How to Transfer Money from UK to Portugal
UK to Portugal Guide
Summary
The bilateral alliance between the United Kingdom and Portugal is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the 14th century. Both the UK and Portugal are members of the NATO and the UN, though the UK's departure from the European Union (EU) may change previous trends. Commerce and tourism are among the most popular economic activities that connect the UK and Portugal. Prior to Brexit, more than 2 million Britons travelled to Portugal annually and more than 60,000 British nationals lived and working there for at least part of the year. It is not yet clear how much this will change following Brexit. There are currently no restrictions on sending money from the UK to Portugal, however, any account holdings that exceed EUR €50,000 must be declared to the Banco de Portugal, the country’s central bank.
Visas and immigration
Now the UK has left the EU, British citizens are required to obtain an appropriate visa if they wish to move to Portugal, or for visits of longer than 90 days. For more information on living in Portugal as a UK citizen, please refer to the site of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Banking and money
Portugal has a modern and sophisticated banking system. There are a wide range of services available, including savings accounts, current accounts, business and joint accounts. Online banking is a common feature of all Portuguese bank accounts. All banks in Portugal belong to a national grouping called Multibanco, an interbank network that links ATMs, automatic payments, and mobile and online banking services.
In most cases, it is advisable to wait to transfer money from the UK to Portugal until after having opened a Portuguese bank account. Generally, it is required that the individual opening the account present themselves in person at a local bank branch. It is relatively easy for UK nationals to open a Portuguese bank account. You will have to present proof of identification in the form of a passport or ID card, an NIF (foreign identity) number, proof of a local Portuguese address in the form of a utility bill, and a residency card.
Taxes
Residents and non-residents are taxed differently in Portugal. A UK national will be considered a resident if they remain in Portugal for more than 183 days during a 12-month period. In this case, individuals may be taxed for both locally earned income as well as any earnings from other countries.
Portugal has double taxation treaties with 71 countries, including the UK. British nationals who become residents of Portugal can be exempted from paying high tax rates on overseas earnings.
For those who are residents of Portugal and are employed by a domestic business, taxes are deducted directly from earnings. This is usually done on a sliding scale ranging from 10.5% to 42%. On the other hand, non-residents of Portugal are taxed only on income earned in Portugal and at a flat rate. The tax year in Portugal is from January 1 to December 31, whereas the tax year in the UK is between April 5 to April 6 of the following year. UK expats are responsible for filing tax returns between February 1 and March 15 for income from salaries or pensions, and between March 16 and April 30 for any other sources of income. It may be in your best interest to get the help of a professional tax advisor in order to fully understand Portuguese tax requirements.
Trade with Portugal
Prior to Brexit, Portugal was the UK’s 11th largest market for exports within the European Union and the 30th largest worldwide. Bilateral trade between the UK and Portugal totalled around €12.3bn in 2018, although this may lessen following the UK's departure from the EU. The main goods imported to the UK from Portugal are transport equipment, vehicles, and clothing. The main imports include chemicals, fuel, and machinery. Tourism and transport comprise the main aspects of revenue from UK, amounting to approximately 75%. Portuguese wines and food items continue to grow in popularity in the UK.
Investment in Portugal
UK direct investment in Portugal amounted to GBP £4.3bn in 2019, according to the UK Department for International Trade, accounting for 0.3% of the total UK outward foreign direct investment stock. UK foreign direct investment in Portugal is focused mainly in the financial and tourism sectors. The UK sends the second highest number of tourists to Portugal of any nation worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from UK to Portugal. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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