New members of the Portugal forum, introduce yourselves here - 2026

Hi everyone,

We are a couple who previously lived in Fuseta in the Algarve for 2.5 years until Covid came and we had to leave.

During that time we rented and enjoyed doing so.  We are now renting in the UK and apart from the ridiculously high rent we are paying now, we also miss our many UK and Portuguese friends, as well as, of course, the lifestyle.

We really want to return full time  but ,as we are on a very low budget, we are thinking of the best option. Whether that would be bringing a caravan or motorhome over from the UK or buying a static when we get there. Buying through residential camping sites appears to be too expensive so we would need to buy our own and get it sited or hopefully get a cheap one already sited.

Our Portugese is reasonable but certainly not fluent. 

Any advice would be very welcome.

Thank you all.

Decnsandi

@decnsandi

You also have to think about visas now, unless you hold an EU passport.

@SimCityAT

Oh! Yes. So much to consider and your advice is welcome. Thank you 😊

@decnsandi

Some poems by Fernando Pessoa and his 4 heteronyms: Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro de Campos, Ricardo Reis and Bernardo Soares.

@decnsandi As you are are on a very low budget, I wouldn't recommend Portugal anymore. Real estate desirable for Expats/Immigrants (and often even Portuguese) is practically out of of a very low financial reach. We bought about 8 years ago and the market value of our property went through the roof. What does that say about money? 

@TGCampo

Hi, thank you for your reply.

We are not in the 'buy a property' bracket 😥 due to our situation. However, we are not too worried about a home even if it is small, as long as it is clean, habitable, secure and cosy.

So, we are going down the route of a static caravan, a prefab or a motor home. We most probably have somewhere to site it but won't know for sure till we are able to visit again in March.

If you know of any reliable businesses or otherwise where we could purchase one of the above, please let us know.

Best wishes and enjoy your day.

Hi I'm Keith. I've been living in Portugal since 1996 and my wife Hedy since 1982. I'm English and my wife is German and we met and married in Portugal. I worked as an English teacher in Lousa and then Coimbra but now I'm retired. We live in a small village close to Lousa and we love the quiet and the beauty of the surroundings.

Hello Keith,

Welcome to Expat.com 😊

Thank you for the introduction. It sounds like Portugal holds no more secrets for you 😉I suggest you browse the different threads on the Portugal forum and share your experience and knowledge with other members who may benefit from it.

Hope to see you around again soon!

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Hi! I am KZ, an older single woman from the US. My companion is a beautiful 7 year old black mouth cur and she is moving with me.

I look forward to getting to know you

Nice to meet you, If you live in Setúbal, it is a beautiful city,

I myself live in Barreiro and work online with US based company,

Pleasure,

Hi everyone,

My name is Olivier. I am french, born and raised in Paris, where I studied architecture and real estate. I worked as an architect there for 15 years before moving to Portugal 6 years ago (already!)

I have loved living here since the very beginning, even though the pandemic / lockdowns started few weeks after my arrival.

I first lived in Aroeira (margem sul) and now live in Lisbon and work as a real estate agent, helping expats and locals to find their ideal home (I specialized in home buyers and tenants).

I have quite some knowledge now about Lisbon and would be happy to give advice or tips that could be relevant to new relocators and future expats.

Até já 😊

Olivier

@Olivier KW

Hi Oliver , I hope you are well ,

Im Martin and me and my wife are determined to relocate to Portugal to hopefully enjoy a more relaxed period of our life.

We are in our mid fifties and the plan is for me to hopefully find work and set the scene for my wife to follow and settle in a place our kids can call home when they return from travelling .

I am a project manager in the civils side of construction and am reaching out to try to initiate contact with someone in this area of work who might help me take the first step

We would really appreciate any help or feedback you might give in helping me try to gain employment

sincerely

Martin

Hello Martin,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

We encourage new members to read our guide > Living in Portugal: the ultimate expat guide, where you will find useful information on relocation, living in Portugal, and the labour market etc. Please also create your CV in the dedicated section for job in Portugal.

I hope those in the construction and project management field within the community will be able to offer helpful assistance.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

I am a project manager in the civils side of construction and am reaching out to try to initiate contact with someone in this area of work who might help me take the first step
We would really appreciate any help or feedback you might give in helping me try to gain employment
- @martinmarshall1314

Hi Martin, Welcome.

As a Project Manager in the civil engineering side of construction, you have a distinct advantage: the construction sector in Portugal is extremely dynamic right now, especially regarding large infrastructure projects, data centers, and urban rehabilitation.

Here are some practical steps and initial contacts to help you open doors:

1. Key Companies and Consultancies

Many large-scale projects in Portugal are managed by multinationals where English is the primary working language. I recommend exploring and reaching out via LinkedIn to project directors or recruiters at the following firms:

A. Major National Contractors:

Mota-Engil: The largest Portuguese construction company, handling massive civil engineering projects.

https://www.mota-engil.com/carreiras/

Teixeira Duarte: Solid company with a strong national and international presence.

https://www.teixeiraduarte.pt/carreiras/

B. Global Consultancies (Project Management):

CBRE Portugal and Savills Portugal: They manage major real estate and infrastructure projects.

https://careers.cbre.com/en_US/careers/ … ge=25&

https://www.savills.pt/fale-connosco/ca … iveis.aspx

2. Specialized Recruitment

There are agencies in Portugal specifically focused on technical and engineering profiles:

Michael Page Construction: They frequently have openings for Site Managers and Project Managers.

https://www.michaelpage.pt/jobs/construction/portugal

https://www.michaelpage.pt/jobs/constru … nstruction

Hays Response Construction: Focused on specialized recruitment within the sector.

https://www.hays.pt/emprego-pesquisa/ge … ne%20hoje!

3. Useful Tips for the Transition

The Market: Currently, there is a huge demand for experienced managers in renewable energy projects and data centers (especially in the Sines area and around Lisbon).

Terminology: In Portugal, the role of Project Manager in civil construction is often called Gestor de Projeto or, if you are more focused on direct site supervision, Diretor de Obra.

Visas: Since the plan is for you to move first, your employer can assist with the Work Visa (D1) process.

Search internet tips:

D1 visa Portugal

Skilled Job Seeker Visa Portugal

The Portugal D1 Visa is a residence visa for non-EU professionals with a signed employment contract or promise of employment from a Portuguese company. It requires a minimum 12-month contract and a criminal record check.

Tax benefits for high skilled jobs:

Search internet tips:

NHR 2.0 Portugal

https://www.internationaltaxreview.com/ … -on-giving

Regards

@JohnnyPT

Thank you so much Johnny for your valuable help and information you have given us a really positive feeling about moving forward with our future

Portugal here we come !

I was excited to come across this forum. Planning to retire in a few years. and while I realize a lot can change in that time, it's encouraging and comforting to learn from those who are actually residing in Portugal.

@mickeymize

Welcome to the forum 😊

It’s great to have you here! Planning ahead for retirement is a smart move, and you’ll find plenty of helpful insights from members already living in Portugal. You might want to read our Portugal Guide for a good start : https://www.expat.com/en/guide/europe/portugal/

Feel free to ask questions as you explore your plans!

Regards

Bhavna

Hi Everyone,

My name is Erick. I’m from Panamá, and I’ve heard many wonderful things about Portugal. I’m looking forward to being closer to my family in the UK, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Portugal.

Best regards,

Erick

@Julien

Hi everyone! My name is Mathew. I’m a data architect currently evaluating a potential move to Portugal with my family. I love golf and to live by the sea. Portugal is on my list and I’m particularly focused on understanding the technical and legal compliance of the new NHR 2.0 regime as I tend to be quite meticulous when it comes to these transitions. Life changes at my age and with a family are a challenge!

I'm looking forward to connecting with the community, make friends, drink portuguese red wine, taste bacalhau and sardines and learning from your experiences. Cheers!

Hello Everyone! Bom Dia!

My name is Cort. My wife and I retired last year. We lived in Olympia, Washington for 30 years, and when we visited here a few years ago, we felt the climate similarity to that of the West Coast was perfect for retirement. That fact and then so many other factors made us consider retirement in Portugal (at least initially). That being said, here we are on D7 VIsas. End to end, the process took us almost a year from just getting a Visa appointment, gathering the necessary documents for the appointment, and waiting for the approved Visas. Full disclosure-My wife did 99% of the legwork, so I will defer to her often should I be asked for specifics.

We are signed up to take Portuguese classes this month. Additionally, we use Practice Portuguese software and other language aids and apps. We have already enrolled in health insurance. In fact, we have both seen doctors and paid out of pocket-our policies are not active yet (90-day wait), and our dogs have a very nice vet and groomer as well.

So far, we don't see a need for a car because the Metro, Uber, and Bolt are so efficient. We have no immediate plans because we have to wait for residency. Because so much depends on that card (resources), we will just focus on immersing ourselves in the culture as much as possible. Our TV is mostly on Portuguese stations, so we are training our ears.

We have furnished our apartment about 90%, and we have our shipped items due to arrive from Washington by the end of the month. (We shipped them back in February)

The food and wine is soooooo good here, and it is affordable. We have only been out to eat a few times-my wife prefers to cook, and she has identified her "go to" spots. The immediate discovery is that you have to unlearn your food habits. No need for Costco here. You will not be storing googobs of food, as they are not using preservatives and ultra-processed foods like in the States, so you will take many trips to the market. The upside is it will be fresh and better than what you are used to. I can tell you you will feel better in mere weeks.

We believe once we have an SNS (Servico Nacional de Saude) Card, we can experience more services and provide better input to newer members. We have only been here 6 weeks.  I'm just now beginning to get in the ballpark when someone starts speaking to me I can't respond well, but I have a clue. Little victories for me.

What we can tell you all is everyday is a new learning experience; time seems to be flying by (not enough hours in a day), and if it annoys you when someone speaks and you don't understand them, that should be all the fuel you need to consume your time! We look forward to whatever the future holds. We do not plan to stay forever, but we want to make the most of what we believe will be a very fast 3 years.

Obrigado,

Cort

Hi Cortmahan,

Bem vindo, muito bom dia 🙂

In Portugal, since there isn't a single space that exactly replicates that Costco warehouse model for individual customers, except in big Shopping centers with Continente and Auchan, the solution involves these alternatives for home equipment (appliances, furniture, and DIY/home improvement):  Makro, IKEA, JYSK, Radio Popular, Worten, Leroy Merlin,...

Feel free to start a new thread with any questions you may have. You can use the search function, as there is a lot of information in other threads.

Regards

@Julien

Hi everyone — Borys here, originally from Ukraine, based in Northern Portugal since 2018. I co-founded a small real estate agency in Porto / Vila Nova de Gaia focused on helping international buyers through the purchase, legalization and renovation process. I'm here mostly to share what I see on the ground day to day — neighborhoods, the buying process, real costs, the practical side of moving — and to help where I can. Happy to answer questions about the North of Portugal anytime.

Hi This is Brent in Orlando Fl USA

Hi everyone,

I've been reading through some of the posts here and thought it was time to introduce myself! I am originally from Spain, but I have been living here in Portugal—specifically in the beautiful Oeste region—for over 20 years now.

I absolutely love this area, but I am really looking to get more involved locally and make some new connections. I wanted to ask if there are any active groups, regular meetups, or specific activities on this platform for people living around the Bombarral, Óbidos, and Lourinhã area?

Whether it's a casual coffee meetup, a book club, volunteering, or just getting together for a glass of local wine, I’d love to join in or help get something started if it doesn't exist yet.

Looking forward to meeting some of you!

@Julien

HI All

My name is Grace, and I'm planning to move to Portugal in the next 6  months. Deciding where is a problem. I need a pretty flat area, as I had a stroke about a year ago . I'm also 68 this year, and I have an Irish passport'

I like coastal areas as well as cities as long as there is plenty to do. I'm quite shocked at the property prices.

I already have a broker on board as I'm entitled to a 10-year mortgage. I have a deposit of 60.000 sterling.

But that means very little. I'm glad I came across this forum today, it should be interesting to get some tips going forward.

Hi Grace, Welcome.

With a £60,000 deposit (roughly €70,000) and a 10-year mortgage at age 68, your realistic purchasing budget will likely sit around €200,000 to €240,000. This means Lisbon, Cascais, many main coastal cities and  the central Algarve are out of reach, but these 4 more affordable coastal areas may fit your criteria. But house prices are high across the whole country....

Eg.

1. Aveiro (The Silver Coast)

Often called the "Venice of Portugal" due to its urban canals, Aveiro is exceptionally flat. Unlike most Portuguese cities, you won't be battling steep inclines here.

2. Vila Real de Santo António (Eastern Algarve)

While the Western Algarve is defined by rugged cliffs and steep hills, the Eastern Algarve flattens out significantly. Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) was built on a strict, flat grid system in the 18th century.

3. Espinho (Just South of Porto)

If you want big-city amenities right on your doorstep without the steep hills of Porto proper, Espinho can be an option.

4. Figueira da Foz

The main town center, the vast waterfront promenade, and the famous, extraordinarily wide sandy beach area are completely flat.

Etc...

@JohnnyPT

Thank you so much for this information; it certainly gives me options. Great news.

Hey Rosnashane,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

I see that you are quite happy with JohnnyPT’s response.

If you have any other questions on a different topic, feel free to start a new thread on the Portugal forum, where you can easily interact with the members.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Hi, I'm Nikki! 😊

I'm Portuguese, and I have a severe case of wanderlust, but, nowadays, I'm mostly stuck at home.

What brings me here is wanting to welcome you to Portugal, and help you out by teaching European Portuguese online. I've got students from different countries and I, as the kids say, "lowkey" want to have a student from every country. 🌍(A girl can dream.)

Maybe my day will come and I'll be an expat too. I do love my country, but I ache to go back to exploring, perhaps in a van, or just - after preparing - jump on a plane and, as we say in Portuguese "mudar de ares". 🍃

The top two countries on my bucket list are Iceland and New Zealand. Can you convince me your home country is number three?

Hi Expat.com Team,

Thank you so much for the warm welcome!

I’m really excited to be part of the community and look forward to connecting with fellow expats in Portugal and exploring all the helpful resources on your platform.

Best regards,

Marwa Hamdy

Hi @Marwa Hamdy, Welcome.

You need to be more specific about what you want to know. You could also provide a little more detail about what led you to join the Portugal forum. Do you live in this country, or are you thinking about moving here?... You can always use the search function to find more information. 

Regards