Lisbon

Get a Portuguese SIM card

Working number, mobile data, no contract. In 20 minutes.

20 min · €10–15

Buy a Navegante transit card

Unlimited metro, bus, tram, and ferries for €40/month.

15 min · €7 card + €40/mo

Get your NIF (tax ID)

Free, takes 30 min. You need it for almost everything else.

30–60 min · Free (DIY) · €70–150 (rep)

Open a Portuguese bank account

For salary, rent, and the bills nobody pays in cash anymore.

45 min · Free at Activobank

Register with SNS (get your utente)

Your public health number. Free GP, hospital, prescriptions.

20 min at the centre · Free

Set up home internet

Fibre is cheap and fast. The hard part is the install date.

15 min to order · 5–15 days to install · €30–45/mo

Exchange your driving licence

EU licences are easy. Non-EU is a longer story.

1 hour at IMT · €30

Get your residence permit

The título de residência. What lets non-EU citizens stay legally.

Weeks (visa first) · 1 AIMA visit · €170 approx

Register as an EU resident (CRUE)

EU/EEA citizens: the Certificado de Registo you get after 90 days.

20 min at the câmara · €15

Sign a lease (without getting scammed)

From "this one looks nice" to keys in hand, paperwork intact.

1–4 weeks of hunting · 2–5 months' rent upfront

Get your social security number (NISS)

Needed the moment you work in Portugal. Employed or freelance.

10 min online · 1–2 weeks wait · Free

Set up electricity, water & gas

The day-one chores after you sign. Most are 20 minutes online.

1 hour total · 1–5 days activation · €60–120/mo combined

Set up MB Way

How Portugal actually pays. By phone number, instantly, for free.

10 min · Free

Register as a freelancer (abrir atividade)

The official switch that lets you invoice from Portugal. Recibos verdes and all.

30 min online (once you have portal access) · Free (DIY) · €50–150/mo with an accountant