Nothing seems to dampen the interest of international citizens in Portugal, despite the end of the golden visas, the tightening of the rules for non-habitual residents, and the new immigration law, which was sent back to Parliament about a month ago after the court found it unconstitutional. Although demand may have cooled in the last year due to all these domestic factors, along with the effects of the economy and foreign policy, the search for houses for sale from abroad remains strong in Portugal, especially on the island of Madeira, in Faro, and on the island of São Miguel (Azores), according to data from idealista/data.

At the start of 2025, foreigners bought 2,098 homes in our country, around 5.1% of the total number of transactions, which represents “the lowest share since the second quarter of 2021,” according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). This decline can be explained, for example, by the end of the golden visas, as well as the termination of the non-habitual resident scheme and its replacement by a more restrictive one.

Still, the most recent data from idealista/data shows that the demand for houses for sale in Portugal from abroad remained strong in several areas of the country in the second quarter of 2025. The island of Madeira (42%), Faro (36%), the island of São Miguel (34%), and Viana do Castelo (30%) were the Portuguese districts and islands with the highest number of visits to property-for-sale listings from abroad during this period.

Meanwhile, Lisbon, Évora, Setúbal, and Porto appear at the bottom of the list, with international visits to properties for sale representing less than 15% of total demand in each district, according to the same data. Here, demand for housing comes mainly from within Portugal, carried out by Portuguese, immigrants, digital nomads, among others.

Houses for sale: where are most visits from abroad?
Data by districts and islands referring to Q2 2025
Share of visits from outside Portugal to each real estate market

  • Madeira (island): 42%

  • Faro: 36%

  • São Miguel (island): 34%

  • Viana do Castelo: 30%

  • Bragança: 29%

  • Vila Real: 29%

  • Guarda: 26%

  • Castelo Branco: 25%

  • Leiria: 24%

  • Viseu: 24%

  • Coimbra: 23%

  • Beja: 22%

  • Braga: 19%

  • Aveiro: 17%

  • Portalegre: 17%

  • Santarém: 15%

  • Porto: 14%

  • Setúbal: 13%

  • Évora: 13%

  • Lisbon: 12%

From which countries are visits to houses for sale in Portugal coming?
This analysis of the real estate market also reveals the countries from which these visits to homes for sale in each territory originate. The top positions are dominated by European countries, such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. In addition, demand from the USA also stands out, ranking in the top 3 in several areas of the country.

It is particularly notable that France has the greatest weight in international visits for housing in eight Portuguese districts: Viana do Castelo, Bragança, Vila Real, Guarda, Leiria, Braga, Aveiro, and Porto. It is also observed that the United Kingdom ranks first in six territories: Faro, Castelo Branco, Beja, Santarém, Setúbal, and Évora.

On the island of Madeira, the territory with the highest demand for houses for sale from abroad, the leading visits come from Germany (18%), the United Kingdom (17%), and the USA (10%). In Faro, the countries with the most significant share of foreign demand are the United Kingdom (17%), France (12%), and Germany (12%), according to the same data. On the island of São Miguel, the USA stands out with the highest percentage of visits to properties for sale (34%), followed by Canada (25%) and Germany (9%).

The strongest interest in buying a house in Lisbon comes from those searching from the USA (14%), followed by the United Kingdom (13%) and Spain (8%). In Porto, international visits originate mainly from France (15%), the USA (12%), and Brazil (9%).

Where does foreign demand for houses for sale in Portugal come from?
Data by districts and islands referring to Q2 2025
Share of visits from abroad by country of origin in each district/island

  1. Madeira (island): Germany 18%, United Kingdom 17%, USA 10%

  2. Faro: United Kingdom 17%, France 12%, Germany 12%

  3. São Miguel (island): USA 34%, Canada 25%, Germany 9%

  4. Viana do Castelo: France 26%, Spain 15%, USA 13%

  5. Bragança: France 29%, Spain 16%, Switzerland 9%

  6. Vila Real: France 27%, Switzerland 15%, USA 9%

  7. Guarda: France 22%, United Kingdom 10%, Spain 9%

  8. Castelo Branco: United Kingdom 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 10%

  9. Leiria: France 15%, USA 15%, United Kingdom 11%

  10. Viseu: Switzerland 16%, France 15%, Brazil 10%

  11. Coimbra: USA 13%, United Kingdom 13%, France 12%

  12. Beja: United Kingdom 15%, Germany 14%, France 11%

  13. Braga: France 24%, Switzerland 13%, USA 9%

  14. Aveiro: France 17%, Switzerland 14%, USA 12%

  15. Portalegre: Spain 17%, United Kingdom 13%, France 10%

  16. Santarém: United Kingdom 18%, France 13%, Netherlands 9%

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