DID YOU KNOW…

  • Portugal has a very rich historical and cultural heritage.
  • Although Portugal's land area is small, its Exclusive Economic Zone is one of the largest in the world.
  • The political situation is stable, with center-right wing governments.
  • Portugal is considered one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates.
  • Portuguese food and wine are affordable and among the best in the world.
  • Temperatures are mild all year round. In winter, we have many days with 10 to 14ºC, while in summer we benefit from temperatures between 25 and 32ºC.
  • We have several airports with direct flights to many international destinations.
  • There is internet coverage in all the territory and in most places 5G speed.
  • Porto and Lisbon have successively been considered among the cities with the best conditions for receiving expats and are among the best touristic destinations.
  • Health insurance is relatively cheap and there are many private hospitals as well as public ones.
  • With a good road and highways network, it's easy to get anywhere quickly.
  • On January 2025:
    • The inflation rate is 2.5%,
    • The reference interest rate is approximately 3%,
    • The unemployment rate is 6.4%,
    • GDP (2024) is 260 billion euros.

Real Estate Investment in Portugal from A to Z

ON2PORTUGAL is a program developed by the Realty ML Team, which is based on a “ONE STOP SHOP” concept that aims to stimulate and speed up foreign investment in the real estate sector in Portugal. To meet this goal, it has created n “Express Driveway” for foreign investment, structured on a welcome program to support and work “side-by-side” with real estate customers that intend to invest or live in Portugal.

We provide our foreign and Portuguese clients, directly or through our partners, a wide range of services, which we highlight below, but which can be complemented with others, depending on the need.

What are the steps in the process of buying property in Portugal?

If you want to buy a property in Portugal, we strongly recommend that you be accompanied by an experienced real estate consultant.
Most real estate agents carry out an exhaustive analysis of the property's documentation to assess documentary and procedural compliance, ensuring that you are purchasing a property without any problems. A Comparative Market Analysis will allow you to determine whether the property is being sold at the market price, which will help during negotiation.

The process of buying a property has the following steps:

  • Identification of the properties according to the established requirements;
  • Visit to the property with our team buyers agent;
  • Purchase offer and negotiation;
  • If the offer is accepted, a Promissory Purchase and Sale Contract (CPCV) is drawn up and signed, which sets out the conditions agreed between the seller and buyer for the deal to go ahead, namely the amount of the down payment, what the down payment will be, how the payment will be made, the deadline for the deed to be signed, what the contingencies are (if any), the penalties if either party fails, among other details;
  • Bank appraisal (if applicable);
  • The Deed or Final Purchase and Sale Contract is drawn up at a law firm, solicitor, notary or registry office, at which point the property is transferred.

If you want to buy a property in Portugal, we strongly recommend that you be accompanied by an experienced real estate consultant.
Most real estate agents carry out an exhaustive analysis of the property's documentation to assess documentary and procedural compliance, ensuring that you are purchasing a property without any problems. A Comparative Market Analysis will allow you to determine whether the property is being sold at the market price, which will help during negotiation.

The process of buying a property has the following steps:

  • Identification of the properties according to the established requirements;
  • Visit to the property with our team buyers agent;
  • Purchase offer and negotiation;
  • If the offer is accepted, a Promissory Purchase and Sale Contract (CPCV) is drawn up and signed, which sets out the conditions agreed between the seller and buyer for the deal to go ahead, namely the amount of the down payment, what the down payment will be, how the payment will be made, the deadline for the deed to be signed, what the contingencies are (if any), the penalties if either party fails, among other details;
  • Bank appraisal (if applicable);
  • The Deed or Final Purchase and Sale Contract is drawn up at a law firm, solicitor, notary or registry office, at which point the property is transferred.

The down payment can vary according to various criteria. Normally the minimum is between 10% and 20%, but a strong offer may require an higher down payment, especially because it can be a tie-breaker when we’re offering for an interesting property that may have multiple bidders.

In Portugal it’s unusual to perform technical inspections on the property before purchase.
As a buyer, you can negotiate with the seller to have an inspection carried out and there are companies qualified to do so. Our team can recommend a qualified technician for this service.

Yes. Any foreigner citizen can purchase a property in Portugal.

To buy property in Portugal, the following documentation is required:

  • Identification document (Citizen Card, Resident Card or Passport);
  • NIF* - Portuguese Tax Identification Number, assigned by the Portuguese Tax Authority;
  • Portuguese bank account**.

 

* Obtaining a NIF is free, but the process, if handled by a lawyer (and it is recommended to do so), will have a cost for the service and an annual representation fee, if the foreign citizen is not resident in Portugal.
** Given the amounts involved in the final payment at the time of the deed, for the operation to be carried out with complete security on both sides, the buyer usually requests a bankers check or Visa bank issued by the buyers Portuguese bank. The check is issued and signed by the bank manager and the money is available in the seller's account within 24 working hours. Bankers checks or Visa checks issued by foreign bank can take 3 to 4 weeks to be cashable.

After buying a property, a foreign citizen can lease it. The lease can be for use, as the tenant's own permanent home or in the form of a short-term rental (Airbnb, Booking, etc).
Lease profits are considered capital gains and will be taxed in Portugal. The tax on these capital gains will vary between 25% and 28%, depending on the length of the lease contract.

Any property owner in Portugal (national or foreign) can lease their property. Short-term rentals or local accommodation are subject to a license issued by the city hall.

In some Portuguese cities, short term rental is limited or prohibited in areas considered to be under high urban pressure. However, if you buy a property that already has a Short Term License in these areas, you can continue to operate it, because the license is transferred with the property.

There are several credible companies in Portugal that can manage Airbnbs charging a management fee. The owner doesn't have to worry about anything, as the cleaning, maintenance, guest management, etc., is done by the company.

The owner doesn't have to worry about day-to-day management and, can also define the period they want the property for their own use.

The quickest way to get an income from a property is through a lease. The profitability or yield of a lease can vary greatly, depending on the purchase price and the rent that can be obtained.

For an investor, we recommend operations with a gross yield of 6% or more per year. It is possible to find lease operations with yields higher than 10%.

A foreigner can obtain a mortgage in Portugal, up to a maximum amount equivalent to 80% of the value of the property.

The number of years of the mortgage loan depends on the age of the buyer, as it can last until the buyer is 72 years (e.g. if the applicant is 40 years old, they can get a mortgage for a maximum of 32 years).

In Portugal, only banks offer mortgages and, as a rule, they offer fixed-rate, variable-rate or mixed-rate loans.

  • Loans with a fixed rate for the entire term of the contract mean that the conditions negotiated will be valid for the entire life of the contract.
  • Variable rate loans are usually indexed to the EURIBOR rate (3 months, 6 months or 12 months) plus a spread or bank margin. This means that the amount of the installment varies every 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on the index you use.
  • Mixed-rate loans allow the interest rate to be fixed for a period of 2 or 3 years and then change to a variable rate after that.

During the length of the contract, mortgage loan can be renegotiated with the bank. Most banks also accept transfers of mortgage loans from another bank, allowing the customer to find the best conditions at any given time. Transfer costs can be charges when switching to another bank.

In Portugal, the real estate brokerage commission is traditionally paid by the owner to the agent selling the property, who shares it with the agent accompanying the buyer.

When the client uses a mortgage loan, the banks may charge various costs (opening the process, bank appraisal, deed and registrations), depending on the bank, the amount can vary between €1,200 and €2,000.

If bought with a mortgage loan, it’s generally necessary to have 2 insurances associated with the loan:

  • Life Insurance, which pays off the mortgage in the event of the buyer's death.
  • Multi-risk insurance to protect you in the event of damage to the property.


The cost of life insurance varies depending on the age of the insured person, the value of the property and the type of risks covered.
Multi-risk insurance depends on the value of the property and is based on criteria for the security of the property and intended degrees of cover.

Taxes are added to the purchase price.

On the purchase of a property, the due taxes are:

  • IMT (Municipal Property Transaction Tax) - is a tax levied on the transfer of ownership of the property, whether by purchase and sale contract, donation or other type of onerous transfer, which is paid when the deed of sale is signed. IMT is calculated using progressive tables and it varies according to the value of the property, the type of property and the purpose of the property (permanent home, investment, etc.);
  • IS (Duty Tax) - Duty tax on the acquisition of real estate involves paying 0.8% of the value of the property;
  • IS (Duty Tax) – If the purchase involves a mortgage loan, a tax of 0.6% is also levied on the amount of bank credit obtained.

Property owners in Portugal pay IMI (Municipal Property Tax) on an annual basis, which is levied on the property's Taxable Asset Value (VPT).

  • The VPT is calculated by the tax authority and bears no relation to the purchase price, since it’s always lower.
  • The criteria for determining the VPT vary according to age, location, degree of comfort, plot area, construction area, among other factors.
  • Each property's Tax Authority Property registry (“Caderneta Predial”) indicates the VPT and the year in which it was determined.
  • The tax rate is set by each municipality and varies between 0.3% and 0.45% of the VPT.
  • For properties with a taxable value of more than 1 million euros, a surplus rate may be applied.
  • If the property is used as your own permanent home, you can get an exemption from paying IMI for the first 3 years after purchase.

Since October 2023, Portugal no longer has GOLD visas based on the acquisition of real estate. However, it is still possible to obtain a GOLD Visa through other eligible investments in Portugal:

  • Investment in Venture Capital Funds or Portuguese Companies that contribute to job creation (more than 10) or innovation (scientific research), with a minimum value of €500,000;
  • Investment in cultural or artistic projects of national importance, with a minimum value of €250,000.

In addition to the GOLD Visa, Portugal has other visa programs, the most common of which are:

D7 Visa

Also known as the Retirement Visa or Passive Income Visa, the D7 Visa is a long-term residence visa that was introduced in 2007 and, unlike the GOLD Visa, does not require any investment.
In addition to retirees, this visa may be suitable for some remote workers and digital nomads. This visa is intended for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who wish to reside in Portugal and who have a reasonable passive income. This income can come from a retirement pension, as well as from financial and real estate investment. The applicant must live in Portugal for at least 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months.
This visa is renewable after the first year and every 2 years thereafter.

With this visa, you can travel to Portugal and apply for a residence permit at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum to carry out a highly qualified activity. You can choose between the Residence Permit or the European Union Blue Card.
With the Blue Card, after 18 months, you can go to any other EU country with your family to carry out a highly qualified activity. In the country of destination, you will exchange the Blue Card granted by Portugal for that country's Blue Card, without much bureaucracy.

It allows entrepreneurs, freelancers and independent service providers to reside in Portugal. The Portuguese government created this visa with the aim of attracting resources and foreign investment to grow the Portuguese economy. This visa only applies to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who want to start a business or transfer their current business to Portugal. You can also choose to invest in an existing company in Portugal.
Each of these visas has its own requirements, which must be met in order to obtain the Residence Permit.
Through any of these visas, after 5 years with a Residence Permit, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Portugal regions with the greatest urban and tourist development are the cities of Lisbon, Porto and parts of the Algarve.

  • Cities with greater urban pressure and a large influx of foreign citizens are, as a rule, the ones with the highest property prices.
  • Depending on your lifestyle, budget and personal taste, you can find excellent properties within a 20-to-30-minute drive of the big cities.

To sell a property, you need the following documents:

  • Identification Card
  • Tax Payer Number (NIF)
  • Tax Authority Property Registry
  • BUPi (if it’s a farm property)
  • Property Registry Certificate/Deed
  • Energy Certificate (if applicable)
  • Use/Housing Permit (if applicable)
  • Infrastructure Certificate (if applicable)
  • Housing Technical Sheet (if applicable)

Contact us and find what is the best choise for you!

Porque é necessário obter um Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF) para investir em Portugal?

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At Realty ML, we offer complete and personalized support to make the buying or selling process simple, safe and efficient. From gathering and verifying the necessary documentation to choosing the ideal property, our specialized team is by your side every step of the way. Find out below, how we can help you make your investment with certainty.

Buying and Selling Real Estate
Credit Analysis
Legal Support
Accounting and Taxes
Architecture Project
Construction and Renovations
Design and Decor

Buying and Selling Real Estate

Credit Analysis

Legal Support

Accounting and Taxes

Architecture Project

Construction and Renovations

Design and Decor

Buying and Selling Real Estate

By carefully identifying your motivations, needs and interests, we will sell your property by the best value possible concerning the market price. In the same way, our buyer’s team will look for the property that best suits your needs and budget.

Constant monitoring ensures that we are always aligned, minimizing the time it takes to achieve the desired results.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Credit Analysis

We have a credit analysis team at your service, duly accredited by the Bank of Portugal, to analyze your needs and find the best mortgage solutions. Whether it's a new loan or a loan transfer to another bank, we can help.

By working with the best Portuguese banks, we're sure to find the conditions that best suit your needs.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Legal Support

We have at your service a team of lawyers and/or solicitors who work in partnership with us to find solutions to your needs.

For obtaining a NIF, opening a bank account in Portugal, powers of attorney, legal advice, registrations, visas, residence permits, translations, wills, drafting or verifying contracts, among many others.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Accounting and Taxes

If you need to open a business or start an activity, tax advice, accounting, determining capital gains, filling in your tax return or other tax or ancillary obligations, we have the right partners to help.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Architecture Project

Do you want to build or renovate your property? We partner with experienced architects who will look at your needs and give them the vision and realization they deserve. From interior renovation projects to complete renovations or completely new construction, our partners will surprise you.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Construction and Renovations

Among our partners, we have companies and technicians qualified to provide services of massonry and painting, installing drywall, plumbing, electricians, windows, security and surveillance systems, telecommunications, gardening, among others.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Design and Decor

Your home should reflect who you are. With the right decoration and design elements, your home can be transformed into what you've always dreamed of.Intelligent storage solutions, modern and functional furniture, planned kitchens, curtains and carpets, elegant and comfortable sofas... everything you need with the support of an experienced designer to give you the touch of beauty and functionality you desire.

Do you have any questions? Ask here

Other Services

Still haven't found what you're looking for? Our team is available to help you with any question related to the real estate market or other specific needs. Get in touch and we'll be happy to find the best service or solution for you.

Do you have any questions? Ask here
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