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Citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need an identity card to enter Portugal.

In addition to the identification document, minors must also present authorization from their parents to travel.

For visitors from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kits and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Special Administrative Regions of the Republic People of China in Hong Kong and Territorial Authority of Macau and Taiwan and for visits of less than 90 days,  required passport valid for at least three months after the end of the stay

Citizens of countries not mentioned above need a visa for stays of up to 90 days to enter Portugal, requested at the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Portugal is in the top 3 of the 2020 Global Peace Index, the ranking of the safest countries in the world. Portugal is beaten only by Iceland and New Zealand on this list of the safest countries, and is ranked far higher than neighbouring countries such as Spain and France.

Portugal is an increasingly popular retirement destination in large part because of its low cost of living. On average, the cost of living is almost 27% lower than in the U.S., according to numbeo.com. Even if your only income is the average Social Security benefit, $1,400, you could live comfortably in a small city.

In Portugal there are lots of people who are able to communicate in English, French and Spanish.

To become integrated into the culture, learning the language is important.

From a Latin root, Portuguese is spoken by about 250 million people in every continent, and is the 5th most spoken language in the world and the 3rd, if we only consider the European languages, therefore learning Portuguese will be an asset if you learn it.

The climate in Portugal varies considerably from one region to another and is influenced by the relief, latitude and proximity to the sea, which offers mild winters, especially in the Algarve.

In the Porto e Norte area and Centro region, particularly inland, nearer Spain, the winters are colder, although the temperatures are still mild when compared to the rest of Europe. There is some snowfall. It occurs most in the Serra da Estrela mountains, where we find the highest point in mainland Portugal (1,991 m) and where it is sometimes possible to ski.

The summers are hot and dry, especially in the inland areas (Trás-os-Montes in north-eastern Portugal and Alentejo). Temperatures are slightly lower in the coastal areas, because of the influence of the sea.

Portugal is one of 19 European Union countries whose common official currency is the euro.

• 1 euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
• The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.

One side of the coins has a common design (the European side), and the other side has a national symbol. All euro coins can be used in any euro-zone country, irrespective of which national symbols they display.

Portugal is a great place to raise children. The education system in Portugal is good and transfer from EU schools is easy.

The communities are safe, public medical facilities provide good and universal health services. Private healthcare for children is great.

The quality of life in Portugal has also made the population among the healthiest in the world.

Portuguese people love animals and often keep cats or dogs in their homes. Nonetheless, animals are not permitted to enter restaurants, shops, supermarkets and certain beaches.

It is necessary to present a passport issued by a vet who has been accredited by the respective competent authority, which must:
– contain indication of the owner’s name and address;
– confirm that the animal is identified via a microchip (the device used should be in conformity with the ISO 11784 standard or Annex A to the ISO 11785 standard, otherwise, the owner must have equipment that enables the chip to be read), or a clearly legible tattoo (only permitted during a transitory period – up until 03/07/2011);
– confirmation of a valid anti-rabies vaccination, or revaccination if applicable, carried out when the animal was at least 3 months old, in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory, with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard).