UPDATE as of 3 May 2020: This moving to Portugal page needs a thorough review and necessary updates. I’ve started the review process, which will take a while, and although some points may be no longer relevant, most still are. As with anything on the internet, do your own due diligence!
If you’ve seen the video on my friend Andrew’s YouTube channel about my move to Portugal, and/or you’ve read my recent post: Portugal? Why Did You Move to Portugal? and you still have questions about how I managed to move to Portugal, then this resource round-up is for you.
It seems many people are looking to leave the U.S., or for a simpler life, or for adventure in a new and welcoming land. So, whatever brought you here—welcome!
Whether you were one of the many people who asked me how much it costs to live in Portugal (umm, that cannot be answered without lots more information) or you wondered about my migration assistant, I aim to give you a starter list of resources so you can get moving on your own research, because that’s what I had to do!
Keep in mind these important details:
- I moved to Portugal from California, USA
- I’m self-employed; there are a variety of visa programs depending upon your situation
- No, I did not come to Portugal looking for a job (see bullet point, above)
- Anything I did with the help of the migration assistant can all be done on your own—I didn’t have the time nor patience and wanted help from a local
- I do not speak Portuguese—yet
- Yes, I plan to make this a permanent move
- I do NOT live in Lisbon (there’s more to Portugal than Lisbon)
- If you’re coming from somewhere other than the U.S., some of this info. may not apply
Now, on to the resources, starting with the most frequently asked questions:
How did you work with a migration assistant?
I researched several firms before deciding on a particular Lisbon-based agency. As a part of my So, You Want to Move to Portugal one-on-one Skype session service that I recently launched, I will provide you with access to my personal migration specialist as a priority client.
Yes, you can do pretty much everything on your own, but if time and accuracy are important to you, as they are to me, then working with someone who knows the ins-and-outs of Portuguese bureaucracy and is a native speaker can give you peace-of-mind and assurance that your documents will be done right the first time.
How can you just “move” to Portugal?
If you are a U.S. citizen you can travel through Europe’s Schengen Zone (26 European member states) for 90 days, then you must leave for another 90 days before you can enter again. No longer can you do a border run to get your passport stamped only to return a few days later.
So, how does a U.S. citizen move to Portugal? Portugal offers several favorable visa schemes that can allow a U.S. citizen to become a resident. Student, retirement, the Golden Visa, etc. I came in on the D-7 Visa.
About the D-7 Visa
3 May 2020 NEW! –> E-Visa. I don’t have enough information on how this works, yet, but the portal is open (I don’t know how they’ll gather the biometric data, but will update when I learn more). SEF offices (immigration) remain closed for visa processing until May 14–and you can be they’ll be backlogged.
D-7 is the visa for those individuals who have their own source of income, whether a pension, income from work (me) or investments, etc. Quoting from the Timely Solutions website, here’s what’s required for the D-7 (this info. can and does change):
The D7 visa enables the respective holder to obtain a residence permit in Portugal for a period of one year, which can then be renewed for successive periods of 2 years and can be converted into a permanent residence permit after 5 years.
To present your application, you will need:
- Application form (available in SEF’s website);
- Passport or other valid travel documents;
- Two identical photos, passport size;
- Valid travel insurance, which can cover the expenses necessary for medical reasons, including urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation;
- Application for Criminal Record consultation by Portuguese Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF);
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant resided for more than one year;
- Housing conditions;
- Proof of means of subsistence;
- Document proving the amount of the pension;
Or
10. Proof that you have an income that allows you to live in Portugal.
Housing and Real Estate
My migration specialist did preview my apartment, negotiated my rent, and reviewed my rental agreement, but I did the online searching. I used several online platforms to conduct my search. (UPDATE 3 May 2020: I have since purchased an apartment after living in two different rentals)
Important to note: Portugal does not have an MLS like the States, so not all properties are searchable in one place. Portugal is represented by all the major international real estate firms such as Remax, Keller-Williams, etc.
I searched daily, multiple times a day, for an apartment, and had several almost-rentals. This process is exhausting, even more so if you want to live in Lisbon. The market in Lisbon is hyper-inflated, and competition is fierce. You have been warned.
Real Estate Sites I Used:
Expatica.com has a helpful article: Guide to Renting in Portugal and Your Tenant Rights
What About my Pets?
Bringing your pets in from the U.S. is a dance of timing and following the rules to the letter. Bringing your pet to Portugal is fairly easy as there is no quarantine period and the particulars are pretty straightforward. Portugal does have breed restriction legislation on these dogs:
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Rottweiler
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino
- Tosa Inu
- Pit Bull
From what I understand (don’t quote me, do your own research), these breeds are allowed but must be muzzled in public, registered, and sterilized.
The USDA/Aphis issues the paperwork that allows you to enter the country with your dog or cat (or other pet? Not sure on this.). This is the place to get the information you need.
Blanca Valbuena has a comprehensive post specifically for Lisbon called Guide to Having a Dog in Lisbon, Portugal.
Check out these articles and blogs for more information:
- United States Citizens Moving to Portugal: Demystifying the Paper Trail
- Thinking of Moving to Portugal? The complete guide to getting started
No Particular Place to Go blog has a great series on Moving to Portugal.
Be Portugal has a section called Life in Portugal. There they deal with everything from opening a bank account and registering as a freelancer, to Living in Lisbon, a Comprehensive Guide to the Basic Necessities. They do a decent roundup on Being Vegan in Lisbon.
Online Language Learning
Many language apps like Duolingo offer Portuguese, but beware—it’s Brazilian Portuguese, which is not the same as European Portuguese. And if you are brand new to the language, it makes sense to start with European Portuguese (if you know Brazilian Portuguese, good for you–you’ll be 90% there). Here are three of my favorite online resources for learning the language:
and apps:
- Memrise
- Reverso
- Drops
- Internet Polyglot (web app)
James at The Portugalist.com has a round-up of free European Portuguese language resources and other info. there, as well.
Oh, and don’t miss out on the generally excellent Atlas Lisboa. Ellis Dixon and her team do a great job of capturing the not-too-touristy side of Lisbon–they even have an app. Learn Some Portuguese is a great place to start.
Read about Portugal
Here are a few book recommendations (yes, affiliate links, see below) if you plan to visit or move to Portugal. Get to know the history, the people, and why I think Fernando Pessoa is one of the finest writers of the last century. I will add to this list over time.
- The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition by Fernando Pessoa. The Portuguese modernist master, this work can be read starting from any place in the book. It’s a spectacular literary achievement—a surreal waking dreamscape narrated by Pessoa’s many heteronyms.
- The First Global Village by Martin Page. Learn how this tiny country had a huge influence on the entire world
- The Portuguese: A Modern History by Barry Hatton. A portrait of the country and its people.
- The Last Day: Wrath, Ruin, and Reason in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 by Nicholas Shrady. The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, which sparked a devastating fire and tsunami, changed the Portuguese capital and its people—even to this day.
- The Lusiads by Luís de Camões. Written in 1572 by Portugal’s national treasure, this epic of the Renaissance period tells of Portugal’s voyages of discovery. Camões was the first major European artist to cross the equator.
- Unknown Seas: How Vasco da Gama Opened the East by Ronald Watkins. Reconstructing journeys from contemporary logs and papers, this vivid account tells the story of the expansion of Portuguese trade routes in the 15th century
(I am/shannatrenholm.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)
A Caveat
The information in this article reflects my experience of moving to Portugal—I’m not sharing it to be debated or to be told I did it wrong, etc. I’m sharing in the hope that it will help someone who’s curious about how to get started.
I’m not claiming the information here is 100% accurate. Things change; Portuguese bureaucracy has its own quirks. Don’t take my word for it—do your own research or hire an assistant, as I did.
Lastly, I will add to this post over time, so check back regularly for updates!
Well done Shanna, I will be following you. Thanks for the input.
I am an old soul who is also on the move with The thoughts that less is definitely best. I spent 3 months in Portugal 2015/16. Mostly in the small village of Alvor. Fell in love with the people and the place. My wish is to return and live for at one year, with the view of staying.
Hi Shanna,
Thank you! Some great info here. I am from Canada, and like you, I’m self-employed (branding, web design, mentoring), and I’m working towards my move to Portugal (although my plan is to live on the coast, near Peniche, where I spent 3 months in 2017).
I spoke with an English-speaking lawyer (in Lisboa) a few months back who told me what was needed for me to move… and was I very happily surprised to find out it wasn’t going to cost me €500,000, and I can easily qualify!
I mentioned to you, (Liz’s vlog) that I have been getting alerts from Idealista for some time now and I look through them daily… so it’s good to read your post about this.
I have a question for you. You mentioned there were many that didn’t go through and I was wondering if it’s because you were a foreigner, because you weren’t there to sign, no rental history in Portugal or is it just because they got snapped up quickly? I’d love your thoughts on this.
You know, despite hearing all the negatives about the bureaucracy, the layoffs are 1000 times greater! I can’t wait to make my permanent move! You’ll have to visit once I get settled
Jen 🙂
Very good of you to share your info. Continued nesting progress in your ‘maybe’ new home
Thank you for sharing, my husband and I are thinking of retiring in Portugal in the near future. This article was very helpful.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences! Looking forward to more additions.
Great article, one of the most down-to-earth I’ve seen on the subject. Thanks for the input. I’m following you on Instagram and hope to see more of this in the future. Boa sorte, Shanna!
Hi Shanna,
Thank you! Some great info here. I am from Canada, and like you, I’m self-employed (branding, web design, mentoring), and I’m working towards my move to Portugal (although my plan is to live on the coast, near Peniche, where I spent 3 months in 2017).
I spoke with an English-speaking lawyer (in Lisboa) a few months back who told me what was needed for me to move… and was I very happily surprised to find out it wasn’t going to cost me €500,000, and I can easily qualify!
I mentioned to you, (Liz’s vlog) that I have been getting alerts from Idealista for some time now and I look through them daily… so it’s good to read your post about this.
I have a question for you. You mentioned there were many that didn’t go through and I was wondering if it’s because you were a foreigner, because you weren’t there to sign, no rental history in Portugal or is it just because they got snapped up quickly? I’d love your thoughts on this.
You know, despite hearing all the negatives about the bureaucracy, the layoffs are 1000 times greater! I can’t wait to make my permanent move! You’ll have to visit once I get settled
Jen 🙂
I just finished watching the YouTube video and found it so much similar to my own circumstances (although I haven’t moved yet). I am, however, planning on a big change in 2019. I realize I was looking for that perfect time, but there is none. Right I guess the whole health coverage is my biggest motivator.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!
Thank you for your honesty. I look forward to following you and Milo as you traverse the next chapter in your lives.
Thank you Shanna for sharing your experience. I have never been to Portugal, but have distant relatives there. I hope to visit Portugal in the future.
I want to come visit Portugal. Could you be my guide for a couple of days. I will be happy to pay for your time and information that you can share. Please let me know. I am in Lithuania now, so not that far away.
Thank you! We are taking our first recon trip in a few months. Very happy to have your links on resident visa/migration services.
Thank you so much for this blog – especially this post of resources. I am seriously considering moving (and retiring early) to Portugal (from the US). I just need to feel comfortable with what health insurance I can buy there and that it will cover my pre-existing condition (arthritis – I have joint replacements). Then I need to figure out what city to live in. Do you have any suggestions for a bit cooler climate and more affordable rents? I was thinking about Braga – or maybe a suburb of Lisbon would be less expensive? Then finally, I need to figure out the best (and safest) way to get my 3 cats to Portugal. I am considering enlisting 2 friends – and we each could take a cat on the plane(s) – but I don’t know if that’s realistic (to get 2 people to help me). Anyway, I am looking at all the particulars and details of what I need to do to make the move. I plan on a trip soon, just to check out Portugal and visit a few cities. Thanks for all your information. I enjoy following your IG account too. I’m so impressed that you made this move and I hope I can do the same! All the best to you!
There are several private health insurance companies in Portugal–I know many people come over with pre-existing conditions, but I don’t know/remember which insurance companies are best for that. A Google search should get you started with that. Braga, yes, much cooler. Anything north–Porto and beyond will have cooler temps. in general, but can still be warm in summer. I’ve only spent a bit of time in the Lisbon region, so I’m not a country expert–yet! I enlisted a friend to help with my dog–I highly recommend it!
Hi Shanna, I’m curious about which village/town you chose to live in and how you narrowed it down to that particular neighbourhood. I’ve visited Lisboa and Cascais but outside of these areas I wouldn’t know which ones was suitable to put down roots. I live in Leeds , UK where each suburb differs drastically. I am also looking to move to Portugal. I will leave my house rented out in the Uk which will provide me with a small income to live off.
Many thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi Katie,
I live in Almada–a large city/suburb of Lisbon (across the water). I didn’t choose Almada so much as it chose me. I needed a place, my migration assistant was helping me, and she knows the area very well–close to Lisbon, all the services I’d need, etc. and not the costs associated with living in Lisbon proper. This is not where I will stay (most likely), it’s a place to start 🙂
Just saw your video on Moving to Portugal. Perfect timing for me! I have been researching a move to Portugal for about two months now. Have sold my house and downsized significantly. Hope to move there in the summer of 2019 or fall, at the latest. I cannot thank you enough for your down-to-earth writing style along with the resources you have provided us. 🙂 Although retired, I hope to earn some income there as well so am also researching Podcast and On-Line class information.
I’ve worked in several countries over the years. I dragged my wife and youngest daughter hither and yon. I understand the issues with languages, housing, food. Getting a professional to assist is really the best way to smooth out the process.
My biggest issue living in Europe is shopping on Sundays – rather, the lack thereof. That always takes some getting used to.
I’ve been studying the idea of moving to another country and Portugal has popped up several times as being an affordable place. Which has sort of amazed me – for no reason in particular.
hi,
shhh keep it quiet, Portugal is still a secret. 🙂
Welcome to Portugal, yes it is a bit different from a lot of cultures but its nice and calm when you compare it to much of the world.
If you need any help, let me know, I have family in Almada and I live near Palmela.
I leaved in the UK for 20 years and recently returned, could not stand the racism and the bullying since the referendum just because I’m European.
So it is refreshing to come back and put that in the past, It is not perfect but way better.
Regards
Tuga