Portugal
Your start in Lisbon
Lisboa
Portugal's capital is a municipality of 545,796 residents (2021 census) divided into 24 parishes. Newcomers deal with AIMA for residence permits, the City Council for EU registration certificates, Citizen Shops for tax and Social Security, and the Navegante pass for Metro, Carris and trains.
At a glance
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. The municipality of Lisbon had 545,796 residents in the 2021 census (INE) and is divided into 24 parishes (freguesias), each with its own parish council (junta de freguesia). About 10% of residents of the municipality were foreign nationals in 2021, rising to over 20% in central parishes such as Arroios and Santa Maria Maior.
Who handles what for newcomers
- Residence permits (non-EU): AIMA. Lisbon's main office is Lisboa I at Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar 20; Lisboa II in Anjos gives information only. The AIMA contact centre is on (+351) 217 115 000.
- EU registration certificate (CRUE): the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (Lisbon City Council), for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months.
- Tax number (NIF), Social Security, employment service: the tax authority, Social Security and IEFP have desks in the city's Citizen Shops (Lojas do Cidadão), including Laranjeiras and Saldanha, by appointment.
- Residence certificates: your parish council.
- Health: the SNS health centre for your address; SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24.
- Transport: Metro de Lisboa and Carris share the Navegante card; the monthly Navegante Municipal pass for Lisbon costs €30 and the Navegante Metropolitano €40 in 2026, free for under-23s.
Renting in Lisbon
Lisbon has the highest rents in Portugal: the median rent of new leases was €17.42 per m² a month in the first quarter of 2026 (INE data reported by ECO). Plan for temporary accommodation while you search, and read the tenant rights guide before signing.
The HomiStart Lisbon guides are general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Confirm details with the official sources linked in each guide.
An overview of moving to Portugal, a checklist for your first month in Lisbon and the emergency numbers to save on day one.
Moving About 30 minutes to read; the move itself usually takes months to plan Arrival Spread over your first four weeks Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers
Residence visas including passive income (D7) and remote work (D8), AIMA residence permits and renewals, the EU registration certificate (CRUE), and the NIF and NISS numbers.
Residence and visas Several months from collecting documents to receiving a residence card Residence and visas One visit to the town hall; AIMA lists a minimum issuing time of one month Registration The NIF is usually assigned on the spot at an appointment; the NISS online request takes days to weeks
Finding a flat in Lisbon, temporary options, affordable rent programmes, and your rights on leases, deposits, rent updates and notice.
Housing Often several weeks to a few months Housing About 20 minutes to read; longer to check your own contract
Opening a bank account, income tax and the IFICI regime, looking for a job with IEFP, and your rights as an employee.
Banking One branch appointment or an online application; the bank has up to 10 days to decide on a basic account Taxes About an hour to understand; the yearly return takes from minutes (automatic IRS) to a few hours Jobs Ongoing; plan several weeks to months Employment About 20 minutes to read; longer to check your own contract
The National Health Service, your SNS user number, family doctors, SNS 24 and emergency numbers.
Healthcare One visit to the health centre to get the user number; waiting times for a family doctor vary Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers
Metro, Carris buses and trams, suburban trains and the Navegante card and passes with 2026 fares.
Free creche places, school enrolment and equivalence, child benefit, and free Portuguese courses for migrants.
Schools Plan several weeks for school enrolment and equivalence; creche places can take longer Language Each PLA pathway (A1+A2 or B1+B2) lasts up to 150 hours
Neighbourhoods on the map
Select a pin to read about a neighbourhood.
Map of neighbourhoods in Lisbon