BRIDGES · Citizenship and residency programs

NHR

Non-Habitual Resident (Portugal)

Non-Habitual Resident — a Portuguese preferential tax regime for new residents with reduced rates for up to 10 years.

up to 10 yearspreferential period
lowertax rates
for newresidents
  • 4 min read
  • Updated: July 2026
  • BRIDGES Research Team
In brief — 30 seconds
What it is
Non-Habitual Resident — Portugal’s preferential tax regime
Who it is for
New tax residents of the country
What it gives
Reduced rates for up to 10 years
Important
The regime’s conditions have changed — a current check is needed
Can you prepare
Yes: plan residence and taxes in advance

In plain words

NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) is Portugal’s preferential tax regime for those who become tax residents of the country for the first time. It was created to attract professionals, retirees and wealthy people to Portugal by offering reduced tax rates for a set period — as a rule, up to 10 years.

The essence of the regime is favourable taxation of certain types of income: part of foreign income, income from qualifying activities and a number of other categories under preferential rules instead of the usual progressive rates. For many people moving to Portugal this made the country especially attractive financially, complementing visas such as D8 and golden visas.

An important point: the NHR conditions have changed in recent years — the regime has been reformed, and the rules for new applicants differ from the old ones. That is why outdated information cannot be relied on: the current conditions must be checked and residence planned in advance. We calculate the tax consequences for the specific situation rather than promising reliefs that may no longer exist.

Where the NHR regime matters

Moving tax residence to Portugal
Tax planning when relocating
A complement to the D8 visa or golden visa
Optimising foreign income
Planning for retirees and professionals
Calculating net income after the move

What matters about NHR

The essence
  • Reduced rates
  • For up to 10 years
  • For new residents
Who it is for
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Wealthy individuals
Important
  • Conditions have changed
  • The regime has been reformed
  • A current check is needed
Link
  • With the D8 visa
  • With the golden visa
  • With a residence plan

How to work with NHR

  1. 01Checking the current conditions
  2. 02Calculating the tax consequences
  3. 03Planning residence
  4. 04Registering the status
  5. 05Preferential taxation

What you need to know

  • NHR is Portugal’s preferential tax regime
  • For those who have become tax residents for the first time
  • It gives reduced rates for up to 10 years
  • The conditions have changed in recent years — the regime has been reformed
  • You need to rely on the current rules, not outdated ones

Common mistakes

  • Relying on outdated information about the regime
  • Not checking the current conditions for new applicants
  • Moving without calculating the tax consequences
  • Assuming the relief is automatic on moving
  • Not planning the moment residence is acquired

What this means for a BRIDGES client

We plan taxes when you move to Portugal under the current rules of the NHR regime: we check the present conditions, calculate the consequences for your income and link them with the D8 visa or golden visa. That way you get a real picture and real savings, not promises based on outdated rates.

Frequently asked questions

01 /What is NHR?

Non-Habitual Resident — Portugal’s preferential tax regime for those who become tax residents of the country for the first time, with reduced rates for up to 10 years.

02 /Who does the regime suit?

Professionals, retirees and wealthy people moving to Portugal — as a complement to the D8 visa or golden visa.

03 /For how long are the reliefs granted?

As a rule, up to 10 years. The exact period and scope of the reliefs depend on the regime’s current conditions, which have changed in recent years.

04 /Is the regime in force now?

The regime has been reformed, and the rules for new applicants differ from the old ones. Outdated information cannot be relied on — the current conditions need to be checked.

05 /What income qualifies for the reliefs?

Certain categories — part of foreign income and income from qualifying activities under preferential rules. We calculate for the specific situation.

06 /Is the relief granted automatically?

No. You need to acquire tax residence and meet the regime’s conditions. We plan this in advance so that the relief actually applies.

See also

Read next

Dmitry Nagy
AuthorDmitry NagyInternational Tax Consultant, BRIDGES
Sergey Evdokimov
Reviewed bySergey EvdokimovManaging Partner, BRIDGES
Updated
July 2026
Version
1.0
Scheduled review
January 2027
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Moving to Portugal — and taxes?

We will check the current conditions of the NHR regime and calculate your actual taxes for your specific income — before the move.

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