James Cave

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist.com, a website he created in 2016 to make moving to Portugal more simple.

He’s also the author of Moving to Portugal Made Simple, now in its second edition and with more than 400 reviews on Amazon. Through Portugalist, James has helped thousands of people plan their move and settle into life in Portugal with clear, trustworthy, and up-to-date information.

Portugalist has been featured in countless publications including the WSJ, New York Times, and Independent.

Follow him on Linkedin and Amazon

Are Cockroaches Common in Portugal?

A woman and a man wearing face masks are in a kitchen. The man, dressed in work attire and holding a spray canister, is inspecting the area under the cabinetry. The woman, wearing a purple top, is crouched beside him, observing the inspection process.

In short, not really. You will see cockroaches every now and then, usually on the street and sometimes inside an apartment, but it is quite rare. Live in Portugal for long enough and you should only see a cockroach one or twice a year. However, it does depend on where you’re living, including the property you live in. This is in contrast to Spain, particularly the south of Spain, where cockroaches are a much more common occurrence. Here, you will …

A man in a plaid shirt sits in a library, reading a book and holding a pencil to his mouth. He is surrounded by shelves filled with books, with a tall stack of books beside him on the table. The atmosphere is studious and quiet.

While a lot of people aim for an A2 level of Portuguese, as this is the level needed to obtain Portuguese citizenship, aiming for a B1 or lower-intermediate is a lot more practical if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Portugal. Ideally, you should use this as a stepping stone to work towards a B2 level of Portuguese. With a B1 level, you’ll be able to have slightly more complex conversations and understand a lot more …

A man with dark hair and a beard is working on a laptop at a desk in a modern, open-plan office. He is wearing a blue shirt and a black smartwatch. In the background, another person is talking on the phone at a different desk.

The Startup Visa is a program run by IAPMEI in Portugal, designed for entrepreneurs from outside the EU/EEA/Swiss region. It’s an initiative to draw investment, talent, and innovation into Portugal’s growing startup scene. As well as dependent family members, up to five partners can be included on the application. With this residency visa, entrepreneurs not only get the chance to live in Portugal but also gain access to the wide array of supports and incentives offered by the StartUP Portugal …

A man and a woman are in an appliance store. They stand together examining a front-loading washing machine. The store is filled with various household appliances, including washing machines and other equipment displayed on shelves.

If you’re planning on moving to Portugal, you may be wondering where you buy electronics and appliances and what the cost is likely to be. For those coming from the UK or US, the cost may be more than you’re used to paying, but due to the cost of shipping, the challenges of getting your stuff through Portuguese customs, and the differences in power, it can often make more sense to sell your stuff and buy afresh once you move. …

A person with short hair and glasses is sitting at a round table with an open laptop, holding an open book in one hand and a notebook in the other. They appear to be studying or working, with additional books on the table. The view is from above.

If your goal is to go about your day-to-day life speaking in Portuguese, you’ll want to aim for a C1 or C2 level of Portuguese. These are the advanced levels of language learning, according to the CEFR scale, with the C2 level essentially being native fluency. At this level, you’ll be able to read complex texts and discuss complex subjects in both social and professional settings. Most language learners end up plateauing at the intermediate level so you’ll be well …

An elderly couple stands in shallow ocean water, holding hands and leaning back, with smiles on their faces. Both wear light blue tops and light-colored pants, enjoying a playful moment on a sunny day at the beach. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

Have you heard about the D7, sometimes known as Portugal’s retirement visa? If you’re reading this article, you probably have and you’re wondering where should I retire to in Portugal? In theory, you could move anywhere in Portugal. Yes, there are some parts which are more popular with retirees (like the Algarve and Silver Coast, for example) but that doesn’t mean you have to move there. You could move to somewhere more remote like the far north of Northern Portugal …

A woman in a green dress with a white floral pattern is sitting on a ledge, smiling, with a scenic view of a coastal city with white buildings and red rooftops in the background under a clear blue sky.

Liz Sharma spotted a need for more engaging content for people learning European Portuguese. She set up Talk The Streets, which has become one of the most popular YouTube channels, and later set up her own very popular course. Check out her 7 tips for sounding like a local and free lesson for beginners. In this interview, we discuss how she learned Portuguese and where she thinks language learners should focus when learning European Portuguese. James: You have been studying …

An older woman and man sitting at a table looking concerned. The woman is holding paperwork and red glasses, while the man has his hand raised and is looking at a calculator. A pink piggy bank is placed in front of them on the table.

If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you are probably wondering how much money you need to have in order to live there. This is quite a difficult question to answer, but it can be broken down into two parts: Income Requirements for Residency Moving to Portugal long-term involves obtaining residency there. There are different processes depending on whether you hold EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship (e.g. you have a French or Irish passport) or whether you hold a citizenship from the rest …

A person wearing a plaid shirt is sealing a cardboard box with packing tape using a tape dispenser. The scene appears to be indoors, with other boxes and a small potted plant blurred in the background.

If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you’ll get different advice on what to bring. Most people will tell you to come with as little as possible and avoid the challenges and costs of shipping your stuff. However, re-buying everything is expensive, particularly in Portugal, so there’s definitely an argument for at least thinking about shipping your stuff. There are some things you probably shouldn’t bring, particularly if you’re coming from outside Europe. This includes electronics that won’t work here …

A family of four sits on a sandy beach in front of a white cottage with green shutters. The mother and father, both smiling, have their three children with them: a baby on the father's lap, a young boy sitting beside them, and an older girl leaning into the mother.

Portugal is a fantastic place for families. In fact, a recent study ranked Funchal in Madeira and Lisbon, the capital city, first and third as the top places to raise a family in the whole of Europe. Porto also made the list at 22. The study, which focused on factors like education, health and safety, and lifestyle and leisure, listed 30 cities around Europe and it’s just one of many studies that say Portugal is a great place to raise …

James Cave

Are Cockroaches Common in Portugal?

Learning Portuguese to B1 (Lower-intermediate) Level

Portugal’s Startup Visa: A Golden Ticket for Global Entrepreneurs

Where to Buy Electronics & Appliances in Portugal

Learning Portuguese to C1 (Advanced) Level

11 of the Best Places to Retire to in Portugal

How Liz Sharma from Talk the Streets Fell in Love with Portugal

How Much Income Do You Need to Live in Portugal?

What To Bring When Moving to Portugal

7 Great Places for Families Moving to Portugal