You can apply as a pensioner. Basically, you will be asked to show assets above a certain amount - can't remember now what we had to show so check with the consulate that you will be processed through. It's def less expensive to do it that way vs golden visa. Golden visa just is quicker to obtain. We were able to get pensioner visa in about 1 month, so it's not that big of a deal.

Post a Reply

21abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

Learn More Get a Quote

You want the Type 1 Visa, which most of us have. Please see the detailed steps and documentation required in my article, Demystifying the Paper Trail, at this site under Portugal Articles.

Post a Reply

32abuse

Thank you...very helpful. Interesting this attorney in Lisbon doesn't know that. My husband & I are still in California and don't plan to until end of summer 2016. Looks like we have time. Really appreciate it.

Post a Reply

00abuse

it's not a problem at all, all you need to do is when you arrive in portugal you go to the Servicos de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, in any Loja do Cidadao in most cities and speak to them. You can actually contac them beforehand and get the info you need: here is the portuguese website, i think they have an english version: http://www.sef.pt/portal/v10/PT/aspx/apoioCliente/detalheApoio.aspx?fromIndex=0&id_Linha=4771

You need to show that you have income to support yourself and if i recall health insurance while in Portugal. We are retired and i am portuguese, my wife is American only and we just needed to show that we receive regular income from our retirements. If you have a way of showing income flow you should have no problem. It's best to contact SEF for details they can help you before you come over. If you just decide to come over and start the paper work in Portugal it may be easier.

Post a Reply

31abuse

So i received an email that i cannot reply to saying my advice was wrong and incorrect. It is not, we have done and we are both americans. And it sounds like the writer since i cannot reply is just spaming for his/her booklet. But to make sure anyone interested in getting a visa all they need to do is to contact the Portuguese consulate for that information. they will give you what the Portuguese government requires You can also go to www.sef.pt and get the information. It is not rocket science. However, there are other issues about residency and taxes you ought to consider before moving one of them is that you may be taxes on both ends of the atlantic for income taxes. So you can check IRS in the US and https://www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/pt/home.action for the portuguese tax system

Post a Reply

31abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

We are laughing....not at you, but with you! Most of your answers actually ARE wrong, but we are too lazy to comment. Just had to jump in this time. Your info about medical insurance? You can only enroll with the companies you named AFTER a person gets their permit. Your info about coming to PT to apply for residency? Illegal and won't work! Your info about SEF or the PT consul having the data about how to apply? They don't! And they don't have all the facts, or the forms, or the process. You really are funny to take yourself so seriously when you sure do make a lot of mistakes, baby!

Post a Reply

23abuse

i just have to reply at zoedoe....
So, SEF, the consulate are all wrong....Right, then who is right? Obviously Zoe. Also, Zoe does not state why they are wrong or illegal... Just spouts insults and statements without backing them up. There is nothing wrong or illegal about arriving in Portugal with a visitor's permit and then applying for a permanent permit. Zoe's statement
"Your info about SEF or the PT consul having the data about how to apply? They don't! And they don't have all the facts, or the forms, or the process. " is just plain stupid at its face. So, how in the hell would you get your visa from the consulate. That's their job and they do it well, but probably what we have here is the case of someone being too lazy or too stupid to really study the facts. Or perhaps it is just plain scam, so that the users of this site have to go to the "experts" in here who obviously know more than the local authorities. We all know how dumb portuguese are.

The fact is that you can apply for a residency permit with the portuguese consulate in San Francisco. I did it and many others have.

Post a Reply

21abuse

Obviously and unfortunately there are conflicting information, and depending on who you speak with at consulates or immigration office in Portugal there will be different responses. But no need to insult the Portuguese, they are humans afterall. Amazing how some ppl call the Portuguese dumb, but yet got their residency permit, hmmm. U.S. has also many conflictions on many issues! Just do some homework...

Post a Reply

00abuse

This is awesome and exactly what I thought. Thank you.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Yep understood and easy enough.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Yes becoming a US citizen was not easy either. I decided to became a US citizen in 2004 after living in the U.S. on & off for 25 years with a green card. I was born in Hong Kong with an Australian father so I get the immigration challenges.

The thing about a community like the Expat Exchange is it is a compilation of a variety of experiences and advice. This is important because not every person has the same experience, and in the end we all have to be respectful of the information shared.

Thank you so much for all your help & keep posting your experiences & advice. Things change and we're all learning.

Post a Reply

00abuse

You are right, Zoe Zoom...the SEF site has a list of requirements, with HTML links; the first link goes to an older version of the application form and the second link is supposed to be for the criminal check but it also goes to the old version of the application form. Also, the details about how much income and what features the insurance must include are missing. Can only find these on Expat Exchange.

Post a Reply

02abuse

You do not need an attorney especially the one you spoke with. I am in the process of obtaining my residency Visa for retirement there. There is a lot to do and the Portugal Consulate will give you the details on the requirements. I am in Southern California so I use the San Francisco Consulate. One item that currently takes 13-15 weeks is an FBI background check.

Post a Reply

10abuse

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Portugal. I am a UK/US citizen and my wife is a US citizen. You guys seem to know the rules so I am reaching out to you with a couple of questions. First, this is from the SEF site:
If you are a third country citizen and intend to accompany a family member who is an EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen, during his / her stay in Portugal for a period exceeding three months, please apply for your RESIDENCE CARD FOR A THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER OF AN EU/EEA/SWITZERLAND CITIZEN
Since she would be accompanying me, would she need a visa before entering Portugal? Would we then apply for non-habitual residency status in order that our retirement income is not taxed in Portugal?
Many thanks, David

Post a Reply

00abuse

If you use an FBI Background Check Channeler, it only takes about a week to get your FBI background check. You may want to also have it apostilled, and there are express couriers for that, too, resulting in only about a week to receive the documents.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Thank for for the response. I contacted a channeler and decided not to use them and I did it the old fashioned-way myself. It currently takes 13-15 weeks without a channeler but I have plenty of time.

Post a Reply

00abuse

kawazaki - Please post when you receive the FBI clearance so we can see if the length is really 13+ weeks. Thanks.

Post a Reply

00abuse

To Kawazaki's request that the FBI criminal report process timing be confirmed: The FBI confirmed that its current processing time is 12-14 weeks, with channelers taking 7-10 days. They recommend the use of a channeler if time is a factor. They are also finding an increase in unacceptable fingerprint records: clarity is an issue and electronic records are fairing better. Hope this helps!

Post a Reply

10abuse

I am going through the process of moving to Portugal from Los Angeles. I am retired, only moving myself, no property to sell, and I have a person in Portugal who is helping me so my move is relatively simple but still much work. SEF and the S.F. Consulate will not always agree but they are separate agencies and it would be the same here in the USA. I should have my FBI report back soon, then I will go to the S.F. Consulate with the documents they require, Wait 4-6 weeks for their approval(hopefully), mail them my passport for the residency stamp, and then I will be on vacation in Portugal in June and July to present myself to SEF and IRS. One thing that SEF does not tell you is that you can get a non-resident IRS tax number and then open a bank account. My goal is to establish my residency in Portugal, have IRS number, open bank accounts, wire transfer money from USA, and establish health insurance before I leave Portugal. The public health care is terrible so plan on private care. Then return here and finish packing, ship goods, sell car, vacate apartment, and transfer most of my money to Portugal. Social Security must be notified of new direct deposit info. I will leave one bank account open here temporarily for my IRA deposits and I can wire excess money from that when the exchange rate is good. Do not forget creating new last will and testament

Post a Reply

00abuse

To Kawazaki about getting your Portuguese Residence Permit in June/July 2016: Your plan to come here in June and get your Residence Permit Appointment with the SEF before the end of July is highly unlikely. SEF continues to operate behind schedule in setting these appointments due to volume. This applies across the country. The current situation is: (a) you can't set your appointment in person at SEF; you must call their national number. They will email you a confirmation of your appointment. (b) appointments are being scheduled about 3 to 5 months out; for those whose Residence Visa would expire in that time, SEF asks you to carry a copy of your SEF appointment with you to validate that your Visa is officially not expired. (c) you should be able to get your NIF/Financias number with just a passport and proof of local address, yet Financias officials are highly resistant to this. Once you have your Residence Permit, you can get your NIF number within a day and open a bank account on the same day. If I can clarify any of these steps or provide you information to confirm this process please let me know.

Post a Reply

00abuse

To Craigandmicki. Obrigado for the information. I have a guarantor I will; be living with in Portugal and she will contact SEF this week to hopefully have an appointment the week I arrive there on 6/13. I will copy your message and send it to her. Thanks again.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hello- I have been reading the posts here. My husband is about to retire and we are planning on doing some traveling and trying to find a place to call home for say 3 years. We have a few places in mind. We are trying to live on a budget of no more than 2000 a month total. We are willing to rent a room even. We don't need an entire apt or home. The best way would be to visit and take a look but any thoughts that might help us. What is the expat community like there? I am doing research for Vietnam but having second thoughts on the area. We are just wanting to reach out and see what people have to say. We also are looking for a place where we don't have to have a car. Thank you. We have been reading International Living but I am finding out they don't seem to tell the entire truth about certain issues, Thank you again.

Post a Reply

00abuse

To Snorkelmom: A life overseas opens minds and hearts...we urge you to do it. And one location, if you travel sensibly, doesn't have to be THE location. Testing out a few areas can be fun. Laughing at your comment about IL...yes, so true, it's hyperbole. Three pointers: 1: what lifestyle? beach and bikini with lots of nature, museums and cafes with somewhat familiar culture and attitudes, tolerant of a clear have/have not society and significant differences in language, food and hygiene? One says 'islands' or Latin America, another 'Europe' and another the third world, developing countries. 2) what will a good day, week and month look like to you? what will you have done, seen, learned? 3) what have your lives told you about yourselves--are you flexible and tolerant? experienced in new cultures and open to religious differences? good at meeting people? organized and good problem solvers? These answers help you select a part of the world from which you can do detailed COL research (numbeo) and read articles at Just Landed, InterNations and Expat Exchange.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Thank you. Yes lots of things to consider and we will probably hop around the globe and really looking forward to meeting people. We joined InterNations here at home just to get a feel of some places talking to people. Not sure where we will all go but I am hoping that we will spend some time in Portugal. My son is in a band and they did two European tours and he really liked Portugal. Thank you :)

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hi your as retired can have a permanent visa as long you and you bring every moth the retirement cheque to Portugal
Also tax free for 10 years

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hello all,

My response is out of date but want to provide a follow-up because I've been following the Forum closely & now that we have our 120 visas to enter Portugal on Oct 6, 2016 I feel more qualified to offer insights.

1) We ended up hiring a law firm in Lisbon to help us with our visa based on a referral on this forum. If interested please reach out to ines.salvo@eimigrante.pt. This is not a one person law firm & what we spent was worth weight in gold. Let me explain:
a) My husband & I visited Portugal on vacation again in May 2016 & stopped in Lisbon to chat with this law firm. In one day we obtained our NIF numbers & opened an account at Novo Banco without any money in the account until we returned to the US in mid-May (For Americans NIF number is the Portuguese equivalent to our Social Security number which is necessary for opening bank accounts, setting utilities & based on our experience proves to the Portuguese government we're serious about our application).

b) Having an attorney helped us navigate the visa & residence card processes. For example, we lived in San Francisco & because the consulate in our city is so busy, we ended up not having to show up in person to submit our visa applications. Our attorney spoke with the consulate & we were allowed to submit our applications via Fedex. It took exactly 6 weeks to receive our visa approvals. We leave for Lisbon on Oct 6, 2016 & went to the consulate today, Sep 29, 2016 to have our visas affixed to our passports. Plus we were told our application packages were perfect (thanks to our attorneys). We made a very positive impression with the personnel at the consulate. so they shared with us helpful hints re: our SEF applications once we arrive. But again our attorneys is already working on our SEF appointment once we arrive. Note you have to schedule your SEF based on the region you plan to live in.

2) Besides the application process, our attorney acted as our reference in Portugal which is required for the visa & residency process.

3) Part of our fee to the attorney (note unlike in the US, the attorney fee is a set amount so they do not charge by the hour) will help us review our lease agreement for our new home since we don't want to purchase a home until we live here for a bit to decide on a definite location.

4) Additionally, the attorneys gave us great suggestions re: location & our potential interest once we arrive Portugal for retirement. We are in our early 50s so we hope to be able to contribute to the community through volunteerism. My husband might want to teach English & I want to work with vets on global animal welfare issues - volunteer our time.

5) The attorneys also helped answered questions regarding bring our dog to Portugal & used car purchase http://www.standvirtual.com/. The other option is Germany but of course you have to deal with traveling, driving the vehicle back & pay for import tax of 23% & up depending on engine size. All good info.

Lastly I want to agree with some postings on this forum that there is no "one answer fit all". MY OPINION is I strongly believe by having Portuguese representative made the process easier. We saw first hand at the NIF office. Perhaps look at it this way, we all feel more comfortable when we're dealing with people that speak the same language as us so why do we expect the Portuguese community to be different? I can only imagine the frustration the consulate & SEF offices deal with daily.

Please email me personally if I may answer any questions. Again I'm sharing my experience so it is not a reflection on anyone. Perhaps I'm more empathic because I immigrated to the US & the US has one of the most difficult immigration process.

Best to everyone.

Post a Reply

30abuse

Thank you so much for all the information. Of course it would be easier to hire a lawyer to handle everything. You did not state the cost fro such a service which I understand it is personal. The problem with us is that we are moving there for many reasons. The biggest is cost of living. We are not in the position to pay thousands to an attorney. It is like everything in life. If you have the money you have things easier. I will look into this and see if it is feasible. I love planning for the future and trying to be positive. Glad to know we can get a car in Germany w/o much problem if there is non in Portugal. I will miss my lexus and explorer terrible but a small car will be less costly by everything i have been told.
Good luck on your retirement. We too aree going to do volunteer work and maybe teach.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Wow...thanks for all this amazing information. My husband and I leave on Oct. 5th for our 1st visit to Portugal, and we will also be viewing this trip as a prelude to possibly retiring in Portugal. We live in the Sacramento area, so were thinking of going to the consulate in San Francisco too. We have about 3 years till retirement but are gathering all information we can. So excited about this trip...my husbands family come from the Azores. Thanks again to beeg1234!!!

Post a Reply

00abuse

Great follow up beeg1234. Too often, people come to forums to ask questions and having got them, do not return to help others.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hello beeg1234,

Thank you for your post
Let us know about life in your new location!
Wilfredo

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear beeg1234,
I hope this message finds you well and settled in Portugal. Thank you for your message as of 9.28.2016 as you were very helpful in answering my most major concerns regarding residency. Its seems as if my husband and I have very similar backgrounds to you and the same interests. If you don't mind, I would appreciate if you could comment and/or answer regarding the following questions/concerns:
1) Attorney-could you provide the law firm's name and your contact.
2) Internet-is the internet in Lisbon as fast as the high speed internet in SFO or will I have to be more patient?
3) Banking-do you use an international bank, such as Barclays, or a local bank.
4) Real Estate-Did you employ a real estate agent? Could you share her or his name and contact info?
4) Rental prices-If I were to pay about $7,000 in SFO or NYC for a 1-2 bedroom luxury rental, what would be the price of an equivalent apartment in Lisbon or Cascais?
5) Health insurance-We want to be very well insured and get excellent care. Would you suggest expat insurance through a carrier such as BlueCross Blueshield?
6)Language-If my Portuguese is rudimentary, would the Portuguese people be patient and friendly as I try to learn the language? I have lived in France where the French were not patient with me as I tried to learn the language. On the other hand, when I lived in Mexico, the Mexicans were very friendly and appreciative as I tried to learn Spanish. What would be the attitude of the Portuguese?
7) Tennis-I'm a tennis enthusiast who loves to play every day. Are there tennis clubs in Cascais, Estoril, or Lisbon I can join to find people to play with?
7) Economy-How is the economy? Are businesses still open and functioning? Do people have jobs? Is there increased crime? As I understand, the social PM rolled back austerity measures and will maintain fiscal discipline. Do you feel as if you are living in a depressed economy?
7) Pets-Were you able to bring your dog? Did you get a Euro pet passport?
8) Now that you have arrived, do you experience any major frustrations? What do you love the most about your new life and home?
In advance, I'm sorry for so many questions, but would appreciate if could find time to answer. Best, Diego56

Post a Reply

00abuse

maybe it would be best for you to stay home?

Post a Reply

00abuse

First, a disclaimer. I'm a US expat in Italy, and have come by this forum looking for advance info for a friend who is considering retirement to Portugal.

First $7000 a month! In Italy you could get quite the luxury place on Lake Como for that. Milan, Florence, Rome, again, you could get some serious luxury for that amount. Italian Riveria? Likely a whole seaside villa.

Insurance. A good baseline to look is the AARO. Their gold comprehensive is 4700EU/Yr single.

If/when you buy. Use an agent. If your really able to be in the 7000/Mo rent level, then using the internet to look at luxury houses is a good way to begin your search.

What kind of bank depends on what kind of services you need. If you just want to have a place to put and withdraw day to day working capital, then a bank is a bank.

I live in a small village in Italy. My Italian neighbors love teaching me the 'proper' way to speak. They have collected my top ten blunders and share them as our personal jokes. A larger city would be far more impersonal I think. I will go out on a limb and suggest Portugal might not be terribly dissimilar.

Italy is limping along, and I can assure you, all the stores are still open, everything is functioning, and people still go about their normal day to day lives. Portuguese economy is as good or better. The stores will be open, the restaurants will be serving good food.

Post a Reply

00abuse

1) Law firm is www.eimigrante.pt
2) Many people are not aware that technology such as wifi (internet), mobile etc. are actually superior to the US. Better infrastructure & much cheaper.
3) You need your fiscal number (equivalent to Social Security Number to open account). Getting your fiscal number is challenge if you do not speak Portuguese.Our lawyers helped us open bank account during our visit in May 2016 at Novo Banco.
4) A very nice 2 bedroom apartment in the Algarve is ~$700/month. In Lisboa is likely double.
5) Not sure you can get expat insurance through BlueCross or BlueShield. You can go online and check out insurance from Global carriers such as Cigna.
6) Seems like you need to travel a bit to get a better idea for yourself. Cultural questions is very subjective in my opinion.
7) I know nothing about tennis; again I suggest you research or travel a bit to figure that out for yourself.
8) This is a 2 part question:
8a)We brought our French Bulldog from SF to Portimao (in the Algarve), and the process is not difficult. You need to get documentation from you US Vet so you can take to USDA to certify. Important to know you must arrive Portugal no later than 10 days after the USDA certification. Getting an appointment with USDA could take some time so make sure you have an appointment before you go see your vet.

8b) Once you arrive you can get the Europe Passport to travel with your pet in Europe. If you're not a EU citizen/residence you cannot bring a pet into the EU.

9) Things in all of Europe is a little slower than the US. Americans consider everything to be urgent. I worked in Silicon Valley so sense of urgency is required 24/7. If you expect things to happen when you expect them to happen you will find frustration. Retirement allows all of us to have more time & patience to deal with life.

Post a Reply

10abuse

Dear Beeg1234,
Thank you for your honest and thorough response. You are correct that I need to travel more to decide what I want culturally. I have studied, lived and worked abroad (including Lisbon), but that was decades ago. What concerns me the most is the opportunity to develop friendships among the Portuguese and expat communities. I will need to decide if I should settle in a small town or a larger city such as Lisbon (I welcome any feedback/advise from this forum). I love to volunteer, play viola in a small community orchestra, and play tennis. I presume I can find all of these actives in Lisbon, but are the Lisboans as open and friendly as the residents of SFO? Instead, would I need to settle in a smaller town to make friends and would I find a community orchestra or ways to volunteer? Thus, I will need to due my own due diligence when I travel to Portugal this Spring.
Cumprimentos, Diego

Post a Reply

00abuse

Just a comment re your response to #9 beeg1234.

"Things in all of Europe is a little slower than the US. Americans consider everything to be urgent. I worked in Silicon Valley so sense of urgency is required 24/7. If you expect things to happen when you expect them to happen you will find frustration. Retirement allows all of us to have more time & patience to deal with life.

This is one of the things that can stop some people from 'sticking' in a country. They just can't deal with the 'difference' in terms of the speed at which things happen or do not happen.

I always tell people a couple of things in that regard. First, 'fast food' was invented in N. America with MickeyD's being the most prominent example. The question is WHY was fast food invented? Well, when you have an hour to eat lunch, visit the bank or post office, shop for x or y, etc. you need to be fast. Most people are in a race to 'do well', 'be succesful' etc. and are chasing a 'higher standard of living'.

Contrast that to countries where people chose instead to chase a 'quality of life' rather than 'standard of life'. While they still want a bigger house or newer car, they will not put that ahead of enjoying life.

On a visit back to Canada years ago, a friend of mine said of his own life, 'I'm so busy living a lifestyle, I have no time to live my life.' I think that is true of many people.

In Greece, there are really two words used for 'tomorrow'. They are avrio which translates as tomorrow and meta avrio which translates as after tomorrow. When you ask when a plumber will come to fix your dishwasher and he answers 'avrio', that means sometime in the next few weeks. If he says, 'meta avrio', that means when the gods will it to be so.

When I was waiting for a relatively important (to me) piece of mail to arrive at one time, I noticed that no mail at all was arriving for anyone and so I asked my landlord if the mail was on strike perhaps and I hadn't heard about it. His answer which he expected me to understand as being all the answer necessary, was, 'it is August and the mailman takes his vacation in August.' His logic was simple. If the mailman is on holiday, he obviously can't be delivering the mail. He will be back to work in September and your mail will be delivered then.

In France I once stopped in a small town and looked for a hotel room. I found a nice looking little hotel but the door was locked. I went to a nearby restaurant and asked if the hotel was closed permanently. I was told, 'no the hotel is open for business but this is Sunday and on Sunday the owner spends his day with his family at home. He has a life like everyone else.' The restaurant owner phoned for me and I got the 'key code' to open the hotel door. I was to just pick any vacant room (doors left open with a key dangling in the lock) and the hotel owner would see me in the morning!

It can be very hard for people from some other countries including N. America, to understand this difference between their home culture and a culture that places qualify of life first. They don't need to be retired to have, "more time and patience to deal with life.", they live ALL of their life with that time and patience.

Imagine trying to tell a Frenchman, Spaniard, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, etc. that they can only have a half hour or hour for lunch. They would laugh at anyone stupid enough to put up with that kind of life.

Post a Reply

20abuse

Dear OldPro,
You write extremely well. I think we all have a lot to learn from your experience and knowledge. Do you have a regular blog? I'd love to follow you and learn more. If you don't mind me asking, where do you currently reside abroad and why did you chose that destination?

Post a Reply

00abuse

My husband and I came to Portugal a couple of months ago through a Christian organization as "missionaries" we have an appointment with SEF in February. We are no longer with the missionary agency. We have been tutoring for cash. We have been given a contract by a small tutoring company now. What type of longer term visa will we need to ask for once we get to the SEF? We have financial income from our house in USA, however will need to supplement that income by tutoring here.

Post a Reply

00abuse

We have been in Portugal for 3 months living on a very limited investment. It is very difficult and costly to import your own car into Portugal. Much cheaper to just buy once here. We bought a used car and are very happy with it. Just make sure you purchase a car which has already been licensed/ registered in Portugal. We had a bunch of scammers trying to sell us cars from other European areas (British or German cars) which had not yet been registered in Portugal . If we had purchased one of these cars then we would have had to pay the import tax (thousands) when we went to register it even though the car was already in Portugal.

Post a Reply

00abuse

I would strongly suggest that those wanting to move here to Portugal from the USA get in contact with the Facebook page "Americans Living In Portugal" This small group of Americans who have retire here have been very helpful for us. There are currently @ 100 Americans living here.
We have been here for 3 months now living in Cascais, the American (and other countries) retiree part of Lisbon. Most everyone uses Millennium Bank which we have found to be very profession with a lot of ATMs. You should plan on bring over cash initially since you will need a place of residence first before setting up the bank accounts. They only take Euro but the exchange rate once you are here is better than in CA. Bring some Euro to get you by the first week.
Rent varies greatly depending on where you live. Here in Cascais the rent is the highest. Expect to pay $3000 for a luxury condo. If you live further away (10 miles out) the price would drop to $500 for the same unit.
Internet is good but not high speed like in the States. You pay $90/ mo through NOS for internet, cell phone and cable TV service total.
We live in a basic 1 bedroom "local" apartment for $425/mo but this same apartment near Sintra area would be $250/mo.
You will definally need a car here. Just buy once here. There are many new or used. It's too hard to import one.
As far as a rental unit, plan on staying at guesthouse or hotel when arriving, then contact a local Realestate agent. There are offices all over Cascais and Lisbon.
Yes they have tennis clubs and international ladies clubs. It really is a lot like living in San Francisco here. Just way cheaper. A nice meal out with lots of wine is @ $20 each. A basic meal is $13.
People here near Lisbon must have money because I see a lot of very expensive cars around. It is the rural areas that are financially hurting and without many jobs.
Crime is almost non existent. I would feel perfectly safe walking as a women alone at night in all areas of Portugal. The local people here are very respectful, have good morals, are helpful with language, and extremely hard workers. They also like cleaniness in public areas. They only negative I have to say is it feels lonely here if you are not involved with the expat community. The locals seem weary around Americans since they have never been around us much.

Post a Reply

10abuse

I struggled with the same questions. I would like to live in a smaller village but not many speak Portuguese there and don't seem to reach out to foreigner as much as they do in the city. I would recommend initially renting along the costal towns nearest Lisbon first.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Wow what a great thing to know! I did know how costly it was to import but had no idea that if a car was already here that could happen. Thanks for the heads up!

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tracydeseck,
Thank you so much for your post which was very helpful. When you mention that a luxury rental would be around $3,000 in Cascais, would the equivalent rental be the same price in a good neighborhood of Lisbon? Is $3000 for a 1-2 bedroom? I am also an avid tennis player as it is also my social group. If I lived in Lisbon, would the closest tennis club be in Cascais or are there tennis clubs in the city? I have seen such clubs on the internet such as Clube Tenis Paco do Lumiar (Azinha) and Lisbon Tenis Clube that are 9k and 12K from Chiado, but I do not know if this is far or reasonable to drive if I owned a car in Lisbon. If I lived in Cascais, is Club de Tenis do Estoril close by? Is the expat community as strong in Lisbon as it is in Cascais. Once again, thank you for posting as it is most helpful. Best, Diego

Post a Reply

00abuse

UPDATE to share in case it is helpful to others:

We arrived in Portimao (Algarve region) on Oct. 8, 2016 with our 120 days visas. We just received confirmation our SEF meeting is Thu, Nov 24 (Thanksgiving Day) in Portimao (6 weeks after our arrival). The list of documents our attorney said are required to bring to the SEF meeting are:

a) Passports
b) Original of the lease agreement
c) Current month Portuguese bank statement stamped by the bank (to demonstrate financial independence)
d) Current month American bank statement
e) Last pay-information (this is only required if there is a substantial increase in bank deposits from when we applied for our visas - net net to confirm all monies are legit)
f) Criminal records with certified translate (which our attorney has hired a translator to do)
g) NIF’s (Portuguese fiscal/tax numbers documents)
h) Health insurance policy document - we purchased through Medal (broker for Allianz; 661 euros/year per person for excellent coverage)

Post a Reply

00abuse

Diego56, thanks for saying I write well. I don't have a blog, I write in various forums. Expat, travel, sailing, backpacking, etc. I enjoy writing for writing's own sake. The forums simply give me a place to do it.

No one posts in a forum for purely altruistic reasons. I'm happy if I can provide some information that helps people but I write for my own selfish reasons just like everyone else I suspect.

The car tax issue is one that occurs in all countries and in the EU in particular. If a Brit or German (as mentioned) moves to another EU country like Portugal, they can bring their car with them and according to the EU laws, they can change the registration for a nominal amount. Or at least that is the theory, not all countries keep it that 'nominal'.

But if that Brit or German sells their car to someone who is not a national of another EU country, then that is when the car is looked at as if you were importing it from outside the EU. In other words, if you're American, you will have to pay as if you had imported the car from the USA.

When I was living in Greece, I bought and drove a 1980 MGB Roadster from the UK to Greece. Obviously, it had UK registration plates on it. The rules say you have to change the registration within 6 months. But Greece is one of those countries who do not change if for a 'nominal' fee. To change it, even though I had UK citizenship (so within EU), would cost more than the car cost to begin with.

I saw a lot of cars owned by other EU nationals who did not want to pay the high registration fees, confiscated and sold at auction. Funny how the Mayor's cousin's son was driving around in a big Mercedes only a few years old when he was still in high school. LOL

So there I was in a bright red convertible on a small island with UK registration plates and nowhere to hide. It's not as if I would go unnoticed.

But, Greeks being Greeks, the law is not always the law. My local kafenion where I took coffee every day, also happened to be where the 2 policemen from the village police station took their coffee. I'd sometimes buy them a drink and argue with them on how to put the world to rights, We'd share a laugh when we saw the first tourists of the season walking down the street in shorts and t-shirts when it was barely 20C outside.

So I drove that car for 4 years without anyone ever saying a word about the UK registration plates on it. You know the saying, 'It's not what you know, it's who you know', just like everywhere else in the world.

Now I'm not saying I could have got away with it if I had been driving a big new Mercedes sedan The Mayor's cousin's son's cars have to come from somewhere after all.

But again, Greeks being Greeks, what I was driving was 'just another old car' in their eyes. 'Classic Car' doesn't really mean anything on a small Greek island. There's new and there's old, that's it. So sometimes it is what you know and not just who you know that can also help. LOL

I brought that car to the island after 3 years of having lived there. Coincidentally, or not, that is also the amount of time I think it takes to really start to understand a country, the people and the culture. Before that you may THINK you know how things work but really, you don't.

That's why I always caution people starting out, to pay attention to how long someone giving them advice has lived in the country.

Someone in the process of or in their first year, can provide good advice on things like visas and the process of moving. But they cannot tell you a whole lot about what living there is really like and how things really work. For that, I always suggest looking to people who have been there 5 years or more. They're starting to get the hang of the country at that point.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Tracydeseck, please use caution when telling people, "You should plan on bring over cash initially".

It is not necessary or a very smart thing to do, to bring more than enough cash for the first couple of days. ATM cards and credit cards from your bank back in the USA work just fine for getting cash or paying for things.

When you write, 'bring over cash initially', I am sure some people will read that is if they need to bring a significant amount of cash to begin with. So it is important to make it clear they only need enough for a day or two until they can get to an ATM.

What is then more important is which bank back in the USA you are using. Some charge ZERO in ATM fees or exchange loading. Those are the banks to have an account with and cards from, before you leave home. That gets you the Interbank Exchange Rate which is the best rate there is.

I once lived off credit and debit cards for years without ever paying 1 cent in exchange rates.

Post a Reply

10abuse

Hi, I leave April 2017. So would you mind telling me how much the attorney you used cost to help with paperwork to get your visa? Also a name and number. I'm expecting my FBI report in one more week. I'm so worried that I'm skipping a step. I have a six month rental lined up. I don't want to have to return once I'm there.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Sharon

Post a Reply

00abuse

I don't know the cost for you because it all depends on what you need help with. Our fee included getting fiscal numbers for me & my husband, opening a bank Portuguese account, rental unit lease negotiation, filing the 120-day Visa with San Francisco Consulate. The SEF process was also a different fee; again we arrived in Portimao on Oct 8, 2016, and with 40 days we had a SEF appointment on Nov 24, 2016. We received our one-year residency card on Nov 24, 2016. They can also help with the Non-Residency Habit tax status as well.

Contact Details:
Inês Salvo
Gilda Pereira
www.eimigrante.pt/pt/
+351 217 960 436

Post a Reply

00abuse

I don't know the cost for you because it all depends on what you need help with. Our fee included getting fiscal numbers for me & my husband, opening a bank Portuguese account, rental unit lease negotiation, filing the 120-day Visa with San Francisco Consulate. The SEF process was also a different fee; again we arrived in Portimao on Oct 8, 2016, and with 40 days we had a SEF appointment on Nov 24, 2016. We received our one-year residency card on Nov 24, 2016. They can also help with the Non-Residency Habit tax status as well.

Contact Details:
Inês Salvo
Gilda Pereira
www.eimigrante.pt/pt/
+351 217 960 436

Post a Reply

00abuse

Do you still hafta have 50,ooo usd in savings to become a resident?

Post a Reply

00abuse

Please, absolutely not what I was saying at all. I was clear the 50,000 euros is what we had in our Portuguese bank account when we applied for our 120 day visa back in July. We had the same amount when we went for our SEF meeting on Nov 24. We were granted the one-year residency within 30 minutes. Again, the Algarve SEF office was very friendly & the staff spoke good English.

I think if your question is "how much" is required for the Portuguese residency it will depend on where you apply. My attorney mentioned in the past an applicant only needs to show 7,000 euros in a Portuguese account, but you must have some sort of monthly income; i.e. social security or pension. It really comes down to demonstrating you have the means to live in Portugal without being a burden on the system. Again this is my experience so far.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Thanks much!!

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hello Beeg1234,

Could you tell me how much the attorneys are charging for the processing of your visas?

Thanks.

Post a Reply

00abuse

On leaving your US cars behind ;
BOY are you in for a surprise ; European cars are far more sexy and well built as compared to AN American cars. The choices are amazing ; Alfa Romeo, Renault, Fiat, Peugeot, Fords, etc.
You will love driving these exotic cars

Post a Reply

00abuse

Call the Portuguese embassy in the US? The requirement for long stay visa are minimal....you do not need a lawyer.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Great info thanks

Post a Reply

00abuse