Posts by

Larissa Miranda

Writer & editor

Larissa Miranda is a writer and editor at Unlock Portugal.

Travellers with rolling suitcases and backpacks wait between coaches at the Sete Rios bus terminal in Lisbon, the kind of arrival day your relocation budget has to cover

How Much Money to Move to Portugal in 2026 [Checklist]

How much money to move to Portugal? Budget the €110 visa fee, proof of €920 a month and up to €6,000 at lease signing. Get the 2026 checklist.

A dog in a harness waits beside its owner in front of a blue-and-white azulejo wall in Lisbon, the kind of daily walk you are planning for when bringing a pet to Portugal

Bringing a Pet to Portugal in 2026: 8-Step Timeline

Bringing a pet to Portugal takes at least 21 days after the rabies shot. Get the 8 steps, entry-point rules and paperwork for dogs and cats, by country.

An "Arrendam-se apartamentos" for-rent sign on an azulejo-tiled wall in Lisbon; genuine listings like this are what rental scams in Portugal copy

Rental Scams in Portugal 2026: 9 Red Flags Before You Pay

Rental scams in Portugal hit apartment hunters before they see a key. Spot 9 red flags, verify the real owner for €15, and know what to do if you paid.

Tiled apartment façade with wrought-iron balconies on a residential street in Porto, Portugal

IMI Portugal 2026: Annual Property Tax for Expats [Guide]

IMI is Portugal's annual property tax, 0.3%-0.45% of your VPT for urban homes. See rates, payment dates, exemptions, and AIMI for high-value owners.

A CP Alfa Pendular train in new livery entering Devesas station

Public Transport in Portugal 2026: Passes & Prices

Navegante and Andante passes from €30/month, the €20 national rail pass, and how residents and visitors get a card in Lisbon, Porto and beyond.

A small Portuguese grocery store counter in Braga, Portugal

Minimum Wage Portugal 2026: €920 Salary Guide for Expats

Portugal's minimum wage is €920/month gross in 2026, paid 14 times a year, about €818 net. Plus the average salary and what it means for D7/D8 visas.

Solitary cork oak in a harvested wheat field in the Alentejo, Portugal

Farm and Seasonal Work in Portugal: Wages, Contracts and Your Rights

Farm, construction and restaurant work in Alentejo: the 2026 minimum wage, legal contract types, housing rules and how to report abuse to ACT safely.

Courtyard of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, where foreign degree recognition is handled

Foreign Degree Recognition in Portugal: How to Get Your Diploma Recognized

Foreign degree recognition in Portugal now runs through IES, I.P. (formerly DGES). Automatic recognition costs a flat €32.20 and takes about 30 working days.

IEFP building in Lisbon, a public provider of Portugal's free PLA Portuguese courses

Free Portuguese Language Courses (PLA): How to Enroll and What the Certificate Is Worth

PLA courses teach Portuguese for free through public schools and IEFP. An A2+ certificate also counts as proof of language for residency and citizenship.

Lycée Français Charles Lepierre entrance in Lisbon, one of Portugal's two full AEFE schools

French Schools in Portugal: AEFE Lycées vs. Portuguese School and CNED

Portugal's AEFE network has 2 full lycées (Lisbon, Porto) plus 2 partner schools, none in the Algarve. Compare 2026 tuition, admissions and CNED.

Modern office building in Lisbon housing global employers, part of finding a job in Portugal

How to Find a Job in Portugal: A Practical Guide

How to find a legal job in Portugal in 2026: IEFP registration, EU vs. non-EU work rules, real contract types, the minimum wage, and scams to avoid.

Terracotta rooftops of Lisbon's Alfama overlooking the Tagus River, the everyday Portugal behind the is-it-worth-it debate

Is Portugal Still Worth It in 2026? An Honest Look

House prices are up 17.8% and NHR is gone, but the basics still hold. An honest, source-checked look at whether Portugal is worth it in 2026.

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