James Cave

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of Moving to Portugal Made Simple, now in its second edition with more than 450 reviews on Amazon. He also wrote German Men Sit Down to Pee and Other Insights Into German Culture, a humorous guide to German culture, which has more than 650 ratings on Goodreads. Originally from Ireland, James Cave has lived in northern Portugal, Lisbon, and the Algarve, and has written about moving to Portugal since 2016. He is known for no-fluff guides to the D7, the Golden Visa, and the Digital Nomad Visa, along with citizenship and buying property in Portugal. Follow James Cave on Amazon, Goodreads, and LinkedIn, or at james-cave.com.

How to Move to Portugal As A Family

A happy family swings a child between them while strolling down a sunlit, old Portuguese cobblestone street in Lisbon with plants and historic buildings.

Moving country as an adult is a big decision. Moving country with children — or while planning a family — is something else entirely. Suddenly you’re not just thinking about visas and rent. You’re thinking about schools, doctors, playgrounds, safety, language barriers, teenage boredom, whether your toddler will nap in a new time zone, and whether you’re accidentally ruining your child’s future by choosing the wrong country. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Portugal has become one …

A hand puts a coin into a yellow piggy bank on a table, with money and papers, suggesting saving for life or moving to Portugal.

If you’re looking at Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (often called the D8), one of the first questions is always: “How much money do I need in the bank?” The short answer: at least for an individual with an additional 50% for a couple and 30% of the main applicant’s requirement per dependent child. Importantly: while you do need savings — you cannot apply using savings alone. The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for remote workers and freelancers who actively earn …

A person in a white hoodie views black-and-white art in a gallery, possibly exploring life and culture in Portugal; gray bench in front.

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to qualify for Portugal’s Golden Visa, the answer is simple on paper: donate €250,000 (or even €200,000 if you can find a qualifying low-density cultural project). No property. No €500,000 fund subscription. Just a single contribution to a government-approved cultural project. But that immediately raises the real question: is anyone actually doing this — and does it make sense? Most investors still choose the €500,000 fund route, despite the higher upfront cost, because …

A man in a camouflage uniform and dog tags sits indoors using a laptop, with an American flag nearby; shelves are in the background.

Yes — for many veterans, VA disability compensation can be a solid fit for Portugal’s D7 visa, because it’s stable, recurring, and not tied to working in Portugal. The key is simple: So the real question isn’t “Does Portugal accept VA disability?” It’s: does your monthly VA amount (plus any other passive income you have) meet the D7 minimum for your household? The D7 minimum income requirement in Portugal’s official visa documentation ties “means of subsistence” to the minimum monthly …

A brown leather wallet with a gold zipper is partially open, showing several euro banknotes in various denominations protruding from it. The wallet lies on a reflective surface, highlighting the intricate designs and holographic features of the banknotes.

Portugal has become one of Europe’s most talked-about destinations for relocation — and for good reason. The culture is warm, the weather is excellent, and by Western European standards the cost of living has historically been lower. But if you’re considering a move here for work, or you’re weighing up a job offer, the question of what wages actually look like is crucial. Here’s what you need to know. What Is the Minimum Wage in 2026? As of 1 January …

man shrugging his shoulders against yellow background

The 2026 situation A few years ago, this was a much easier question to answer Portugal’s Golden Visa was one of the most attractive residency-by-investment programmes in Europe. You could buy a property, spend very little time in Portugal, and still work toward citizenship after five years. It was easy to see the appeal. Now the picture is more complicated. The real estate route is gone. The NHR tax regime is gone. Citizenship now takes 10 years for most people, …

On paper, Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (often called the D8; sometimes the D9) sounds almost too simple: If you earn per month, you can move to Portugal on your foreign income, get EU residency, maybe a passport.” If you’re a remote worker or freelancer in the US, Canada, the UK, or elsewhere, that’s an intoxicating promise. You keep doing exactly what you’re doing now – same job, same clients, same laptop – you just do it from Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, …

a couple both looking at their laptops and trying to make a decision

If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you’ve probably encountered two very different residency routes: the Digital Nomad Visa (D8) and the Golden Visa. Both eventually lead to the same end-point — residency, then permanent residency, and ultimately citizenship. But they’re built for completely different life situations. So how do you decide which one is right for you? Let’s walk through the key questions to help you make that decision. Quick Comparison Feature Digital Nomad Visa Golden Visa Income Requirement …

On October 28, 2025, Portugal’s Parliament dropped a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the global investment migration community. In a single vote, they approved legislation that would double the residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years—affecting not just Golden Visa holders, but every foreign resident hoping to become Portuguese. The change isn’t law yet. It still awaits the President’s signature, and there’s a real possibility it could be sent to the Constitutional Court for review. But the message …

On May 3, 2025, Portugal’s President signed the revised Nationality Law, doubling the residency requirement for most foreign nationals from five years to ten. The law passed parliament on April 1 with a 152-64 vote and now awaits formal publication in the Diário da República before taking effect. For anyone who moved to Portugal — or was planning to — with citizenship in mind, this is a significant change. How much it affects you depends largely on why you wanted …

How to Move to Portugal As A Family

How Much Savings Do You Need for Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (D8)?

The Cultural Golden Visa: Portugal’s Cheapest Residency-By-Investment Option — But Is It Worth It?

Can I Move to Portugal on VA Disability Compensation?

Portugal’s Minimum Wage in 2026: Should You Move Here for Work?

I Looked at 9 Pros & 7 Cons of Portugal’s Golden Visa – Is Portugal’s Golden Visa Still Worth It?

What Are The Pros & Cons of Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (D8)?

Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa vs Golden Visa: Which Visa Is Right for You?

Has Portugal Effectively Ended Its Golden Visa Program?

Is Portuguese Citizenship Worth 10 Years of Your Life?