Anyone move to Portugal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would too! We are seriously considering buying a second home there and pursuing citizenship.

I had read Portugal was tightening up citizenship requirements and that the immigration system is a mess, so very curious to hear actual accounts.

Yes this is happening.

It is very hard to get anything done there. The Government offices are a mess.

The airport is a mess. Transportation is a mess.

The whole month of December was a Force Majure.... Meaning Transport strikes constantly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would too! We are seriously considering buying a second home there and pursuing citizenship.

I had read Portugal was tightening up citizenship requirements and that the immigration system is a mess, so very curious to hear actual accounts.

Yes this is happening.

It is very hard to get anything done there. The Government offices are a mess.

The airport is a mess. Transportation is a mess.

The whole month of December was a Force Majure.... Meaning Transport strikes constantly

Sounds messy. Anyone with first hand experience dealing with Portuguese immigration (AIMA I believe it’s called)?

[Anonymous]

It’s much harder now, due to so many USA citizens moving there to get away from trump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s much harder now, due to so many USA citizens moving there to get away from trump.

Really? Americans are solely responsible for the immigration changes in Portugal? I thought more Brits were moving there than Americans.

[Anonymous]

check out reddit subs : expatFIRE and amerexit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went there for a conference. Pretty place. Reminds me so much of California. But the language was tough. Spoken, I couldn't understand a word of it. Written, I could make out a few root words. Trying to speak to people (taxi drivers, etc.) who knew very little English was torturous for me (and I'm sure for them, as well). Yes, you can save some money on rent, but the language would create isolation. I'll just stay here.

Many speak English. Portugal is the 6th Most English Proficient Country https://share.google/HF1HgziyRZB184Wpv

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Went there for a conference. Pretty place. Reminds me so much of California. But the language was tough. Spoken, I couldn't understand a word of it. Written, I could make out a few root words. Trying to speak to people (taxi drivers, etc.) who knew very little English was torturous for me (and I'm sure for them, as well). Yes, you can save some money on rent, but the language would create isolation. I'll just stay here.

Many speak English. Portugal is the 6th Most English Proficient Country https://share.google/HF1HgziyRZB184Wpv

Right. That can make it difficult to learn Portuguese actually.

[Anonymous]

It’s a beautiful country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a priest from Newark and they sent him to study Portuguese so he could be fluent with Portuguese parishioners in his neighborhood (Ironside maybe?) and now decades later he also ministers to Angolese immigrants in Maine. So it’s possible to learn.

The ironbound.

[Anonymous]

Some of the responses here are wild. Compared to what's happening in our own country, I will gladly take inconvenience as the added stressor to my life, especially to live in Portugal! It is one of the most beautiful and friendliest countries I have visited, and I do not speak Portuguese. I traveled throughout the country and rarely had issues communicating, but when I did, I figured it out. If I could find employment there, I'd be on the next plane! Good luck, OP! I hope it works out and you come back with brilliant stories.

[Anonymous]

My friend lived there for the past two hears and went back to the U.S. and vowed never to leave again. There are conveniences that Americans take for granted that are not in Portugal.

[Anonymous]

I worked in Greece for the Olympics. Great place if you have no ambitions or medical needs. Otherwise it's basically a giant welfare state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses here are wild. Compared to what's happening in our own country, I will gladly take inconvenience as the added stressor to my life, especially to live in Portugal! It is one of the most beautiful and friendliest countries I have visited, and I do not speak Portuguese. I traveled throughout the country and rarely had issues communicating, but when I did, I figured it out. If I could find employment there, I'd be on the next plane! Good luck, OP! I hope it works out and you come back with brilliant stories.

Spoken like someone that probably lives 5 minutes from Fairfax INOVA. Try living 1 hour from care that is below our regional care standards. They medicvac US military members from Portugal/Spain/Italy to Germany because the care is that lacking.

Try drying your clothes in a European dryer. It takes like 4 days.

Also there is no employment there - that's part of the problem too. Less job prospects than probably Detroit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses here are wild. Compared to what's happening in our own country, I will gladly take inconvenience as the added stressor to my life, especially to live in Portugal! It is one of the most beautiful and friendliest countries I have visited, and I do not speak Portuguese. I traveled throughout the country and rarely had issues communicating, but when I did, I figured it out. If I could find employment there, I'd be on the next plane! Good luck, OP! I hope it works out and you come back with brilliant stories.

Spoken like someone that probably lives 5 minutes from Fairfax INOVA. Try living 1 hour from care that is below our regional care standards. They medicvac US military members from Portugal/Spain/Italy to Germany because the care is that lacking.

Try drying your clothes in a European dryer. It takes like 4 days.

Also there is no employment there - that's part of the problem too. Less job prospects than probably Detroit.

+1 when my friend had a serious medical issue she had to go to London to get it checked out

The house basement flooded and it took weeks before someone came and fixed it.

The language barrier is an issue. Fixing things require you to communicate in Portuguese.

The availability of organic fresh food is lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend lived there for the past two hears and went back to the U.S. and vowed never to leave again. There are conveniences that Americans take for granted that are not in Portugal.

OP here. Interesting, thanks for sharing. Can you share any specifics regarding why your friend left? Did they hope to get citizenship, or was that not a factor? Thank you.