2026, meaning people planning to use these courses as a route to Portuguese residence now need to reassess their plans. However, Article 92 itself has not … Read more
As of October 2026, most residence permit renewals in Portugal are handled online through AIMA’s Portal de Renovações. Applicants need to create or recover their online account, pass the required administrative checks, pay the renewal fees and submit the requested documents before AIMA can analyse the application. For foreigners living in Portugal, the biggest practical … Read more
Portugal’s nationality rules changed significantly in May 2026, changing who qualifies for citizenship and how long many foreign residents must live legally in the country before applying. Under the new law, ordinary naturalization generally requires 7 years of legal residence for EU and Portuguese-speaking-country nationals and 10 years for other nationals. But residence is only … Read more
Portugal’s five-year residency milestone can change the immigration status available to many non-EU residents. After at least five years holding temporary residence, eligible residents can apply for permanent residence, but the change is not automatic and comes with specific legal requirements. The difference matters because temporary residence is time-limited, while Portugal’s permanent residence authorization has … Read more
Portugal has tightened its immigration rules after years of very rapid growth in the foreign population and growing pressure on the country’s immigration system. The change may help the government regain control of migration, but it could also create a new challenge: Portugal still needs workers. Construction, agriculture, tourism, healthcare and other industries already face … Read more