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MOL Portugal Journal

Moving to Portugal, the practical way

Clear guides to relocating, buying, renting, investing and settling in Portugal — written by Mia and Rafael from what we see on the ground, every week.

Living

Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal in 2026

What is the downside to moving to Portugal — and what still makes it worth it? Both columns weighed candidly, every figure an official source.

August 2026 · 13 min read
Living

Best Places to Live by the Sea in Portugal in 2026

Coastal towns and cities, coast by coast — who each stretch fits best, every figure an official INE median.

July 2026 · 12 min read
Living

Where to Live in Portugal? Moving to Portugal in 2026

The five questions that decide it, every region priced on official INE medians — a decision framework, not another top-ten list.

July 2026 · 11 min read
Living

Cost of Living in Portugal 2026: What Life Here Actually Costs

Rents, prices, transport and health on official INE data — what a single, a couple and a family actually spend.

July 2026 · 10 min read
Living

How Much It Will Cost to Move to Portugal in 2026

The one-off bill of the move, phase by phase: the visa file, the housing set-up, the landing weeks.

July 2026 · 10 min read
Buying

Portugal Property Prices by Region: What the INE Data Says

The 2026 read on official transaction data: regional medians, city detail, and what buyers from abroad actually pay.

July 2026 · 11 min read
Investment

Alojamento Local Rules in Portugal: Where Short-Term Lets Still Work

What DL 76/2024 changed, what containment and growth areas can do, and how to check any address in 2026.

July 2026 · 12 min read
Money

Portugal’s 7.5% IMT for Non-Resident Buyers, Explained

The new flat rate since May 2026, the three exceptions that are most of the story, and how the refund works.

July 2026 · 10 min read
Living

Where Do Expats Actually Live in Portugal?

Where foreign residents really cluster — Lisbon, Cascais, the Algarve, Porto, the Silver Coast and Madeira.

June 2026 · 11 min read
City Guides

Lisbon vs Porto vs the Algarve: Quality of Life Compared

An even-handed look at climate, cost, healthcare, schools, transport and pace, with the real trade-offs.

June 2026 · 12 min read
Living

Healthcare in Portugal: SNS, Private & What Expats Pay

How the SNS works for expats, the end of most user fees, S1 and EHIC, private cover, and what people actually pay.

June 2026 · 11 min read
Family

International Schools Around Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra

British, American, IB, French and German curricula, the fees to expect, and how to choose.

June 2026 · 12 min read
Settling

What a NIF Is, Who Needs One, and How to Get One

What a fiscal number is, who needs one, and how to get it without flying over — not just for buyers.

June 2026 · 9 min read
Money

Opening a Portuguese Bank Account as a Non-Resident

Why you need one, the NIF-first rule, the documents banks ask for, and how to do it remotely.

June 2026 · 10 min read
Money

Mortgages in Portugal for Non-Residents

How much you can borrow, the deposit to expect, 2026 rates, and how to finance from abroad.

June 2026 · 10 min read
Visas & Residency

Can Brazilians Still Move to Portugal Through CPLP?

What the October 2025 law change means: get your residence visa at the consulate before you travel.

June 2026 · 9 min read
Investment

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Golden Visa Fund

The diligence questions that matter — eligibility, lock-up, fees, exits and US-investor reporting.

June 2026 · 17 min read
Buying

Buying Property in Portugal as a Foreigner

Your complete 2026 guide — process, costs, legal checks, and the mistakes to avoid.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Buying

Can Foreigners Buy Property in Portugal Remotely?

Yes — and here’s exactly how the remote purchase process works, end to end.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Buying

What Is CPCV in Portugal? A Simple Guide for Foreign Buyers (2026)

The promissory contract that legally locks your purchase — everything foreign buyers need to check before signing.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Buying

Hidden Costs of Buying Property in Portugal (2026)

The full cost picture: IMT, stamp duty, legal fees, FX, condominium, furnishing — with a worked €1,000,000 example.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Investment

Can You Airbnb Any Property in Portugal?

What buyers need to know about AL licences and short-term rental restrictions in 2026.

April 2026 · 11 min read
City Guides

Lisbon vs Porto: Which City Makes More Sense?

Neither city is better across the board. A straight comparison for foreign property buyers — lifestyle, prices, climate, investment.

April 2026 · 11 min read
City Guides

Where to Buy in Porto: Best Areas for Property Buyers

Cedofeita, Bonfim, Foz, Boavista, historic centre — a candid area-by-area guide matched to buyer type.

April 2026 · 12 min read
Buying

Why Use a Buyer’s Agent in Portugal?

What most foreign buyers realise too late — and when independent representation genuinely changes the outcome.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Buying

Common Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make in Portugal

10 mistakes we see most often — why they happen, and how the smallest decisions become the most expensive later.

April 2026 · 12 min read
Buying

How Long Does It Take to Buy Property in Portugal?

A realistic timeline for foreign buyers, stage by stage — and what speeds things up or slows them down.

April 2026 · 9 min read
Buying

New Build or Resale Property in Portugal?

A clear-eyed comparison — where each makes sense, where buyers misjudge both, and the question to ask before deciding.

April 2026 · 11 min read
Buying

How to Get a NIF in Portugal: A Guide for Foreign Buyers

Who needs one, the fiscal-representative rule, what it costs, and how to get it remotely.

May 2026 · 10 min read
Buying

Independent Buyer’s Agent in Portugal for Foreigners: How to Choose One

What a buyer-side advisor does, and how to evaluate one as a foreigner.

May 2026 · 15 min read