Visiting and staying under a year
We found no official source on how long New Zealanders can visit Portugal without a visa, so that is unknown here. For a remote-work stay of less than a year, the route is the temporary stay visa. It is valid for the whole stay and allows multiple entries.
- Employees show a work contract or an employer declaration.
- Freelancers show service contracts or proof of services provided.
- Both show income and a document confirming tax residence.
Sources: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa portal), Consulate General of Portugal in Sydney. Checked 4 October 2026.
Staying a year or longer
The residency visa for remote work allows two entries and is valid for four months. During that time you ask AIMA for a residence permit. The income and tax residence evidence is the same as for the shorter route.
- The income test is average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times Portugal's minimum monthly wage, which is €920 in 2026. Plan for more than €3,700 a month.
- The embassy may ask for more evidence, including savings.
- The minimum wage changes each year, so the 2027 figure needs rechecking.
Sources: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa portal), Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT), Consulate General of Portugal in Sydney. Checked 4 October 2026.
Documents, fees and timing
The visa portal names the Embassy of Portugal in Canberra for New Zealand residents. Plan for a New Zealand criminal record from the Ministry of Justice with an apostille from the Department of Internal Affairs, travel insurance covering medical care and repatriation, and evidence of your tax residence. The legal decision deadlines are 30 days for a temporary stay and 60 days for residency.
- The Ministry of Justice aims to answer record requests within 20 working days, and the apostille adds time.
- Ask Canberra whether you must attend in person. The embassy has held consular stays in Auckland.
More detail
We did not find the visa fee, so it is unknown here.
Sources: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa portal), Embassy of Portugal in Canberra, Ministry of Justice (New Zealand), New Zealand Government (govt.nz). Checked 4 October 2026.
Tax
A year away does not by itself end New Zealand tax residence. You stop being resident only if you are away more than 325 days in a 12-month period and have no permanent place of abode in New Zealand. A home kept available, family or economic ties can keep you resident. Portugal treats you as resident after more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or with a home suggesting it is your usual residence, and taxes residents on worldwide income.
- Residence in Portugal can start from the first day of your stay.
- Freelancers issue electronic receipts. Services for clients outside the EU are generally outside Portuguese VAT but still count for income tax and contributions.
- With no social security agreement, there is no certificate keeping you in New Zealand's system.
- For freelancers, contributions are based on 70% of average quarterly income, with a €20 monthly minimum and a first-year exemption.
More detail
Government KiwiSaver contributions need you to live mainly in New Zealand. After a year living outside New Zealand and Australia, most KiwiSaver savings can be withdrawn. A student loan stops being interest free once you are overseas based.
IFICI is a Portuguese special tax regime, and eligibility is not assumed here. We found no official source on what a foreign employer must do for an employee in Portugal, so that is unknown. This guide does not cover Portuguese personal tax rates.
Sources: Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, Inland Revenue (New Zealand), Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand), Portuguese Government (gov.pt). Checked 4 October 2026.
Setting up
New Zealand's reciprocal health agreements cover only Australia and the UK, so nothing covers you in Portugal by default. The visa requires insurance with medical and repatriation cover. Once resident, you register with the SNS. Until your registration is complete you may pay for care yourself.
- A NIF, the Portuguese tax number, is requested at a tax office or Citizen Shop by appointment, or through a representative. It identifies you for tax and does not decide residence.
- Freelancers also register their activity and issue receipts through the tax portal.
More detail
We found no official source on what banks ask from newcomers or on home internet, so they are unknown here.
Sources: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa portal), Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora), Health Regulation Authority (ERS), Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, Portuguese Government (gov.pt). Checked 4 October 2026.
Living in Coimbra
The tourism office describes Coimbra as a 15-minute city, with around ten coworking spaces and public Wi-Fi. A new electric metrobus links central areas. From 1991 to 2020, Coimbra/Bencanta averaged 39.9 days a year at 30°C or above, and 113.5 mm of rain in January. We found no official source for rents or other living costs, so they are unknown here.
- Mercado D. Pedro V in the Baixa sells fresh produce, and a Saturday morning fair in Norton de Matos brings local growers.
- Canção de Coimbra grew from student life and is sung as a serenade. Fado ao Centro, À Capella and Café Santa Cruz hold performances.
- The Mondego shapes the city: the Choupal woods, riverside paths, supervised river beaches and the Botanical Garden.
- Baixa is the lower town. It is being renewed, with restored buildings now holding shops, cafés, galleries and coworking spaces.
More detail
Celas is near the university hospitals, the Celas monastery and Penedo da Saudade. Santa Clara is across the Mondego from the centre, with two monasteries, the Convento São Francisco cultural centre and riverside green space.
We did not price flights to New Zealand, so they are unknown here.
Sources: Coimbra Tourism (Coimbra City Council), Coimbra City Council, Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Checked 4 October 2026.
Other places we looked at
The research also looked at Braga and Lisbon, for contrast. Braga/Merelim averaged 179.5 mm of rain in January from 1991 to 2020, against 113.5 mm at Coimbra/Bencanta. Lisbon's January mean is 11.8°C at Lisbon/Instituto Geofísico, 1991 to 2020.
- We found no official source for rents in either place, so they are unknown here.
Sources: Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Checked 4 October 2026.
New Zealand
Portugal