Portugal Mortgage for Non-Residents: The 2025 Complete Guide

1. Am I Eligible?

Non-residents can get Portuguese mortgages — and most nationalities are eligible. Banks assess three things: your income, your credit history from your home country, and the property you want to buy in Portugal.

Employment income, self-employed income, and pensions are all accepted. EU citizens and many non-EU nationalities — including British, American, Brazilian, and South African buyers — are regularly approved. If you hold NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax status, some banks offer preferential treatment.

The key is presenting your application correctly. Banks in Portugal don't always speak English fluently, and each has its own internal scoring model. Working through a broker removes that friction entirely.

2. How Much Deposit Do I Need?

Non-residents typically need a deposit of 25–35% (LTV of 65–75%). This compares to 10–20% for Portuguese residents. The exact amount depends on your nationality, income stability, and the bank.

Always budget for purchase costs on top of the deposit:

• IMT (stamp duty): typically 6–8% for non-residents on residential property
• Notary & registration fees: ~0.5% of purchase price
• Legal costs: ~1% (recommend using a local solicitor)

Rule of thumb: budget 7–10% of the purchase price for taxes and fees, in addition to your deposit.

3. What Documents Do I Need?

Prepare these before applying — having everything ready upfront can cut weeks off your timeline:

• Passport (certified copy)
• Last 3 months' payslips or 2 years of tax returns (self-employed)
• Last 3 months' bank statements
• Property promissory contract (CPCV) once signed
• NIF (Portuguese tax number) — we can help you obtain one
• Proof of address in your home country
• Credit report from your home country (optional but speeds approval)

All documents should be in Portuguese or translated by a certified translator. We guide you through this process as part of our free service.

4. How Long Does It Take?

Total typical time: 4–8 weeks from application to approval. With all documents ready upfront, some cases are approved in under 3 weeks.

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