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

Buying Property in Portugal: The Real Process, Not the Brochure Version

A symmetrical facade of a building covered in blue and white tiles with 15 windows in a grid pattern. Each window has a blue wrought-iron balcony railing. The design is consistent across the entire surface, creating a harmonious and repetitive visual effect.

Buying a home in Portugal is one of those ideas that feels wonderfully simple on the surface. An apartment in Lisbon. A quiet stone house in the countryside. A villa near the sea. For many people, it’s tied up with lifestyle dreams, retirement plans, or the idea of putting down roots in Europe. And in fairness — buying property in Portugal is absolutely achievable for foreign buyers. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership. The legal system is well established. …

If you’re an EU citizen — for example, from Ireland, Germany, or France — moving to Portugal is refreshingly straightforward. Unlike non-EU citizens, you don’t need to apply for a visa before you move. You can just… come. No need to rent a property in advance. No waiting months for a visa to be approved. No navigating the D7, D2, or Golden Visa paperwork. You simply need to show you can support yourself in Portugal (we’ll cover how in a …

Two flags are shown overlapping: on the left, the flag of South Africa with a green, white, red, yellow, blue, and black design, and on the right, the flag of Portugal with a red background and a coat of arms featuring a shield and armillary sphere.

For many South Africans, the appeal of Portugal goes far beyond beaches, pastel de nata, and postcard-ready towns. The real draw is safety, stability, and certainty — things that can feel increasingly fragile back home. Portugal consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime is rare, daily life feels calm, and most people don’t live behind electric fences or plan their routines around security concerns. Add political stability, predictable institutions, and the protections that come …

A person wearing black-rimmed glasses looks upwards, with a contemplative expression. Above their head, "CONS." and "PROS." are written, separated by a vertical and horizontal line, suggesting a comparison chart. The background is grey and plain.

You’ve done your research, watched the videos, read the blog posts. Sunshine, beaches, cheap wine, €10 lunches. That sounds perfect. A little too perfect maybe? Don’t get me wrong—there’s a lot to love about Portugal. And I truly think it’s a great place to live. But the Portugal that’s advertised online—by lawyers, realtors, and YouTubers who’ve only been in the country for about five minutes—is very different from the reality. I think that’s why you sometimes see those Portugal SUCKS …

People wait on red chairs in a Segurança Social office in Portugal, with staff assisting others and flags and posters in the background.

You’ve probably already dealt with getting your NIF (tax number). Now you’re hearing about the NISS – and wondering why you need yet another number. Here’s the thing: the NISS used to be straightforward. If you worked for a Portuguese company, you needed one. If you didn’t work, you probably didn’t. But the rules have changed, and now many visa applicants and residents are being asked for a NISS in situations that seem confusing. Want to get your hands on …

A hand holding a Portuguese passport in front of a blurred background resembling the colors of the Portuguese flag, green and red.

Portugal’s proposed nationality law reform has stalled. Although Parliament approved major changes in late 2025, the reform has not become law. After constitutional concerns were raised, the proposal was sent for preventive review, parts were ruled unconstitutional, and the President ultimately vetoed the decree. Bottom line right now: The existing five-year legal residency rule for Portuguese citizenship still applies. What happens next is genuinely uncertain. The changes may return in amended form, be delayed well into 2026, or potentially never …

A bowl of traditional Portuguese green caldo verde soup with leafy greens and chorizo sits on a white napkin and red tablecloth beside a spoon.

Reality check before we dive in: Portuguese food is generally simple, fresh, and comforting rather than spicy or sauce-heavy. If you’re expecting Thai/Mexican “boom-pow” flavours every meal, you’ll think it’s plain. If you lean into great ingredients, grills, stews, soups, and the right regional spots, you’ll eat very well. This guide sets expectations honestly and shows you how to order for maximum flavour. There are hundreds of Portuguese dishes (and more than 365 ways to cook bacalhau alone), but most …

An Overview of International Schools in the Algarve

Are you considering making the Algarve your family’s new home? You’re in good company! The Algarve’s expat community in this stunning region is growing, and with it, the number of international schools has risen, offering a variety of educational options for families from the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, and all over. While the Portuguese education system is excellent and accommodating to foreign students, you might prefer an international education for your children. This is often the …

Joel wearing a beige cap and green t-shirt is holding a baby dressed in white. The man is looking down and smiling at the baby, who is staring at the camera with a curious expression. They are indoors, with a shelf and a television in the background.

Practice Portuguese is one of the most comprehensive (and most popular) tools for learning European Portuguese. It’s something many people living in Portugal will be familiar with, but most people probably don’t know the story of how it came to be. In this interview, I chat to Joel Rendall about how he came to live in Portugal, the difference between life here and life in Canada, and his personal tips for learning Portuguese. Also worth mentioning: Practice Portuguese normally costs …

A man with a beard is looking down while holding a large white sign that reads "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?" in bold, black letters. He is wearing a black vest over a gray shirt and standing against a plain, gray background.

One of the most frequently asked questions on Portugalist is: how widely is English spoken in Portugal? Can I get by with English or do I really need to learn Portuguese? You may have travelled or lived in other European countries like France or Spain where English isn’t always spoken. Portugal’s not like that. When it comes to speaking English as a second language, Portugal is the 9th most proficient country in the world, according to the EF English Proficiency …

James Cave

Buying Property in Portugal: The Real Process, Not the Brochure Version

Moving to Portugal as an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen

Moving to Portugal from South Africa

11 Pros & 16 Cons of Living in Portugal

How to Get a NISS (Social Security) Number in Portugal

Does Portuguese Citizenship Take 5 Years or 10 Years? (2026 Update)

What Portuguese Food Is Really Like (& 18 Dishes To Try)

An Overview of International Schools in the Algarve

From Cruise Ship Musician to Practice Portuguese Co-Founder – An Interview with Joel Rendall

The Portuguese Places Where English Is Spoken Most