Finding a flat to rent in Lisbon

Documents you need

• Passport or ID card

  required

• Portuguese tax number (NIF)

  required

• Proof of income

  Employment contract and recent payslips

  required

• Residence document or visa

  Non-EU nationals.

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Set a realistic budget

   Plan for the first month's rent, a deposit (caução) of up to two months' rent and up to two months of advance rent, which are the current legal caps; many landlords also ask for a guarantor (fiador). A revision of the rental law under discussion in Parliament in October 2026 could change these caps for new leases.

2. 2

   Step 2: Arrange temporary accommodation first

   Plan for short-term accommodation (serviced apartments, rooms in shared flats, student residences or hotels) for your first weeks while you visit flats. For residence visa applications and AIMA you need to give an address and, if you rent or stay with someone, a declaration from the landlord or host, so choose a provider that can issue one.

3. 3

   Step 3: Search in several places

   Flats are advertised on private property portals and through estate agencies (imobiliárias), and rooms through room-rental platforms and social networks. Arrenda-se means "for rent". No portal has official status; compare several and ask who pays any agency fee before you commit.

   Common terms: T0 (studio), T1 (one bedroom), T2 (two bedrooms); mobilado (furnished); condomínio (building service charges); despesas incluídas (bills included).

4. 4

   Step 4: Prepare your file

   Be ready to show your ID, NIF, employment contract and recent payslips or other proof of income, and possibly a guarantor's documents. If you have no Portuguese payslips yet, prepare other proof such as savings statements, a foreign employment contract or pension statements.

5. 5

   Step 5: Visit, check and sign a written lease

   Visit in person or by video with someone you trust before paying anything. Check the energy certificate, humidity and heating, and what is included in the rent. Read the lease carefully: duration, renewal, rent, update clause, deposit, who pays which bills and repairs. The lease must be in writing and the landlord must register it with the tax authority. See the guide on tenant rights.

6. 6

   Step 6: Set up utilities and register your address

   Once you have the keys, transfer electricity, water and internet into your name or confirm they are included, and update your address with Finanças, AIMA or the town hall, Social Security and your bank.

Public affordable housing options

Choosing an area

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Waiting to arrive before starting the search, then staying longer than planned in expensive short-term accommodation.
• Signing a lease that is not in your name when you need it as proof of address.

Tips

• Prepare a short folder in Portuguese and English with your documents; it speeds up decisions.
• Ask your employer or university whether they work with relocation services or student residences.
• Learn a few housing words (*senhorio*, *contrato*, *caução*, *fiador*, *recibo*) before calling landlords.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Find a long-term flat and sign a written leaseAdd to plan
• Book temporary accommodation for your first weeks in LisbonAdd to plan
• Estimate your Lisbon budget, including move-in costsAdd to plan
• Shortlist the areas of Lisbon that suit youAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 6 Jan 2027.