Year after year, Portugal remains the favourite destination for Dutch and Belgian nationals looking to start a new life in Southern Europe. Sun, space, safety, a relaxed pace of life, and a real estate market that still offers plenty of opportunities — these are not without reason the drivers for more and more families, entrepreneurs, and retirees to take the plunge. At Atlanticasa, based in the Netherlands, we guide buyers and emigrants towards Portugal, alongside our established local partners on the ground. In this article, we outline the complete step-by-step plan to help you prepare for your emigration with confidence.
01Why Portugal — and why now?
Portugal combines three rare qualities: a mild climate with more than 300 sunny days per year, a stable democratic state within the EU, and a property market that, despite recent growth, remains more accessible than comparable destinations on the Mediterranean. On top of that, Northern Europeans receive a warm welcome everywhere, and English is perfectly sufficient in most regions to bridge the first few months.
For those taking the step now, there is an additional advantage: regions outside central Lisbon and the Western Algarve are emerging rapidly. Areas such as Setúbal, the Silver Coast, Comporta, and parts of the Eastern Algarve currently offer the combination of price, location, and growth potential that applied to the hotspots ten years ago.
02Step 1: Determine your emigration profile
Before booking a flight, it is wise to honestly map out what kind of emigrant you want to be. Are you moving permanently, or are you looking for a second home that will later become your primary residence? Are you still employed, an independent contractor, an entrepreneur, or a retiree? Do you have school-aged children? The answers to these questions determine not only which region suits you best, but also which type of property, which tax regime, and which timeline is realistic.
Our experience: emigrants who define their profile clearly in advance make the right choices faster and have considerably fewer regrets later on.
03Step 2: Arrange your NIF and Portuguese bank account
The Portuguese tax number (NIF, Número de Identificação Fiscal) is the key that opens every door: you need it for buying a home, setting up utilities, a phone contract, and your tax returns. The NIF can be applied for by a tax representative — convenient while you are still living in your home country.
Immediately after, you should open a Portuguese bank account. Many banks accept remote applications provided you have a NIF and valid identification. A local account is essential for purchasing real estate and for direct debits for energy, water, and municipal taxes (IMI).
04Step 3: Choose your region and property
The search for the right home begins with the region. Do you want the vibrance of Lisbon, the international atmosphere and beaches of the Algarve, the peace of the Alentejo, or the authentic greenery of the north around Porto? Plan at least two orientation trips, ideally in different seasons, and visit multiple properties during each trip to get a feel for what you can truly expect for your budget.
The best properties often do not appear on the well-known online portals — they are sold before they go online or are only offered through local networks. This is why we work from the Netherlands with our established local partners in Portugal: they are the first to hear which homes are coming onto the market, they know the structural history, and they know which sellers are willing to negotiate.
05Step 4: The purchasing process step-by-step
Found a home? A structured process follows with three key milestones. First, you sign the CPCV, the Portuguese promissory contract of sale, usually with a deposit of 10–30%. Next, all legal and structural checks are carried out — think of the title deed, permits, freedom from debt, and structural condition. The process ends at the notary with the escritura, the final deed, followed by registration at the land registry.
A local lawyer (advogado) or solicitor (solicitador) who works completely independently of the seller is not a luxury but standard practice here. We connect you with trusted legal professionals accustomed to working with emigrants in English or Dutch.
06Step 5: Taxation and residency permits
EU citizens do not need a visa to move to Portugal, but you must register with the municipality (Câmara Municipal) within three months and register yourself for tax purposes. The old NHR regime has ended, but for specific professional groups, the new IFICI scheme offers tax benefits. Additionally, Portugal remains attractive for many emigrants thanks to favourable rules regarding wealth tax, gifts, and inheritance within the direct family line.
Always seek assistance on this point from a tax specialist with knowledge of both your home country and the Portuguese systems. Good advice in advance often saves you much more annually than it costs.
07Step 6: The move and your first few months
With the keys in hand, the most enjoyable phase begins. Compare at least three international removal companies, connect Portuguese utilities, arrange your health insurance (public SNS, private, or a combination), and — if you have children — choose between an international, Portuguese, or bilingual school. Invest in a few hours of Portuguese per week from day one: you don't need to become fluent, but every effort is rewarded with warm reactions from your new neighbours.
08Ready to take the step?
Emigrating to Portugal is not a leap into the dark — it is a journey that you can undertake with confidence, step by step, with the right partners. Atlanticasa guides you from the first orientation meeting until long after the key handover, with established local partners in Portugal who know their market inside out.
Want to know which region and property type best suit your situation? Contact us for a non-binding orientation meeting. We are happy to think along with you — no sales talk, just an honest plan.
