· 10 min read
Portuguese for Expats: Essential Phrases for Portugal and Brazil
By Language Lab editorial team
Key Portuguese phrases and vocabulary for expats moving to Portugal or Brazil — NIF/CPF, SEF/AIMA, rental contracts, and everyday bureaucratic language.
Portugal and Brazil have very different administrative systems, dialects, and practical requirements for expats — though the same core Portuguese vocabulary applies. This guide covers both countries' essential bureaucratic and daily life vocabulary, with notes on where Portuguese (PT) and Brazilian Portuguese (BR) differ most.
Key vocabulary: Portugal
| Portuguese term (PT) | English meaning |
|---|---|
| NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) | Tax identification number — essential for everything in Portugal |
| SEF / AIMA | Immigration authority (SEF was replaced by AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo in 2023) |
| Autorização de residência | Residence permit |
| Junta de Freguesia | Local civil registry / parish council (handles some registration tasks) |
| Finanças / Portal das Finanças | Tax office and online portal for NIF, IRS, and more |
| Arrendamento | Rental / lease |
| Contrato de arrendamento | Rental contract (governed by Lei do Arrendamento Urbano) |
| Caução | Security deposit (typically 1–2 months' rent) |
| Condomínio | Building management fee (common charges) |
| Recibo verde | Green receipt — self-employed invoice system |
| SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) | National health service |
| Centro de Saúde | Community health centre (GP / primary care) |
| Cartão de Cidadão | Citizen card (ID for Portuguese nationals and permanent residents) |
Key vocabulary: Brazil
| Portuguese term (BR) | English meaning |
|---|---|
| CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) | Individual taxpayer ID — essential for Brazil, required for banking, rental, work |
| CNPJ | Business taxpayer ID (for companies and MEIs — micro-entrepreneurs) |
| RNE / CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório) | Foreigner ID card — replaced old RNE system in 2020 |
| PF (Polícia Federal) | Federal Police — handles immigration registration in Brazil |
| SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) | Universal health system (free, public) |
| UBS (Unidade Básica de Saúde) | Basic health unit — Brazil's primary care entry point |
| FGTS (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) | Employment severance fund — employer deposits 8% monthly |
| Aluguel | Rent (Brazil); arrendamento / renda in Portugal |
| Condomínio | Building management fee (Brazil) — can be significant in condo buildings |
| Fiador | Guarantor for rental (very common requirement in Brazil) |
| Carteira de Trabalho (CTPS) | Work permit booklet — physical or digital (CTPS Digital) |
Phrases for everyday expat life
| Phrase | Meaning | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Preciso de obter o NIF. | I need to get my NIF. | PT |
| Onde fica o Portal das Finanças? | Where is the Finance Portal? | PT |
| Quero marcar uma consulta no centro de saúde. | I want to book a GP appointment. | PT |
| Tenho um contrato de arrendamento. | I have a rental contract. | PT |
| Preciso tirar o CPF. | I need to get my CPF. | BR |
| Onde fica a Receita Federal? | Where is the tax office? | BR |
| Preciso registrar meu contrato de trabalho. | I need to register my work contract. | BR |
| Quero abrir uma conta bancária. | I want to open a bank account. | PT/BR |
| Pode falar mais devagar, por favor? | Can you speak more slowly, please? | PT/BR |
| Não entendo. Pode repetir? | I don't understand. Can you repeat? | PT/BR |
Portuguese vs. Brazilian Portuguese: key differences for expats
European Portuguese (PT) and Brazilian Portuguese (BR) differ in accent, vocabulary, and some grammar. Key differences to know: In PT, subject pronouns are often dropped and indirect object pronouns come after the verb ('Diga-me', not 'Me diga' — which is natural in BR). In BR, tu (informal you) is used widely but conjugated like você; in PT, tu is used in the north with its own conjugation. Vocabulary differences: 'autocarro' (PT) vs. 'ônibus' (BR) for bus; 'telemóvel' (PT) vs. 'celular' (BR) for mobile phone; 'comboio' (PT) vs. 'trem' (BR) for train. If moving to Portugal, prioritise European Portuguese — Brazilian media exposure can actually slow your PT accent acquisition due to the very different phonology.
Frequently asked
How do I get a NIF in Portugal as a foreigner?
EU citizens: visit any Finanças office (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) with your passport/ID and address in Portugal. Non-EU citizens who don't yet have a Portuguese address: you technically need a fiscal representative (representante fiscal) — a Portuguese-resident person or company who co-signs your NIF application. Several companies offer this service. After obtaining AIMA residence authorisation, you can change the address on your NIF directly. The NIF is free to obtain and is issued immediately in-office.
Is the D7 visa a good option for remote workers moving to Portugal?
The D7 (Passive Income Visa) is Portugal's most popular long-term visa for non-EU remote workers, pensioners, and freelancers. It requires proof of regular passive or remote income above approximately €820/month (indexed to Portuguese minimum wage). It leads to a 2-year residence permit, renewable for 3 years, then permanent residence. The D8 (Digital Nomad Visa), launched in 2022, is similar but specifically for employed remote workers earning 4× minimum wage. Both require NIF, bank account, and valid health insurance. Golden Visa (investment-based) remains available but was significantly restricted in 2023.
