USEFUL INFORMATION

LOCATION

Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, which is located in the far south-west of Europe and includes and includes the Azores and Madeira archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean.

WEATHER

In Lisbon, winter is mild, and summer is hot but somehow moderate due to the proximity to the sea. There are many sunny days with mild temperatures during spring and autumn.

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

Portugal has a population of about 10.3 million inhabitants. The Lisbon region is home to around 3 million inhabitants, with Lisbon having approximately 600,000 inhabitants.

LANGUAGE

Portuguese, the world’s third most widely spoken language, spoken by about 250 million people.

CURRENCY

Portugal’s official currency is the Euro.

HOUSING

Real estate agencies and newspapers are an excellent way of finding premium housing to rent or buy. Always look for ads posted with the reference “Authorized broker”.

HEALTHCARE

In Portugal, healthcare is provided by the National Health Service (SNS), which includes Healthcare Centres and Public Hospitals. Emergency Services must be used in serious situations.

Permanent Assistance (24 hours a day): 808 24 24 24

EDUCATION SYSTEM

The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for the Portuguese education system – with support from the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Security, in matters that concern preschool education. There is also a wide network of private educational institutions, namely international schools.

EQUIVALENCE/RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS

To get equivalency between your qualifications and those qualifications that are recognized in Portugal, please contact:

CIREP, with the Ministry of Education and Science (in Lisbon), if your qualifications are primary or secondary education.
NARIC Portugal, if you have a higher education degree

ELECTRICITY

Electrical grid: 230 / 400 volts, frequency of 50 hertz. Power plugs are according to European standards.

TELECOMMUNICATION

There are public phone booths that can be used with coins or specific cards that are sold in speciality stores, post offices or marked kiosks or tobacco stores. To make a call from Portugal to another country, please dial 00, country code and city code, and then the number.