Moving to a new home

If you have changed your habitual residence, you have a maximum of 60 days to communicate your new tax residence to the Tax Authority (Finanças). For those who have a Citizen's Card, it is enough to change the address on the card to make this communication.

In this section you will find information on how to change the address on the Citizen Card, driving licence, Registration Certificate/Single Motor Vehicle Document and the address associated with pet registrations.

Changing the address on the Citizen Card

The change of address of the Citizen Card can be done on the ePortugal portal, authenticating with Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key (CMD). Alternatively, you can go to a Citizen Space or a IRN counter.

Changes of address on the Citizen Card are automatically communicated to Finance, Social Security and the National Health Service (SNS). 

People with a Citizen Card who have a Portuguese driving licence do not have to communicate the change of address to the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT).

The change of address of the Citizen Card is only valid after receiving, at the new address, the letter with the confirmation code and doing all the steps of the address change confirmation process.

If you have an Identity Card for life, you will have to change your address at a branch of the Institute of Registries and Notaries and you will receive a Citizen Card to replace the Identity Card.

Changing your tax address (Finanças)

Foreign residents in Portugal who do not have a Citizen Card can change their tax address on the Finance Portal or at any branch of the Tax and Customs Authority. At the end of the process, the letter with the code to confirm the change of address is sent.

Those who have a Citizen Card or Identity Card cannot change their tax address at the Tax Office.

Changing the address on your driving licence and registration certificate/DUA

Driving licence

If you have a Citizen's Card, you do not need to change the address on your driving licence, you only need to change the address on the card. The address no longer appears on the driving licence, so it is not necessary to replace the licence.

If you have a Portuguese driving licence and no Citizen Card, you must communicate the change of address to the Institute of Transport and Mobility (IMT) through the IMTonline portal or at an IMT branch.

Car registration - Certificate of Registration / DUA

People who own vehicles registered in Portugal, with or without a Citizen Card, have a period of 60 days after the address confirmation to register the change in the Registration Certificate - Single Automobile Document (DUA).

This service can be done at a Registry office or on the Automóvel online portal. Through the online Automobile portal you will need to authenticate yourself with your Citizen Card.

Change the address in other public and private entities

Through the ePortugal portal it is also possible to change the address in several public and private entities, including:

• Automóvel Club de Portugal
• Caixa Geral de Aposentações
• Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária
• EDP - Energias de Portugal
• EPAL - Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres
• Estádio Universitário de Lisboa
• INATEL
• Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional
• Universidade do Porto
• Via Verde

You can change your address at these organisations at the time you change your address on your Citizen Card. If you do not do it at that time, you can do it whenever you want, using the change of address service in several public and private entities. This service does not change the address of the Citizen Card, Finance, Social Security or National Health Service.

Voting at the new address

Once you have changed and confirmed the address on your Citizen Card, you do not need to do anything else to be able to vote at your new address. Voter registration is done automatically.

However, if you have changed your address in the 60 days before an election, registration is suspended until the election takes place. During this period, you will continue to vote in the parish of your former residence.

You can find out where you vote at any time on the electoral registration portal. Fifteen days before an election, you can also check where you will be voting and which polling station you will be voting at. Find out more in the practical guide how to vote.

Changing your address in the pet register

You must notify your change of address and/or that of your pet to the Pet Information System (SIAC) within 15 days of confirming the change of address.

To update your address, simply complete the change of address form in SIAC. After confirming the update, a new Pet Identification Document (DIAC) is issued in paper or digital format.

Water, energy and telecoms services

Providers of water, energy (gas, electricity) or communications (television, telephone, internet) services in Portugal may vary by municipality (in the case of water) or region.

You should find out which providers are in the area of your new address and contact them about the conditions to be contracted.

If you already have water, electricity, gas or communications contracts in place, you should contact the companies or organisations that supply you and inform them that you are changing address. If the supplier operates at the new address, you can remain a customer.

In the case of energy (electricity and/or gas) and telecoms contracts that have loyalty periods, the companies may offer to renew the loyalty period. 

If it is not possible to move the service to the new address, you can negotiate a solution with the company or you can even cancel the loyalty contract without penalty. 

Find out more on the website of ANACOM and the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE). 

Requesting mail forwarding

If you want to forward all letters and correspondence from your old address to your new address, you will need to request the "mail forwarding service" at a CTT counter (form).  It takes an average of 3 working days for the request to become effective and for your mail to be forwarded to the new address. 

Employment, banking and insurance

As soon as you change your address, you should inform your employer.  Contact the company's Human Resources, your work office, or talk to your manager.

If you move house, it is not compulsory to move your child to another school. If you want to change schools, you can wait until the start of the enrolment period after the school year closes.

If you need to move your child in the middle of the school year, you can use the school transfer request service available on the Ministry of Education's Enrolment Portal. This applies to public schools run by the Ministry of Education, private schools and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS) or equivalent. 

You can consult the map of schools in Portugal on the IGeFE portal.

Changing health centre

When you move house, it is recommended that you request a transfer to the health centre in your new area of residence. The transfer is not mandatory, but you should give preference to the health centre closest to your new address.

Find out how to request a change of health centre.

Changing hospital

Even when changing residence, the patient must be accompanied, until discharge, by the institution that assists him/her and has the right to request an appointment to that same hospital whenever he/she wants. If the patient expresses a wish to be accompanied in another institution, he/she may be referred back.

If you have bought a house, you may be entitled to various exemptions related to municipal taxes or fees for works. There are also differences at municipal level on the application of fees for municipal services or other types of benefits. 

Exemption from IMI, IMT and VAT reduction on works

If you have bought a house, you may be entitled to a temporary exemption from Municipal Property Tax (IMI). The request for exemption is made to the Tax and Customs Authority after you have changed your address and within a maximum period of 60 days after the deed of the house.

Those who have bought a house may also be exempt from paying the Municipal Property Transfer Tax (IMT) if they fulfil certain conditions, such as acquiring the property:

• below a certain value
• for residential rental
• for rehabilitation works
• among others.
• You must request the exemption from IMT from the Tax and Customs Authority and the City Council. 

If you carry out works on the house that will serve as your new residence, you may also be entitled to a reduction in VAT on the works. Consult the Tax and Customs Authority for more information.

Municipal taxes

Depending on the type of housing or works to be carried out, various services provided by the municipalities may be required (e.g. cleaning of cesspits, supervision of works, others) which imply the payment of fees. 

The amount of municipal taxes depends on the municipality of residence. Contact your municipality to find out the applicable fees and their amounts.

Annual resident's permit

If your new home is in a municipality with special parking zones for those who live there or with parking meters, you may need to apply for an annual resident's permit.

You can apply to the municipal parking company after confirming the address on your Citizen Card.

Reserved parking space for people with disabilities

Disabled people can apply to the local council in their area of residence for a reserved parking space at their new address.

If you change your address in the same municipality, you must contact your local council to cancel your previous reserved parking space and request a new one. 

The duration of a permit for a reserved parking space may differ between municipalities.

Applying for a parking card for people with disabilities

If you need to apply for a disabled parking card, you should do so at the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT).

Information last updated on 11 September 2023.