More Scots eye Portugal as travel numbers hit new high

The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK has announced that, after a very successful launch last year, its Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars will return to Edinburgh on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

This is in response to growing interest from Scottish residents who are now considering Portugal for their lifestyle, retirement, property, investment and relocation planning.

The announcement follows the Chamber’s first Moving to Portugal Show in Scotland in 2025, which was held at The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh in November and attracted more than 100 attendees, showing the high level of interest in Portugal among Scottish residents.

This growing interest is also reflected in official air travel data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Its 2025 international passenger route data shows that passenger movements between Scottish airports and Portugal, including Madeira, increased from 608,421 in 2024 to 635,389 in 2025. This represents an increase of 26,968 passenger movements, or 4.4% year on year.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority data also shows particularly strong growth in travellers from Edinburgh. Passenger movements between Edinburgh and Portuguese destinations increased from 330,973 in 2024 to 383,290 in 2025, a rise of 15.8%. The largest increases were recorded on routes to Funchal in Madeira, and Porto and Faro on the mainland, while Lisbon also remained a major direct route.

Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, said: “Scotland has quickly become an important destination for our Moving to Portugal programme of events. The response to our first Edinburgh event, combined with the recent growth in passenger movements between Scotland and Portugal, points to a clear and growing interest in Portugal.

“People are looking at Portugal not only as a holiday destination, but also as a place in which to spend more time, invest, retire or build the next stage of their lives. The questions we receive from potential ‘movers’ are now very practical and detailed, covering areas such as property, tax, residency, visas, healthcare and lifestyle planning.

“We are therefore very pleased to confirm that the Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars will return on November 12, at the Scotsman Hotel in central Edinburgh. The event will once again bring together trusted experts who can help visitors understand the practical steps involved in planning a move to Portugal.”

The event brings together specialists in property, tax, legal matters, residency, visas, healthcare, finance and lifestyle planning.

The Edinburgh show will offer a full programme of seminars, expert presentations and one-to-one conversations with companies and advisers who work directly with people considering a move to Portugal.

Registration – click here