草榴社区

Hello everyone

I'm Moroccan citizen, r茅sident in France , my lovely wife is europ茅en citizen (Irish ).

We ear thinking to live in Portugal, maybe porto or Lisbon ,& we want to know more about the country & people housing, jobs, & administration to apply for tax number & r茅sidence permit......

Nice to meet you 馃��

Hello everyone and welcome on board !

@ Elmansouriboubaker,

Feel free to read our Portugal guide and to open your own topic on the Portugal forum to seek advice from members.

All the best

Bhavna

@Dedou2You

Welcome on board !

Glad you joined in and thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself to members.

Should you need any infos, you are most welcome to create a new topic on the Portugal forum so that members can share their experience with you.

All the best

Bhavna

@Bhavna

Thank u.

@Bhavna聽 Thank you, I have plenty of questions

Hi All, my husband and I moved to Portugal in 2020 in the middle of lockdown! It took us several months to sort the move out given the pandemic, but we finally settled in Estremoz (Alentejo, about 35m from Evora) later that year. We joined the forum as we have advertised our rental apartments in Portugal on 草榴社区 in the past and just listed one recently.

We have moved a few times internationally so know the bureaucracy can be tiring but want to reassure everyone that although the wheels can turn slowly, they do turn! With the right expectations it all works out in the end. Portugal is a beautiful country and the friendliness and welcome you will receive make it a great place to live.

We renovate houses for a living, finding abandoned places and doing a total renewal, and then renting them out. We started in London where we lived up to 2014, and now do the same in Estremoz (脡vora, Alentejo). I am also a horse instructor and trainer, and this is actually one reason we moved here: it is a horsey country! We also picked this area for the sun (so much blue sky!) and to be more in Portugal-Portugal (rather than the big cities or the Algarve). We absolutely love it here, great food, great wine, great weather, just great.

A warm welcome to all moving to Portugal!

Elizabeth

(To the admins @JohnnyPT @Bhavna: I of course want to stay within any rules given I also have a live apartment listing on the site, specialised for D7 and new arrivals given we help our tenants settle in Portugal, so I hope this introduction is okay!)

Hi @elizabethtPT, Welcome

Since you're a horse lover, I suggest you visit the Alter do Ch茫o equestrian school. Some info in this thread:

/forum/viewtopic.p 鈥� 30#5907142

(Post #25)

Best Regards

@elizabethtPT

Hello and thank you for your welcoming post!聽 I have read that renovations of old buildings are nearly impossible as most of the craftspeople have moved to Spain and beyond for better wages.聽 Do you do your own renovations?聽 If you don't mind, I'm going to add you to our contacts, as I will have many questions as we get closer to moving over.聽

@Dedou2You,

Ask at a Leroy Merlin shop. They have professional contacts for various renovation jobs.

@JohnnyPT thank you so much for the horsey tips!

@Dedou2You Thank you for the message! We have two rentals completed in Estremoz, and have three more underway, we use a mix of builders and our own muscle (as part of our resettling assistance to our international tenants, we help with renovation and property advice too). In brief though, it's far from impossible, just longer lead times on builders or building companies, and there is more capacity in some places than others. As this is a "Welcome" thread I'll leave it there to not bog this page down, and to accept your contact request so we can continue the conversation! - Elizabeth

Hello all,

This is my "short" introduction. I've really enjoyed spelunking around the forum and reading the guides and posts from staff and members, bravo.

In short, I'm leaving the USA, I just can't TAKE it any longer, it's insufferable. I'm near retirement age, semi retired with some funds. I ruled out retirement to JP and the PH due to climate etc.

I have some things to sell and wrap up here in the states and hope I can make the move in the next 4 - 6 months. I watched many dozens of videos and read countless guides and postings.

I have some correspondence with someone that will provide relocation assistance for a fee, She has a youtube channel, vlog etc.I like her. Having said that I would really appreciate any referrals or advice or tidbits as I ask questions here, thanks in advance!

I do not yet have a location in mind except to say that I'm accustomed to cooler climate, I'm a very quiet person and I l need my solitude. Inner city life in an apartment probably is not for me. (unless I just can't find anything else and need a landing place)

Feel free to HMU anytime with your suggestions and contact info for housing and various resources in PT.

Thanks in advance, I look forward to getting to know folks on the forum.

Cheers

@BOONDOCK-SAINT

Hello and welcome !

Thank you for your introduction ^^

I would advise that you open a new thread on the Portugal forum to post a few specific questions so that members may share their views and feedback with you.

It will help you gather information quicker.

All the best

Bhavna

@Julien

Greetings Julien,聽 聽We are Chip and Marjorie Randall.聽 Two retired school teachers.聽 We are thinking about retirement in Portugal and to that end, we will be visiting Portugal in early September for about three weeks.聽 Right now we are exploring the internet for information that might be useful for us.聽 That is how we came to find your organization.聽

Thanks so much for getting back to us.聽 Perhaps you could lead us to information that would be useful in our investigation.

Yours,聽 聽Chip and Marjorie Randall

@chiprandall

Hello and welcome !

草榴社区 is a social network dedicated to 草榴社区riation. The forum section relies on members to help each other (expats and expats to be) I would suggest that you read the Living in Portugal guide for expatsfor all the primary info and that you start a new topic on the Portugal forum by posting some specific questions so that members can guide you.

All the best

Bhavna

Hi.

Andy and Lou planning to move in Jan 2025. Rental house sorted, bank account and NIF sorted just a million other things to do now. I've asked a question about 1st visa application in UK Portuguese embassy and have a few other but need to have a good look here first as I'm sure they have been asked.

Can't wait now really can't wait.

Hi Andy, Welcome.

Some help here:

Experience sharing about Visas to Portugal (D7 & others)

/forum/viewtopic.php?id=971460

Residence Rights in Portugal for UK citizens after BREXIT

/forum/viewtopic.php?id=908742

Regards

Boa tarde friends,

We are Matthew and Katherine Heffernan and moved to聽 Viana do Castelo from Calgary, Canada last year.聽 We are currently in the process of purchasing a quinta near Ponte de Lima (northern Portugal).

We brought our dog Jasper with us and look forward to getting to know others in our new community.聽 I look forward to browsing through the site to find assistance on locating vets, doctors, the drivers license process etc.

We absolutely love it here and the people are outstanding.聽 Everyone is so eager to help and ensure we have a good experience.聽 聽

I wish you all a great day,

Katherine

By. I'm hira rafiq.... From Pakistan... I'm living in Lahore with NY 3 years old son. I'm a BS degree holder and want to study future in purugal..... I want to move there with my little kid. And want some help how to get start move

Hi @Hira,

Purugal doesn't exist, OK?

If you're referring to Portugal, you'll need to enquire at the Portuguese consulate about available visas. I would like to inform you that immigration rules have changed, they are very strict now, and a work contract is now required in order to be granted you a visa.

@Bhavna

Good morning, please I need accommodation near ISCTE University institute of Lisbon Portugal for the family of 4. Thank you

@japfetmerchant

Hello !

Feel free to post an advert in the Housing in Portugal section to receive offers from members. You will also find some tips by reading the articles under the Accommodation in Portugal section.

All the best

Bhavna

@RepairBill Welcome!

@Julien how do I post to this topic/forum? Sorry I can't quote figure it out.

@Edamama

Hello and welcome, you just type your message and click on send.,submit.

Regards

@Julien

Hello, We are thinking seriously about relocating abroad and Portugal so far seems like a good fit based on our research.聽 We are in our mid-70鈥檚 and currently live to the south of Seattle in Washington.聽 While we are not wealthy, we are financially solvent.聽 We both still work part time but would be fully retired when we moved. Several things would have to take place before we could relocate, one being my full knee replacement in a few weeks!聽 Another event would be the sale of our home.聽 We are leaning towards the D7 visa program, We would forgo trying to bring any vehicles, and would ship as little as possible in personal belongings. So far what we have read makes Portugal sound like a great place for an expat but we would like to hear from those that live there.聽 I have traveled much more internationally than my partner as I have been to Asia, the South Pacific, Central and South America, Mexico, England, Italy and France but i never made it to Spain or Portugal鈥�yet.聽 the temperate weather appeals to us and also, if you can belueve what you read, it sounds like it can be affordable and it is fairly safe. We enjoy long walks dancing (my partner is a choreographer), cooking聽 and social activities of all kinds but especially music!聽 We do have pets so that is another thing we have to throw into our logistical bucket!聽 We look forward to hearing from anyone who would be willing to give us information. thanks so much! G鈥檓a

We came here from Seattle.聽 It's sure worth a visit or two.聽 A lot depends on what exactly you really want.

Will the language be a problem?聽 Probably, but if you want to live in one of the more ex-pat heavy areas (and you have the financial resources), it's a less pressing problem.)聽 Reading historical accounts I get the impression people used to go around learning languages like changing their clothes, but it seems to be getting a lot harder these days.

What about weather, costs? ... depends on where.

Getting in on social life?聽 Of course that relates to the language issue, and then there's the type of community - urban, rural, etc.

@Julien we are retired (immigrants) from the USA.

We are awaiting our D7 visa approval from our apartment in Portim茫o. As retired professionals we are seeking a deeper meaning in life and more fulfilling spiritual experiences in our future. We will gladly be of service to anyone on the site if they have questions about our move.

Hey. New here. Moving to Porto in a month.

Hello Guys and Girls, I am Kyle A carpenter and mechanic, My Fiance is Linda (retired) and we have just completed the purchase of our new home near Envendos,

My may concern is the availability of good quality treated 4x2 and the price if any of you Guys and Girls have any suggestions/knowledge i would be grateful.

Best Regards.

Hello again, does anyone know the complications and duty to be paid in importing my own聽 Tanalised treated timber for the construction of our house ??

Tanalith treated lumber is I think fairly commonly available in Portugal.聽 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, but really have no idea.

Wood construction is rare here, and I think DIY anything is less common than where I used to live in the US, and reflected in retail availability.聽 There's lumber, it just isn't as conspicuously available.聽 Which is kind of ironic, as Portugal has a big wood products industry and would have a lot less trouble with forest fires if more of the land were in the native oak forest that I think largely was deliberately replaced with fast and straight growing pine and eucalyptus.

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.聽 A house like that tends to be a comfortable refuge on hot afternoons.聽 Also cold and damp in the winter, but you can't have everything.

Hello all, so I'm planning to retire to Portugal late 2025. I'm currently looking to book Portuguese language classes so I can have a decent grasp of the language beforehand. I am now single and alone, looking to eventually regain a EU passport. I have holidayed in Portugal. I'm an avid traveler who enjoys getting about, also soaking up the local way of life. I'm not going there for fish and chips or English culture - done that!

I enjoy fishing, history and wildlife.

@Julien Thank you for the inclusion! My husband and I are seriously considering uprooting from Oregon to relocate to Portugal and would love to be as informed as possible. My husband is a retired Combat Medic and I am currently a Procurement Contract Specialist focusing in IT for the state. We love traveling and have two 3 year old Weimaraners who are our world. We welcome any experience, questions and advice and look forward to being a more permanent fixture in the global social stratosphere .

Hi @bfrangelica,

Welcome.

Feel free to open a new thread with more specific questions to make it easier for forum members to answer you.

Experience sharing about Visas to Portugal (D7 & others)

/forum/viewtopic.php?id=971460

Best Regards

Hello everyone!

My name is Marc, and I'm excited to be a part of this community. I run a solar panel installation company called [link moderated], based in the Algarve. We specialize in providing sustainable energy solutions for homes across the region.

Portugal has been an incredible experience so far. I love the sunshine, the vibrant culture, and the welcoming community here. When I'm not working, I enjoy exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Algarve, from the stunning beaches to the scenic hiking trails.

I'm looking forward to connecting with fellow expats, sharing experiences, and learning from each other. If you ever have questions about solar energy or need advice on making your home more energy-efficient, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.

Looking forward to getting to know you all better!

Cheers,

Hi...I'm Rohini. Living in Chicago. Excited to be joining this community. I have traveled to 65+ countries. Born and raised in the US. Lived in NYC, San Fran, DC, and Chicago.聽 Thinking about moving to Portugal.

Would love to learn what a good budget is for single people? Experiences of living in Europe compared to US.

Thanks!

Rohini

My name is Marc, and I'm excited to be a part of this community. I run a solar panel installation company called [link under review], based in the Algarve. We specialize in providing sustainable energy solutions for homes across the region.聽 聽 -@marcelgdedden

Hi Mark, Welcome.

You can add your company to the portuguese renewable energy portal (category = solar)

And also on these useful directories:

Algarve English-speaking business directory:

and

P谩ginas Amarelas website:

Hi...I'm Rohini. Living in Chicago.Would love to learn what a good budget is for single people? Experiences of living in Europe compared to US.聽 聽 -@rgp102

Hi and Welcome.

It all depends on your lifestyle. You should at least secure the minimum to be given you a visa (approx 1200 eur/month).

Here's a site about comparing prices, for example between 2 Portuguese cities (Lisbon and Aveiro). You can choose others:

Please see also the answer given in #76 in this thread.