Portugal has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Receiving your Golden Visa gives you access to the country’s well-developed medical infrastructure. Besides being of high-quality, medical care is also available to most people. You can get it for free at public hospitals if you’re a Golden Visa owner.
Private clinics are commendable too. Appointments are available much faster than in some U.S. states, and the level of service is impressive. For instance, you can consult your doctor by phone if you need guidance about prescribed therapy. There are also robust health insurance policies that cover the total or partial cost of your treatment.
Having Portugal’s healthcare services readily available is reassuring, but you don’t want to visit your doctor too often. This can happen if you experience stress by working with disreputable transporters. You can lose a lot of money, and your furniture can get damaged beyond repair.
To avoid this scenario, hire trustworthy Portugal international moving companies. They follow the highest safety standards and use premium containers to ensure your belongings arrive in the country promptly and in one piece.
Tax Benefits
A Portugal Golden Visa can dramatically lower your tax burden. You can get non-habitual resident (NHR) status for a decade, which means you pay just 20% of your self-employed income. Without it, the rate soars to nearly 50%
Additional NHR tax benefits include:
No taxation on worldwide income – Any salaries, dividends, and profits earned in other countries aren’t taxed in Portugal if you have a double-tax agreement.
Capital gains are taxed at a flat rate – The country taxes your capital gains at a fixed rate (28%). It gives you a stable and competitive base for your investment activities.
Flat domestic income tax – If you’re a U.S. investor with a Golden Visa, you’ll only need to pay a flat income tax rate (20%). It applies to business and employment income if you’re performing high-value activities.
Fixed pension tax – Taxes on your pension-based income are subject to a 10% flat-rate tax.
There are many other advantages of the Portuguese tax system:
No wealth or inheritance tax – Unlike the U.S., Portugal doesn’t impose an inheritance tax on its citizens. You only need to pay a 10% fee. Additionally, the country doesn’t have any form of wealth tax.
Low property tax – If you’re an investor, you can dramatically expand your portfolio in Portugal after receiving a Golden Visa. It sets your property tax between 0.3% and 0.8%. Plus, you might be eligible for various exemptions, depending on the location of your property and how you manage your profit.
Cryptocurrency isn’t taxed – Portugal doesn’t control cryptocurrency operations. After becoming a citizen with your Golden Visa, you can complete transactions without any restrictions. More importantly, you don’t pay any tax once you make a profit.
Affordable yet High-Quality Education
The Portuguese aren’t the only people who can send their kids to free public schools or kindergartens. U.S. citizens with a Golden Visa have the same right. You can also enroll your child in a nursery (at three months) and in school (at the age of six) earlier than in most U.S. states.
On top of that, paid kindergartens have no queues. Your children learn in small groups of no more than 10. You can also send them to institutions with English-speaking or teachers with mixed backgrounds (Portuguese and English).
When it comes to public schools, you can use them for free after getting a Golden Visa. There are excellent high-school certificates recognized across the EU. Also, you can choose from a wide array of boarding or private schools where your child can live and study all year long.
Unlike public schools, private institutions hold their lessons in multiple languages. Besides Portuguese, your child can also learn in English, French, and German.
Portuguese higher education is another highlight. Four of the country’s universities consistently rank high on the list of the best universities in the world.
Portugal Passport
If you’re an investor with a Golden Visa, you’ll be able to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years. As the country is in the EU, you can stay in any other member state for as long as you like. You won’t need to obtain special work or study permits.
However, you will need to meet some other conditions to become a citizen of Portugal:
You’ve maintained your residence permit status for five years
You have the elementary level of Portuguese proficiency (A2)
You haven’t been convicted of a crime and gone to prison for three years
You don’t threaten the country in any way
Outstanding Network of Banks
Portugal is home to over 150 banks that service businesses and individuals. A Golden Visa gives you access to these financial institutions. It also makes you eligible for less stringent checks, and your chances of taking out loans are much higher.
Investors can especially benefit from Portugal’s banking systems. They can freely access all available services from EU banks, such as opening accounts, conducting foreign transactions, and keeping savings.
Low Cost of Living
Portugal is one of the best places to live in Western Europe. Apart from its gorgeous scenery and friendly people, it’s also known for its low cost of living.
Practically everything is affordable, from healthcare and education to food, social activities, and leisure. Most people need approximately $1,400 a month to live comfortably, which is unimaginable in the U.S. Therefore, a Golden Visa lets you enjoy a great life in Portugal without incurring heavy debt.
Portugal Is Waiting
If you want to start a new chapter in one of the most beautiful European countries, apply for your Golden Visa today. Also, hire a trusted carrier, such as Three Movers, to transport your possessions safely. Once you reach your destination, you’ll reap the benefits of your Golden Visa status.
In the first quarter of 2022, US investment more than tripled compared to the same period in 2021. With an investment of 25.1M euros in the first three months of 2022, the U.S.A. is now the number one country investing in Portugal.
I can hear American accents everywhere – whether I’m walking on the street or browsing online. There are Facebook groups for people to connect with others from the United States and Meetup groups that help provide get-togethers among those who relocated to Portugal. These types of clubs cater specifically to an American audience considering they relocated halfway across the world.
Expats are welcomed by Portuguese and international communities in the country. It is an easy place to make friends due to a quarter of the population being international. However, it is quite easy to get around now that there is less of a population than in California.
Portugal has some of the sunniest days in any country, with an average of 300 sunny days each year. However, this number varies by region.
In Portugal, Porto is a colder and cloudier city and is very similar to San Francisco in these terms. Outside Porto are vineyards that surpass Napa, with breathtaking views and endless miles of habitat. The region in which the vineyards totes award-winning wines.
The climate is warmer in the south of Portugal, and there are many surfers. Ericeira and Nazare have world-record-breaking waves and offer a relaxed vibe that’s only an hour or an hour and a half away from Lisbon.
Lisbon is a culturally rich, inviting city amid an economic boom. If you move there, you will love it.
The Portuguese city of Lisbon has a fantastic cosmopolitan setting, with European history making it perfect for Americans. Life in Lisbon can best be explored by taking trips along the river Tagus, which is very popular with local residents.
Ian Fleming was enamored by the mysterious and gorgeous villages that are only fifteen kilometers from Lisbon, Cascais, and Estoril. Ian strongly believed these two towns were the perfect spot for German and British spies before WWII. Fleming’s first novel Casino Royale was modeled after his experience at a casino in Cascais called Palacio Estoril; it’s based on the sophisticated charm of the area that remains one of the most popular national features. The nearby coast is lined with restaurants and bars for people to enjoy sunsets, sports, or even just to hang out.
Along the beach, when you travel south, better beaches keep coming. Comporta is a new Palm Springs that has a Portuguese twist. It was developed by international companies such as Discovery Land Company and Vanguard Properties. The region has attracted many rich people who are tempted by the environment and foreigners’ appreciation of it. This region has drawn celebrities like Christian Louboutin, Philippe Starck, George Clooney, Jeff Bezos, Christiano Ronaldo, and other trendsetters because they adore its natural surroundings
The Algarve, about 170 kilometers from Lisbon, is Portugal’s southernmost region and is known for its magnificent Atlantic beaches and jaw dropping Benagil cliffs. Fishing villages on cliffs overlooking sandy coves were transformed in the 1960s and are now lined with villas, hotels, bars, and restaurants. The sunny shores of the Algarve are great for all types of travelers, those seeking the hot nightlife in Lagos or those desiring secluded stays in Sagres. The fabulous beaches, thermal springs, and miles of limestone caves and grottoes make the Algarve one of Portugal’s most sought-after locations.
There is so much more to see and do in this country. Portugal has many coastal highlights, but they also have other destinations worth exploring. When you move to Portugal, it’s a small country, so it’s easy to get around, and the 10-year tax benefit program is spurring growth faster than a wildfire in California. With all of that growth, tourism and real estate are booming.
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This is the story of Osman, an IT professional from Istambul, who decided to relocate with his family to Portugal. Now he is our neighbor – he lives just a few blocks from our office in Estoril. He is our client, and we have known him for two years already. One day, while having coffee with Osman, we asked permission to write down his story. Osman was so kind that he not only agreed but also gave us many details of his reasons for relocating, which we didn’t know and which, in our opinion, will be quite helpful for those deciding.
I’ve been dreaming of moving to Portugal for a long time. But something always stopped me. In my native country, I had a business reasonably good, the kids were in school, and my wife had a stable job. But when another crisis started in the country, it was as if everything had stopped. One day I woke up thinking that it was time to change something. My wife was completely supportive, and my children were even excited about the opportunity to move to another country. In general, it was just a matter of determining where to go and collect the necessary documents.
How We Moved to Portugal With Children: Personal Experience
So, the first thing I started with was the question of how exactly you can immigrate to this country. I began to study all possible options so that in the end to choose the most suitable.
So, the first option was to reunite with the family. The way is not bad. But it was not suitable for us, because we never had any relatives in Portugal. By the way, if anyone is considering this option, it is worth noting that the Portuguese include children, spouses, brothers, and sisters among the relatives with whom you can reunite.
The second option is a startup. Any entrepreneur can open one. But there are small conditions. First, there should not be any problems with the law. Secondly, it must not reside in the Schengen countries. By the way, this option is especially good for those who use modern technology and are willing to create jobs. But I have also discarded this option.
Another category of people who have the full right to obtain a residence permit in Portugal is investors. All that is required is to buy a piece of property, the value of which is not less than 500,000 euros. This can be an apartment, villa, and the like. It is also possible to contribute to the reconstruction of the building, in which case the amount will be lower – from 35 000 euros. You can invest in a business or the country’s economy.
You have the right to live in Portugal if you are a student who studies in this country. But I had no plans to go to university. Therefore, I settled on the last, most acceptable option for me: business. The most popular direction in the country is tourism. And here I could feel like a fish in water. After all, in my homeland, I was in the tourism business, so I knew all the ins and outs and was ready to do this business. Of course, this is not the only direction entrepreneurs can choose. You can also engage in poultry farming and grow fruit, olives – whatever is closest to you. I, on the other hand, decided that I would continue the business I had started in my homeland. But, before opening my own travel agency, I had to work for some time in a Portuguese company.
Independent Attempts
At first, I tried to organize my move by myself. But it turned out to be more difficult than I thought. Of course, there was a lot of information, but it was hard to pull it all together. And if we still decided on the city (we always dreamed of Lisbon), with everything else, there were uncertainties. For example, I am very worried about questions related to school. Of course, we were leaving at the beginning of summer, but since fall, it was necessary to arrange it for our son and daughter.
After a few sleepless nights searching for a solution, I gave up. I decided that I needed to seek professional help. I remembered that when my acquaintances moved, they collaborated with the consulting agency MoveToCascais. I found their contacts, applied, and, we can say, forgot about all the problems.
First of all, we were given a list of all the documents that we needed to collect and told what needed to be done shortly. In general, with the help of specialists, everything went quickly and smoothly. By the way, they also said about the training system in Portugal.
What Documents Are Needed?
Perhaps the most challenging task is to collect the necessary documents. Be prepared that they will have to tinker with them and run through the required authorities to collect all the papers. First of all, the list includes a signed employment contract or a job offer. Such an offer I found, to do it was not difficult. By education, I am a programmer, and for some time, I successfully worked in my specialty and even have some good references. Therefore, I did not have any particular difficulties in finding a job. As for my wife, then initially, she went on a tourist visa. But soon after, she was able to find a good job right there. She is a certified designer and also knows several foreign languages.
In addition to the invitation to work, the mandatory documents will be needed:
Proof of qualification, which is specified in the invitation to work.
Naturally, we need passports for each family member traveling to Portugal. After gathering the documents, we started to queue to take the biometric. After this procedure, we have to wait a few months. Then we received a notice of approval. Then we began to pack our bags and get ready for the move.
Where to Find a Job?
As noted above, I went to Portugal on a work visa, so the question of finding a job was only for my wife. She entered the country with a tourist visa without any problems. And on the spot, she started looking for a suitable job.
Although unemployment is rampant in the country, it is possible to find a decent job, especially with higher education. Since we originally planned to stay here permanently, the search had to work hard. We were warned that illegal work is not suitable because the violation of labor laws is punishable and threatened with deportation.
To get a work visa and a residence permit, my wife had to find an employer and sign an official contract with him with spelled out rights and responsibilities. This is not only a guarantee that you will not be deported but also a guarantee of social security because from your salary will be deducted insurance charges.
My spouse got a job at a small company as an English translator. After that, a month later, she was issued a residence permit for a year. The next residence permit we received together was for two years. And after we had lived in Portugal for five years, we applied for permanent residency.
This is our personal experience. As for the rest, there are several options for finding a job. First, it is best to look for a job when you are at home, and already with an invitation to go to the country. The next is to follow my experience.
It is also possible to come on a tourist visa, and while in Portugal, to find a suitable apartment and buy it. About this option, I told a little bit above. According to the notarial deed, you can stay in the country. Well, in the meantime, enroll in language courses, learn to speak, and find a job according to your professional level.
If you have a degree in demand specialty (medical, construction, architecture, IT), you can safely count on getting a high-paying job, but knowing the language is a prerequisite. If you do not have such an education, but you know the language, it is easy to get an administrative position. And those who do not have a diploma at all will be offered a job in construction, agriculture, and so on.
How Do I Start a Business?
Opening your own business in Portugal is one of the most convenient ways to get a residence permit. I didn’t use it only because I didn’t have any equity capital, so I decided that I would open my own business a little later. But if you have the amount of 5000 euros, you can without problems carry out conceived.
By the way, there are no bureaucratic procedures in the country, which opens up good prospects for future business people. The optimal format of the company here is considered an LLC.
To register a business, you’ll need about 600 euros. In addition, you will have to pay a lawyer who will help make everything right. The registration process takes about a month, after which the businessman is given a plastic card with all company details. Immediately after this, you can get a residence permit, and after five years, you can collect and submit documents for permanent residence.
Finding a Place to Live
With this we have no problems, the consulting agency helped us. They took full responsibility for finding a suitable apartment for us and offered several options, among which we chose the most practical and satisfying all our needs. For the first time, it was enough; now, we have our own apartment, which we could buy after a year of living in Portugal.
In general, it is quite difficult to find rented accommodation in Lisbon on your own. Therefore, this option was the most acceptable for us. The fact that the locals are willing to rent apartments at a normal (reasonable) cost only nine months a year, the other three months – in high season – prefer to rent them to tourists. Naturally, they take for rent much more than the rest of the time.
And also, based on the experience of visiting expats like us, I would like to note that the owners prefer to rent housing to local residents rather than foreigners. Therefore, you will have to compete while searching for an apartment because the landlord gives a couple of days before renting a place so everyone can see it. Then who is interested in the offer informs the owner. He, in turn, chooses the one who likes it best. Chances increase if you offer to pay an annual fee upfront. But again, this does not guarantee that the landlord will not opt for a local tenant.
And one more fact to consider. Most apartments are rented without furniture and necessary appliances. And to find a well-equipped apartment, you will need to try and spend more than a day.
Difficulties With the Language
From personal experience, I want to say that it is best to start learning the language before you move to the country. There is plenty of time for this, even from the moment you start collecting documents.
My spouse and I are fluent in English, but not everyone in Portugal understands the language. Before I left, I briefly studied Portuguese. But there was no practice. The best technique was communicating with locals.
In addition, if you want, you can find courses right there. I did not need them, but my wife did for a while.
Transportation
There is a metro in Lisbon. Interestingly, the fares depend on the area because the farther you go, the more you’ll have to pay. Buses are also very popular. Fare prices are quite high, so it is better to buy a card immediately and recharge regularly – it will save a lot.
No matter how accessible and convenient public transportation is, as in our country, the best transport in Portugal is a car. Even though gasoline is not very cheap, it is much more convenient to travel by car. From personal experience: it saves not only time but also nerves.
By the way, after you get a residence permit, the domestic driver’s license here becomes invalid, and within three months, it must be replaced by the Portuguese one. If the application is filed later, you must take the exam without training. While waiting for an invitation to the exam, the old license will be taken away but issued a temporary one. Both will be valid only on the territory of Portugal.
Portuguese Kindergartens
We have two children, preschool age. In our country, there are two types of preschools here – public and private. Education in them is not much different, but there is one nuance. Those who plan to enter a state institution must “stand in a queue” for at least nine months. In this case, it is better to get in the queue immediately after the baby’s birth. In general, if you move to Portugal and want to immediately put the baby in kindergarten, you have to choose among private options, especially if there is no possibility of sitting with a child or hiring a nanny. As for differences from our kindergartens, there are virtually none. We chose a private school for our kids, where he attends developmental activities and is also quickly socialized.
As in our country, there are two types of preschools here – public and private. Education in them is not much different, but there is one nuance. Those who plan to enter a state institution must “stand in a queue” for at least nine months. In this case, it is better to get in the queue immediately after the baby’s birth.
In general, if you move to Portugal and want to immediately put the baby in kindergarten, you have to choose among private options, especially if there is no possibility of sitting with a child or hiring a nanny. As for differences from our kindergartens, there are virtually none.
Training in Portugal. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The first piece of advice: it’s better to send the children straight to a private institution. Although Lisbon is full of public schools, we opted for a private one.
Why? Initially, it was more convenient for us. Don’t worry that you can’t afford the school because the fees are not that high, partly because many private schools are state-sponsored. Children in high school need to decide on a profile, but after ninth grade, it can be changed. By the way, specialized education is a big plus. It allows studying in depth precisely those subjects beneficial when entering high school.
What else would you like to say about school education? It is divided into two stages. After completing high school, the child and his parents decide whether or not to continue his studies. Since further schooling is optional, it has to be paid for. After graduation, a certificate of Secondary Education is issued, which indicates the specialty obtained. Then it’s on to admission to higher education.
Universities
I believe that higher education is a must for everyone. Of course, we cannot say that absolutely all Portuguese people have higher education. According to statistics, it is not more than 40% of the population. But foreigners themselves are very attracted to Portuguese universities. According to European standards, it is not very expensive to study here.
Universities in Portugal are divided into universities and polytechnics. In the first case, you will focus on theoretical research, and in the second, you will gain practical skills. By the way, polytechnics are far from what, in our understanding, is considered a vocational school. In such a school, you can get a diploma in accountancy or teaching.
As in the case of kindergartens and schools, higher education institutions can be public or private. First, studying in public is much cheaper, and private ones are more expensive, but you can get good discounts for diligent study.
To apply for a bachelor’s degree, you must have a high school diploma with good grades. You will also need to take examinations. Few institutions in Portugal teach English, so it is obligatory to know the national language. But we have no problem with this – the children already speak Portuguese fluently.
Maternity leave
As for maternity leave, things are slightly different than in our country. Any working parent can go on paid leave for up to 5 months. Until the age of three, the baby can be sent to the nursery, after three to the garden, and then to school.
Medicine
As for medical services, in Portugal, they are at a high level. If necessary, you can go to both public and private medical institutions. Every citizen and permanent resident of the country has the right to medical care.
The health care system consists of three parts: national health service, special social medical insurance system, and voluntary private medical insurance. Except for dental and some other medical procedures, services are free. In order to cover 100% of the costs, some people prefer to buy private health insurance.
What About Entertainment?
Of course, once we settled in a new country, we thought about entertainment, because we can’t just sit at home all the time! I should say that you certainly won’t get bored in Portugal! First of all, we toured all around Lisbon. It’s beautiful and wonderful here. You can read more about our itinerary in the article: Holidays in Cascais. What’s the best way to spend your weekend? The Complete Guide.
A week after arriving, we went to the ocean. This is probably what the kids wanted and waited for the most. Here you can not only enjoy beautiful sunsets, which perhaps do not exist anywhere else in the world but also go surfing. Beginners are coached by instructors, our family pretty quickly mastered the sport.
In Lisbon, there are many festivals and holidays in which we try to take an active part. There is a world-famous aquarium and many other exciting places which must be visited. If you choose to live here, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so.
Why Portugal?
Moving to Portugal was not a spontaneous decision. It took us a long time to come here. After visiting this wonderful country, I decided to live here one day. My wife and I often brought up the topic. She was initially not against the move, but there was something that stopped us all the time. Of course, first of all, it was scary. The worst thing was the unknown and lack of understanding of how life is in a foreign country, whether we can “settle in,” and whether the children will be able to adjust.
But all fears dissipated as soon as we arrived in Lisbon and entered our first rented apartment. We realized that everything would be fine because otherwise can not be. To those who still have doubts about whether it is worth moving to Portugal, I want to say one thing: yes, you should.
In addition, to give you some confidence, I would like to highlight the advantages that await you in this country. First is the affordable cost of housing. And whether you plan to rent an apartment or buy your own, I assure you it will not be too expensive. Working in Portugal and renting an apartment, we managed to save up for our own place in a good area in the first year. I am sure you will do the same!
Another undoubted advantage is the reasonable cost of goods and services. Living in Portugal is almost twice as cheap as in other developed countries, including Germany, France, and so on.
A big plus is that you can apply for citizenship after five years of residence here. This is one of the best and fastest prospects one can find. For example, to become a citizen of Italy or Spain, to live in the country for ten years, in Greece for seven years.
Beneficial here and for people in business because the country has a preferential tax regime. New tax residents for ten years can enjoy the special regime for Non-Habitual Residents. According to it, income tax is reduced to 20%, and taxes on income received outside the country are not charged at all.
Also, personally, in this country, I discovered many other undeniable advantages. For example, the delicious and healthy food of Portuguese Mediterranean cuisine. Another advantage of living in Portugal for me personally is the low crime rate. Not for nothing, Portugal is recognized as one of the safest countries in the world. And what else is essential for a family which brings up children?
I really like the local climate. It is not too hot in the summer thanks to the ocean breeze. And in winter, it’s comfortable enough, too. And, of course, a lot of sun!
Plans for the Future
To tell you the truth, my family and I don’t regret at all that once we decided to move to Portugal and stay here. It is a beautiful country and has many exciting possibilities for anyone who settles here.
Of course, to achieve what you want, you have to put in a lot of effort and do a lot of work. Now we are reaping the fruits of our labor. Two years after I moved here, I managed to open my own business, which today is flourishing. My travel agency is in demand not only in Lisbon but also in the entire country.
My wife has also managed to achieve great success. She is a sought-after designer, works in her field, and is very happy about it. There are many more perspectives for the children.
Portugal is a country of great opportunities. It is open to all who really want to change their lives for the better and do everything to achieve their goals.
At the moment, we are doing very well and stable. We don’t plan to leave here because everything is just fine. Our life improved, and a foreign country quickly became our home country. There are very friendly people here who are willing to advise and help.
Well, I would like to express special gratitude to the consulting agency MoveToCascais. I don’t know if we could have overcome all the difficulties by ourselves. Your help and support were essential. And for those still in doubt, I would like to advise you: do not hesitate, move, and your life will change soon!
The best place to live in Portugal with family
I moved with my family to Portugal from Turkey two years ago. It wasn’t easy at all to take this decision, but we wanted to escape the political crisis that was making our country no longer safe for our children and my wife. We had heard that living in Portugal is the right choice for a family, is safe, studying here is not so expensive, and there is a strong community for expats. I didn’t think about all doubts I had in my mind at that moment, I just decided to jump on this adventure.
How to Move to Portugal for Non-EU Citizens
Finding a way to move to Portugal for non-EU citizens is really complicated. I found that obtaining a Golden Visa is the fastest way to get a residency permit. I thought it was perfect for us, but I discovered that in order to have it, you have to invest an amount of money that we didn’t have at that time. There were other ways for us to legally stay in the country, such as creating a start-up or a business, studying, or working in the country, but the procedures seemed long, and I did not understand if we could register at university or how we could find work.
What Are Highly Qualified Professionals Work in Portugal?
I was giving up when I found a post on the expat Facebook community about a professional consulting agency based in Cascais with many positive reviews in the comments. Many people had the same problem and doubts as me, and they found their solution with MoveToCascais.
I decided to contact them and thanks to a specialist consultancy we found out the answer to our problems. I discovered that my job, I am an engineer, is recognized as a highly qualified professional work, and because of that, I can ask for a special Visa that allows me and my family to enter Portugal for work purposes and to establish there.
I needed to present a promise of work or a signed contract with national companies in order to ask for it. So after I easily found a job and presented the contract with all other requested documents, MoveToCascais managed our living in Portugal.
Is Better to live in Cascais or in Lisbon With Children?
I had many doubts about where to live in Portugal. Was it better to live in Cascais or in Lisbon? I thought Cascais was just a small fisherman’s village, far away from the urban center like Lisbon, and what characterizes it, such as the choice between different restaurants, the possibility to see many museums, and enjoying the nightlife.
I was worried about the distance from my workplace in Lisbon and Cascais, that I would need a car to go daily, having to struggle with traffic, petrol prices, and especially being away from my wife for any needs.
I had seen very good international schools in both Cascais and Lisbon, so I was most concerned about private life. Would my children have been able to integrate into the community not speaking Portuguese? Would the local community have welcomed us? And if they were sick, would the health insurance have covered us, or would it have drained my bank account?
MoveToCascais helped us once again by answering some of my questions, others were answered once I lived in Cascais.
Cascais Is a Good Place to Live With Family
We decided to live in Cascais because we realized that Lisbon would only give us more nightlife than what we were looking for at the time. In fact, I wouldn’t need a car to go to work because of the excellent transport links between the two cities. I would rather take an hour daily by train that runs along the ocean than spend my days in the traffic of a big city.
My wife had found the solution to the problem of remoteness and also of aggregation. She soon found a job as a language teacher and started to hang out with her local colleagues or expats like herself, with whom she became friends. We were welcomed into the community and created a group of friends ready to help each other in case of need.
The language difference was not an obstacle, my children studied in an international school where several languages were spoken and where they quickly learned Portuguese, for us, it also wasn’t difficult because many in Portugal speak good English. We started online courses for the basics and then improved with time through practice with our friends.
Cascais turned out to be a calm and safe city for a family, and after the first year, we were ready for our first big buy – an apartment.
We were looking for an apartment near Marina and found the perfect one. It was a two-bedroom apartment with a view of the ocean. We loved it!
The process of buying was very smooth. We worked with a real estate agent Viktoria, who helped us find the right place. We also had a lawyer who handled all of the paperwork. We are very happy with our purchase!
And again, thanks to the guys from MoveToCascais that managed to organize all this process.
So, my conclusion is very simple – if you want to move to a safe and welcoming country – Portugal is definitely the choice! And if you want this process to be as easy as possible – get professional help, and the guys from MoveToCascais are certainly the ones who can provide it!
The Decision to Move
“Aren’t you happy? You hated your work, your boss drove you up the wall, and working every morning was hard for you!” Valeria told me after I said to her I had been fired.
“Yes, that’s true.”
“You should be over the moon, Ginevra. Now you can do whatever you want!”
I nodded. It was all true, but how could I explain to her that the initial freedom had given way to a sense of inadequacy and dissatisfaction and, above all, a realization that I was once again unemployed? I was feeling blue.
I had been sending applications to the most disparate companies for two years, but no one answered me. I believed that it was my bad, that there was something wrong with me, that I didn’t have the right skills, that I wasn’t enough, that there was always a better candidate than me applying for that Italian company.
“Wassup Ginevra? You don’t have to think that you are wrong. Maybe the way you approach the job search isn’t right,” my husband Mark told me a month later. “You are feeling down in the dumps and take these doors slammed in your face as personal failures, closing in on yourself rather than reacting, complaining about how unfair everything is instead of trying to change things.”
“Are you kiddin’ me? It’s easy for you, you have a job, and what’s more, you can do it from home! In fact, from wherever you want…”
We looked at each other intensely; my tear-filled eyes slowly relaxed and gave way to a smile. His eyes sparkled, and an amused smile could be seen from his beard, conveying immense love. He knew that I understood what he was trying to tell me, I had to change the way I was dealing with what was happening to me, and I decided to do it with a clean cut to roots that I actually didn’t really have, not in the place where I was.
Over the years, my husband and I had saved a good amount of money, so we moved to Rio de Janeiro. I gave private Italian lessons while looking for a job in a school, and Mark worked in our new house, a very basic tiny villa. The first few weeks, I was stocked, teaching Italian to kids who lived in our neighborhood, going out in the evenings with Mark and his cousins, and exploring Rio during the weekend.
“Don’t go far from this group of villas, don’t wear flashy clothes and jewelry, avoid backpacks or bags, don’t show your mobile phone, and only take the essentials with you,” was the advice Mark repeated to me every day and which I had read in all the travel blogs. The big cities in Brazil are the most dangerous, so you have to follow these simple rules and go out only with locals. I thought I was more afraid of the psychological terrorism that Mark and his relatives had given me because I didn’t witness any robbery or unpleasant situation until one day I had to take a bus to a school for an interview.
I was in the bus yard with about a hundred people waiting at their bus stop. I had never seen such a crowd at the bus station, which made me so anxious that I held my book tightly in my hand and tried to hide my mobile phone and documents I kept in my pocket.
Until I heard two shots. People began to push and huddle. I looked around, not knowing what to do or where to go. Pushed by the crowd, I yelled, “Damn, guys! What’s happening”. I didn’t understand where those shots came from, and I only knew that they were damn close. It all lasted a few seconds because we rushed into the bus, which left immediately. At that moment, still trembling and in shock, I thought about freedom with wide eyes, looking out of the bus waiting for my stop.
Was it worth it to follow all these rules, leaving the house with the fear that something might happen to me every day, not being able to be myself but only something imposed for my safety? I looked around; people were quiet again, and nobody was talking about what had just тhappened. They were used to it, whereas I could never.
When I arrived at school, I called my husband, explaining what had happened and asking him to pick me up. Every time I left our villa, he watched me through the window until I entered the neighbor’s house. I would not allow myself to be bound by fear and, above all, to restrain Mark as well.
Landing in Portugal
We talked at length for the next few days; his understanding was disarming. There was only one problem: where to go next. The decision came by itself, so afterward, we set off on a short trip to Europe, with an endpoint in Portugal, which has always gone hand in hand with Brazil, so there were no problems adapting.
Portugal was precisely the place we had been looking for. Great climate, the ocean at hand, friendly people, and the best environment to start a business in all of Western Europe. Back in Brazil, we decided that we had to find an opportunity to move to Portugal.
Among the many companies, we came across the MoveToCascais service, easily booked a free consultation, and immediately found all answers to our questions. After listening to our story and learning about all our desires, we were offered a great option: a Golden Visa of Portugal through real estate investments.
I had read about the Golden Visa on the internet and understood that it was the best solution for us since it would not oblige us to stay in Portugal for six months of the year to preserve residency but only seven days. However, the procedure seemed complicated and lengthy, and I couldn’t figure out the best way to get it.
“So we buy a house and start our lives with a roof over our heads, a place where we can feel safe and where we can look for work and figure out how to create something of our own in Portugal. This time, however, we rely on someone who can help us not only with finding a house, but also with all the paperwork to move to Portugal, such as NIF and opening a bank account,” I told Mark.
“And also to open our own business that you can manage and where I can work remotely, “ my husband added. How I loved that man and our idea!
That’s how we found MoveToCascais, which made everything so easy by providing the answers to all our doubts.
Cascais was much more than what the company had presented to us, a seaside village with golden sandy beaches, elegan19th-century architecture, numerous museums, and historical homes scattered around a neighborhood overlooking a beautiful marina that hosts some of the most important sailing events in the world.
The wonderful flat we bought soon became our love nest, the safe and enjoyable place to live! When I think back to the day we decided to change direction, everything seems so far away as if it had never happened, but if I had not been fired and decided to leave Italy, I would not have been able to visit Brazil. And without Brazil, I wouldn’t have discovered my limitations, and we probably wouldn’t have moved to Portugal. Everything happens for a reason, and mine led me to a place that became the origin of our happiness.
Hi! My name is Yury Yurchyk, and I manage the MoveToCascais services. I know that everyone thinks that a change of residence is inevitably fraught with stress, overt or covert. Significantly when, due to circumstances, a person changes not a neighborhood, but a city, a country, or an entire continent.
Let me share with you my own story of my relocation to Portugal and I’m sure I can prove that relocation can be an easy and uncomplicated process.
Let’s get to know each other better! Just watch the video below and learn more about my relocation experience!
https://youtu.be/sMRs_v8YITA
Just imagine the possibilities and joys of life for you and your family when you move to Portugal. You can live a really exciting and fulfilling life. And with our help, this process will be as easy as possible.
Most banks in Portugal require you to visit a local branch to open a bank account, although a few allow you to open a Portuguese bank account online. How to open a bank account in Portugal varies slightly from bank to bank, but as a rough guide, you need to go through the following procedures. Watch the video below and find out more information!
With us, it will be easier to apply and get the account opened without time-consuming procedures.Just fill out the form below!
Here are 4 things you’ll need to get started:
Valid passport
Confirmation of address in the country of residence
Confirmation of address in the country of residence
Portugal’s NIF document (don’t have one? Apply here)
Fill out the form and get started your opening process for BANK ACCOUNT
Established in 2009, NHR, Portugal’s non-habitual residency tax regime, is something that has gained a lot of international excitement and attention. But as anyone who has tried delving into the scheme will know, it can quickly become a confusing topic. Watch the video below and find out more information!
The aim of the NHR regime is to attract financially self-sufficient foreigners to Portugal. NHR is a tax regime, not a residency permit.
NHR is a special taxation regime that is available under certain eligibility criteria to expats that recently moved to Portugal. This status grants certain tax exemptions and privileges over a 10 year period.
Do you want to cut the time of applying for a NHR?
Feel free to contact us! Just fill out the form below! We help you to make your decisions, to run estimates, to file returns and other reporting obligations, to ensure that you are fully compliant and always in a timely fashion.
Why you should apply for NHR status:
0% tax on cryptocurrency
0% tax on dividends
0% wealth tax
Fixed tax rate for the self-employed of 20%
0% tax on income outside Portugal
Fill out the form and get started your applying process for NHR
Company registration in Portugal requires completing some actions before the company is ready to begin its activity. Foreigners are welcome and no special restrictions apply to foreign shareholders or directors in Portugal. This country has agreements with more than 50 other countries for the reciprocal protection and promotion of investments, and agreements with roughly 80 countries for the avoidance of double taxation. Watch the video below and find out more information!
Portugal offers: low operating costs, including a highly educated population (42% of which speak at least one foreign language), a skilled but cheap labor force (50% of the EU average cost), highly developed infrastructure and communications networks.
Incorporating a company in Portugal is also a possible way to apply for a resident permit by non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and access to NHR regime once registered as a tax resident of Portugal.
If you want to incorporate a company in Portugal, we will be happy to assist you in that process🙌
With us, the company incorporation process is no longer the bureaucratic struggle that it traditionally is.
You don’t have to fill out papers, stay in lines, or waste time otherwise. Just fill out the form below!
Here is what you need to register a company in Portugal:
Valid passport
Confirmation of address in the country of residence
Portugal’s NIF document (don’t have one? Apply here)
Fill out the form and get started with your COMPANY REGISTRATION
The Portuguese NIF number is a tax identification number. Anyone who is legally living in Portugal, both official residents and citizens, as well as foreign non-residents, need to have a NIF number in Portugal!
Watch the video below and find out more information!
Prospective expats and entrepreneurs should sort it out as soon as possible. If you’re planning on staying in Portugal even if only for a short-term residency. The NIF number in Portugal is a nine-digit number unique to each individual. This number is on all correspondence between yourself and the Portuguese tax authority. You’ll also find it on tax cards and the citizen’s ID card.
If you want to apply for a Portuguese NIF number in Portugal you’ll need proof of your address (like a utility bill or a bank statement).
If you’re applying from abroad through a representative, you’ll need to provide a Power of Attorney document (translated into Portuguese). This grants them permission to act on your behalf.
We will be happy to assist you in getting your NIF! With us getting a NIF in Portugal wouldn’t be difficult!
Just contact us by filling out the form.
Documents required for NIF processing:
Valid passport (or national ID card for EU citizens)
Confirmation of residence address outside of Portugal
Fill out the form and get started your applying process for NIF
