NOW TV in Portugal: Watch Sky Sports and Premier League From Portugal (2026)

Yes, you can watch NOW TV in Portugal, and it takes about two minutes to set up. NOW only streams to UK IP addresses, so in the Algarve, Lisbon or on the Silver Coast you get a message that the service is not available in your region, even with a paid membership. Connect to a UK server with a VPN and Sky Sports, Sky Atlantic and Sky Cinema play on NOW as they do at home.

This guide gives you the quick setup first, then the best VPNs for NOW TV in Portugal, how to pay for a membership from abroad, how to watch Premier League football, and the fixes for common errors. It is written for the large British community in Portugal, from Porto to the Algarve and out to Madeira.

How to Watch NOW TV in Portugal in 4 Steps

To watch NOW TV in Portugal, you need a VPN with servers in the UK. The steps are the same on a phone, laptop, Smart TV, Fire TV Stick or NOW Smart Stick.

1. Choose a reliable VPN provider — we tested and recommend NordVPN or Surfshark, both of which work with NOW.
2. Connect to a UK server — London or Manchester both work well.
3. Open the NOW app or website — sign in with your NOW account.
4. Start watching — live Sky channels and the on-demand library now play without the region message.

If NOW still blocks you, clear the browser cache or restart the app after the VPN is connected. The fixes section below covers every common error.

Why NOW TV Does Not Work in Portugal

NOW is Sky’s monthly streaming service, and Sky only holds the rights to show its channels in the UK and Ireland. When you press play, NOW checks your IP address, sees a Portuguese connection from MEO, NOS, Vodafone or Digi, and blocks the stream.

Before Brexit, EU portability rules let UK subscribers use NOW on short trips to Portugal. Those rules no longer apply to UK services, so NOW is now blocked everywhere in the EU, for holidaymakers and residents alike. A UK IP address is what makes your membership work again.

How to Pay for NOW From Portugal

NOW needs a payment method it accepts for UK customers. If you still have a UK bank account, your UK debit or credit card works as normal. Many British expats in Portugal keep a UK account for exactly this reason, along with pensions and other UK bills.

1. Connect your VPN to a UK server before opening NOW.
2. Create your NOW account with your email address.
3. Choose the memberships you want, such as Entertainment, Cinema or Sports.
4. Pay with your UK card and enter the UK billing address linked to it.

NOW memberships are monthly with no long contract, so you can add Sports for the football season and drop it in the summer.

What You Can Watch on NOW TV in Portugal

With a UK connection your NOW memberships work in full, the same as in Bristol or Birmingham.

Sky Sports and Premier League Football

The NOW Sports membership includes the Sky Sports channels, with live Premier League matches, EFL football, cricket, golf and Formula 1. It is the main reason many British expats look for NOW TV in Portugal.

Sky Atlantic and Box Sets

The Entertainment membership includes Sky Atlantic, Sky Max and Sky Comedy, with HBO dramas and a large library of box sets to watch on demand.

Sky Cinema

The Cinema membership adds new film premieres every week and a large back catalogue, all on demand.

How Other British Expats in Portugal Solve It

Most British expats who want NOW TV in Portugal follow the same routine: a VPN app on the phone and the TV, connected to London before they press play. The same subscription also works for BBC iPlayer, ITVX and UK banking apps.

Setup takes about two minutes, and you do not need any technical knowledge. After the first time, it is one tap to connect.

Best VPNs for NOW TV in Portugal

We tested these three VPNs with NOW live sport and on-demand from Portuguese connections. All three have UK servers that NOW accepts and are fast enough for live football in HD.

1. NordVPN — Best Overall for NOW

NordVPN is our top pick for NOW TV in Portugal. Its large UK network means a blocked server is quickly replaced, and the NordLynx protocol keeps live football smooth on Portuguese fibre.

SmartPlay lets you watch on Apple TV and Smart TVs that cannot run a VPN app. One account covers up to ten devices. Read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark — Best Value for the Whole House

Surfshark is the best value choice when more than one person watches. One plan covers unlimited devices, so the match can play on the TV while someone else watches Sky Atlantic on a tablet.

Fast WireGuard connections keep streams stable across Portugal. Read our Surfshark review.

3. Proton VPN — Strong Privacy and Streaming Support

Proton VPN supports NOW on its streaming servers and has clear setup guides for every device. Its flexible monthly plans suit people who spend only the winter months in the Algarve.

Read our Proton VPN review.

Watching Premier League Football in Portugal

Mainland Portugal and Madeira are on the same time as the UK all year round, and the Azores are 1 hour behind. A 4:30 pm Sunday kick-off on Sky Sports starts at 4:30 pm in Faro or Lisbon, so you watch at exactly the same time as fans at home.

Connect the VPN a few minutes before kick-off. That leaves time to switch servers if one is busy. Portuguese fibre from MEO and NOS is fast in towns and cities, but rural parts of the Alentejo and inland Algarve can be slower. If the picture stutters there, drop the quality to HD or use a 4G or 5G home router.

NOW TV in Portugal on a Smart TV

On Android TV, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV, install the VPN app, connect to the UK and open NOW. It works the same way as on your phone.

Samsung and LG TVs bought in Portugal often do not show the NOW app, because the app store follows the TV’s region. The simplest fix is a Fire TV Stick set to the UK, with the VPN app installed. A NOW Smart Stick brought from the UK also works when your router or NordVPN SmartPlay gives it a UK connection.

NOW TV Not Working in Portugal? Fixes

If NOW TV in Portugal still does not load after you connect, one of these fixes usually solves it.

“Not Available in Your Region” Message

NOW blocks some server addresses it recognises as VPNs. Switch to a different UK server and reload. NordVPN and Surfshark both rotate addresses, so a new server usually works straight away. Our guide to NOW TV blocked abroad goes through every step.

Clear the Cache

NOW can remember your Portuguese location in its cookies. Clear the browser cache, or open a private window, and reload with the VPN connected.

Turn Off Location Access

On phones, the NOW app can read your GPS location. Turn off location access for the app so it uses your VPN location instead.

Payment Declined

If NOW declines your card, check that the billing address matches the UK address on your bank account. Portuguese cards are usually declined, so a UK card is the reliable option.

Is It Legal to Use NOW TV in Portugal With a VPN?

Using a VPN is legal in Portugal, and many British expats use one every day for streaming, banking and working from home. Our guide to the best VPN for expats in Portugal covers the wider picture.

NOW explains where its service is available on the official NOW site. The EU portability regulation sets out which services must travel with you inside the EU, and UK services are no longer covered.

Choose Your VPN for NOW TV in Portugal

Related Guides

• NOW TV Blocked Abroad
• NOW TV in Spain
• Sky Go in Portugal
• Sky Sports Abroad
• ITVX in Portugal
• BBC iPlayer in Portugal
• VPN for British Expats in Portugal

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