Anyone move to Portugal?

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Pretty sure Greece and Portugal are different.

[eastcoastmom]

Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

[Anonymous]

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Thank you. Can you expand on any of this, and is your friend willing to stick it out? Do they hope to get citizenship eventually? Have they enjoyed living in Portugal apart from the bureaucratic hurdles? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Thank you. Can you expand on any of this, and is your friend willing to stick it out? Do they hope to get citizenship eventually? Have they enjoyed living in Portugal apart from the bureaucratic hurdles? Thank you.

^^Also, if you’re no longer considering Portugal, where are you considering?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Thank you. Can you expand on any of this, and is your friend willing to stick it out? Do they hope to get citizenship eventually? Have they enjoyed living in Portugal apart from the bureaucratic hurdles? Thank you.

If you’re no longer considering Portugal, where are you considering?

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who moved there several years ago, with their little kids and elderly parents. They love it there. They are getting citizenship. They said if it weren't for family still in the US they'd never come back to the US.

I am super jealous. Timing didn't work out for us like it did for them. I was telling my spouse I wish we could've done this when the kids were younger.

As an aside, we'll probably move to Europe somewhere after our youngest graduates from college, and maybe stay in Asian for a year. That's my consolation. Better late than never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who moved there several years ago, with their little kids and elderly parents. They love it there. They are getting citizenship. They said if it weren't for family still in the US they'd never come back to the US.

I am super jealous. Timing didn't work out for us like it did for them. I was telling my spouse I wish we could've done this when the kids were younger.

As an aside, we'll probably move to Europe somewhere after our youngest graduates from college, and maybe stay in Asian for a year. That's my consolation. Better late than never.

Do you know how long it will take them to get citizenship? I’m hearing well in excess of 10 years now. And where in Portugal do they live?