🇵🇹 Daily Portugal news for expats & investors — FREE Subscribe
Sign in Subscribe
Guides

Guides

Comprehensive practical guides for living in Portugal. Taxes (IFICI/NHR), visas (D7, D8, Golden Visa), healthcare (SNS + private), housing, banking, bureaucracy, and daily life essentials for expats.

Santos Populares in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Lisbon's Marchas Populares on Avenida da Liberdade, the 12 June Bridge Holiday, Porto's São João, the Sardine and Caldo-Verde Calendar, and the Six-Festa Calendar Through 29 June

Santos Populares in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Lisbon's Marchas Populares on Avenida da Liberdade, the 12 June Bridge Holiday, Porto's São João, the Sardine and Caldo-Verde Calendar, and the Six-Festa Calendar Through 29 June

Santos Populares — the June trinity of Santo António (12-13 June, Lisbon), São João (23-24 June, Porto) and São Pedro (28-29 June) — is Portugal's biggest open-air festival cycle. The full guide to the calendar, the marchas, the sardines, the manjericos and the foreign-resident logistics.
The Portugal Brief
Moving to Portugal With a Dog, Cat or Ferret in 2026 — A Practical Guide to ISO Microchips, the 21-Day Rabies Wait, the EU Annex IV Certificate, the Lisbon-Porto-Faro Pontos de Entrada and the 48-Hour DGAV Notice of Arrival

Moving to Portugal With a Dog, Cat or Ferret in 2026 — A Practical Guide to ISO Microchips, the 21-Day Rabies Wait, the EU Annex IV Certificate, the Lisbon-Porto-Faro Pontos de Entrada and the 48-Hour DGAV Notice of Arrival

Bringing a dog, cat or ferret to Portugal in 2026 — the practical guide to the ISO 11784/11785 microchip, the 21-day rabies wait, the EU Annex IV certificate, the Lisbon-Porto-Faro Pontos de Entrada, the 48-hour DGAV notice, SIAC, the European Pet Passport and three cohort tracks.
The Portugal Brief
The Iberian Lynx in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the New Serra da Malcata Reintroduction Site, the Vale do Guadiana Wild Population, the Silves Captive-Breeding Centre, the PACLIP 2026-2030 Plan, and Where to See One

The Iberian Lynx in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the New Serra da Malcata Reintroduction Site, the Vale do Guadiana Wild Population, the Silves Captive-Breeding Centre, the PACLIP 2026-2030 Plan, and Where to See One

On 2 May 2026 the environment minister announced the Iberian Lynx will be reintroduced to the Serra da Malcata. Here is the practical guide for nature-travelling expats — the wild Vale do Guadiana population, Silves CNRLI, PACLIP 2026-2030 and where to actually see one.
The Portugal Brief
Annual Road Tax (IUC) and Vehicle Inspection (IPO) in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the Brackets, the 37.47€ Light-Vehicle Tariff, the 2026 Recall-Fail Rule, the 2027 April Reform, and the 250-1,250€ Fine Bracket

Annual Road Tax (IUC) and Vehicle Inspection (IPO) in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the Brackets, the 37.47€ Light-Vehicle Tariff, the 2026 Recall-Fail Rule, the 2027 April Reform, and the 250-1,250€ Fine Bracket

Owning a car in Portugal in 2026 means two recurring lines: IUC (annual road tax) and IPO (centro-de-inspeções inspection), both tied to the matrícula registration month. This guide walks the 2026 brackets, the 37.47€ light-vehicle tariff, the new recall-fail rule and the 2027 April reform.
The Portugal Brief
Property Tax in Portugal in 2026: A Practical Guide to IMI, AIMI, IMT, the May Payment Calendar and the Capital-Gains Treatment for Residents and Foreign Owners

Property Tax in Portugal in 2026: A Practical Guide to IMI, AIMI, IMT, the May Payment Calendar and the Capital-Gains Treatment for Residents and Foreign Owners

Owning property in Portugal in 2026 means tracking IMI, AIMI, IMT and capital-gains lines across one cadastral parcel. This guide walks the OE 2026 brackets — IMT exemption to €106,346 (€330,539 IMT Jovem), AIMI €600k / €1.2M thresholds, IMI 0.3-0.45% urban — and the May–Nov payment calendar.
The Portugal Brief
Pharmacies in Portugal in 2026 — The Receita Sem Papel Codes, the Farmácia de Serviço Rotation, the Farmácias Portuguesas Saúda Card, App da Farmácia Home Delivery, and a Practical Guide for Foreign Residents Across the Counter

Pharmacies in Portugal in 2026 — The Receita Sem Papel Codes, the Farmácia de Serviço Rotation, the Farmácias Portuguesas Saúda Card, App da Farmácia Home Delivery, and a Practical Guide for Foreign Residents Across the Counter

Portugal has 2,920 community pharmacies, the Receita Sem Papel system runs every prescription through three SMS codes, the Farmácia de Serviço rotation keeps one open in every freguesia, and a fresh Greater Porto delivery app launched on 1 May. The practical 2026 guide for foreign residents.
The Portugal Brief
Visiting Fátima in 2026 — The Six Anniversary Pilgrimages, the May 12-13 International Edition, the Cova da Iria Programme, the Caminho Routes from Lisboa and Porto, and a Practical Visitor Guide for Expats

Visiting Fátima in 2026 — The Six Anniversary Pilgrimages, the May 12-13 International Edition, the Cova da Iria Programme, the Caminho Routes from Lisboa and Porto, and a Practical Visitor Guide for Expats

Fátima draws six million visitors a year and six monthly Anniversary Pilgrimages between May and October, anchored on 13 May and 13 October. This is the practical 2026 visitor guide — the programme, the Caminho walking routes, the Cova da Iria layout and the Sanctuary etiquette.
The Portugal Brief