Portugal is a realistic move from Russia if you match a residence route to your situation early. The short version: a one-bedroom rents for about €950 a month in the bigger cities, typical net salaries run around €1,300, personal taxes sit at 13-48%, and permanent residence usually takes about 5 years of legal stay. Here is how the move actually works for Russian citizens.
Getting in: your route options
As Russian citizens you need a visa even for short visits, so plan the paperwork early. For an actual move you need a residence permit tied to a reason; the visit visa and the residence process are separate tracks.
- Remote work: Portugal runs the D8 Digital Nomad Visa, income bar around €3,280/mo, 1 year, or residence permit up to 5 years. The residence path counts toward the 5-year citizenship clock.
- Work: a job offer plus a work permit; for higher-paid qualified roles ask employers about the EU Blue Card, which speeds up residence across most of the bloc.
- Study: university admission converts into a student permit, usually with part-time work rights and a post-graduation job-seeker option.
- Family and ancestry: joining an EU spouse or partner, or claiming citizenship by descent if you have an EU-citizen parent or grandparent.
What life in Portugal costs
Budget roughly €950 for a one-bed plus about €850 for essentials and transport, per person. English friendliness scores 70/100 here.
Healthcare here rates 72/100 in this model and everyday safety 85/100, while public transport comes in at 65/100.
Paperwork is the hard part: Portugal scores 65/100 for bureaucratic friction, so budget real time for registrations and appointments.
The rental market is tight (80/100 pressure), so line up viewings before you land.
The local language (PT) takes steady effort, rated 60/100 for approachability.
Coming from Russia, one thing worth knowing early: Portugal has a moderate Russian and Ukrainian speaking community, mostly concentrated in the capital.
What you would pay in tax
If you keep earning from abroad and register as self-employed, Portugal charges simplified regime: only 75% of services turnover is taxable (35% for some activities) up to €200k, plus 21.4% on a coefficient-reduced base.
Combine the simplified regime with IFICI eligibility and Portugal gets very competitive.
Portugal is among the more welcoming countries in the bloc for remote workers and freelancers, rated 85/100. The full picture, including the company route and the special regimes, is on the taxes in Portugal page, and the take-home index ranks all 27 countries on what actually reaches your account.
The long game
Permanent residence in Portugal takes about 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship about 5 years from arrival, subject to language and integration requirements. If an EU passport is part of your plan, weigh this timeline against neighbouring countries before you commit.