The move: family, belongings, pets and driving licence
What to sort out to bring your life to Portugal: your children’s school, your belongings and car, money, pets and your driving licence. Who can come with you and how to apply for your family’s visa is on the family reunification page.
Your children’s school
School is compulsory from 6 to 18
Basic and secondary education is compulsory for everyone aged 6 to 18. Pre-school education is optional and can start at age 3. Children who turn 6 by 15 September start the 1st year.
📜 gov.pt — Migrants: education in Portugal
How to enrol
Online, on the Portal das Matrículas (enrolment portal), or in person at the office of the school in the child’s area of residence. In the following years enrolment renews automatically, unless the child changes school.
📜 gov.pt — Migrants: education in Portugal
Equivalence for studies done abroad
You apply at the school where the pupil will enrol, with the application form, the official certificates (authenticated by the consulate or with an apostille, where applicable) and a Portuguese translation. Enrolment is only complete once equivalence is granted. So bring the school certificates already prepared — see the documents to sort out in your country.
📜 gov.pt — Migrants: education in Portugal
If your child does not speak Portuguese
Newly arrived pupils whose mother tongue is not Portuguese can take Portuguese as a Non-Native Language (PLNM) instead of Portuguese. A diagnostic test sets the level: beginner, intermediate or advanced.
📜 gov.pt — Migrants: education in Portugal
Your belongings
Personal belongings free of import duties
If you move your normal place of residence from a country outside the European Union, you can bring your personal belongings (furniture, clothes, household items, portable tools of your trade) without paying import duties, provided that: you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months; the belongings have been in your possession and used at your previous residence for at least 6 months; and they will be used for the same purpose in your new home.
📜 Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, art. 3 to 5
12-month deadline
The belongings must be declared to customs within 12 months of taking up residence in the EU, and can come in several shipments within that period. For the following 12 months you cannot lend, hire out, give away or sell them without first informing customs — if you do, you pay the duties.
📜 Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, art. 7 and 8
What is not covered
This relief does not cover alcoholic drinks, tobacco, commercial means of transport or equipment for professional use (except portable instruments). These rules are about customs duties; for VAT and other cases, check with Customs.
📜 Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, art. 6
Your car: ISV exemption
If you move your residence to Portugal, you can apply for exemption from vehicle tax (ISV) for one car, if: you are over 18; you have lived abroad for at least 6 months; the car has been in your name in your country of origin for at least 6 months before the move; and you bought it there with the taxes paid. The application is free, made online on the Portal das Finanças (tax portal), within 12 months of moving your residence (gov.pt).
📜 gov.pt — Applying for the ISV exemption when moving to Portugal
Cash: declare from 10,000 €
Anyone entering or leaving the EU with 10,000 € or more (or the equivalent in another currency) must declare it to Customs. Cash includes notes and coins, cheques and other bearer instruments, and gold coins or bars. The declaration can be made on the Portal das Finanças.
📜 Tax Authority — Cash
Dog, cat or ferret
The EU requirements
To enter the EU from outside, for non-commercial purposes, the animal needs: a microchip; a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks of age or older (only valid 21 days after the primary vaccination); and an animal health certificate issued by an official or authorised vet, valid for 10 days until the check on arrival. No more than 5 animals per journey.
📜 European Commission — Entry of pets from non-EU countries
Rabies antibody test
For most countries a blood test (antibody titration) is required, done at an EU-approved laboratory, with the sample taken at least 30 days after the vaccination and at least 90 days before the date of the certificate. So at least 120 days pass between the vaccination and the certificate (our calculation: 30 + 90) — start 4 months or more ahead. Some countries are exempt — check the European Commission’s list.
📜 European Commission — Entry of pets from non-EU countries
New rules since April 2026
The EU rules changed on 22 April 2026. Check the current requirements on the European Commission page before booking your journey. Dogs of dangerous or potentially dangerous breeds also need a statement of responsibility.
📜 European Commission; gov.pt
Your driving licence
Licences from CPLP and OECD countries
You can keep driving in Portugal even after becoming a resident if the licence is valid, you are under 60 and no more than 15 years have passed since it was issued or last renewed. Exchanging it for a Portuguese licence does not require a driving test (only a medical assessment).
📜 IMT — Licences issued by OECD and CPLP countries
Countries party to the international conventions
Before becoming a resident you can drive for up to 185 days. After getting your residence permit: in the first 90 days you can drive, but you must apply for the exchange; between 90 days and 2 years you can still exchange it, but you can no longer drive with the foreign licence; after 2 years, the exchange requires a practical test.
📜 IMT — Countries party to the conventions
Other countries
Licences from countries that are not party to the conventions are not valid for driving in Portugal. To get a Portuguese licence you must pass the theory and practical tests.
📜 IMT — Countries not party to the conventions
How to apply for the exchange
Have the medical assessment (the doctor sends the certificate to the IMT), fill in the application on the «A Minha Carta de Condução» portal and then collect the licence at an IMT office. The fee is 30 €, with a 10% discount for online applications. See which group your country is in on the IMT website.
📜 IMT — Exchange of a foreign driving licence
Official sources (mostly in Portuguese)
- gov.pt — Migrants: education in Portugal for children, young people and adults
- gov.pt — Enrolment applications (Portal das Matrículas)
- Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 — customs reliefs (Portal das Finanças)
- gov.pt — Applying for the vehicle tax exemption when moving to Portugal
- Tax Authority — Cash
- European Commission — Non-commercial movement from non-EU countries
- gov.pt — Statement of responsibility for dangerous-breed dogs from outside the EU
- IMT — Driving licences issued by OECD and CPLP countries
- IMT — Countries party to the conventions and other situations
- IMT — Countries not party to the conventions
Checked in October 2026.
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