Moving to Portugal from the USA

Most Americans use the D7 (passive income) or D8 (digital nomad). Pick before booking flights.

• Choose between D7, D8, or a Golden Visa fund route

  Must

  D7 needs ~€870/mo passive income; D8 needs ~€3,480/mo remote-employer income.

• Book a consulate appointment at your nearest Portuguese consulate

  Must

  Slots in San Francisco, DC, Boston, and NYC routinely book 3–6 months out.

• Open a Portuguese bank account remotely (for proof of funds)

  Must

  ActivoBank, Millennium, and Bordr/Anchorless all do remote openings.

• Get a NIF (Portuguese tax number) before the visa interview

  Must

  Required for the bank account, the lease, and almost every form. A fiscal rep service costs ~€100.

• Sign a 12-month lease or notarized housing declaration

  Must

  Consulates want proof of accommodation for at least the first year.

• Apostilled birth certificate (and marriage certificate if applicable)

  Must

• FBI background check with apostille from the US State Department

  Must

  Must be less than 90 days old at submission. Use a fingerprinting channeler to cut weeks off.

• Certified translations into Portuguese for all apostilled documents

• Last 3–6 months of US bank and brokerage statements

• Private health insurance valid in Portugal for the first year

  Must

  IMG Global, Cigna Global, or a local provider like Médis.

• Vet paperwork if relocating a pet

  USDA-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of travel; rabies titer not required from the US.

• Open a local current account once you arrive with your NIF and residency proof

  Must

• Set up Wise or Revolut for transfers

  Cheaper than US bank wires for ongoing funding.

• Keep at least one US account open for IRS payments and US-based subscriptions

• Register for MB Way

  Portugal's dominant peer-to-peer payment app — almost everyone uses it.

• Understand the new IFICI regime (NHR 2.0)

  Narrower than the old NHR — talk to a cross-border accountant before declaring tax residency.

• Book a 30–60 day furnished landing pad on Flatio or Airbnb

• Search idealista.pt and imovirtual.com for long-term leases

  Walk neighborhoods in person — listings vanish in hours in Lisbon and Porto.

• Budget 2–3 months rent for the deposit + first month + agency fee

• Confirm the landlord will register the lease with Finanças

  Must

  Required for SEF/AIMA residency appointments and for IMT tax compliance.

• Carry the private insurance from your visa application for the first 90+ days

  Must

• Register with SNS (the public system) at your local junta de freguesia once you have residency

  Must

• Get a Número de Utente (health user number)

• Consider keeping a low-cost private policy alongside SNS

  Médis, Multicare, and AdvanceCare run €40–80/mo and cut specialist waits dramatically.

• Attend your AIMA (formerly SEF) appointment for the residency card

  Must

• Register your address with the junta de freguesia

  Must

• Get a Portuguese SIM (MEO, NOS, or Vodafone)

• Buy a Navegante transit card in Lisbon or Andante in Porto

• Exchange your US driver's license within 90 days of residency

  After 90 days IMT requires a Portuguese driving test.