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    European Entry/Exit System (EES)

    UnderIn October 2025, the EU plans to introduce a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES). (Once EES) thereis areintroduced, newnon-EU rulesnationals, forincluding entering,UK leavingnationals, orvisiting travellingEU withincountries the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to haveregister their photo and fingerprintsprovide takentheir orbiometric verified at the border. This data will(fingerprints beand storedfacial inimage) awhen digitalthey recordenter andthe usedEU’s toSchengen monitorZone. howThis longwill visitorsreplace havethe spentcurrent inmethod theof Schengenpassport area.stamping.

    BritishIf nationalsyou legallywere resident in Portugal,the andEU whobefore have1 January 2021, should apply for a biometricWithdrawal Agreement residence card,card.  doIf notyou needmoved to registerthe withEU theafter EES.1 AnnexJanuary 222021, ofyou theshould Schengenapply Borderfor Handbooka (PDF,residence 1,062card KB) explainsunder whichthe Portuguesegeneral residenceimmigration documentsregime.   areYou accepted.should Withoutcarry one,your youresidence maycard bewith wronglyyou identifiedwhen astravelling. overstaying If innot, theyou Schengenmay areaface anddifficulties deniedwhen entryentering toor exiting Portugal orand other countries in the Schengen countries. Zone.

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        Healthcare

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      .

      If you’reyou are registered as a residentresident, of Portugal, you should register with the Portuguese national health service (SNS)(SNS) for state healthcare. You’llYou will have the same rights to treatment as a Portuguese citizen.

      ToWhen registeryou withare theregistered SNS,as a resident in Portugal, ask for a healthcare user number (Número Nacional de Utente)Utente ) at your local health centre (centro de saúde). You’llYou will need to show your:

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      • certificate,your passport
      • and your fiscal number (NIF)

      (NIF). Read the Portuguese government guidance on access to healthcare for residents.

      ForRead moreand information,download the read the leaflet from the British Embassy and Portuguese health authorities on accesshow to access healthcare foras residents.a resident in Portugal.

      You can get private health insurance but you do not need to.to, Youand stillit needis tonot registera substitute for registering for state healthcare.

      State healthcare: S1

      You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Portugal and you:

      • are

        *are receiving a UK State Pension

      • are *are receiving some other other exportable benefits
      • are *are a frontier worker who lives in Portugal and commutes to work in the UK
      • * have been sent to Portugal temporarily by your UK employer (a detached or posted worker)

      Read our our guidance on using an S1 form in Portugal to to ensure you’reyou are correctly registered for healthcare.

      European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)(EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)(GHIC)

      If you’reyou livingare resident in Portugal, you cannotmust not use your UK-issued EHIC or GHIC to access healthcare,healthcare norin renewPortugal, it, unless you meetare a student or a detached (posted) worker. Current EHICs will remain valid until the criteria.expiry Youdate on the card.

      If you are living in Portugal, you may be ableeligible tofor doa sonew UK-issued EHIC or GHIC if you’re:

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      • a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
      • a frontier worker with a registered S1

      AnyThe currentcard EHICyou receive will remaindepend validon untilwhen theyou expirymoved dateto on the card.Portugal.

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    To apply for a job,job you may need to provide a:

    • Portuguese criminal record certificate (Certificado de Registo Criminal) (in Portuguese)
    • UK police certificate

    Read:

    • working or providing services in Portugal
    • working in Portugal – your rights
    • working in an EU country
    • EU guidance on working in an EU country

    If you work in Portugal, even if you work for a UK-based company, this may affect where you pay National Insurance-type contributions. Read the National insurance and social security contributions section for more information.

    If you were living in Portugal before 1 January 2021

    You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement, if you have a biometric residence permit, or have applied for one.

    If you live in Portugal and were regularly commuting to work in another EU oranother EuropeanEU Freeor Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

    Recognition

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    ForIf moreyou information,plan readto study in Portugal, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

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    Importing personal belongings to Portugal

    If you are transferring your permanent residence to Portugal and want to bring your personal belongings and used household goods, you may need a baggage certificate from the Portuguese Consulate in your current country of residence. For information on how to apply for a baggage certificate from the UK, see the Portuguese Consulate-General’s website.

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    ForWe moreare aware that there is no information readon guidanceIMT’s on:Portal about the exchange of UK and Gibraltar licences following the implementation of the bilateral agreement. We understand the Portal is in the process of being updated.

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   or provide IMT with  a check code For licences issued by Northern Ireland, use the NI Direct website. For licences issued by Gibraltar, check with the DVLD.

  Once your application to exchange your driving licence has been approved, you will be invited to go to your nominated IMT office to give your biometric data and hand in your licence. You will be issued with a ‘guia’ (temporary driver’s permit) which you can alsouse contact:to drive in Portugal until your new licence arrives.  If the guia expires before you receive your new licence, you can renew it online at “A minha carta de condução”.  You will need your tax number (NIF) to access the portal.

  • There is a fee for exchanging your educationlicence providerwhich inyou themust UKpay at an ATM or Portugal

  • via online banking after your appointment.  You will receive the Portuguesepayment consulatesreference into Londonenable you to do this by email.  Check you inbox regularly and Manchestermake (insure Portuguese)you pay within 10 days of receipt.

    If you have any questions about the exchange process, check the IMT website or contact IMT

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  ForTo moredrive information,in readanother thecountry, in addition to your Portuguese government’slicence, guidanceyou onmay educationneed into apply Portugalfor an IDP (in Portuguese). You cannot apply for children,an youthIDP with your ‘guia’ (temporary driver’s permit).

  Read the EU guidance on:

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  • driving licence exchange and recognition in the EU

  Voting

  ChildcareVoting in Portugal

  TheIf Ministryyou ofwere Labour,living Solidarityin andPortugal Socialon Securityor isbefore responsible31 forJanuary childcare2020, servicesyou maintain the right to vote and nurseriesstand in Portugal.local elections.

  ReadIf guidanceyou onmoved earlyto childhoodPortugal throughafter 31 January 2020, you can register to youngvote people’sin educationlocal elections after 3 years’ residence. After 5 years’ residence, you will be able to stand and carebe elected for local office. To register as a voter, go to your local parish council (Junta de Freguesia).

  You cannot vote in PortugalPortuguese General or European Parliament elections.

  Voting in the UK

  You may be eligible to register to vote in UK general elections if you have previously lived in the UK or been registered to vote in the UK at some point, regardless of how long you have been living abroad.   You can:

  • Check if you can register to vote.
  • Register as an overseas voter

  Your overseas declaration is valid for 3 years.  You will need to confirm your personal information every 3 years.

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