BackMoving House
Moving Abroad
Container Shipping
Services
Find a Mover
Planning to move to Lisbon from the UK? A life in a colourful city, the home of Fado music, and plenty of delectable food options sounds like a dream come true! However, it can be difficult to organise a move. That’s where Sirelo comes in. We’ve put together a great guide to help you move to the Portuguese Capital. It’s got moving costs, a great checklist, and even free removal quotes. So, read on to start your life in Lisbon on the right foot.
If you’re going to be moving to Lisbon form the UK, it goes without saying that you would more than likely want to know what you can expect in terms of removal costs, the price is a pretty big part of any move. So, to prepare you, you can expect an average 3-bedroom house removal to Lisbon to cost between £3,600 – £4,900.
Like everyone else, you probably wondering if there’s some way to make removals to Lisbon a little cheaper, I mean, who doesn’t love a good bargain? Well, if you want to know how to reduce your costs, then read our article on international removal costs. It gives you a breakdown on where costs come from so you can make some nice savings. 😉
Finally, we’d just like to present you with some more estimates for the cost of moving to Lisbon from London. The ranges below factor in the average volume for different house sizes, as volume makes a big difference. Curious about your volume? Then use our free volume calculator!
| Household size | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bed | £2,100 – £3,000 |
| 2 bed | £2,700 – £3,700 |
| 3 bed | £3,600 – £4,900 |
| 4 bed | £4,700 – £6,400 |
| 5 bed | £6,000 – £8,100 |
The las thing you need when moving to Lisbon from the UK is the headache of finding a removal company. Fill in the form below and easily find up to 5 removal companies who can help you move!
With the UK now out of the EU, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you’ll need a visa to move to Lisbon. The first thing you’ll need to find out is which kind of visa you should apply for, which you can do here!
Once you have acquired and filled out all the necessary documentation, you must then submit your application at the Consulate General of Portugal in either London or Manchester, preferably at the consulate closest to you. It’s not too complicated, but it can take some time, so be sure to apply early!
We know how stressful moving can be, but we also know that a great checklist helps with stress. Therefore, we made a moving abroad checklist that will help you on your journey to Lisbon! However, that checklist tis quite broad, so we’ve a small one below that is specific to Lisbon.
The first and most important thing to do before an international move is to secure all your important documents. They will be vital for setting up your new life! Prepare them and keep them safe and you should also consider making duplicates!
The next task you’ll want to turn your attention to is packing! While you may be starting a new life, you don’t need to leave your familiar and comfortable belongings behind! Our advice is to start packing early, at least 1 month, to give yourself enough time to pack and maybe also to let go of some less useful possession. For more tips, you can read our expert packing guide!
We know this is not a fun topic but bear with us as it’s rather important. First, when leaving the UK, you’ll need to inform HMRC, so you won’t be taxed in the UK. We can imagine that you don’t want to be taxed in two countries, so make it a priority.
The second step occurs once you’ve arrived in Lisbon. If you’ll remain for more than 183 as a resident, you are obligated to pay tax and will need to apply at the local tax office. There are late fees, so it’s best to start this process as early as possible!
If you have residency in Lisbon, then healthcare is free. However, to access the free healthcare, you will need an SNS. Until you receive this number, you won’t have any healthcare coverage. An GHIC will cover you for a time, but it might be wise to avail of some private healthcare, and then you can also use the private healthcare option!
Using your existing UK bank could cost you an arm and a leg due to currency differences and international exchange rates. Thus, we recommended to open a local bank account. Although, your bank might have operations in Portugal, so ask before you go. Here are some of the best banks operating in Lisbon:
Just because you’re moving to Lisbon from the UK doesn’t mean you need to leave your pet, and important member of the family, behind! There are some key requirements for bring your pet, but once you’ve them it should be fine. Thus, be sure your pet has been:
As you plan your move to Lisbon, you’ll be glad to know that in larger cities, you’ll be able to manage without the language. However, the lack of skills in the language will be a hindrance to assimilating, promotions at work, and receiving the right of permanent residency! So, to make your move to Lisbon permanent, start leaning now with help from the Portuguese government!
The top difference when moving to Lisbon is the cultural differences, you may need a little time to adjust, but the Portuguese way of life is bright, colourful, and energetic, be prepared for plenty of Festum! The weather of course being the next big variable, temperatures can rise up to 35 Celsius in the summer, so remember to bring your sun-cream.
Although the salaries are a lot lower in comparison to the UK, this is reflected in their very low consumer prices, for example grocery prices are 35% lower in Lisbon. Which is why many UK citizens retire in Lisbon. Below is an overview of some of the general prices in Lisbon in comparison to London:
| Goods | London prices | Lisbon prices |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | £0.90 | £0.53 |
| Eggs | £2.16 | £1.30 |
| Beer | £1.67 | £0.82 |
| Utilities | £148.72 | £76.25 |
| 1 bed rented apartment | 1,677.00 | 537.30 |
Before rushing off to Lisbon, you might want to secure a job. It’ll be helpful with you visa application and it’ll mean you can afford a nice life. You should be aware when applying for jobs that lacking language skills may make things a little difficult. However, there are still job opportunities for those who have yet to master the language, just fewer. If you’d like to start your job search, you can use the online portals below:
Now that we’re at the end, it’s time for you to spread your wings and begin your move to the Capital of Portugal, Lisbon. With the knowledge that you learned here, it shouldn’t be too hard!
Just before you go, there might still be more that you would like to know about move, so check out some the articles that we’ve linked below. Finally, good luck and have a pleasant move! 😊
Network of 500+ movers
150,000 moves annually
