We answer your questions about living in Portugal
What documents do I need to enter Portugal?
To enter the country, you may need a passport and/or a visa, depending on the country you live in. Due to the 1995 Shenghen Agreement, citizens from the European Community don't need a Visa.
European Union nationals and citizens of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway, and Iceland only need valid national ID Cards. Citizens from all other countries need to hold a passport valid for up to six months.
How much does living in Portugal cost?
Although the cost of living in Portugal has increased considerably due to the exponential development of the country, when compared to other European countries it is still low.
House rents and the costs of fresh food, alcohol, restaurants, and entertainment continue to be lower in Portugal than in most European countries. The difference has started to decrease, though.
What can I do to ensure my health care in Portugal?
If you are European, you must obtain a European Health Insurance Card, which allows any person insured or covered by a social security system from a EU Member State (or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) to get the necessary medical assistance by public care providers during your temporary stay.
It is also possible for you to have access to the National Health System (SNS) if you come from a country which has a reciprocal health agreement in place. Such is the case of Andorra, Brazil, Cape Verde, and Morocco
If you do not come from any of the countries mentioned above, you must obtain travel insurance.
When should I visit Portugal?
There is no unadvisable time to visit Portugal because the winters are mild compared to northern Europe. July is the hottest month with an average of 24ºC (74ºF) and the coldest is January at 11ºC (52ºF). The wettest months are November and December. The best months to swim in the sea are June, July, August, and September.
Although the average temperature is bearable all year round, keep in mind that in certain regions it might get extremely hot (highs of approximately 40º) in the summer and quite cold (lows of around -2º) in winter, especially in the north.
What is the time zone in Portugal?
The timezone in mainland and Madeira is GMT. Like most states in Europe, summertime is shifted forward by one hour (GMT+1). After the summer months, the time is shifted back by one hour to GMT.
The Azores time zone is GMT-1. Exactly like in mainland and Madeira in the summertime is shifted forward by one hour (GMT) and after the summer months, it is shifted back by one hour (GMT-1).
Which language is spoken in Portugal?
Portuguese is the native language but the second most spoken language is English and the third is French.