What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Cascais

Relocating to Cascais

About the City

Located on the Estoril Coast in the south-west region of the country, Cascais is one of the richest metropolitan areas in the whole of Portugal, and, due to its close proximity to Lisbon, is considered the garden suburb of the country’s capital. In 2011, the city’s population was estimated to be over 200,000 people in an area of 97.40 km².

Although historically a small fishing town, Cascais became famous when the Portuguese royal family chose it as their holiday destination in the 19th century, and the city has grown since then to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Portugal.Although the vast majority of its population is native Portuguese, during the summer Cascais becomes an international city, drawing visitors from across the world. As a result, although Portuguese is the official language, expatriates moving to Cascais will find that many people also speak English, French, and Spanish as second languages, particularly those that work in the hospitality sector.

The Climate in Cascais

Cascais has a dry summer sub-tropical Mediterranean climate. This means that expatriates moving to Cascais will need to adjust to hot, dry summers, and temperature, wet winters. During the summer months, the city experiences very little rainfall, and as a result it also has fairly low humidity compared with other European cities.

The average summer temperature is 20.5°C (68.9°F), but it can rise even higher during August, which is the hottest and driest month of the year. The winter, although much cooler than the summer, is still relatively mild, with an average temperature of 11.0°C (51.8°F) in January, which is the coldest and wettest month of the year.

Visas for Portugal

Whether or not you will need a visa to move to Cascais depends on your nationality. As Portugal is a member of the European Union, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens will not need a visa to move to Cascais or to live there indefinitely. However, after six months they must register with their local authority for a residence permit, but this is just a formality that allows them to conduct official business, like opening bank accounts or paying taxes. However, citizens from non-EU nations will need a visa to move to Cascais, and some may even need a visa to enter the country.

Residence permits for non-EU nationals must be applied for from within their home country through their local Portuguese embassy or consulate. These permits come in two types: short term residence permits, which last from between three months to a year; and long term residence permits, which last between five and ten years. Expatriates wanting to move to Cascais are advised to contact their local embassy or consulate for more information regarding visas.