Portugal

Portugal

Southern Europe

EuropeEUSchengen
73
Overall score
Strong overall · 97% data coverage
Language
Portuguese
Currency
EUR
Citizenship
5 years
Personal tax
Up to 48%
Cost of living
€1,500 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
66
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
61Residence12%
78Citizenship and passport5%
71
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
64Salary and work12%
78Buying power13%
62
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
60Taxes7%
67Business8%
58Investment5%
82
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
83Quality of life18%
81Education7%
89
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
95Freedom6%
84Rule of law7%

Safety (80) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (88) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (95) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (89) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
73

A relaxed Atlantic lifestyle, one of the EU's fastest citizenship timelines (5 years) and a popular Golden Visa fund route, offset by lower local salaries.

Pros

  • 5-year citizenship clock
  • Golden Visa (funds) & D7/nomad visas
  • Mild climate, high safety

Cons

  • Lower local wages
  • Slow immigration (AIMA) processing
  • Rising city housing costs

Best for

Remote workersRetirees & passive-income earnersInvestors seeking EU residence

Score profile

Access
Residence
61
Citizenship
72
Passport
96
Earning power
Salary & work
64
Buying power
78
Cost of living
62
Economy
77
Business and wealth
Taxes
60
Personal tax
13
Corporate tax
46
Business
67
Investment
58
Wealth building
62
Daily life
Safety
80
Healthcare
88
Environment
95
Infrastructure
78
Education
81
HDI
89
Rights and institutions
Freedom
95
Rule of law
84

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Moderate
61
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock10.8% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.74 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
D7 passive incomeDigital Nomad (D8)Golden Visa fundsStartup (StartUP Visa)
StudentResidence for study; part-time work allowed.
WorkWork visa via job offer; tech talent in demand.
Self-employedD2 entrepreneur/self-employment visa for founders & freelancers.
PermanentPR or citizenship eligibility after 5 years.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
72
Years required5
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageA2 Portuguese
Residence5 years legal residence (time on a residence permit counts)
NotesThe 5-year clock is among the EU's shortest. Sephardic-descent and CPLP routes also exist. Reform proposals may extend this; verify before relying on it.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Excellent
96

Passport-index style mobility for the Portugal passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

190 / 198
Mobility
#5
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free143
  • On arrival38
  • eTA9
  • Visa required8

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
64
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$88,559 PPP (2024)
Unemployment6.2% (2025)
Participation58.2% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$1,082 · $1,728 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$1,624 · $2,633 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceBig remote-work & nomad hub (Lisbon, Porto, Madeira)
Job marketLocal pay below Western EU; many earn in foreign currency remotely.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
78
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$52,240 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$27,706 PPP (2023)
Price level65 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality33.9 Gini (2023)
Inflation2.3% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
62

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level65 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent€900–1,400 (1BR Lisbon)
Monthly€1,500
CitiesLisbon, Porto, Funchal, Braga
Economy
Economic strength
Good
77
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$346.6B (2025)
GDP / person$32,082 (2025)
GNI / person$52,240 PPP (2025)
GDP growth2.1% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.3% / yr (2025)
Unemployment6.2% (2025)
Output per worker$88,559 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture2.0% of GDP (2025)
Industry18.3% of GDP (2025)
Services66.6% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
TourismAutomotive componentsTextiles & footwearWine & agri-foodTechnology
Top exports
Vehicles & partsMachineryWineFootwear & textiles
TypeHigh-income, services- and tourism-led
Key sectorsTourism, Manufacturing, Lisbon & Porto tech scene
SummaryA services-heavy economy with strong tourism and a fast-growing startup and remote-work scene.
CurrencyEuro (eurozone member)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
60
Personal14.5–48% progressive; IFICI/NHR-successor regime for some new residents
Corporate19% mainland; reduced regional/SME rates and surtaxes may apply
Capital gains28% flat (or 50% inclusion at marginal rates for residents)
Dividends28% flat
Exit taxGenerally none for individuals on emigration
Foreign cosCFC rules apply
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Low
13
Personal14.5–48% progressive; IFICI/NHR-successor regime for some new residents
FreelanceRecibos verdes freelancer regime; simplified tax for small turnover
Capital gains28% flat (or 50% inclusion at marginal rates for residents)
Dividends28% flat
Exit taxGenerally none for individuals on emigration
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Moderate
46
Corporate19% mainland; reduced regional/SME rates and surtaxes may apply
Capital gains28% flat (or 50% inclusion at marginal rates for residents)
Dividends28% flat
Foreign cosCFC rules apply
Business
Business friendliness
Good
67
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.74 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.95 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: full foreign ownership
Local co.Lda. via 'Empresa na Hora' same-day; €1 min capital
FreelanceRecibos verdes freelancer regime; simplified tax for small turnover
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Moderate
58
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap26% of GDP (2018)
Private credit77% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains28% flat on securities; favorable for long-held assets in some cases
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone (AIMI property tax on high-value real estate only)
BrokersGood: Interactive Brokers, DEGIRO, Trade Republic
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Moderate
62
How this score is calculated

How favourable Portugal is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Moderate
64
Business
Good
67
Investment
Moderate
58
Tax friendliness
Moderate
60
Cost of living
Moderate
62

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Excellent
80
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate0.7 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption0.82 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability0.54 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
88
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy82.4 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality3.2 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians5.85 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds3.48 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$4,928 PPP / person (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (SNS) + private
InsuranceResidents access SNS; private insurance common & cheap
Avg cost€400–1,000 / yr private cover
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
95
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure8.8 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress12.3% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
78
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use88.5% (2024)
Internet resilience68 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed90 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed75 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses9.7% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.60 / 5 (2022)
Rail density27.6 km / 1,000 km² (2021)
Air connectivity16,559 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
81
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling17.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment78% gross (2023)
Education spending4.6% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition€1,000–3,000 (EU) / €4,000–7,000 (non-EU)
Public uni~€700–1,250/yr for EU undergraduates
LanguagesPortuguese, English (many Master's)
Student workPart-time work permitted on student residence
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
89
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.890 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy82.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling17.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$41,064 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
95
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World95 / 100 (Free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Excellent
84
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile84 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.