The vehicle must have been acquired in the previous country and have a normal series registration plate; it must also have been owned by the individual for at least 12 months before the transfer of residence.  The formalities must be carried out during the six months following arrival.

• Registration certificate
• Ownership certificate, if possible
• Proof of tax payment
• Certificate of conformity of the vehicle’s technical characteristics with the national standards, prepared by the carmaker or dealer.

• All the documents required for vehicles registered in Portugal
• The original certificate of conformity provided in the country of registration, or a certified copy

NB : in both cases, the vehicles will be subject to a safety check carried out by an approved control centre.

New vehicles must be delivered before they can be registered.  For registration, the following formalities are required:

• Fill in and present the appropriate request form
• Present a declaration for light vehicles (declaração de veículos ligeiros, DVL)
• Present a certificate of conformity provided by the carmaker.

Information regarding vehicle registration:
Conservatória do Registo de Automóveis de Lisboa, Rua Mouzinho do Silveira, 36 - 1250-167 Lisbon Tel: 21 311 26 00

General rules

If you move to Portugal, you must pay the following taxes, in addition to the VAT: 

• The automobile tax (imposto automóvel), payable one time only upon acquisition of the vehicle ; the amount depends on the engine size 
• The registration tax (taxa de registo), whose amount is determined by Article 25 of Regulation  n° 322A of 14 December 2001, payable to the Conservatoria do Registro de Automoveis
• The circulation tax (imposto de circulacão), payable annually, the amount of which depends on the engine size and age of the vehicle.

In order to be in conformity with the law, you must go to the Customs office (alfândega) in your residence area within the required time and with the documents specified in Regulation n° 40/93 of 30 July 1993. (change of residence and temporary admission).

Ministério das Finanças
Direcção-Geral das Alfândegas
Rua da Alfândega 5 1100 LISBOA

Tel : +351 21 881 37 00
Fax : +351 21 888 58 24

• Individual home insurance: goods, property, etc.
• Individual personal accident insurance
• Transport of goods insuranceµ
• Pet insurance
• Life insurance
• Health insurance

If you are an employee, your employer is responsible for the formalities regarding your registration with social security at the local Centro Distrital de Solidariedade e Segurança Social.

If not, you must go personally to the Centre with a valid passport or identity card, a social security card as well as the contact information of your employer.

In Portugal, official health care services are organised within the SNS (national health service), which is part of the Health Ministry and is responsible for health centres and public hospitals.  Citizens of the European Union may also benefit from the SNS, on the basis of current EU legislation.

In order to be able to benefit from health services provided by the SNS, you must register as soon as you begin to work with the health centre that is closest to your place of residence by presenting a valid passport or identity card, your social security card and a document proving your place of residence.   The centre will provide you with an SNS card in your name, and will indicate who will be your family doctor.  The health service offers the following services: general/family medicine, public health care, nursing care, vaccinations and other examinations.  The hospitals provide external, specialised consultants, hospital services and emergency services. For every SNS consultation or service, the beneficiary pays a small fee.

In addition to the health centres and hospitals, there are various private health establishments, where health professionals work independently and supplement the offer of services on the basis of private arrangements or through agreements made with the SNS.

If you move to Portugal, you must bring your European Social Insurance Card, which enables you to receive health services before you obtain your SNS card.

The Portuguese government subsidises in part the cost of most prescription drugs.  Some are completely subsidised, particularly those that are required for the treatment of particular illnesses. SNS beneficiaries pay only part of the cost of medication prescribed by their SNS doctor or their private doctor as long as they show their SNS card. Drugs for which prescriptions are required are mostly sold in pharmacies (although their sale in supermarkets and local stores has been authorised since the end of 2005 as long as their sale is appropriately supervised by qualified staff).