Hello Everyone! I'm new to this Forum~

I think that if you manage to do your EU citizenship/resident card in the US it's possible that you fly back. ( i don't know if it's possible via the german ambassy maybe ? )
I have a friend who has done the opposite ( from Europe to Quebec ), she was allowed to fly to Canada last week.
All you need is the correct paper work and a proof of address where you will live.

Hi Cheryl, Welcome

Regarding travels, with Covid everything changes from one week to the other though the current situation in Portugal is pretty well. These sites have an updated overview, so have a look whenever you consider it appropriate:

https://www.visitportugal.com/en/conten … d-portugalhttps://www.visitportugal.com/en/conten … -questionshttps://www.flytap.com/en-pt/travel-restrictionshttps://reopen.europa.eu/en/https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/PRT/5006

(...)


About rentals, you can see this link, I think it is a good help to start with:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=908693


Regarding visas, please also check this link, where a similar situation to yours is mentioned, i.e. EU citizen spouse + non-EU citizen spouse:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=931742

Kind Regards

Thank You so much! I'll check those links out!

Cheryl— my husband and I are hoping to move to Lisbon in late fall or after— I hope you do the same— Michele Farinet

Hi Patrox,

Yes, my Husband spoke with a representative at the German Embassy here in the states and she told us to go to the Portuguese Embassy in Lisbon as well as the German Embassy there as soon as we arrive, and register our presence with them. This is important to do especially since I am an American. Once we do that I will have access to residency through my European Spouse should we decide to stay in Portugal.

Hopefully it will be as easy as she made it sound! We'll see!

Hi Michele!

We are coming from Sedona, Arizona!
Where will you guys be coming from?

New York City

We're in California at this point. We want to visit Portugal for a month this summer (Covid willing...we're all completely vaccinated) to see if it's a place we'd like to move to once our daughter finishes high school. It will be 2 years until we can actually move, and we've got one other area we want to investigate too.

I live in suburban Boston area.  I am a Public Defender. My daughter (16 years old) and I hope to move to Portugal once she finishes high school in 2022.  As a single mom, I am hoping to make a new life for myself.  Hopefully planning a visit in July.

Hi, I am curious what other area you are investigating.  Would love to compare notes.  One other area I am looking into is Bordeaux, France.  I am an American citizen, so finding a place I can work and get residency is a necessity.  Cost of living and weather are also my largest considerations.   Bordeaux is more appealing on paper since I speak French, but the ability to get citizenship more easy in Portugal.

Hi Shanclan, Welcome

You can search for topics using the magnifying glass on both this English forum and also on the French forum, the link for which is:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=4384

Kind Regards

We did it! We booked our flight to Portugal for the first week in October, and rented an Air B&B in the Eastern Algarve from that first week in October to the end of December! We do believe that Portugal is where we'd like to be, but we have never been there! We feel much better renting for 3 months, then perhaps renting in Spain just across the border from Portugal for 3 months, so that we can continue to explore for our new home! We can stay in both Portugal and Spain for 3 months each without filing for residency. Once we make a decision about where we might like to be, we can register with Portugal. Is this correct? Does this sound like a good way to start?

We also like the fact that if we rent from Air B&B's that the utilities are included, which makes things much easier for us as we navigate this move! The lady that we are renting from in Portugal lives next door, which will be so helpful! Should we still get a local bank account, or simply use our credit and debit cards with no transaction fees?

Thank You!
Warmly,
Cheryl & Andreas

That's great! How all this will cost?

I'll be coming from Texas

Hi Its great your going to Portugal, are you from the uk ?

Sorry I’ve just read your previous post and your not from the uk. Whilst your in Portugal I recommend that you visit the western Algarve, especially Lagos, It has everything you need for dad to day living in a beautiful historic setting with many beaches coves and country walks to choose from and having lots of expats from all over the world which the Portuguese people seem to embrace.

Well done!  We plan staying in Portugal for a month in September or October.  We want  to stay near Obidos Lagoon on the Western Silver Coast.  All going well, we will purchase a plot of land and sign contracts for a villa to be built on it by Modiko.  Then we will fly back to England to sell our house, put our house contents in storage - return to Portugal, staying in a long-term let until the build is completed.  If only it would go as smoothly as that.

I wish you both much luck and hope it all goes according to your plans.

Hi June

We are presently staying in Portugal for 6 weeks to finalise the purchase of our house near the Obidos lagoon. We will be living in Nadadouro near Caldas da Rainha.
Beautiful area. Hope all goes well for you.

Oh fantastic!!  We should stay in touch as we may become sort of neighbours.  Would you mind if I add you to my Contacts?

Hi!

No, we are currently living in the US. I’m American, and my Husband is a EU National, from Germany.

My husband and I are both English - although I was actually born in Africa, where my father was working as a copper mining engineer.  I moved to England when I was 18.  We're both retired now.

Promoting Portugal to US retirees


Professionals from areas such as real estate, health and taxation will join together in a digital event aimed at promoting Portugal to US citizens looking for solutions and alternatives for retirement.

The event is called "BetterLife 50 plus" and will be broadcast by Zoom and via the social network Facebook on Friday and Saturday (June 18 - 19, 2021):

https://summit.betterlife50plus.com/portugal

Participation in BetterLife 50 plus is free, but subject to registration.

_____

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/20 … rees/60513

Hi, you will not be able to get a local bank account without a NIFF number and to get that you need at least temporary residency for 5 years. Best way is to use an online bank like Revolut or equivalent. Hope that helps

Kev

kevhogan66 wrote:

Hi, you will not be able to get a local bank account without a NIFF number and to get that you need at least temporary residency for 5 years. Best way is to use an online bank like Revolut or equivalent.

There is a little confusion here. To open a bank account in Portugal, you will need a NIF.

To get NIF, you will need:

- Civil identification document or Passport (If the applicant is an EU Citizen)
- Passport (If applicant is a Non-EU Citizen)

https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/pedir … a-singular

When requesting NIF, citizens that are not resident in Portugal must appoint a representative who is resident in Portugal.

In other words, obtaining NIF has nothing to do with what you are saying here (about temporary residency for 5 years).

Cheryl15 wrote:

Should we still get a local bank account, or simply use our credit and debit cards with no transaction fees?

You can use main international debit/credit brand cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express in portuguese ATM & POS networks. But fees charged in your transactions will depend on your bank’s terms and conditions (US issuing bank of your debit/credit card).

These international payment systems negotiate fees for using their brand cards among portuguese acquirers.

In your case, your bank has to pay to portuguese acquirers whenever you use your card at Multibanco networks (ATM & POS) in Portugal, and this fee is charged after daily settlement processing by international payment system shown on your card. In other words, there are always fees involved, and who ends up paying these fees will always be the customer who is using the card...

In EuroZone, fees for using cards issued outside EuroZone are covered by the principle of equal charges, i.e., applied fees by portuguese acquirers will be the same as those aplyied by acquirers from other countries within the EuroZone.

If you open an account in a portuguese bank, you will no longer pay fees for using debit cards in ATM & POS terminals at portuguese Multibanco network. But you will have to pay account maintenance fee in most banks (+/- 5 eur/month), except, for example, at BancoCTT bank where you pay nothing.

It's your choice and it's also about how you use your cards.

______

Revolut also has fees involved:

https://www.revolut.com/en-PT/help/weal … my-trading

Hello JohnnyPT!

We did make the jump and landed in Faro on October 15th! We are currently staying in Cabanas de Tavira in an Airbnb. Since my Husband is an EU National I know from this Forum and other sites that we can stay in Portugal for 3 months, but need a Residency Certificate within 30 days after that. We would like to apply before that for peace of mind, and to be in compliance with Portugal. We absolutely love Portugal, but are not 100% sure yet if we will decide to stay. It is just too soon to know. In our situation, an American married to a German EU National, where can we begin this process of obtaining a Residency Certificate, and will Portugal allow us to do this if we are not 100% sure that we will be staying here? For the time being, Airbnbs in different areas seems to be the better idea for us to get a feeling of living in the different cities. Does an Airbnb qualify for an address? What are our options of being able to stay longer without committing to having a permanent address for 1 year?
Obrigada,
Cheryl & Andreas

Hi Cheryi15,
I'm a German citizen, my wife ich Chinese. We decide to leave Germany and come here.
Why: nice weather, ocean, very safe country, as an engineer I get NHR status with fantastic taxation, good food, very good infrastructure, and so on.
For me I decided to come here during my business trip in 2019, my wife is a more careful person but also she after 3 days in Lissabon, sad to me "I like". I was very surprised about how quickly she sad "Do it".
We start with the NIF renting an apartment and ... CoVid-19 comes. No problem at all, I 'm an EU citizen ok, she should wait and wait and wait .... Finally she get her ID Portugise card.
We decide to stay in Lisbon, offering everything that we need and like.
Now I'm looking to buy a pilothouse boat (2nd Hand) in US, we go fishing and enjoy life here.
Everywhere in EU is not so good as here, our opinion.
Cheers,
Chris

Hi Cheryl,

Please check if these links will answer your questions. If you still have doubts, please let us know.

Registration Certificate for Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 33#5088039
(Post #7)

Residence Card for third-country nationals who are family members of EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 33#5104571
(Post #9 - SEF link inside requires translation)
"CARTÃO DE RESIDÊNCIA PARA CIDADÃO DE ESTADO TERCEIRO FAMILIAR DE NACIONAL DA UE/EEE/SUÍÇA"

Kind Regards