donn25
American expat in Portugal
Forum posts
273
About me
American
Lives in Pombal, Leiria
Registration: 31 May 2022
State of Infrastructure in Portugal by TGCampo
Today I read an article in Portugal Resident https://www.portugalresident.com/furious-lisbon-rail-commuters-present-complaint-against-state-to-brussels/ and was immediately reminded of the trains between Lisbon and Cascais as well as the trains I ...
I don't see any mention to the contrary, so presumably the Oeste line will continue to be one track. That makes frequent runs tricky, because trains can pass each other going the opposite direction only in stations or other places where there's a ... Read More
Wanting a quiet new home in Portugal by makai32
Bom dia!I am new to this group and in the process of planning an exploration trip to seek a new home this September. I'm retired (and on a fixed income), female, a dual citizen so can live anywhere in the EU and currently live in the Pacific ...
I managed without a car for the first few months. It's my house here, and I imagine if I were instead renting an apartment I might still not have one. It depends on what destinations you'll be needing to get to, and you're on your own figuring ... Read More
Good areas in Portugal for expats from USA? by escapers8
We are beginning to research moving to Portugal from the Seattle area. We are looking for a town or city large enough to have good health care, near the coast, moderate cost of living, good culture and art scene, and a reasonable number of other ...
It's sure a nice place. The northern cities in Portugal have their own appeal. History, architecture, culture, environment - different, and worth a look. I'd put in a word for Guimarães, as well.There's a climate issue, here, of course. ... Read More
Interested in Portugal, pursuing countries by LionLover
Hi, I love joining expat groups as I explore possible countries to move to. I am in my 70's and am researching countries to move to. Presently I live in the US. I plan to visit Portugal to get a feel for the country, and from there will return to ...
Yeah, medical is expensive. I could be a little fuzzy on the details, because it wasn't really a factor in deciding to move here, but ... it's an expensive first world country. I seem to still be pretty healthy, and have never needed much medical ... Read More
Good areas in Portugal for expats from USA? by escapers8
We are beginning to research moving to Portugal from the Seattle area. We are looking for a town or city large enough to have good health care, near the coast, moderate cost of living, good culture and art scene, and a reasonable number of other ...
Maybe he or she is approaches the question by framing an impossible conundrum, hoping that as the frame of the conundrum is forced wider by the need to produce an answer, it will eventually produce one answer, and not the useless multitude of ... Read More
Enough passive income to support D7? by norm2pt
Hi everyone, I am from the States my SS income is 1095 a month + another 300 dollars. My total monthly income is 1395 I am wondering about the approval rate.
Comfort is relative. Relative to what you're used to and feel you need, and relative to what you can hope to get anyway. Some people aren't comfortable without 300m2 in Cascais and servants, some would be comfortable living in a Forest Service ... Read More
Hello, this is Denise by chefdeedee123
I am a mature lady who is interested in corresponding with some new friends in the Algarve region of Portugal. I m retired cooking teacher.I own my own home in Santa Cruz, California which is one block from the ocean and is very ...
California has some surprisingly cold coastal towns. As Mark Twain once wrote. And some of course that are warmer in the winter than anywhere in continental Portugal. It isn't that these areas get terribly cold, it's just that they're ... Read More
How to Apostille - State or Federal (US)? by FIRE_Expat
I have been trying to figure out how to Apostille my FBI background check, and keep finding conflicting information. I am located in the US, in the state of Colorado.Some sources of information say that I need to work with my state's Secretary of ...
"But we were told we could send the emailed copy ..."Sure. I mean, this is what I'm trying to clarify. You can email the report to the State Department - am I right?But (of course, right?) there isn't any such thing as an emailed apostille. What ... Read More
How to Apostille - State or Federal (US)? by FIRE_Expat
I have been trying to figure out how to Apostille my FBI background check, and keep finding conflicting information. I am located in the US, in the state of Colorado.Some sources of information say that I need to work with my state's Secretary of ...
That makes sense to me - assuming "the department" and all the reported conversation is the US Department of State - the emailed version is just as authentic as the paper version, which is to say, neither are reliably authentic at all. The ... Read More
How to Apostille - State or Federal (US)? by FIRE_Expat
I have been trying to figure out how to Apostille my FBI background check, and keep finding conflicting information. I am located in the US, in the state of Colorado.Some sources of information say that I need to work with my state's Secretary of ...
I didn't do either. At the San Francisco consulate, if the envelope still sealed, you're good. I assume it's still that way, and same elsewhere.If you really do need an apostille, it seems to me that it would have to be the federal government's ... Read More
How to keep indoor cats safe when there aren't window screens? by gwalks
The hardest adjustment for us will be the lack of screens on windows. We're used to throwing windows and doors wide open for air because we have screens to keep bugs out and cats in. We have a house now but expect to live in a flat in Portugal, ...
Is the fixed time less than 15 seconds? Edit doesn't work. Read More
How to keep indoor cats safe when there aren't window screens? by gwalks
The hardest adjustment for us will be the lack of screens on windows. We're used to throwing windows and doors wide open for air because we have screens to keep bugs out and cats in. We have a house now but expect to live in a flat in Portugal, ...
OK, let me put that to the test. Read More
How to keep indoor cats safe when there aren't window screens? by gwalks
The hardest adjustment for us will be the lack of screens on windows. We're used to throwing windows and doors wide open for air because we have screens to keep bugs out and cats in. We have a house now but expect to live in a flat in Portugal, ...
(It was a house, though, not an apartment. I'd edit my post, but the Edit option seems to be nonfunctional.) Read More
How to keep indoor cats safe when there aren't window screens? by gwalks
The hardest adjustment for us will be the lack of screens on windows. We're used to throwing windows and doors wide open for air because we have screens to keep bugs out and cats in. We have a house now but expect to live in a flat in Portugal, ...
I remember seeing one on the market years ago, in the Buarcos area adjacent to Figueira da Foz proper, where that area was glazed, which might make a lot of sense in that climate. There was a terrific view out over the sea from that side. Probably ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
You won't be going shopping in a golf cart. If you aren't putting me on - you should pick a likely spot and spend some time visiting.I haven't seen a lot of snakes at all, really, and one of them was actually a lizard ("glass snake" is a legless ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
... and, to be clear, I don't really know what I'm talking about. Been here for a couple years, hardly ever venturing outside my little town. I'm comfortable spouting this nonsense because gwalks is obviously doing her own investigation and making ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
Well, technically, yes, there's one poisonous snake I'm aware of, and I've actually seen one. But you'd kind of have to force it to chew on you, I don't think they're a worry at all.I dug up some maps of mosquito reports, and I get the impression ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
We're in a more extreme area 20-30 km inland. Thin ice on the water in the mornings recently -- but sunny days in the 60s F. I'm down to my t-shirt. We get rain, we get cold, but where I think it hurts here, is indoors. Typical construction uses ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
We were in Seattle - speaking of wet and cold. To be fair, the summers have been very nice in recent years, but a few years back we had a winter stretch where it rained every day for four months. At that time I formed a desire to move to ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
I don't know about 250cc quads, but one sees a fair number of tractors on the road. They're going to rent, though, a year down the road when they're planning to move, so vehicular options might be a little limited. Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
Maybe you'd be the right one to survey the literature, once you get here, and confirm that the ticks you encounter aren't a big disease risk. In my area, that's (excuse me) Rhipicephalus sanguineus.I used to have a big old Moto Guzzi, but it got so ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
Something else occurs to me that we don't often talk about, but ... bugs. Right where I am, we haveface flies, a lot like a housefly but not interested in your food or anything, it wants you. To land on you somewhere. Most of the year, ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
@Santi2 I don't know what to think about this. The same thing from you, over and over -- link to a site about Tomar. It would be nice to have you some time genuinely participate in a conversation, not just pitching your real estate. Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
I've heard some complaints about wind, but not specifically the places you mentioned so far. Lourinhã, could be? It's bound to happen of course, but I've been to Figueira da Foz a couple of times and didn't really notice it. If there were ... Read More
Silver Coast - Suggestions? by gwalks
Hubby and I are coming to explore the region in late May 2025 and intend to move in early spring 2026 (renting initially). The Silver Coast suits us in weather, population, and location --but I want to be sure we consider all our options. Our dream ...
It sounds like you have been doing some fairly good research so far, but we don't know ... for example, everything was pretty close to the sea, until we got to Coimbra, and it might help to know why that pops up. In terms of the physical situation ... Read More
EU Blue Card - Portugal by James M76
Hi allI came to portugal with a D3 visa in 2022 and got my 2 year residence card in June 2023. It expires in May 2025 and I was wondering if it is possible to apply for the EU Blue Card ?Has anyone ever done that conversion ?
Are you a highly-qualified worker wishing to work in an EU country?If so, you might be able to get an EU Blue Card. On these pages you can find out what an EU Blue Card is, how to apply for one and learn more about the rights that an EU Blue Card ... Read More
Strike - Train disruptions on December - how worrying is that? by matjung
HiI am a Digital Nomad browsing around. Going to spend a few weeks in Lisbon/Porto.An announcement at cp.pt gained my attention.https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Alerts/strike-6-decemberAs you are living in that country, how worrying is ...
We took the train to Porto on the 6th. There were some cancellations, but they published a minimum level of service schedule, and we got a train from that list. Read More
Permission to sell on a market by mimikerby76
i want to move to Portugal next year.I am an EU citizen. i want to sell on the local market. do i need any permissions?Do i rent the market space. The people which sell on the market do they make enough to survive?Can i sell anything? is the market ...
I would hazard a guess that you didn't find real answers to the question here, because there isn't one. Or rather there are many possible answers, because this is governed by local authorities and the rules depend onexactly where you are, ... Read More
Baggage tax by aimof
Is there anyone who can help My cargo came to Portugal by see just over a yearNow I have to pay taxIt was shipped 16sep only arrived 11novI came to stay in portugal in October 2023So customs says l it's over a yers so pay duty
It could be immaterial, though, if the import is over the 12 month limit. I think that's the question. I couldn't easily find the specific language on that, which could be of interest if (as I understand it) the goods were shipped starting within ... Read More
Advice to anyone thinking about moving to Portugal by Perpetual_traveler
I personally love living in Portugal. For me it is an amazing country. But, if you are considering coming, there is an extremely interesting article on CNN today, about a couple who moved to France. It is called 'Too much grief and no joy’.I ...
That might be the source of part of the confusion. There's an agreement of that nature between Portugal and the US, right? Yet I paid as much as ever to the US, and far more to Portugal. I don't pretend to really understand this, and I can't ... Read More
Advice to anyone thinking about moving to Portugal by Perpetual_traveler
I personally love living in Portugal. For me it is an amazing country. But, if you are considering coming, there is an extremely interesting article on CNN today, about a couple who moved to France. It is called 'Too much grief and no joy’.I ...
I have to admit that we were a little unprepared for our tax this first year, clueless Americans that we are. It's possible that it didn't really have to be that gigantic and the tax prep guy just missed a bet, but in any case, this is how life is ... Read More
Doctors appointment by Erikableu!
Hi there. Did anyone ever need to visit a doctor in portugal/ lisbon ? Does it take a long while to get to see a GP? And can prescriptions just being transferred from one country to another ?
Well, about registering with SNS -- that could be entirely valid in some part of the country, as these matters don't seem to be entirely consistent for everyone, but the story here is different.You can and should register with SNS. They'll tell you ... Read More
Realistic cost of living in Lisbon? by David_NOVA
Hello,I have been planning to retire to Portugal from the US for a few years. I have been doing all the research I can on COL, the D7 visa, getting a NIF, etc. But I have not found an answer to this question specifically.It would be nice to here ...
Rail connectivity depends partly on how much time you're going to be willing to spend, obviously. You can look at daily connections and routes on cp.pt. We're on the north-south line between Porto Campanha and Lisbon Apolonia, and anywhere along ... Read More
Advice to anyone thinking about moving to Portugal by Perpetual_traveler
I personally love living in Portugal. For me it is an amazing country. But, if you are considering coming, there is an extremely interesting article on CNN today, about a couple who moved to France. It is called 'Too much grief and no joy’.I ...
It sounded a little ill considered to me. It's probably harder to get away with that in France, than here - I don't know if you'd find the family doctor or the frozen yogurt in the English-speaking enclaves in the Algarve, but you'd have people to ... Read More
Drivers license exchange timeline by sponger
For those who succesfully exchanged their foreign drivers licenses for a Portguese licence, I'm curious how long it took for you to recieve your new PT license? And in which IMT office?i moved to Lisbon in January '22 and had my appointment at IMT ...
While we're here ... I got my license card this summer, and was kind of surprised to realize that it expires this winter, thus good for only about 1/2 year. That's because I turn 70 (egads.) I don't expect any notification from IMT about this, you ... Read More
Preventive care in Portugal by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Portugal, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights on ...
I was going to suggest that we start up a National Health Records system, but while looking into it, ran into this -- https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2016-11/laws_portugal_en_0.pdfOverview of national legislation on EHR in PortugalExecutive ... Read More
Preventive care in Portugal by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Portugal, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights on ...
In the US, there's a rather restrictive policy for sharing medical records, HIPAA.I don't know all that much about how it works in the US, because I just didn't go there much. But in principle ... there's a well known problem with medications, ... Read More
American expats - testimonials about the upcoming elections by Ameerah Arjanee
Hi everyone. I’m a content writer for Expat Magazine, and we are planning on writing an article about what American expats abroad (and non-American expats living in the US) think about the upcoming presidential elections. How do you think the ...
Folks, it would probably be possible to find discussions somewhere else, about the relative merits of American political candidates, and steer towards matters involving Portugal here.Yesterday a real estate agent came by, leafleting the ... Read More
Builders & Contractors in Portugal: Proceeding with caution. by williamstony360
After a recent very bad and costly experience (I purchased a property in the Tomar area of Santarem) I thought I would send an warning note to people contemplating builders and renovations to their home. The reason I do it here was that I was ...
I think there'd be a lot of interest in that - stone construction standards - though maybe mostly outside this forum. Portugal has lots of abandoned structures that can be restored to very attractive residences, if the money and the expertise is ... Read More
American expats - testimonials about the upcoming elections by Ameerah Arjanee
Hi everyone. I’m a content writer for Expat Magazine, and we are planning on writing an article about what American expats abroad (and non-American expats living in the US) think about the upcoming presidential elections. How do you think the ...
I don't know, there may be American outposts in Portugal like there reportedly are in Mexico, but for me, I think you should look at Portugal as a question of adopting a country. We just got back from a couple days in Porto, and that's sure an ... Read More
Drivers license exchange timeline by sponger
For those who succesfully exchanged their foreign drivers licenses for a Portguese licence, I'm curious how long it took for you to recieve your new PT license? And in which IMT office?i moved to Lisbon in January '22 and had my appointment at IMT ...
Of course there could be something I going on I don't know about, but sure, you go to IMT's site, follow the instructions, that's the method.I don't know any reason why they would refuse to license you after completing the course and taking the ... Read More
Construction Quality in Portugal by TGCampo
On my recent walks around our area and in Lisbon, I noticed lots of civil construction work (mostly residential buildings) and I was shocked by the horrible quality. I have attached a picture that shows how badly done the brick work is. There is ...
If you're interested in thermal efficiency of cavity wall construction, this might be an interesting read:https://bibliotecadigital.ipb.pt/bitstream/10198/1606/1/thermalbridges.PDFAn insulation that seems to be widely esteemed among the populace is ... Read More
Construction Quality in Portugal by TGCampo
On my recent walks around our area and in Lisbon, I noticed lots of civil construction work (mostly residential buildings) and I was shocked by the horrible quality. I have attached a picture that shows how badly done the brick work is. There is ...
Even if the picture changed the story, it would still be the story of one building. If you're interested in the general case, I guess the answer would come mainly from the regulatory environment, particularly building inspection. If there are ... Read More
Certificate of Baggage by dvaughanjones
Ola! I'm confused. Do I need to have a residency permit to bring household items over with a shipping company or can I just have a D7 Visa approval only. We want to bring those items over but when I saw the Certificate of Baggage, I wasn't sure if I ...
The purpose of all of that is to exempt household moves from import tax. Relocation shippers will tend to really pull for this, perhaps among other reasons because it's easier to get a shipment off the customs dock if they aren't going to have to ... Read More
Cheap(er) places to live in Portugal with children by Karuna8
Hello,we are planning to explore and move to Portugal in the next year and we would like to know which cities/places you consider ideal or better than others regarding raising a family as well as cheaper.This will help us a lot in deciding which ...
Yes, we know an American family whose two children took different paths in school. The one was going to a British expat school was basically re-taking remedial Portuguese every year. The one who was going to local schools was talking to the ... Read More
Mobile phone by lorraine whitby
Can I keep my phone number with a new SIM card in Portugal
Maybe, but the question could be interpreted various ways. If you have a a Portugal number now, and you want to get phone service from a new provider, they can do that. That actually involves two new SIMs, one with a provisional number that you ... Read More
Bombarral retirement by fcdeltufo
My husband and i are looking to retire in Portugal. We are thinking about Bombarral as an option. Has anyone moved here from outside of Portugal and how receptive are residents to ex-pats? We are planning to learn portugese however will have ...
We go to Coimbra once in a while, for one thing or another. It's different. It would certainly be worth the trouble to spend a week or so in these places. While you will see only a slice of the place, it's the only way to know if it has the ... Read More
Bombarral retirement by fcdeltufo
My husband and i are looking to retire in Portugal. We are thinking about Bombarral as an option. Has anyone moved here from outside of Portugal and how receptive are residents to ex-pats? We are planning to learn portugese however will have ...
Can't answer about Bombarral - never been there, and as the question has gone unanswered for a couple weeks it seems safe to say not many of us have. I'm in a slightly larger city on the other end of the Leiria district, hence much farther from ... Read More
New members of the Portugal forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Portugal forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your ...
I should add that the typical masonry residential style is well suited to the climate, as the thermal mass takes advantage of the diurnal temperature variation. A house like that tends to be a comfortable refuge on hot afternoons. Also cold and ... Read More
New members of the Portugal forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Portugal forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your ...
Tanalith treated lumber is I think fairly commonly available in Portugal. Carmo does pretty big business in outdoor lumber, and I think that's what they use - not really proposing them as a source here, they may be more for institutional projects, ... Read More
What are the steps before I buy a ruin and renovate it? by XmoveX
Hey everyone,I emigrated to Portugal a year ago and live in Matosinhos in Porto.City life is great, but my big dream is to find a farm / Quinta / Finca away from Porto in the next few years.However, I have to be at the airport in at least 1 hour - ...
Start saving money for it. The site you're talking about probably will have a fairly low/negotiable price, and you'll be paying for the rest as you go. I think Strontium is right about getting any funding. Read More
cash payment by donn25
Awkward visit from the desentupidora today. I.e., unstopper of drains. I arranged for this by phone. They gave me an idea of how their charges work - first hour, extra time past that - and indicated someone would be there this afternoon. He ...
Ha ha, this outfit seemed to be all national, but I don't think I really got the premium work here either. Quick and dirty may be sort of the nature of the business. The actual unstopping part was done with a motorized snake that beat up the ... Read More
cash payment
Awkward visit from the desentupidora today. I.e., unstopper of drains. I arranged for this by phone. They gave me an idea of how their charges work - first hour, extra time past that - and indicated someone would be there this afternoon. He ... Read More
permanent move or holiday home? by LMarkWindell
We are bringing in 2 crates of household items, a bicycle, some tools, art and rugs. All used. Is it better for our VAT exposure to say we’re A) establishing a holiday home or B) moving permanently?
My stuff came on the boat, so there was a standard routine at customs, that was handled as I suppose it almost always is, by the relocations company. The was a certificate de bagagem, from the consulate in San Francisco, that is part of the ... Read More
permanent move or holiday home? by LMarkWindell
We are bringing in 2 crates of household items, a bicycle, some tools, art and rugs. All used. Is it better for our VAT exposure to say we’re A) establishing a holiday home or B) moving permanently?
Right off hand, it seems to me that telling the truth is often the best course, but I think the import exemption for household goods is for people who have moved to Portugal, complete with atestado de residencia etc. Read More
Move to Portugal before D7 Visa Approval by reynbod2003
My friends moved to Portugal last year right after her husband and she had their D7 Visa VSF appointment. They didn’t wait for the approval before moving. Fortunately, for them, they were approved and are living there now. Even have their AIMA ...
Sure. In retrospect it seems perhaps a little rash, but I bought a house first. You know there's a risk it will fall through, you know it isn't a big risk. What only you know, is how easily you can recover. Read More
About car insurance and homeowner's insurance by sandraawilliams153
Hi friends, I have two questions about insurance:1) My family has only one car, sometimes I drive it and sometimes my wife drives it, and I am now the policyholder of the insurance contract.If my wife gets into an accident while driving this ...
That was Ageas. I expect everyone plays by the same rules; the real variation is going to be the stories you get from individuals, or offices at least, and the one who counts will be the "adjuster" or whatever that would be in Portugal who decides ... Read More
About car insurance and homeowner's insurance by sandraawilliams153
Hi friends, I have two questions about insurance:1) My family has only one car, sometimes I drive it and sometimes my wife drives it, and I am now the policyholder of the insurance contract.If my wife gets into an accident while driving this ...
As it happens, I was in the insurer's local office this afternoon with the same question, about listed driver. I'm the sole owner and the policy was drafted listing only me as the habitual driver. I've asked online, and with the agent, who all of ... Read More
Good & bad experiences with real estate agencies/agents by JohnnyPT
Feel free to make your personal inputs here, alerting or giving suggestions to other people who are going at this moment to what you went through when looking for a house in Portugal :)
I think it's generally true, for example also in the US, that for practical purposes a real estate always has a common interest with the seller. That is, if they collect a commission that's based on the sale price, the higher the price, the more ... Read More
Appointment with AIMA by IBHwood
If somebody can help I will appreciate it. I need to know the following about the documents to be taken to the AIMA appointment. Do any of the documents need to be translated to Portuguese?Do any of the documents need to be authenticate or ...
From non-EU origin, the only use I ever had for atestado de residência, was for customs when importing the household contents. The shipping agent felt that it had to be dated to the time I officially began residence, and since we had more or ... Read More
AIMA appointment rescheduled by mayaabouchedid
Hello everyone,If AIMA rescheduled an appointment for the D7 Visa residency (due to system shut down on the day!), would the date of the previous appointment be taken into consideration as the start of the residency or the new date will apply? I ...
SEF interviewed me for residence in March, and the start/expire date on my card is June. Who knows for sure, I can't think of any process here where there aren't multiple competing versions of the real story, but I have to stick with date of ... Read More
New members of the Portugal forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Portugal forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your ...
We came here from Seattle. It's sure worth a visit or two. A lot depends on what exactly you really want.Will the language be a problem? Probably, but if you want to live in one of the more ex-pat heavy areas (and you have the financial ... Read More
AIMA appointment rescheduled by mayaabouchedid
Hello everyone,If AIMA rescheduled an appointment for the D7 Visa residency (due to system shut down on the day!), would the date of the previous appointment be taken into consideration as the start of the residency or the new date will apply? I ...
Now I think by "start of residency" you are looking at the term of residency as related to the rules for maximum absence from Portugal. I don't know about that. It may very well correspond to the dates of validity of the título de ... Read More
Bringing British car to Portugal by rhodakirkwood
Hi. not sure if you can help me or not. I have just been allocated residence status in Portugal. It is my intention to drive from Scotland to Albufeira with my small dog over several days. Obviously I have paid my road fund tax back in the UK but ...
Welcome to Portugal, by the way! :) Hm, I wonder if you're really a resident of Portugal, for GNR's purposes, before your título de residência has actually been issued? That might leave a window during which one could legally drive ... Read More
AIMA appointment rescheduled by mayaabouchedid
Hello everyone,If AIMA rescheduled an appointment for the D7 Visa residency (due to system shut down on the day!), would the date of the previous appointment be taken into consideration as the start of the residency or the new date will apply? I ...
Non-expert internet input here: no, neither of those. If by "start of residency" you mean, the validity dates on your residence card - that will start at the time the card is issued, and the end date will be 2 years after that date (or however ... Read More
AIMA D7 appointment for 2nd stage by Jac g
Help have tried for months to get appointments for hubby and I with no joy, anyone managed to secure one and if so how ? Thanks
All this time I took "second stage" to mean the second temporary residence permit, but now I infer that you actually are trying to get the interview for the initial residence permit. The IRN stuff I mentioned above isn't relevant, then.On the ... Read More
Health Insurance for D7 Visa by UKMark
Hi, I'm looking around for the Health Insurance required for the D7 application. Does anyone have any recommendations or advice? A rough idea of the cost would be appreciated too. I am in early 50s and my wife in her late 40s would ideally like ...
I think it will help if you don't look at it as "yet another insurance." It will be your health insurance, that you should have while living in Portugal. Travel insurance is a different thing.An applicant who's trying to skate by with only travel ... Read More
AIMA D7 appointment for 2nd stage by Jac g
Help have tried for months to get appointments for hubby and I with no joy, anyone managed to secure one and if so how ? Thanks
AIMA is in a pretty dire situation, a backlog of hundreds of thousands they inherited from SEF. It is what it is - not a good thing, but likely no one has died from it yet. The government has promised to add more staff, and deadlines are being ... Read More
Online visa renewals and expiry of documents by JohnnyPT
Online visa renewals until the end of 2023Automatic visa renewals (Golden visas included) will first become available for visas that expire between 1 January and 31 March 2023 and will be phased in until the end of 2023.Automatic renewals will only ...
I already posted this in another thread, but as it bears on the subject here -- the following edict appears to provide another extension like the one described in the top post, this time to summer of 2025.See ... Read More
AIMA D7 appointment for 2nd stage by Jac g
Help have tried for months to get appointments for hubby and I with no joy, anyone managed to secure one and if so how ? Thanks
From https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc24/governo/comunicado-do-conselho-de-ministros?i=6233. Na sequência da apresentação e aprovação do Plano de Ação para as Migrações:a. Aprovou o ... Read More
d8 visa slots - any insights post the new *expression of interest* by Payal A Kumar
Hi Everyone, I have been applying for the d8 visa for 3months no slots open and I've seen new changes with *expression of interest* and focus on *high skilled immigrants* how does this affect the d8 visa and insight information will be useful I'm ...
Not an expert, but I don't think the one has anything to do with the other.You can research this more effectively on your own behalf if you use the actual term, manifestação de interesse. It's what you do when you're hired to work in ... Read More
AIMA D7 appointment for 2nd stage by Jac g
Help have tried for months to get appointments for hubby and I with no joy, anyone managed to secure one and if so how ? Thanks
The link, by the way, being https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Renovar-Autorizacao-de-Residencia Read More
AIMA D7 appointment for 2nd stage by Jac g
Help have tried for months to get appointments for hubby and I with no joy, anyone managed to secure one and if so how ? Thanks
Don't take me for an expert - I absolutely do not know what I'm talking about - but you might look at doing it somewhere else. Namely, the Instituto de Registos e Notariados, whose web site claims they can do this.Em certos casos é ... Read More
Navigating administrative procedures in Portugal by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Navigating through the administration in Portugal can be quite a challenge. With the variety of procedures, their complexity, and the local specifics, many factors need to be considered. Here are some questions worth ...
Bearing in mind that the start of this subject was an observation about something IMT was supposed to deliver to me, that hasn't arrived after 6 months ... I wouldn't bet my life on this "write a note to IMT" process.Regarding Strontium's somewhat ... Read More
Is Central Portugal a good place to move to? by Santi2
Hi everybody,if you are wondering why so many expats are enquiring about moving to the region between Lisbon and Porto, here are a few reasons: https://portugalportogallo.wordpress.com/2024/06/19/is-central-portugal-a-good-place-to-live/
Language can be a barrier for some expats, but English is widely spoken in urban areas and among the younger population. Moreover, the region offers various language schools and courses for those who wish to learn Portuguese and fully immerse ... Read More
Navigating administrative procedures in Portugal by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Navigating through the administration in Portugal can be quite a challenge. With the variety of procedures, their complexity, and the local specifics, many factors need to be considered. Here are some questions worth ...
Well, it seems to me rather difficult to make any generalizations, even when it comes to the same procedure at different times or places. One thing I can say, though, is that in Portugal, functionaries do use computer interfaces with keyboards, and ... Read More
How to extend a stsy by aimof
We have D7 visa we came to Canada in 31mar 2024 to sell our home them return backJust in case we are una ble to sell within 6months how can we get a extension to stay longer
We were in Portugal when our home sold, in the US. I bet it's similar in Canada. It's really better if you aren't there while real estate agents are trying to show the house. We were able to sign a document or two remotely, but if you have to ... Read More
Importing Car vs Buying in Portugal (from UK) by Bakes84
Hey folks!Me and my partner are moving to Portugal in September / October via D8 visa which we currently in the process of obtaining. We will be driving (with our two dogs) and a bunch of our possessions and are facing the dilemma of our van, so I ...
How long do you think you'll want to drive around with the steering on the wrong side of the car? I can't recall ever seeing anyone doing that here. Read More
D7 VISA RENEWAL by narenmajor
I have D7 Visa issued last August 2023. I am told that I have to leave Portugal back to home country to retain the residency. Is that true.
It is indeed confusing. There are these two things: residence permit, título de residência, which would eventually be credentialed with a plastic wallet card.D7 visa, a thing that is pasted into your passport.If you have a D7 visa ... Read More
I would like to know how to renew D7 visa by yubayashi
Hi!I am living in Aveiro with D7 visa.I am having trouble knowing what to do, so I am posting the question.Any advice you can give me would be really helpful.My residence permit will expire on May 10, 2024 and I will have to renew it.We would like ...
I didn't get much out of the write-up on Diário de Notícias. I mean, there was much discussion of a couple of situations, but not ones that I see people here asking about.ending manifestation of interest -- that seems like it's more ... Read More
Portugal D7 Visa and Relocation Support by wrightfamtravel
Hello,My wife and I will be retiring in December 2024 and plan to move to Portugal in 2025.Can someone please recommend a good immigration service/lawyer that can help in that process? I have found many listed but it is hard to know how to ...
Not that this is much help, but as you probably know, the immigration bureaucracy has gone through considerable upheaval recently. I'm sure some offices that work in this area are really on top of that. Maybe others not so much. Wild card. Read More
tax consultant & finanças login
A friend engaged the services of a tax consultant, for first time Portugal income tax. Tax resident, US national. The consultant asks for Finanças login information?Is this sort of typical, that one would give out the password to ... Read More
Targeting areas with modernization and low tourism by BOONDOCK-SAINT
Hello all,I'm not suggesting I WANT to live on or near beach front areas, but I needed to find a way to show an area on the map with a link. No uploady.Along the course in this map link, and to the East a ways, does anyone know and or live in these ...
Well, yes, there are ruins for sale, and I don't think very many people going to take it personally if one mentions this. I think the core of the problem appears to be this collision between budget and market. Not many years ago, there were ... Read More
Targeting areas with modernization and low tourism by BOONDOCK-SAINT
Hello all,I'm not suggesting I WANT to live on or near beach front areas, but I needed to find a way to show an area on the map with a link. No uploady.Along the course in this map link, and to the East a ways, does anyone know and or live in these ...
It's the "Silver Coast" to English speaking people who have been getting the real estate pitches. I'd say over-rated, but really only because of their success at pitching it - nice area, where the good deals that made it a truly good thing have ... Read More
1st visa appointment question by andypayne1000
Hi I'm really sorry if this has been covered but thought I'd ask.We are planning to book our appointment for the UK Portuguese embassy for our D7 but would ideally like to move in Jan 2025 due to some family things in Dec 2024, can you ask/request ...
If you're 90% ready to apply, you might have a look at the application and see if it includes a start date for the "visit" authorized by the VISA. Read More
Builders & Contractors in Portugal: Proceeding with caution. by williamstony360
After a recent very bad and costly experience (I purchased a property in the Tomar area of Santarem) I thought I would send an warning note to people contemplating builders and renovations to their home. The reason I do it here was that I was ...
In the US we had some counter space with cabinets above, and some without. You can use the former for open storage, appliances, etc. If you prepare food much, a working area without cabinets over it will quickly make you forget about lost storage ... Read More
Builders & Contractors in Portugal: Proceeding with caution. by williamstony360
After a recent very bad and costly experience (I purchased a property in the Tomar area of Santarem) I thought I would send an warning note to people contemplating builders and renovations to their home. The reason I do it here was that I was ...
The way I add that up, the cabinet over the sink is at most 159cm. A six foot tall person is 183cm, 9 inches above the bottom of the cabinet.What works for me is the sink in front of a window. Or facing a window, on an island. Nothing else comes ... Read More
Portugal to be excluded from Schengen Area? by TGCampo
I read today in Portugal News that Portugal will be excluded from the Schengen Area if new border control systems of the European Union (EU) are not implemented by July 2024. As could be expected Portugal seemingly has not even yet tendered for the ...
Are they saying the government hasn't been in enough of a hurry, to install the equipment that made passport control in CDG Paris such a time consuming nightmare the last couple times I went through there? Read More
First things first by BOONDOCK-SAINT
I have a dream.Although it could be a nightmare. I want to retire or semi retire to Portugal. I haven't started ANY processes yet.1) I don't know yet what visa to apply for, nothing seems like an exact fit. 2) My general impression is to move to the ...
You can drop by any time you want, and stay for 3 months, on the no-questions-asked EU tourist visa. The only problem with this is that you have to stay away for another 3 months. Short term rentals will add up, but they're an opportunity to get a ... Read More
Where to buy good blankets, sheets and linens in Portugal by manuel6246
In Canada we have a large assortment of goods coming in from Portugal and available at such places as TJ Max (Winners, Homesense, etc.). We've seen really good quality duvets, bed sheets, blankets, etc. from Portugal. I contacted one of the firms in ...
I have linen (linho) sheets from https://linenshed.ptThey aren't like the made in Portugal linen sheets I had in the US - they're a coarser weave - but they're OK with me. Read More
AIMA Appointment (personal experience) by bloggerblogger
Hey guys,So I successfully appeared for the appointment. It was AIMA that handled everything. Not SEF. Also I confirm that the appointment date and time was the same as expected even though it was originally scheduled by SEF in December 2023 on my ...
> 1.So, do I already have the Utente?Yes! It's a miracle, because as pointed out above you need resident status to get it, but as we say, almost anything can happen here.4.Am I classed as a resident once I get my 1 year residency visa and ... Read More
AIMA Appointment (personal experience) by bloggerblogger
Hey guys,So I successfully appeared for the appointment. It was AIMA that handled everything. Not SEF. Also I confirm that the appointment date and time was the same as expected even though it was originally scheduled by SEF in December 2023 on my ...
Número de utente is the national health service ID. We got ours after getting temporary residence cards, which of course was after the first SEF appointment.I don't know which stage bloggerblogger was at in the process. I assume not the ... Read More
Exchanging UK Licence for Portuguese Licence by vickypell
Hi,Has anyone experience of the IMT form to exchange the British Licence for the Portuguese one?Our UK licences are nearing expiry and as we are no longer resident we cannot renew them there so must exchange them.The IMT form is relatively straight ...
I remember having trouble with this myself, but unfortunately not clearly enough to be much help.Their previous email presented a link to this form, and you're accessing the form to fill it out, via that link, right? If I remember right, the ... Read More
Application for Driver's License exchange by stefano1966
My partner and I have submitted our applications to IMT several times and it keeps coming back that they are missing information. We have all required documents and trying to send the apostilled driving record but the application keeps saying the ...
This is going to be hard to figure out over the internet. If you can possibly enlist the help of someone who's familiar with your situation and your computer setup - it wouldn't have to be on site, if you can reliably send documents back and ... Read More
Plan move to Portugal ( Permanent ) by pollyD
Hi,I am a 54-year-old, retired Indian national. I am planning to move to Portugal, through D 7 route. I have a suitable pension coming to me from the Government of India. I plan to move with my family. My daughter is in class 10th right now, I am ...
Does your daughter have good Portuguese language skills? Does she look forward to this possibility?Do you know anyone who has recently made this move? Visa processing has been a terrible problem, with hundreds of thousands of requests piled up in ... Read More
Drivers license exchange timeline by sponger
For those who succesfully exchanged their foreign drivers licenses for a Portguese licence, I'm curious how long it took for you to recieve your new PT license? And in which IMT office?i moved to Lisbon in January '22 and had my appointment at IMT ...
The lady of the house went to Coimbra, and got her license card in less than two months, if I remember right - from Aveiro. Maybe Aveiro has acquired an employee who can type with all fingers, and other nearby municipalities are now sending their ... Read More
is Portugal better choice than spain to live by biking16
I am A US citizen Im retired and looking into obtaining a lucrative visa to reside in Spain . What are my best choices for assistance in obtaining a visa?
The Portugal "golden visa" may be what this refers to? Forget that. It may have been worth it years ago, if you had that kind of money, but more recently I think people who've tried it have been sorry, and it's slated for extinction.I'd suggest ... Read More
Rental lease and obtaining a D7 visa for Portugal by mgorman339
Hello, this is my first time posting a question. I'm planning on retiring to Portugal and have done a lot of reading but haven't started paperwork yet. I've read several times that it takes about a year to get the D7 visa and whatever else you need ...
I did read his post. What I can't find, is the misinformation - I don't see anything contradictory here - so it seems I may be missing something. Have any idea? Read More
Rental lease and obtaining a D7 visa for Portugal by mgorman339
Hello, this is my first time posting a question. I'm planning on retiring to Portugal and have done a lot of reading but haven't started paperwork yet. I've read several times that it takes about a year to get the D7 visa and whatever else you need ...
@hbinder36 Would you be able to correct some of the "serious misinformation statements" you mention? Read More
Rental lease and obtaining a D7 visa for Portugal by mgorman339
Hello, this is my first time posting a question. I'm planning on retiring to Portugal and have done a lot of reading but haven't started paperwork yet. I've read several times that it takes about a year to get the D7 visa and whatever else you need ...
Wow! 6 weeks seems pretty fast to me, but the scene changes constantly.At any rate, you can live in your Portugal accommodations before you get a resident visa. Common tourist "visa" that you automatically get when you arrive is limited to 90 ... Read More