Many people come for a week and end up staying for years. Ericeira has a well-established long-term expat community alongside the local Portuguese population.
For EU/EEA citizens: You can live and work in Portugal freely. After 90 days, register for a NIF (tax number) and with your local câmara (council). It's straightforward.
For non-EU citizens: The most common routes are:
Finding accommodation: Long-term rentals (6–12 months) are cheaper than short-term but harder to find in peak season. Start looking on local Facebook groups, Idealista, or through word of mouth. The real estate page has more details.
After five years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.
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