The difference between buying a house in Portugal being a resident or not depends on the purpose of the house. If you buy a house to live in Portugal, you are buying a permanent home and are a resident, but if you do not live in Portugal and you buy property there it will count as a second home. This affects the property taxes you’ll have to pay.

Article 17 of the IMT Code establishes that the purchase of properties intended exclusively for residential use by non-residents is subject to a fixed IMT rate of 7.5%, with no access to tax exemptions or reductions. However, the standard IMT rates may apply if the buyer becomes a tax resident in Portugal within two years of the acquisition or places the property under an affordable rental scheme in accordance with the legal requirements. In these cases, the buyer may request a refund of the difference in tax paid from the Portuguese Tax Authority.

Have you bought a house and, after a while, started to encounter problems? Find out, buyer rights, legal deadlines, and to whom to complain.

Think of Portugal today as three complementary investment ecosystems rather than competitors.

Lisbon and Porto are among Europe’s most desirable cities to live, visit, and invest. From vibrant culture and coastal lifestyle to growing real estate opportunities, these Portuguese cities offer the perfect combination of lifestyle, tourism, and investment potential.