Portugal is a popular destination for people leaving the UK, and the practical steps of the move sit alongside the visa and residence process. This article summarises the GOV.UK guidance “Living in Portugal” (last updated 10 July 2026 in the version consulted) and the GOV.UK foreign travel advice entry requirements for Portugal. It is written for British nationals moving from the UK, and covers residence, household goods, driving, pets and travel rules. Immigration and customs rules are set by Portugal and can change, so the Portuguese consulate and AIMA remain the authorities to confirm with. This is general information, not immigration advice.
Residence: visa first, card after arrival
GOV.UK says people should make sure they meet the entry requirements for Portugal before travelling, and check with the Portuguese consulate which visa or residence card is needed. It states that to become a resident, a person should enter the country on a residence visa and then apply for a residence card after arrival. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) handles applications. Carrying a valid residence document is a legal requirement in Portugal. Temporary residence cards must be renewed every 2 to 3 years and permanent residence documents every 5 years, according to the guidance.
British nationals who moved to Portugal before 1 January 2021 have separate Withdrawal Agreement protections and can obtain a Withdrawal Agreement residence permit. After five years of residence they may be eligible for a permanent residence card valid for 10 years. Those who moved before that date and lack current documentation are directed to AIMA with proof of earlier residence. The rest of this article concerns people moving now, who need the visa route.
The guidance lists categories including work, study, retirement and digital nomad visas, and says applicants should contact the Portuguese consulates in London or Manchester or AIMA for the requirements. The types and criteria are Portugal’s, and the GOV.UK page points to them without setting them out.
Household goods and the baggage certificate
For the removal itself, GOV.UK says that to import personal belongings to Portugal, including household goods, a baggage certificate may be needed, and that it is requested from the Portuguese Consulate General in London. Whether one is needed depends on the person’s circumstances, so it is worth asking the consulate before the shipment is booked and before a removal company completes its customs paperwork. The site’s guide to planning shipping and customs for a move abroad explains how to ask movers about who handles documents and duties.
The 90-day rule and the Entry/Exit System
GOV.UK’s foreign travel advice says British citizens can visit Portugal for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa for tourism, family visits, business or short-term study. Time spent in Portugal does not count towards that 90-day allowance if the person holds a Portuguese residence card or a long-stay visa, and the guidance advises carrying a passport and residence document when travelling within the Schengen area. For passports, the travel advice says the date of issue must be less than 10 years before arrival, and the passport must be valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ fingerprints and photographs; the travel advice says a digital EES record is valid for three years. The living guidance says British nationals legally resident in Portugal with a biometric residence card do not need to register with the EES. Someone still waiting for a card should keep evidence of their visa or application.
Driving licence and vehicle papers
GOV.UK says UK, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar licence holders who are registered residents can drive on their existing licence until it expires. To exchange for a Portuguese licence, a driver needs a check code from the DVLA (or the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland) and must follow the Portuguese Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) process. A temporary permit, the “guia”, allows driving while the new licence is produced. Anyone driving a vehicle in Portugal is advised to carry the vehicle logbook (documento único automóvel), insurance documents, the road tax document (imposto único de circulação) and a test certificate. For taking a UK-registered vehicle abroad permanently, the site’s article on exporting a vehicle and the DVLA notification process covers the UK side.
Pets
The guidance tells owners to read GOV.UK guidance on taking a dog, cat or ferret abroad and to check the European Commission’s advice on the movement of pets for current requirements. The site’s explanation of the animal health certificate and the Northern Ireland difference gives the UK-side detail.
Health care, tax and other administration
GOV.UK says registered residents should enrol with Portugal’s national health service (SNS) and will have the same rights to treatment as a Portuguese citizen; some people with UK pensions may qualify for continued NHS-funded care through an S1 form. It also states that the UK-Portugal double taxation agreement prevents the same income being taxed twice. The UK tax position on leaving is set out in the site’s article on tax residence and split-year treatment.
Common questions
Can I move first and sort the visa out afterwards?
GOV.UK says to enter on a residence visa and apply for the residence card after arrival, so the visa should be settled before the move.
Does a removal company arrange the baggage certificate?
The guidance says the certificate is requested from the Portuguese Consulate General in London. Ask the mover in writing what it will and will not handle.
Can I keep driving on my UK licence?
Registered residents can drive on it until expiry, according to GOV.UK, and can exchange it using a DVLA check code.
The bottom line
A move to Portugal works best when the sequence is right: settle the visa, ask the consulate about the baggage certificate before shipping household goods, understand that residents’ time does not count against the 90-day Schengen allowance, and plan the licence exchange and pet paperwork. GOV.UK’s guidance is a starting point, and the Portuguese authorities set the detailed rules.