Moving to Portugal - Page 5

Removals to Portugal: How to Ship Your Stuff to Your New Home

A person wearing a green plaid shirt is crouched down, sealing a cardboard box with clear packing tape using a tape dispenser. Several other cardboard boxes are visible in the blurred background, indicating a moving or packing activity.

One of the big costs of moving to Portugal – both financially but also emotionally and mentally – is the cost of moving all your stuff here. The cost will depend on how much you want to ship, and where you’re located. Naturally, someone located in Spain, for example, would pay a lot less than someone located in the US. As the US is a big place, there are often differences in prices depending on where you’re located. So, prices …

A small American flag on a stick is planted in the sand on a beach, with a blue sky and ocean waves visible in the background.

Thinking about trading the Stars and Stripes for the Portuguese flag? You’re not alone. More and more Americans are eyeing Portugal as their next home sweet home. So, why Portugal? Picture this: over 300 days of sunshine a year, breathtaking beaches, and cities steeped in history. Sounds like a vacation, right? But you could get that in Italy, Mexico, Panama, or many other places around the world. So why Portugal? Here are just a few reasons: safety, cost of living, …

A person lounging on a beach chair, wearing a large sun hat and white clothing, is reading a book. In the background, gentle waves are visible under a bright blue sky. The sun is shining, creating a serene and relaxed atmosphere.

There are lots of great blogs and YouTube channels that have great information about moving to Portugal, but there’s something nice about just picking up a book and reading it through. Surprisingly, there are very few books about moving to Portugal (so far). There isn’t really a Portuguese equivalent of Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence or Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, at least in terms of popularity, but there are a few self-published accounts that give some insights …

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 …

A black dog is gazing out of an airplane window. The dog is sitting next to the window, looking at the clouds and sky outside. The interior of the airplane is visible, including the wall and window frame.

One of the biggest challenges of moving to Portugal is not getting a residency visa, learning the basics of the Portuguese language, or shipping your belongings. Not, it’s bringing your furry friends here – if you’re a pet owner, anyway. While some airlines allow pets to come in the cabin, many only allow pets to go in the hold, if they allow them on the plane at all. Putting your pet into the hold is something many pet owners are …

A smiling family of three poses outside, sitting close together. A young girl in a pink shirt holds a soccer ball, with her father in a plaid shirt kneeling beside her and her mother in a denim jacket standing behind, embracing them.

If you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen planning to move to Portugal with a non-EU spouse, partner, or children, you have good news: your family members don’t need to apply for standard Portuguese visas like the D7 or Golden Visa. Instead, they can join you through a streamlined family reunification process called “Article 15.” However, while this process is simpler in theory, getting an appointment with AIMA (Portugal’s immigration agency) can be challenging (and some choose to go the visa route instead). …

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 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 person stamps a passport at a wooden desk. Several stamps and ink pads are scattered on the desk, along with a few documents. The person is wearing a white shirt and a blue tie.

So you’ve heard the stories: the sunshine, the pace of life, the pastel de nata addiction—and the fact that Portugal is one of the easiest places in Europe to get residency. But if you’re not from the EU, the big question usually comes first: “Can I actually move to Portugal?” Yes. You can. If you’re British, American, Canadian, Indian—whatever. There are visa options available. In fact, Portugal has some of the most welcoming residency pathways in Europe. If you can …

Two flags are displayed side by side, representing Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese flag, featuring a green and red design with a coat of arms, is on the left. The Spanish flag, with red and yellow stripes and a coat of arms, is on the right. Overlaid text reads "Portugal versus Spain.

A lot of people think about moving to Spain or Portugal. Both have a similar climate, they have shared histories, similar cultures, and are located right next to each other, so it’s understandable why so many people lump the two together. Regardless of which country you choose to live in, you’ll be right next to the other one and so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to travel around both. But travel is one thing and living somewhere is very different, …

Removals to Portugal: How to Ship Your Stuff to Your New Home

How To Move to Portugal From the USA

7 Books About Moving to Portugal

Moving to Portugal as an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen: No Visa Needed — Here’s the Process

Chartering A Flight to Bring Your Pets to Portugal

Moving to Portugal with a Non-EU Spouse or Family Member: How It Works

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

What To Bring When Moving to Portugal

Can I Move to Portugal If I’m Not an EU Citizen? (Yes — Here’s How)

Living in Portugal VS Spain: Which Country Is Right For You?