Interest in moving to Portugal from Saudi Arabia has grown alongside the Kingdom's rising wealth and outward-looking mood — Saudi nationals seeking a European foothold and an EU-passport pathway, and the large expatriate workforce in the Kingdom looking for a next chapter. Portugal offers the weather, safety and lifestyle, plus clear residence routes. But the systems differ sharply from Saudi Arabia's, and the tax change in particular needs planning. Here is the practical 2026 guide.
A visa comes first
Residence in Saudi Arabia carries no rights in Portugal. Almost every nationality moving from the Kingdom needs a national visa, applied for at the Portuguese consulate with jurisdiction over Saudi Arabia before you travel. You enter on that visa and convert it to a residence permit at AIMA once you arrive; the tourist window is not a route to settling.
The routes that fit
- D7 — passive income: for those living on pensions, rentals, dividends or savings — a modest 2026 threshold plus a savings buffer.
- D8 — digital nomad: for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Portugal (~€3,680/month).
- D2 — entrepreneur: for founders establishing a business here, assessed on a business plan.
- Golden Visa: for investors wanting residence with light presence — strong for pure investment cases, unnecessary if you plan to live here.
If you are weighing an investment route against actually relocating, that trade-off is worth assessing properly rather than guessing.
The tax reality to plan for
This is the decisive point. Saudi Arabia levies no personal income tax on individuals. Portugal taxes its residents on worldwide income, at progressive rates up to 48%, from the moment you become a tax resident — broadly after 183 days in the country or once it becomes your habitual home.
Because the Kingdom took no income tax, there is little or no foreign tax to offset against Portugal's — so income that was untaxed in Riyadh or Jeddah can carry a real Portuguese liability once you settle. The IFICI regime (a 20% flat rate replacing NHR) exists but is narrow, aimed at qualifying innovation and high-skill activity, and most movers will not qualify. This does not spoil the case for Portugal; it means you should model your position and time your residency deliberately. See our tax-for-movers guide and the NHR-to-IFICI explainer.
Money, banking and the NIF
Moving capital out of the Kingdom is generally straightforward, helped by the riyal's dollar peg. On the Portuguese side, the first step is a NIF — obtainable remotely before you arrive — followed by a local bank account. Keep clear evidence of your source of funds, which Portuguese banks and the visa process both request.
The order of operations
- Get your NIF remotely.
- Choose and prepare your visa route with the income or investment evidence it needs.
- Apply at the consulate for Saudi Arabia, then travel on the entry visa.
- Finish at AIMA, register your address, and sort tax and social security.
- Plan your tax-residency date — it starts the worldwide-income clock.
How we help
GrowIN Portugal is a Faro-based team of certified accountants and partner immigration lawyers. We handle the pieces that are hardest to manage from the Kingdom — the NIF, the tax-residency planning that matters so much when leaving a no-tax country, the visa file and company setup — remotely and at fixed prices. Given the tax stakes, the smartest first step is a proper assessment before you commit.
Planning a move from Saudi Arabia? Start with a paid assessment of your route and tax position with our specialists. Book a consultation, or see all services and prices.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Residence in the Kingdom gives you no rights in Portugal, and your nationality will need a national visa to settle here. The routes are the D7 (passive income), D8 (remote work), D2 (business) and the Golden Visa (investment). You apply at the Portuguese consulate responsible for Saudi Arabia before you move, then finish at AIMA after arrival.
Usually, yes, once you become a Portuguese tax resident (after ~183 days or when Portugal is your habitual home). Portugal taxes residents on worldwide income up to 48%. Saudi Arabia levies no personal income tax on individuals, so there is little foreign tax to credit — meaning income that was untaxed in the Kingdom can become taxable in Portugal. Model it before you move.
For investors who want EU residence with minimal physical presence, yes — for example a €500,000 subscription into a qualifying fund. But if you intend to actually live in Portugal, a D7 or D8 costs far less and reaches the same permanent residency at five years. The best route depends on whether this is an investment or a genuine relocation.
Generally yes — the riyal is pegged to the US dollar and transfers are straightforward. You will need a Portuguese NIF and usually a local bank account, and you should keep clear documentation of the source of your funds, which both the banks and the visa process require.