Moving from
Finland to Portugal
How It Works
Find help quick & easy!
Moovick is an all-in-one platform that provides clients with on-demand, professional Service Providers for moves and home renovation jobs in real-time for their day-to-day needs.
Car
Van
3.5T Trucks
7.5T (+) Trucks
Car (Taxi / Combo)
Perfect for small boxes, airport pick ups and luggage transfer.
Van (7-17 m3)
Great for moving studio or one bedroom apartments with basic furniture items and boxes.
3.5T Truck (20-24 m3)
Best for 1-2 bedroom apartments, small homes moves and commercials goods.
7.5T (+) Trucks
Best for 2 to 3 room apartments and upto 10 standard size pallets
Whether you're craving a change in scenery or relocating because of a job opportunity you can’t pass up, Portugal offers great culture, climate, and a pretty good life. Given its welcoming environment, breathtaking scenery, and lower cost of living, it's fast becoming a magnetic spot for expats.
However, if you're planning on moving from Finland to Portugal, there are some things you should know to make your transition less challenging. In this article, we'll review some valuable tips to help with your relocation.
Concerning visa requirements, you should be fine moving from Finland to Portugal if you're Finnish. Finns can live in Portugal under the European Union freedom of movement rules.
However, it's compulsory to register your residence and get a residence certificate as it is needed to do specific things such as registering a car, applying for a tax number, and the like.
On the other hand, if you aren't Finnish or European, you'll need to apply for a long-term visa.
Furthermore, your visa requirement is dependent on the reason you're moving to Portugal, and such visa classifications include the following:
Work Visa
If you're relocating to Portugal because of a job offer, your employer will handle most of the visa application process.
Study Visa
You'll need a study visa if you're enrolled in any Portuguese university or institution.
D Visa
If you're moving from Finland to Portugal to gain residency through investing in Portuguese soil, the D visa is what you require. However, there are different subcategories of the D visa.
You can check out Get Golden Visa to research the options and find out which is best suited to your plans.
Family Reunification
On the visa requirement front, your move from Finland to Portugal may be hitch-free if you're a family member of an EU citizen living in Portugal. You could qualify for a residence card for family members of EU citizens.
So, the question you need to ask yourself before filing your visa application is, what type fits my reason for relocation?
Before moving from Finland to Portugal, take the time to learn basic Portuguese. It shows you respect for Portuguese culture and makes your life easier there.
Plus, it opens you up to many job opportunities. There are a couple of good language learning apps on the Apple Store and Google Play you can start with, such as Duolingo and Memrise.
But if you'd instead buy an online beginner Portuguese course, go ahead. You'll be so glad you learned Portuguese when you finally move.
If you'd still like to connect with Finnish people after your move from Finland to Portugal, you can join many online/offline expat communities in Portugal. They can be your support structure as a new Portuguese resident, and they could help you adjust.
If you're moving from Finland to Portugal for the first time, it's best you rent a house and familiarize yourself with Portuguese housing options and laws for quite a while before buying a home.
Many expats make the mistake of buying one short after they arrive in Portugal, and because of such a quick decision, they run into problems.
As a newcomer, you have limited knowledge of the area, are unfamiliar with the Portuguese housing market, and may need clarification on other things.
Thus, you should stay in a rented apartment, study the area of interest where you want to buy a house, and understand the Portuguese housing laws and market before leaping.
Check out the table below to get a better understanding of the difference in cost of living between these two countries:
Category | Finland | Portugal | Difference |
Housing (1 bedroom apartment at the center of the city) | €782.34 | €953.03 | Portugal: more expensive |
Groceries for one person monthly | €200 - €450 | €200 - €300 | Portugal: cheaper |
Restaurants | €25 - €35 | €15 - €25 | Portugal: cheaper |
Utilities | €100 - €150 | €80 - €20 | Portugal: slightly cheaper |
Average overall cost of living (US as a baseline of 100) | €89.0 | €62.2 | Portugal: 28.6% cheaper |
These are just average price ranges of living costs in Finland and Portugal. However, it shows living in Portugal is cheaper.
Are you concerned about your move from Finland to Portugal because of taxes? Portugal operates with a territorial tax system- you only pay taxes on the income you earn while living in Portugal.
There are also a couple of tax benefits that residents and retirees are entitled to.
The Portuguese job market is quite competitive, especially for non-Portuguese speakers. This is precisely why you should learn basic Portuguese before moving down there.
It'll open you up to more job offers. However, there are still some opportunities for non-Portuguese speakers in sectors such as tourism and tech.
Generally, Finland has a colder climate and longer winters than Portugal. On the other hand, Portugal is quite Mediterranean in climatic conditions, with warm, dry summers and wet winters.
It's pretty simple to open a Portuguese bank account. All you need is your residence certificate and a valid ID. You don't need to worry about this when moving from Finland to Portugal. Many banks offer special bank accounts to foreigners.
Portugal operates a universal healthcare system. You'll be given a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you're an EU citizen. Private health is also an option for non-EU citizens and EU citizens.
Whether you're planning an interstate, intrastate, or out-of-country move, Moovick offers professional and reliable international movers all over Europe to help with your transition.
We know how challenging it can be to adjust to a new country, so we go out of our way to ensure our clients have no worries about their belongings when moving.
If you want hitch-free relocation and handyman services for moving-in-related tasks, Moovick is here to help. Contact us today for your stress-free moves.