About Yummmmmyme

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Some Forum Posts:

Portugal: What is the benefit of having a fiscal representative?:

As people have said, it's really a waste of money. Having said that, once I was here I needed one to get my NIF, and that was a surprise.. I took in the relevant portion of the law that said I didn't need one, but I was met with "that's not the way we do it in this office". As you probably know, you'll need your NIF to open a bank account and sometimes to sign a lease, etc. but there's really no reason to get it in advance. It's much easier to do it once you get here. I've heard stories of people who's Airbnb host or realtor (when looking for an apt) and even one who's uber driver signed for them (shocked face). They basically want You to have someone who has a residence card and an address show up there. Nothing was ever sent to my representative. I asked at the Finances office and she said it was so they had some way to contact you (I.e., if you didn't pay your taxes or got a fine). But like Craigandmiki have said, you can often hire an attorney (or accountant) for much less over here, and people will give u referrals if you ask. That way you'd have someone you've met in person and who you can turn to later. I'm wondering what your motivation is to do it before you get here. It's a big move and maybe your decision is based on all of the uncertainty that goes with it. But you will have credit cards and cash, and transferring money takes 48 hours generally. (Ask on the forum for the cheapest way to do that.) Your hotel or Airbnb will be paid for. In the beginning, and I'd highly recommend you rent a place for at least a month so you have time to look. (Just my opinion.). So it's kind of like being on holiday (spending-wise) and really not that scary. It will take you half a day at the finances office (if you don't get there first thing in the morning) and an hour or so at the bank. You can do that in the first week easily, so you can have money by the end of the week. Feel free to pm me if This doesn't answer your questions or if I can help. :))

Portugal: American moving to Portugal:

This came to my private messages for some reason but I suspect it is also public. Presentmonkey just came from Thailand a few months ago and would be ur best resource for that info. :)

Portugal: Best month:

I've been told that Feb is the rainiest month in Lisbon/Cascais. I'm from seattle so that was important for me to know. Last August temperatures got up to over 40c (104F) in Lisbon. So I agree that either/both of those would be good times to have a look.

Portugal: Dogs in Lisbon:

I can only speak to my own experience but because of my two little dogs, it was much harder to find a place to rent - it took me 10 weeks to find and get into my permanent place, and there were several landlords who wouldn't consider me because of them. I needed a place without steps, which really complicated things, but I also had to adjust my expectations regarding what I could get for €1300 in Cascais. (north of Lisbon) When it came to this place, I was told that there's a law in Portugal that says they cannot refuse to rent to people with dogs. I only know this because the condo I ended up renting had a set of covenants disallowing dogs. The realtor came up with the Portuguese law that superseded the condo's covenants and the owner was able to rent to me. That might be helpful to you at some point. As for the price, it depends on your lifestyle, but it's possible. I found a T3 (3 bedroom) apt for €2700/month on Av da Liberdade by the Marquês de Pombal statue and the park. I have a friend who lives in a T2 in the Alfama district (old area, old buildings, very hilly) and pays €600/mo. The place I saw had a concierge, garage, elevator and doorman. She lives on the 2nd story (3 floors up) with no elevator. I think you will find something but I'd advise you to build in more time than you think you need to find a place. Two months seems to be pretty common. Good luck!

Portugal: Spousal visa for EU national:

The short answer is yes. :)

Portugal: Housing Question:

I only read present monkey's post which is excellent advice, and I just wanted to add that I was recently told that many ex-pats buy dehumidifies because of the damp/mold. Apparently it's one of those things that's just going to be necessary for some. It may be an option (in addition to a newer building) that you may need to look at. I'm in a remodeled building in the historic center of Cascais. I'm very sensitive to the smell of mold and don't see any in the windows but the apt, beautiful and new as it seems, feels humid inside. When I do laundry and have to dry it inside it can take 4-5 days to dry unless I can open the windows. At home in seattle where it's wet all the time, my things were dry overnight. Just my experience here, for what it's worth.

Portugal: How to get helpful information:

I posted this in under another topic, but I'm hoping more people will see it here if I post as a new topic. This didn't to say people who offer information with a disclaimer don't have things to offer. I've recently received my residency card. (Yay!!) As for the following, I apologize for the length as well as for bringing it up in a public forum: In my experience, craigandmikki's info is spot on, and Demystifying the Papertrail was a lifesaver. (And now I'm about to embarrass myself, but I feel strongly that it is necessary and for a good cause....) In my humble opinion, beware of info from Old Pro. I feel like I've been quiet long enough as it takes a LOT for me to get upset, but the forum was so nice before and made things seem much more possible (because they are). ( ?????????) Old Pro, MANY of us have lived in numerous foreign countries and yes, there are similarities. But I've found your answers to be egotistical (sorry!) windy, inaccurate at times and they always seem to boil down to the same thing - "it depends on what you want" or "everything's uncertain." Yes, we get that. For example: people who have less money know that they will live like people with less money vs those who have more (duh) so they know their lifestyle will be different. When they ask how much it costs to live, they aren't asking that. They want prices, comparisons, and information from people who are living here. I could tell them that historic Cascais may be out of the question at €1050-4000/month for an apt/utilities, but that I have a friend who lives in and older part of Lisbon and only pays €300. I spend €300 on organic food but she only spends €80-100/month. These are real facts. And per one of my earlier questions, credit cards and banking depend on the bank, but there ARE people who have had good experiences with certain banks/bankers or certain credit card companies vs others. We are often asking general questions, and want advice from people who live here or are going through the process currently and have direct, accurate information or who can relay their best guesses based on their experience here. But I feel like u make things unnecessarily complicated and difficult, and I've seen over and over again that once u answer, those of us who actually have good information don't offer it like they/we used to because it's just too exhausting to deal with your come-backs and often inaccurate invalidation of our responses. In regard to paperwork and the minimum amount of money needed to be accepted for residency here, there are many of us who are here have had the experience of doing the paperwork/being accepted or not, so we can actually relay that information more accurately. OF COURSE some bureaucrat may have had burnt toast that morning and be grumpy and difficult or refuse to help, but that happens in life and I think we are all savy enough to understand that. Sometimes the same person will be incredibly helpful on the second go-around. And for the most part, the Portuguese people are extremely helpful and always try to give you information you need to complete whatever you're trying to do. One thing I can tell all of you is that you will be returning to most places more than once no matter what you present. They often seem to want one more document or one more stamp or something - even if it's not needed, and even if you insist gently, kindly and firmly and have all of the required paperwork with you and show them the law. (One woman told me simply that it just wasn't how they did things there where I was). For example, I brought a print out of my current bank statement from Portugal along with the ones from home. Even though I have many times more than they require in my US bank and a substantial amount here, they wanted me to go back to the bank here and get a stamp from them. Not required, but they required it. But rather than fighting it, I just stepped out and had some lunch in a beautiful town square where they were playing music and I could sit and look at amazing historic buildings...and then walked to the bank and took 5 minutes in line, got the stamp and took it back. She was happy. Mission accomplished. So acknowledging others may have had different experiences, my experience/advice is: 1. Don't be in a hurry. This country doesn't rush anything. 2. Be kind and polite. 3. Ask for help. You will get the information you need, and then you will need to provide what they want, ridiculous or not.... 4. Try to get information from government sources and from people on this forum who have actually lived here and/or have gone through/are going through the process. It will be more current and accurate. I was asked for slightly different paperwork in Cascais and Coimbra, and the San Francisco people require things you don't need to provide in other places (from my own experience and what I've read over the past year). My experience is that I have met a few new residents now who say €50k was enough to get them in here, and it seems to be what is required by law (per craigandmikki's post and Demystifying the Paper Trail ). Show your paperwork and be prepared to return and show more when they ask. If you bring 3 months of bank statements, they may want 6. It can be vague, ambiguous and arbitrary, so over-prepare everything. I took 6 months of bank statements and they only asked for three. I'm sorry to have done this publicly and for pointing Old Pro out specifically like this, but he answers so often that I don't want people to assume he's had an experience he hasn't. I'm sure that occasionally he and others who have lived overseas or in Europe have good general advice. But I also want people to realize that living here IS possible and information from those who have gone through the process is invaluable. There are definite answers for then most part - and anecdotal information, which is way more valuable than even those answers. So yes, you may still be asked for more documentation no matter what you bring, or it may be super easy, depending on which government official you get that day. Ask here and look for answers from the people who know. Obrigada for listening, and I apologize for my windy explanation...

Portugal: Retirement Visa / Schengen:

Just adding to what what's being said, I was told that the two times includes the first time you enter Portugal, so you really only have one other trip. I've checked this out with two sources so far, because I've got 2 trips booked and I've been told if I take the second one I may not be allowed back in. If anyone has information other than this, I would love to know where it came from and if there's a piece of legislation I can use to show someone if needed. Obrigada :)

Portugal: Traveling prior to SEF appointment:

I was given an appointment with SEF in Cascais on February 11th (they're only available in mid-April for Lisbon). My father is 90 and in poor health and may not make it until Xmas apparently. I was planning on visiting my mom in early Jan for her 88th birthday and the ticket is booked. I also planned and booked a trip to the Philippines last year before I decided to live in Portugal. The woman at SEF says I can't travel after my 3 month visa expires, December 15th, until I'm awarded my residence in February. I told her that I understood the appointment confirmation would allow me to travel but she says it's not a legal document and if I leave the country I won't be allowed back in. She said there is no way to get an exception and there is no one else I can talk to/appeal to. Any information or suggestions about what I might do or who might be able to help me would be greatly appreciated. :((

Portugal: Which International bank?:

Does anyone have a preferred international bank here? When I lived in the uk and Africa, Barclays was the biggest and had the most overseas branches. Honk Kong bank covers most of Asia well and is easily accessible in most of the USA too. I'm looking for the most popular in Europe and the USA first, and then coverage in Africa and Asia next. Someone referred me to Caixa geral de depósitos but it's mainly Portuguese. My goal is something with easily accessible ATMs both here and abroad so I don't have to search forever for fee-free ATMs while away and don't have to walk forever to get to my bank here. Thx!

Date Joined:

3/27/2016

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57

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