Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

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In force 1 Jan 2025
In force Taxation

IRS Jovem youth tax exemption expanded

The State Budget for 2025 materially expanded IRS Jovem — Portugal's youth income-tax exemption. It now applies to taxpayers up to age 35 (raised from 30 and narrower prior thresholds), for up to 10 years, with 100% exemption in year one stepping down to 25% in years 8-10, subject to an earnings cap.

Who it affects: Residents under 35 earning employment or self-employment income in Portugal.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Diário da República Eletrónico ↗ · Governo de Portugal ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

IFICI ("NHR 2.0") — Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation launched

The successor regime to NHR, formally the Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação (IFICI), was enacted under Law 82/2023 and the implementing ordinance published in late 2024. It offers a 20% flat rate on qualifying Portuguese employment/self-employment income for ten years, but eligibility is much narrower — limited to researchers, qualified staff of certified innovation employers, startup employees, and specific high-value roles. Retroactive to those who became Portuguese tax-resident in 2024.

Who it affects: New tax residents in qualifying research, startup, or innovation roles.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Diário da República Eletrónico ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

IRS 2024 — lower-bracket marginal rates cut

The 2024 IRS (personal income tax) reform retroactively cut marginal rates across the lower and middle brackets, with the second bracket's rate reduced from 21% to 16.5% as the headline change. The measure was designed to raise middle-income take-home pay and was applied retroactively from 1 January 2024 with adjustments processed in the 2024 annual return.

Who it affects: All Portuguese-resident income-tax payers, with the largest relative effect on middle earners.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

IFICI regime introduced as narrow successor to NHR

The Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação (IFICI, article 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute) entered force alongside NHR closure. IFICI offers a flat 20% rate on qualifying Portuguese-source income for ten years, but eligibility is materially narrower than NHR: researchers at certified institutions, teaching staff at higher-education and Portuguese innovation-certified companies, qualified workers at IAPMEI-certified "startup"-status companies, and certain roles at companies in designated priority sectors. Movers should not assume IFICI eligibility from prior NHR-style planning without specific confirmation.

Who it affects: Researchers, specified innovation-sector workers, and founders at certified startups considering Portuguese residency.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · IAPMEI — Business Support Agency ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime closed to new applicants

Under the State Budget for 2024, the Non-Habitual Resident tax regime — which had offered flat 20% tax on qualifying Portuguese income and broad exemption on most foreign income for ten years — was closed to new applicants from 1 January 2024. Existing NHR beneficiaries retained the regime until the end of their ten-year period. A narrow transitional window applied to those who had begun relocation steps by October 2023.

Who it affects: Prospective movers who had planned to use NHR; existing NHR holders retain their status.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Diário da República Eletrónico ↗ · Governo de Portugal ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime closed to new applicants

The 2024 State Budget (Lei do Orçamento do Estado para 2024) ended the Non-Habitual Resident tax regime for new applicants from 1 January 2024. NHR offered a flat 20% rate on qualifying Portuguese-source professional income and partial or full exemption on foreign-source income for ten years. Transitional rules allowed applications during 2024 for those meeting specific pre-2024 residency / employment-contract criteria. Existing NHR beneficiaries retain their status for the remainder of their ten-year period.

Who it affects: Non-residents planning a tax-advantaged move to Portugal after 1 January 2024.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2023
In force Taxation

Crypto-asset capital-gains tax rules enter force

Portugal began taxing crypto-asset capital gains from 1 January 2023 under the 2023 State Budget. Short-term gains (on assets held under 365 days) are taxed at a flat 28% (or optionally under the progressive IRS schedule); long-term gains on assets held at least 365 days remain exempt. Crypto-denominated salary is taxed as regular income.

Who it affects: Portuguese-resident holders of crypto assets; a specific attraction point versus most other EU regimes.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18