Moving to Portugal in 2024: How Much Does it REALLY Cost?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Are you moving to Portugal in 2024? When we moved to Portugal last year, we knew our living expenses in Portugal would be lower. But the costs of moving to Portugal from the U.S. can be expensive. Costs include planning your Portugal scouting trip(s), shipping items to Portugal, housing costs, Portugal visa costs, and more can add up quickly. In this video, we break down some of the most common costs of moving to Portugal, share our story and some of our expenses when we moved to Portugal, and include tips to save you time and money.
The information in this video is based on moving with a D7 visa in Portugal. If you plan to be a digital nomad in Portugal and apply for the D8 visa, your costs will be lower. However, whether you plan to retire in Portugal or become a digital nomad, this video includes information to help you create a realistic budget for moving abroad.
If you find this information helpful, and want to see more content about living and working abroad, please subscribe, hit the like button, and click the bell notification so you never miss a new video.
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🔗 LINKS
Here are some links mentioned in the video.
[VIDEO] Decluttering Stuff: We Got Rid of 90% of Everything We Owned 12 Years Ago… Did We Stick With It?
• Decluttering Stuff: We...
[VIDEO] How Much We Made on Airbnb: In-Law Apartment Renovation
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[VIDEO] Buying Real Estate in Portugal: Choosing the Best Location and Property
• Buying Real Estate in ...
[ARTICLE] Ship a Car to Portugal
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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
01:40 Visa Application Costs
04:43 Travel Costs
11:16 Housing Costs
15:24 Furnishing Costs
17:46 Moving Costs
18:47 Car Costs
21:52 Lessons Learned
👋🏻 ABOUT US
Hi, we’re Matt and Dawn, The Unretirees. As we approached the traditional retirement age, we realized we had no desire to retire. But we didn’t want to put off our dreams of living abroad and traveling the world, either. We decided to unretire abroad. We live on the Silver Coast of Portugal and work remotely. Subscribe to our channel for more content about expat life, remote work, and travel and adventure over 50.
We spent about 7k on our first trip which was 35 days long and included one week in the Azores. On this trip we made an offer on a house in a small village in central PT. Our second trip was about 120 days later and on that trip we closed on our home and moved in within 7 days of arriving in the country. The home came with everything in it including way more furniture as well as linens and kitchenware than we would ever need, we donated some of the excess to the community and bought only new beds for each room. We spent 75 days on the second trip and are currently back in the US. On this second trip we purchased a very nice used car. We have tickets for the end of this month (July) and will stay 86 days this trip and when we return after this trip we will apply for our visas. Our total expenses are just over $100,000 including the house, the car, and all travel expenses. Our house is about 1,200 sq ft and is an old farm house in excellent living condition the property also includes a second home the same size that has a good roof and walls but in need of a full restoration, there is a habitation license on each and a very nice 3,500 sq meter land with established fruit trees, olives, grapes, oranges, cherries, etc. we did everything ourselves such as NIF and bank account along with help from our estate agent. We have found the experience to be very fulfilling life experience. This upcoming trip will be our first summer month and we are looking forward to our first trip devoted to relaxation only.
Thanks for watching @SarahDeshay and congratulations! There are some great places in central Portugal and I hope the next trip and the visas go smoothly! We had very little drama with our visas, so we’ll hope the same for you!
Hello Sara. Which part of Portugal did you move to? I'm looking to relocate from the UK
This sounds like heaven. I don’t like fast pace hustle and bustle! A farm with fruit trees and a garden! ❤❤❤ heaven!
I am Portuguese, lived in various countries in diferent continents, including USA. I have an advice for Americans, do not move permanently to any country, before you lived there. Remember, Portugal is part of the EU so you better check the laws. From experience, I would not bring electric appliances, furniture, unless it is a family heirloom or a car, from USA or worst from a country with, left side steering wheel. Remember, if you move believing you will find a USA version in that country, it is not going to happen. You have to be open and ready for a change, 'downsize', if not ,your are going to be miserable. If your only incentive to move is low cost of living, do not MOVE. You can move to another state.
All good advice @odetemoura6786 ! Thanks for watching!
Spot on! Totally agree 👍
What if your incentive is a sort of "political asylum" because a certain president and his red hat party are going to rip away our constitution and turn our political system upside down
You’re absolutely right. Unfortunately it seems people don’t use their brains and tend to let their imagination and fairytale mentality guide them. Perhaps that’s the reason they are in the condition they are in to start with.
"...or worst from a country with, left side steering wheel." In Portugal, people drive on the right-hand side of the road, just like in the USA. Therefore, I would prefer a vehicle with a left-hand steering wheel. 🙂
I am American who has been living abroad for 20 years. From experience and observation, I would never purchase a house in a country I have not lived in for at least 6 months - 1 year... preferably more. For me, the best way to move to a foreign country is to rent in different areas over a year or two to get a feel for each area. Rents in Europe can be very cheap compared to the US, so why rush? The logistics of purchasing from abroad can become a nightmare, and for most, purchasing a home is too big an investment to just jump the gun on. Take your time, unless you are looking at it as a rental property, then location considerations are more about the best opportunities to rent the home out than to live in. Also, don't ship cars or furniture to that country. Just purchase in the country. I know people who shipped cars and motorcycles only to find out that after the customs taxes, VAT, conversion costs, crating/shipping, etc. they could have purchase brand new or slightly used for far less, and ended up with a vehicle that is proper for that country. Also, forget appliances from the US unless the appliance is 220v capable. In other words, forget scouting trips. Just move with as little as possible, explore and enjoy the country first, then make your bigger moves in steps once you have the proper information from which to act. Just my humble opinion.
Thanks for watching and we agree with most everything. For us - and maybe not for everyone - it made sense to buy when we did, but we understand that for many people, especially those that haven’t done extensive scouting, renting and then deciding where to buy is the best option. Fully agree on not shipping things. Time and time again we talk with people who shipped from the US or UK and then ended up getting rid of things anyway. Better to purge and start fresh.
@@TheUnretirees As you do say, each situation is different, but yes, it's so different from moving to another state. Better to go minimalist. Very few cultures are as consumerist as the US. We just don't need all that stuff, IMHO. :) Very informative work on these videos. Thank you.
lol, it is so very different than just moving to a different state! Thanks again!
Exactly what I would do. Americans want to come here and buy and try to make money. Damn, greed gets old. Just relax and enjoy the country and its people.
Thanks
This video really resonated with me. We are Americans that moved to Lisbon officially in June 2024. Although we are renting, we experienced all the things you shared. It certainly has been eye opening and far more costly than we expected. So far we love it and are happy with our choices but I do wish we had information like this prior to our move. If you come to Lisbon please reach out, we’d love to meet for cocktails and share stories. Thanks for sharing!
Yes! We’d love to connect next time we’re in Lisbon and hear more about your experience. Feel free to email us at hello@theunretirees to connect. Thanks for watching!
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You guys love to suffer. Just rent!!!
That was eye-opening. I've been watching videos about moving to Portugal from the U.S. for a few years and this was the most comprehensive regarding upfront costs.
Thanks…it really was the video we wished had been around when we were planning our move. No doubt, the biggest cost was the scouting trips and one could move without doing as many as we did, but we don’t regret it on this side of the move.
All in all a pretty accurate cost assessment. We're in the process of moving to Portugal from the southwest US so our travel costs have been a lot more but the rest of our expenses have been in line with yours. We purchased a house that we closed on 8 months ago and fortunately it was furnished so at least we have something to start with. Our house in Portugal is much smaller than our house in the US so nearly everything will be sold. Furniture is much more expensive in Portugal and we'll be in a village and not a city so we need a car. Importing a car from the US can have issues. The car has to be modified to meet their specs and sometimes it never passes inspection and all of this takes a very long time. Save yourself the trouble and buy a car in Portugal unless you're already coming from the EU and be prepared for the cost. Thanks for the video, I learned a few things!
Thanks for watching @wallywal6139 and good luck on the rest of your move! Yes, shipping a car is not for the faint of heart for sure. Even cars purchased in Spain need modifications and money! We didn’t do it and unless you have an emotional attachment to a car, it’s likely best to sell it in the home country and buy something here, if you need it. Thanks for the added info!
Wow, what great information! Like you said, this is the video you wish you had had... I haven't seen anyone else break it down like this. Really great things to consider, plus info in the comments.
Thanks for watching @MirandaHorger. The living here is great….the getting here was a bit expensive, lol.
Excellent video, one of the best I’ve seen !
Thanks for watching! It certainly cost more than we expected, though a lot of that was us doing multiple scouting trips and needing to furnish. But it's not for the faint-hearted for sure.
You're a beautiful couple, and your kindness and generosity shine through in every video you share. Wishing you an abundance of joy, health, and a touch of magical good fortune. I’m currently preparing for my move to Portugal, and I’m so glad to have discovered you! I look forward to following your inspiring journey.
Thanks so much for watching and your kind words. Hoping your move goes smoothly!
Really helpful information that can apply to moving to other countries as well as Portugal. People underestimate the money, time and effort it requires to move abroad. It's not as easy as moving within the same country. Thanks for sharing a realistic assessment of the costs involved!
Thanks for watching @lindadorman2869 and we appreciate the kind words!
I would love to know more about Moving Dogs. Thank you. This is incredibly helpful.
Thanks for watching- we have a video about moving pets right here: How to Move to Portugal With Your Pet (4 Steps)
th-cam.com/video/8sa023cvXsQ/w-d-xo.html
These videos are great. I did much more in scouting over three years but was to find most comfortable area based on my criteria. The only thing I would add is cost of renovations and repairs are generally running over twice original estimates due to demand. So might be worth owners doubling estimates of renovations in money and time expense to be more accurate.
This is my experience in the real world in Porto
Thanks for watching and that’s good to know. We didn’t need to do any renovations here (other than painting inside and some exterior repair and paint) so we appreciate you adding this perspective.
Very enjoyable and informative.
Thanks for watching!!
One of the better informational videos I've seen. Thank you 😊
Thanks for watching @katdodd5801 and it’s what I wished we could have watched before we moved! We don’t regret moving for sure, but it would have helped in our planning.
Good general information 👍
A lot of scouting and transition costs are unique in your case,
Other people might decide to tackle it differently, like a longer scouting trip,
Renting a furnished apartment for the first 6 months of a year till you understand the pros and cons of the system.
Thanks for watching. In most situations, you’d be required to rent a place for 12 months as part of your visa process, but yes, a lot of people rent for a while before buying in order to have more time to explore options.
I enjoy watching your videos! Thank you for all your tips!
Thanks for watching @ivonan919 and we’re glad these are helpful!
In regards importing a car to Portugal, you can obtain a vat and IMT(car duty) exemption certificate when you have your interview to get your Visa.
The exemption applies to household goods including one vehicle per person that must have been owned and registered in the originating country of the applicant for a minimum period of possibly 6 or 12 months prior to importation. You will have to check. Different time periods are stated on different sources. The process is quite complex and it probably would be best to talk to ACP ( equivalent of AAA or AA) in Portugal.
There is a 5 year tapered VAT clawback if you sell your car within this period. After 5 years you are free entirely to sell without vat liability.
Thanks for watching and for the additional info @RushmoorFizzbomb
I understand the car is considered "a used car" after 6 months on the road and the cost drops considerably when you're moving permanently to Portugal.
A car can be shipped in a container with all the furniture and household goods. Just 5 years ago a friend and her husband shipped two cars and all the contents of their house from Massachusetts to Portugal (Alentejo region) for $10,000. They paid a small tax amount. The registration cost is higher than in the Northeast.
I read some comments about buying a property in Portugal.
Best tips I can give are two:
1) Get your own lawyer specialized in real estate. Agents get their money from the seller, one of them even admitted they have a conflict of interest with the buyer.
2) Find an architect or construction engineer to inspect the property prior to buying or sign a CPVC. Be warned the building quality can be awfull and masked by a quick make-over renovation that hides humidity/mold problems.
Do not rely on a notary to check paperwork and licences!
Good tips @ervie60 !
Very informative. Thanks.
Thanks for watching @user-yu2qk8yx9c
Excellent video, very informative and clear.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for sharing. Seems like it may be better to rent to begin with, then find a home to reduce trips, etc…
Thanks for watching @nikij.6058 and a lot of people do rent for a year or more before buying (if they buy at all). We don’t regret buying as we did because rates were still low, exchange rates were attractive, and we had firmly decided on an area to live. It also allowed us to rent it out before we moved so we didn’t face the double rent situation. But most people rent to start for sure.
Adorei o video!
Obrigado!
Thank you for this! You’re never to old!!!
Thanks so much @vickie3237 !
I have lived in beautiful Portugal for 13 years. There is a saying amongst British ex-pats " You can make a small fortune in Portugal but only if you had a big one to start with!"
lol, thanks for watching
Excellent information 👍 THANK YOU
Obrigado!!
A bit unrealistic based on my experience, we made a 35 day scouting trip and spent less than $7k for everything including a week in the Azores and all airfare from US. We averaged less than €60/ day in lodging and always had a kitchen, a car can be rented for less than €200 for the month (if you don’t buy insurance). We explored most of the northern half of the country decided on an area, and made an offer, had it accepted, and signed promissory all before we left. We returned 4 months later (10 day delay to contract per seller) to finalize our purchase and moved in two days later. We decided not to continue spending outrageous amounts of money looking for the best deal considering that the cost to do so not including airfare is at a minimum €100 each day. Using this logic we figured that on our small housing budget that as long as we found a comfortable home that we could move into immediately, that was within our budget we should make a commitment immediately. 18 months since our visit and we will soon make our fourth trip for another 90 day to our home and we couldn’t be happier with our decisions. Once our grand baby gets a little older we will be applying for our visas and make our move permanent.
Thanks for watching and congrats!!
Wonderful presentation and information and yes, I’m scared 😨 off now;-)
Well, we scouting trips and furnishings were where a lot of $ went. It is possible to do it with just one scouting trip and to rent a furnished apartment to start…then the biggest “expense” is funding a bank account - but that money frees up once you’ve had your final immigration meeting. Best of luck!
"There will be unexpected things that will be out of your control." = always - GREAT job!
lol @laura_and_shanman and the unexpected happens again and again!
Yes!! A video please on moving your dog!!
Thanks for watching @Mialovesphoto and, yes, doing a video on the process of getting Riley to Portugal would be good. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@TheUnretireeswould really love to hear more about moving your dog. We have two Great Pyrenees that will be coming with us!
Yes, I have three large fur babies!
Definitely need to learn about the process of getting 2 small dogs to Portugal. Thanks!!
I was born in Texas, grew up in north Mexico and come back to Texas as a teenager as a 14-year-old. I married with a Brazilian and we are thinking of moving in Portugal or Spain. We speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese, so we can live in several places. We did our first trip to Europe and visited Madrid, Lisbon, and Milan, and we like the most Lisbon from those 3 cities more family place. I think we need 3 more trips, one trip to Porto and north Spain, second trip to Algarve and south Spain, and last trip to Azores, Madeira (both Portugal) and Canarias Islands (Spain), then we can decide where to move as FIRE or Financial Independence.
Thanks for watching and so many great options for you! We loved Madeira and nearly moved there. But Porto, San Sebastián, Lisbon, Algarve, Seville, etc…all wonderful. There is enough difference in weather and lifestyle for you to find your next perfect place!! Best of luck!
@@TheUnretirees at the beginning I was telling my wife about FIRE and move to Portugal. She wasn’t sure about it then we were visiting the in-laws and she was saying in 7 years we want to retire in Portugal, now I heard her telling her coworkers so I think now is getting serious about this. We are a family of 4 and the twin daughters will be early teens so we need to pick a goo place for all of us.
Good information. We spent about $40k to move and get set up in PT. We left a year later and got back about 50% of that by selling the car, furniture, and getting our rental deposit back. We try to think of the remaining $20k as the price of a year-long vacation in Europe. Even though we didn't like living in Portugal, we're glad we tried. We're especially glad we didn't buy a home in PT and kept our US home, cars, etc. We came back to the states, unlocked the front door and we were home! If you have the means to try, go for it but keep in mind that over 50% of expats leave within the first year and about 80% leave before five years. It isn't for most of us. We're proof. We didn't like it at all (after the first month or so).
Thanks for watching @hikergirl603 and sorry that Portugal didn’t work out for you. We love it so far (more than 8 months in). Hope you’ve found (or returned) to your happy place!
What ended up changing your mind about staying?
Same here.. after for 8 months we decided to come back home. I do love Portugal only for Vacation.
That is very enlightening. We visited the Algarve for about a month. Yes full time is another story. Thank you
What didn't you like about Portugal?
very helpful and comprehensive review......thanks
Thanks so much for watching!!
I would love to know how you moved the dog. I have a dog that can't fly cargo because she is brachycephalic (Boston Terrier), but is too large to fly in the cabin with me. If I'm missed a video on that, let me know!
Thanks for watching. We were able to put our dog in a crate and have him in the luggage hold on our flight. Best of luck!
How do you find a place without speaking the language? Did you hire an agent? Also can you stay there temporarily while your visa is in the process of approval
Thanks for watching! We did not speak the language but many realtors in Portugal (maybe most) speak English. In terms of staying during the visa process, you can but the tourist rules apply - no more than 90 days in any 180 day period. And, when your visa is approved, your passport needs to be mailed from and to a U.S. address.
Wonder why you didn’t buy a car during one of your trips prior to furnishing the upstairs apartment.
Thanks for watching! When we bought our place in Nazaré we were planning to move in 2027 and rent both units until then….but we couldn’t wait!
Great rundown. Really like you guys, must be the similarity in age. The comment section is a laugh. Anyway, seen the Algarve, next stop the Silver Coast. Keep well
Subscribed😅
Thanks for watching and some of the comments are … great :). The Silver Coast has a different vibe from the Algarve for sure!
ask any portuguese how it is when they want to come to the usa?
and how long it takes to get any visa
you are so lucky please dont complain
Thanks for watching and we have no complaints.
Great video, thanks!
But....$100/day for car rental? Wow! We're currently in ALbufeira on the Algarve coat and our car rental is costing us 49 euros total for a week! (7 euros a day), and our 5 week stay at an AirBNB is costing us $1000. I guess you went in peak season?
Thanks for watching, and maybe it was different in and out of Porto or Lisbon. The stated rates were something like €60 but with insurance and Via Verde it ended up close to €100. Glad you got such a good deal!!
I would love a video on the social aspect of moving to Portugal. How easy or difficult it is to make friends.
Thanks for watching @annelizevandy2825 and that’s a good idea. In many places in Portugal, there are expat meetups and everyone is in a similar situation having relocated to Portugal, so making friends there is easy. Also, if you are so inclined, some churches have English services, so another great place. In terms of making friends with someone who is Portuguese, we haven’t been able to do that but we also need to be better about learning and speaking Portuguese.
I did everything myself in 2019. I did this before I left the US so I had the visa when I arrived. The process was a little tedious but not difficult. When I arrived in Portugal, I picked up my NIF, etc. during the first four months I was in Portugal. My issue was dealing with lies from people especially in the real estate business in Portugal. I have been traveling the world for the last couple of years because dealing with liers is down right boring. Hope others don't have the same experience. Only go with the top international RE agencies unless you now many people who have used a local agency successfully.
Thanks for watching @user-cn5ri5 and now they require the NIF as part of the visa process. It is still possible to get a NIF without going thru a third party like Bordr but you need to get one while you are visiting Portugal and have an address in Portugal (or have a friend who will be your representative and who has an address in Portugal). Sorry to hear of your troubles with the real estate people. We had such a good experience with ours, but I’m sure there are plenty of shady people. Best of luck in your travels!
Dude it's basically the same bullshit if you move from Europe our Portugal into the USA you think that my parents back in 1980 didn't have to spend thousands of dollars and deal with shaddy Americans and the American immigrating bureaucracy Shananagas it's all the same no body is getting a special treatment for whatever your nationality is
Why didn’t you wait until your visas were approved? Thanks great info!
Thanks for watching …. And we were eager to get on with our life here. It almost worked out perfectly :). It’s tough just to wait in your home country for an unknown amount of time - maybe you need to sell a home or stop a lease…but the visa approval timeline is unknown. For us, closing down one side and moving here made sense, even without the visa approval and even with Matt needing to go back to the U.S. for a few weeks. All that is temporary though, and once your thru the process, it’s all in the rearview mirror!
Totally makes sense all the costs. Keeping it real!
Ka-Ching.
Thank you! Could you please summarize the method you used for relocating your dog (and how big your dog is)? My spouse and I are in the process of doing this and want to make sure we're going the most sensible route.
Thanks for watching! We actually did a whole video on the process for relocating our pooch: th-cam.com/video/8sa023cvXsQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EQpEAIWzMSXgSZxB
I’m confused about the housing part. What if you buy the home, does that count towards your 12 month? That’s what I’d want to do. Then basically wait until your visa is approved and then you free to move over.
Thanks for watching. If you buy a home that you intend to live in, then that does satisfy the housing requirement.
One question however regarding Italy which was also on your initial list of places to live. If an American does not have ancestral ties to Italy can they buy property to live in or do they have to only rent? I love Europe but have spent most of my time in Italy. Take care all.
Thanks for watching and we believe that non citizens without ancestral ties can buy in Italy without issue.
I am much too old to start a new life in a foreign country. I have decided to make long trips as often as possible! Renew that visa.
No shame in that game! Thanks for watching!
Is there a downside to moving first and then applying for visas once there? Also please do the video on moving with your pets (we have cats and a dog!). Thanks for the useful information.
Thanks for watching! The downside of moving first is that if you’re from the U.S., you can stay only 90 days in any 180 day period. Also, you will need to apply for visas in person in a US office. Finally, you won’t know that you are approved until you are approved…it could come back rejected. In terms of moving with pets, we have a video: th-cam.com/video/8sa023cvXsQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E9oM8XfPceWeXfph
very informative
Thanks for watching!!
Good info. Which is why hiring an attorney, and a tax professional will save you gobs of money. For example if a business wishes to expand its operations all of these costs for the most part are a tax deductible expense in the united states. As such Transportation, lodging, etc for the move are deductible. Indeed, if you have maintained your corporate location in the us, then this temporary housing can also be written off. For some, it may seem extremely expensive but the offset for us is that we get to expand our business to europe. Thank you though for such amazing info
Thanks for watching and for this good information! I wish in our situation we had a tax deductible way to move, but you are right that some people do! Professional help is important for sure
Thank you for this extremely informative video!
My spouse and I are about your age, and we've been looking into health insurance, but it's so expensive! I was shocked to hear of the affordable plan you have! May I ask what company it's through?
We are healthy and can pay out of pocket for routine check-ups. Looking for the bare-bone requirements to satisfy the visa rules.
Thanks! 😊
Thanks for watching. The visa requirement is different than what you would have once you’re here. We use Medis for health care and then added a medical concierge service, Serenity. We did use a broker for getting our health insurance. Best of luck!
@TheUnretirees Thank you so much!!! Much appreciated!!!
One major thing that was not mentioned was the hit you take when converting your U.S. dollar to euros.
Yep, that’s true @donnal7414 and at the moment it’s about $1.07 for €1, but that changes over time. When we moved the bulk of funds over to buy our home in Sep/Oct 2022, there were a few magical weeks where the dollar was stronger than the Euro, so it was great for us. But that was an unusual few weeks.
I’m for the US and I’m interested in more information on the process of moving your dog. How specifically did they get there? I’m not a fan of putting my pet in a cargo hold on a plane and she’s too big to be allowed in the plane. Thanks in advance
Thanks for watching and we have a whole video on moving a pet from the US to Portugal. We did put our dog in the luggage hold and it worked well for us, but check out the video as we go into the various options. th-cam.com/video/8sa023cvXsQ/w-d-xo.html
Thank you
I was looking seriously into moving to Portugal as a retiree recently and even booked a long scouting trip but then I found out that the tax benefits for passive income have ended and as far as I understand the tax on my small monthly income of about €11,500 would have over a 26% tax. That means I would be losing over a quarter of my income every month and having to set that aside to pay taxes every year. I really wanted to move to Portugal but I am looking at countries like Greece now instead. Greece has a 7% flat tax on passive pension income.
There is talk of reviving some sort of version of NHR, the package of tax benefits designed to attract expats, but it hasn’t happened yet. Best of luck - Greece isn’t a bad option!!
Wow, I'm glad you said that, as that makes moving to Portugal off the table for me - especially since I would still have to pay taxes in America. i don't know how they think people could do that - you'd go bankrupt!
Can I place $$ in the bank in Portugal from the US as account to grow now??
Is it safe??
Thanks for watching, and you can put $$ into a Portugal account. You may have to shop around for interest-bearing accounts. In terms of safety, I don’t know if there is an FDIC equivalent here. Obrigado!
Can you provide a breakdown of everyday living expenses including deposits and monthly costs for utilities, internet, mobile, insurance (health and home owners), annual property taxes, and costs/process to get a drivers license?
Maybe in the future but it’s less expensive for many things here but not all. For example, internet + cable + 2 mobile phone lines is €65. Property taxes are approx 0.2% of a home’s value. Health insurance for public health care is $0 and for private health care can run from €50/mon to €200/mon depending on a lot of factors.
I have an EU passport and dont plan on buying a house, I plan on renting a furnished apartment in the Gaia or Porto area for at least 6 months to start out.
I will keep my Medicare part A for visits to the US but will probably let my Part B go.
I don't believe I will need any visas to live in Portugal with the EU passport but are there any other hidden costs I should be aware of?
Thanks for watching and as a non-expert, out understanding is that with an EU passport you just need to register with the Finançes office (online or in person), which is free. Otherwise, we can’t think of any costs. Thanks for watching!
Your car rental fees seem excessive. I am finding them at $9-$20 a day. Why is there such a difference from what you paid?
Probably because we needed a larger vehicle because we were buying furniture to furnish the properties. Thanks for watching!
I have a D7 visa and it took us exactly 2 months for the entire process. Everything was done in DC.
Thanks for watching and each VFS location has such different timing….and we’re not sure we know why….is it the VFS office itself? The local Portuguese consulate? Something else? Anyway, it takes as long as it takes. Glad yours was a pretty short timeline!
Are the Portuguese still welcoming of foreign tourists and immigrants? I've heard conflicting stories, but several that have said they want foreigners to leave and are less and less welcoming of visitors in general. Is this true? I've heard the same thing about other countries across southern Europe. Just tired of all the congestion and the effects of tourists and immigrants on housing costs and cost of living in general.
Thanks for watching and while we can’t speak for everyone, we have had no personal experience of people being anything other than welcoming.
When you have citizenship (something you have to look into) , your health info and bank card # are on your cartao citadao (citizen card). Once you have your citizen card, transactions and healthcare are so easy to get.
Thanks for the tip @SenorAspie
Really enjoying your informative videos. We have a Bernedoodle That we want to bring with us from Seattle. Would appreciate any information. Son is researching pup flights. Thanks so much!
Thanks for watching and we have a video about moving a pet to Portugal right here: How to Move to Portugal With Your Pet (4 Steps)
th-cam.com/video/8sa023cvXsQ/w-d-xo.html
Great video!!!!
Thanks for watching and your kind words!
Do you have to pay capital gains in Portugal on the US Home-sales if it’s In the tax year you become Portugal resident. If so, is t it around 50% tax rate
Thanks for watching and, while we haven’t experienced it directly, we understood that you would not pay capital gains tax on a U.S. property here in Portugal. Regardless, capital gains tax is 28% of the gain, but there is a reduction so it really isn’t the full 28%. A tax advisor like FreshIP (or connecting with the Facebook group on Portugal taxes for expats that FreshIP is the admin for) would be the best help! Obrigado!
Crikey. !How many more "retirees" are moving to Portugal and making videos about it sending real estate prices skyrocketing ?
Thanks for watching @TheStunlaw1 .
Do you carry your health insurance from the US or go through the Portuguese health system? Also did you use a Portuguese realtor or guide to show you potential cities and houses or do it all on your own? Do you have a video specifically about bringing your pet over? We have four cats I'd be terrified for them to go in cargo hold on the plane. Do you mind if I ask your ages? Sorry for so many questions. Really enjoying your videos just scratching the surface of them. Great information.
Thanks for watching! In order to get your visa approved, you have to have private health insurance that covers Portugal (and includes shipping you back to your home country if you fall really ill). Once we were in Portugal, we switched to a Portuguese private health insurance (which was cheaper). Once you have residency approved, you can, if you wish, just rely on the public health care system, which costs $0. In terms of realtors, in general a broker who is with a firm (like ReMax or Century 21) will only show you homes that they represent...so we picked cities we were interested in, and then had different agents show us homes in those cities -- in some cities we needed two or three different agents. It's more complicated for sure. You can hire a buyer's agent (which we didn't do but should have considered) who is independent from the brokerage firms and he/she can show you any homes. Finally, in terms of pets, yes, we have a video called "How to Move to Portugal With Your Pet" here on this TH-cam channel. Cats you can bring onto the plane under your seat (I don't know about 4), but we didn't have any trouble bringing our dog and having him stowed with the luggage in his crate. Best of luck!
@@TheUnretirees Thank you for the response and suggestions! As for the cats if necessary we would do two trips or whatever it took. My babies!
Love the video. Me and my family moving there next year. Can I ask you a question? You might know or not the answer but no big deal. If we move there n we have address to provide to the government is that good enough? My cousin have family members that live there? What do they need to give us for us to prove that we will stay there ?
Thanks for watching @tonistojcev6281 and we’re not experts but I believe you would need you and whomever you would be planning to live with complete a TERMO DE RESPONSABILIDADE form. It is basically someone saying to the government that they are taking you in. We didn’t do it so I’d love to hear from someone else who has needed to do this. Thanks!
Well I appreciate all of your videos they are very useful but for me I will have to say God bless America and here is where I stay. 🙂 For all of that cost to move I can probably do okay right where I'm at.
lol and thanks for watching. We love the USA but we also love living in Portugal!
You never mentioned the required deposit for Portugal. Either $250-$500,000?
Thanks for watching. If you are moving to Portugal in a D-7 visa (retirement visa) there is an amount you need to put into an Portuguese bank account-it’s your money but it needs to be in the account and we talk about that in this video. The $250-500,000 only comes into play if you are trying to gain residency thru the golden visa program. If you’re doing a D7, it doesn’t apply. Thanks!
Number one is misleading as only 2k is an actual cost and 13k is just cash on hand for a bank account not a cost. Correct?
We’re not sure it’s misleading since Matt says “It’s your money, it doesn’t go away, you just need to have it in the bank account” in talking about funding the bank account as part of the D7. It is real money, though, that you need to have and can set aside for this process, even if later you can spend it. Thanks for watching!
Come live in São João de Ver, it's cheaper(an 3 room apartment is 140k euros) and is 20 minutes from Oporto!
Thanks for watching. Looks lovely but we’re happy where we are in Nazaré!
Nazaré is very nice.@@TheUnretirees
@@expatwill29 Trucking is an understaffed job.
140k? Minimum 200k.
@@emanuelfer456 it depends on the zone.
Can you address shipping a pet? 🐈🐕🦺Love the detail and how you think through things.
Sure -- maybe we'll do a video on it, but it's a bit complicated. There are a few tricks. First, Portugal has a very specific examination and communication scheme for a pet.
* You need to work with a US vet who is USDA certified (ours was not so we had to go to a different vet than normal).
* The pet needs a specific microchip that is probably different than what it has in the US (ours now has two microchips), and you need to get a microchip certificate from the vet. The microchip needs to be implanted before this next step
* The pet needs to get a new rabies vaccine at least 21 days before you travel to Portugal, unless it has had one within one year of your arrival date. (Note that it doesn't matter if the rabies vaccine doesn't expire for another year or two...it only matters when the last vaccine was given - between 21 days and one year of arrival.)
* The pet needs an exam by a USDA-certified vet within 30 days of travel and the vet needs to send a Health Certificate to the USDA within 10 days of arrival.
* The USDA will return the Health Certificate within 72 hours of arrival (this is really unnecessarily tight, but it is required)
* All vet documentation (rabies certificate, microchip certificate, USDA certificate, etc.) needs to be sent to the vet at whatever Portugal airport you are arriving in at least 48 hours before your arrival.
* Once you arrive at the airport, you need to go to the airport vet, who will have your documentation. They will examine your pet and then give you a signed certificate that, if needed, you show at customs as you are leaving...and then that's it! Ugh.
Oh yeah, we had a difficult time finding airlines who could take our dog in the luggage area since he was too big for under the seat. We were able to fly TAP airlines and have the dog on our flight. We know of several people who have used third-party professional pet movers, but - for us - that was too expensive. We even met two people who have moved their pet by taking a private plane. Anyway, best of luck to you!
@@TheUnretireeswonderful detail. I feel more confident about the process now knowing what is expected. I have watched nearly all your videos-brilliant work-excellent teachers!
Im very interested in moving dogs and your $1200 cost. I dont want my dogs in cargo. Please do a video ❤️🙏
Thanks for watching and we do have a video on this channel about moving a pet to Portugal! Check it out!
I would love to know more about moving the dog. We will be moving with 3 dogs and 4 cats. Can 2 small dogs be in one crate? And also can more than 1 cat be in a single crate?
That’s a great question. I don’t know the answer about more than one pet in a crate, but we do have a full video about moving with a pet. Hope it helps. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the details. Also consider your heritage. Maybe you qualify for a Euro passport. Granddad from euro? I think you need longer to first figure out a region and then figure out a town. Only then start looking at places. No point in falling for a house in a location that it turns out later you hate. The house better be great because you won't be leaving it. You would need way more time for France/Italy since they have so many such distinct regions. You really do need to find a region, find a town and only then start looing for a house. So many many weeks needed. Also summer vs fall. Are you ready for the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter? How much for electrical prices during summer days when you want A/C? Many of the villages around Lake Como are deserted in the winter. Your dream lake front place in July might be an abandoned town for months of the winter. Strong yes on manual transmission in cars. You will be paying more across Europe to rent cars if you can only handle automatic. If your older think of the nearest medical care. That remote cottage that looks across a valley is very pretty until you need an ambulance and its 90 min's away so your three hours from a hospital. Repair work needed? Don't bring USA presumptions on time and cost. Expect everyone in town to know that yanks bought the Sainz family place and so you will be the talk of the town for the next month. Everyone will be looking for history and motive. Chapter marks please.
Thanks for watching @itsthegoodstuff and for all the additional things to consider.
I heard that some European countries will expect seniors to pay taxes on the pensions they get from their home country. Know anything about that?
Thanks for watching and taxation is a really important to research before making a final decision. It looks to us that government pensions are not taxed here but social security is. We’re not yet collecting social security so this is just from a web search. However, it’s a good thing to speak with a tax expert like FreshIP before making a final decision.
@@TheUnretirees TY
@S.L.S.-407 Some countries do tax pensions. Depends on the country. Best thing to do is to consult a tax attorney in the country you’re considering moving to, to get the correct info for your individual tax situation.
In my own situation for Portugal, my government pension will not be taxed until I’m both a resident of Portugal AND become a citizen of Portugal (both things have to apply). I do not qualify for the Non-Habitual Resident tax break (NHR), which doesn’t matter for my situation, anyway.
When I’m both a resident and a citizen of Portugal, I will be taxed at the appropriate rate on my pension income. The Double Taxation Treaty (DTT) will also apply. I will pay the DIFFERENCE between what I owe to the US and what I will owe to Portugal. Also, I will likely have tax write-offs that will reduce the amount of taxes I owe.
Again, consult a tax attorney in the country you’re considering for your own individual situation. And, of course, things are subject to change. What is true now, may not be later on…
@@PinkieSmith - Thank you for your fulsome reply. : )
A BANK DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE????
Oh, not at all. The bank deposit is required to be in the bank at your VFS appointment and your AIMA appointment once you move here, but it is your money and you can withdraw it after that. Obrigado!
What is your tax yearly?, I will not be working and living off just social security, with a large savings account, What would you think my taxes would be on my social security as opposed to Spain.
Thanks for watching @brettcutler6117 and I wish we could help but we’re not tax experts.
The cheapest way to move is to leave most of your stuff here and move to a furnished apartment overseas. You might consider renting your house.
Thanks for watching and it certainly is cheaper to not ship anything. While we were able to leave all our furniture because our US place is a short-term rental now, there are some hassles (and maybe cash flow issues) of being a landlord to a property that is an ocean away. We have found it expensive to have to hire a handyman to do simple things that we would have done ourselves, for example.
Hi! When my partner applied for a long-term Visa in France, he only needed to put down (as an address) an Airbnb for one month.
Do you know if we can just use an Airbnb rental like this for the Portuguese D-7 Visa? Or do we have to have a long-term lease on an apartment or other rental (we aren’t going to buy now)? Thank you if you can provide any guidance!
No expert on this, and since we bought here before moving here it wasn’t our experience. But I believe the requirement is a 12-month (or longer) lease and that an AirBNB for a month or so won’t work. There are laws that allow renters to exit leases early, but again not an expert. Thanks for watching!
@@TheUnretirees thank you, I guess I’ll have to investigate more. Thanks for your experience!
Why isn’t there a high level summary or something, such a long video
lol, it isn’t TikTok but here you go - it costs more to move to Portugal than you think it will and it will cost less than you think to live here once you move. Thanks for watching!
Yes I know this isn’t tik tok, are you saying I’m stupid?
I watched the video on 1.5times speed, you could have said what you needed in 6 minutes or less.
The information, wasn’t really worth it in the end.
✌🏾
Rent for a year in big city and find your next more permanent place during the year. Rent cars when you need one. Keep it simple. Keep airplane trips back and forth minimal. Everything takes time and so relax! Have fun and a toast for the adventure!
Thanks for watching and for a lot of people that makes sense! We're not disappointed we did it the way we did, but it's not the best for everyone.
Hi team. Couldn't you simply book a cheap hotel as your accom address for visa? ty 4 vid
Thanks for watching but unfortunately no. You need to have a lease that is registered with a Portuguese government office. It’s a bit of a drag for sure, unless you have friends or relatives who live in PT and you apply with that as your address. Otherwise, you’re paying a lease for a rental that you may not be able to use. I understand why it’s a requirement but there is already the income and asset test which you would think eliminates the risk of having someone come here and immediately be homeless. Above my pay grade for sure!
So it’s an initial investment of 15,000 non refundable dollars per person?
Thanks for watching and once you have your AIMA meeting you don’t need to keep that money in there, so you can spend it down or transfer it out.
$3000 for the car? We rented a car for one month and the cost was 600 euros with the insurance.
Thanks for watching and you got a deal! The rates at the common car rental places were about $100 a day including the insurance.
Isn't it mandatory to take Portuguese language classes too ?
Portuguese language classes aren’t required for residency but you do need to pass a language test if/when you apply for citizenship. Thanks for watching!
Is purchasing property a requirement for a D7 visa?
Thanks for watching…and no, purchasing a property is not a requirement. The requirement is that you have a place to live…so that can be a purchase or a lease to rent.
Could you do a list please...
I get lost in the talk although I appreciate it
I see cost ...I will write it down
Thank you
I would want to ship car
Good feedback! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching!
You can ship a car….but it may be costly to ship and once here a mechanic will need to make adjustments to it before you can drive it. There are some specific requirements for cars here, so many people find it’s just not worth it. But it all depends on your car and how attached to it you are.
I am working as a Principal and will retire on December 25, I am also thinking of moving to Europe as my daughter is in Germany on blue. Should I move on D7 visa or on family reunion Visa in Germany? If possible, can you please 🙏 advise? Your video is worth to be appreciated 👍 Thanks
Thanks for watching @principalsirmsyadav and we’re not qualified to answer that. There are many experts both online and in TH-cam who are knowledgeable about German immigration rules.
Great video, guys. Thanks. As someone considering a move to the Silver Coast, I am now much more aware of the costs. I'm also interested in the BnB side of things. Have you done a video breaking down the rules and regulations about getting into BnBs? On another note, I enjoyed your video on making money with TH-cam. I'm also a TH-camr with nearly 16K subscribers. But I make most of my income from sidelines like Patreon. In fact, Patreon brings in 10 times the amount I make on YT. Have you tried Patreon? -Mike
Thanks for watching and we haven’t tried Patreon…something to look into for sure. As for BnBs, any new short-term rental needs to get a license from the local municipality. Generally, unless you are in Porto, Lisbon or the Algarve, you are likely to get a license but it’s not guaranteed. You just apply and if rejected you can always do long-term rental (more than 30 days). We suggest contacting the municipality before making an offer on a place to get more info on the process and the likelihood of getting the license. Hire a translator if you need to for that conversation to make sure you don’t end up buying a place that can’t do what you want it to do. Best of luck!!
@ Thanks very much! I will do that. Keep on making interesting videos!
Super useful information. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much and thanks for watching @risefcoetzee3776 !
What about a single woman over 50 moving on her own? Is it safe? And what about renting or house share. Are there any websites you know of to help with that. And once approved for a visa you are allowed to just re locate permanently there? You don't need to apply for citizenship. Thanks for the video..sorry for so many questions!
Thanks for watching @1artistvocalist and certainly where we live is very safe for a single woman. Many areas in Portugal have Facebook groups for expats (probably true of cities in other countries as well) where you could find a flatmate if you wanted, but certainly renting on your own is very possible. In terms of your visa, once your visa is approved, you meet here with the immigration office and give them a similar set of papers and then they send you a residency card good for two years. You can renew for three more years and then you can decide to apply for citizenship or just continue to renew as a non-citizen resident. Either is ok.
@@TheUnretirees thanks for responding and clearly answering my questions. Sounds like a lot of uncertainty and red tape for a single woman. I think I will join a dating site and look for my future husband in Portugal! lol! All the best to you two!! Thanks for the video!!
I have 2 pugs. Any cost estimates?
Thanks for watching! It all depends on the route you take to get your pups to PT. If you’re able to put each in a carrier that fits under an airplane seat, then it is so much easier - it’s then probably less than five hundred each for the exams, chip and certification stuff. If they don’t fit under the airplane seat, then you’re either buying crates and tickets for them to be in luggage or cargo and that’s more…we spent $150 for the crate and $400 to get the dog in luggage. Then there is the shared private option but that’s running into $10k range. Best of luck!
Why is your car rental so expensive?! It doesn't seem right
The price is the price. Thanks for watching!
The biggest issue ( since Jan 2024) with Portugal is the high taxes for retirees living on overseas sourced income. It just isn't worth it to move there when they
could be paying up 40% in taxes. Not the case for those arriving before 2024, they can enjoy a flat rate tax of 10%.
Thanks for watching, and we’re not tax experts for sure. We’ve heard there is discussion about some version of NHR making a comeback but it isn’t here yet. We worked with FreshIP for tax questions before we moved and they were very, very helpful.
I love the simplicity of Portugal. I am european btw
We love it too! We’re “becoming” European!
Where can you live without needing a car?
I’d say any city greater than 50,000 has enough going on that between walking, public transit and Ubers it can work. We know several people in Caldas da Rainha who don’t have a car and it has worked out fine for them. That puts probably 10 cities - maybe more - in play. And certainly if you were in Lisbon or Porto, you could do without a car there…and if you needed to go out of town, either use the train system or rent a car. Thanks for watching!!
When you say $400 for health care and $375 for visa, are they PER PERSON or for both of you
Thanks for watching. Health Care runs about $400 for both of us combined. The visa costs were also combined -- about $120 to set the appointment with VFS and then the rest was charged at the VFS appointment.
What's wrong with just staying for 90 days
Nothing is wrong with staying for 90 days if that’s what you want to do. Thanks for watching!
I’m planning a move from Scotland to the Algarve. I appreciate your video advice that you can give. P.s. I’m American moved to U.K. in 1998. I’m now British as well.
Thanks for watching @lrsco and best wishes on your move!
@@TheUnretirees Do you recommend a particular solicitor / company in Portugal to help with the process of D7 and taxes?
It is expensive to make that move😮yikes.
It is expensive and I wish we knew that before we decided to move (we would have still moved but it would have been better for planning). You can do fewer scouting trips, or none, and rent a furnished place initially and that saves a lot. But even with that, it’s still expensive! Thanks for watching!