Lawyers
Health
Local Laws and Customs
Entry Requirements
Buying Property

Residency and Entry Requirements  

You should be aware that whilst you are in Portugal, you are legally obliged to carry some form of photographic identification with you at all times.

 At the moment, Irish citizens, as EU nationals, have the right to live and travel in Portugal without having to register with the Portuguese authorities for the first three months.  If you wish, you may apply for a residence permit at your local prefecture; this is not obligatory for EU citizens but it may facilitate your dealings with the Portuguese administration. 

Irish citizens who take a job in Portugal or live in Portugal, need to register with the Portuguese Immigration and Citizenship Service (Serviço de Estrangeiro e Fronteiras). When requesting a residence permit, you will be asked to present documentation showing evidence that you are working, studying or training in Portugal or that you have sufficient financial resources to maintain yourself and any dependents.

Serviço de Estrangeiro e Fronteiras:

Lisbon:

Av. António Augusto de Aguiar, 20
1069-119 LISBOA
Telefone: 213 585 500
Fax: 213 144 053
Horário: 8h00-20h00
E-Mail: dir.lisboa@sef.pt

The Algarve:

Rua Luis de Camões, nº5
8000-388 FARO
Telefone: 289 888 300
Fax: 289 888 301
Horário: 9h00-15h00
E-Mail: dir.algarve@sef.pt

Porto:

Rua D. João IV, 536
Apartado 4819
4013 PORTO CODEX
Telefone: 225 898 710
Fax: 225 898 762
Horário: 9h00 -14h00
E-Mail: dir.norte@sef.pt

(for more offices see website)

For residence permits see:

On starting a business in Portugal see:

Please find a list of schools here (PDF 530kb)

English Speaking Professionals:

You may need to contact an  English speaking lawyer or doctor during your time in Portugal. For your convenience the Embassy has drawn up a list of English speaking professionals which you may find useful. Of course, inclusion on these lists should not be taken as recommendation by the Embassy.

LIST OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING LAWYERS IN THE ALGARVE

Justin Ryan BCL (Irish)
Av. Eng. Duarte Pacheco, Nº 143/145, 2º Dto.
8135-104 Almancil

Tel.: 289390080
Fax:   289390081
Mobile: 91 9319132

Dr Alvaro Correia Pina
Dra Paula Pina
Rua da Liberdade, 19
Apartado 15
8400-339 Lagoa

Tel: 282 340350
Fax: 282 340359

Civil, Family, Contracts, Criminal and Succession Law.

Dr  José Placido dos Santos

Largo 5 de Outubro, 9,10-1º
Apartado 186
8401-903 Lagoa

Tel: 282 340250
Fax: 282 342928

ENGLISH SPEAKING LAWYERS IN LISBON

GEOFFREY GRAHAM
Avenida Praia da Vitória, No. 5, 1º
1000-245  Lisboa
Portugal

Tel. 00 351 213191290 – Fax 00 351 21352-7619
E-Mail: ggraham@ndr.pt

DR. NUNO TELLES PEREIRA
Av. Emídio Navarro, 81
2750-337 CASCAIS

Tel. 00 351   214847818

ABREU MARQUES E ASSOCIADOS
Rua Filipe Folque, 2 -  4º
1069-121 LISBOA

Tel. 00 351  213307100 -  Fax 00 351   213147491

FRANCISCO CAIADO GUERREIRO & ASSOCIADOS, RL

Tel. 00 351 21 371 70 00

Fax. 00 351 21 371 70 01

www.fcguerreiro.com

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HEALTH

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you wish to undertake.

For Irish citizens please check the following website:
Health Service Executive

The Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving Ireland.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Portuguese nationals.  You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. 

Before you travel you are advised to seek medical advice about inoculations and other measures to prevent tick-related medical problems (such as tick-borne encephalitis), especially if you will be visiting forested, grassy or lake-side areas.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. 

List of Engl. Speak. Doctors/Clinics/Hospitals here (PDF 184kb)

Death:
In the event that an Irish citizen dies in Portugal, contact should be made with the  following agencies which will arrange the transportation to Ireland of the remains (English spoken):

Servilusa:

HQ
Rua do Entreposto Industrial
nº 8, 2º esq. - Alfragide
2610-135 Amadora - LISBON
Call Center: 800 204 222
Telephone No.: +351 21 470 63 00

Algarve:

Fernando Nascimento

P.O.Box 83

8201-901 ALBUFEIRA - ALGARVE

Telephone: +351 289561187

Mobile: +351917345427

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LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Theft of and from, vehicles is common.  Always be sure that your car is locked and parked in a supervised parking lot/garage or in a busy area. Do not leave objects visible in the car.

Drinking and driving: the legal limit: 0.50mg/l. Fines are high.

Carry your passport or photo-driving license at all times.  You must be able to show some form of identification if requested, e.g.:  by the police.  A photocopy is not acceptable.

Portuguese laws on the possession and use of drugs are strict.

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visas

Irish citizens do not need a visa to enter Portugal but you must have a valid Irish passport.  If you intend to stay more than 90 days, you must register with the Immigration bureau (SEF).  For further information, check with the Consular Section of the Portuguese Embassy in Dublin: tel: +353-1-4127040

 Money

Legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers’ cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU, nor to those travelling within the EU.

GUIDELINES TO BUYING PROPERTY IN PORTUGAL

The purchase of property in Portugal by foreigners, including Irish citizens, has increased considerably in recent years.  This increase is considered to be mainly linked to the agreeable climate and lifestyle, together with the improved ease of access by air. 

Even though the purchase of property is no more difficult than buying in any other European country the language barrier and the Portuguese tax and legal systems renders it difficult for foreign buyers.

Because you have purchased a property in Portugal and because any future problems will be dealt with under Portuguese law it is important to deal with a lawyer based in Portugal.  It is also important to ensure that s/he can communicate in both Portuguese and English and is competent in all aspects of Portuguese law.

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