Why Portugal?
Nazaré, Peniche and the Silver Coast, known as “Costa de Prata”, are world renowned for those really interested in water sports, and in particular surfing, while the Algarve coast offers access to warmer waters and some of the most beautiful beaches around.
Location, Location, Location
The basic rule of Real Estate, is probably the most important facet of your move and potentially costly decision in your journey to Portugal. Whether you are planning on renting or buying, it is important to choose a location that best suits your lifestyle. City life versus Country life, proximity to the airports, your needs for public transportation etc…Keep in mind that purchasing or renting a place to live in Portugal is perhaps one of the most challenging and stressful experiences of your journey. So, getting it right the first time is of the utmost importance.
Our experience shows that our customers, some more than others, have all searched on the internet about the various aspects of living in Portugal. However, the same experience has taught us that most websites present an oversimplified version of the information on living in Portugal, but not ones given by those living and experiencing it first hand. So If you have not been to Portugal before, we highly recommend you plan your visit, to explore the country and familiarise yourself with areas that would be most compatible to your lifestyle, and to what you in general are looking for.
Regardless of whether you are moving within the EU or coming from a Non EU country, we highly recommend that you consider making a list by order of importance of all your requirements, and match them against the Pros & Cons offered by all the locations that you initially chose as future living options. Once you narrow down your choice to 2 or 3 locations, try to rent a place out in each one of them for a month or two. That should give you enough time, to figure out if you are making the right choice. If your ultimate intention is to purchase a home, then we advise you to rent out a property for a minimum of at least one year first if possible.
Another important consideration is understanding the differences between Portugal and your current homeland, in terms of comfortable living and utility prices. It is common knowledge that utilities such as Gas, Electricity & Water, are some of the most expensive in Europe. This is due to politics, and setting these aside, the fact remains that if you want to have a comfortable home, in terms of heating in the winter, and do understand that winters in Portugal are cold & damp, and costs of utilities should be an important consideration when renting a place, or buying a place, or it could turn out to be a very expensive experience. For example, an older and/or poorly renovated property, may prove to be quite expensive to get by during the winter, as it may have been built for the shielding of extreme heat and not for the cold. At the same time, if you rent a property with a very large garden and pool, you also need to be conscientious of the costs of water, especially if the property does not have it’s own well / borehole.
While moving within the European Union, is relatively easy for EU citizens, if you happen to be moving to Portugal, from a Non-EU country, please do keep in mind that you would have a 90 day visa. This is particularly important to those who may be looking to take advantage of the Portuguese Golden Visa program, via Real Estate Investment. 90 days will pass you by in the blink of an eye.
To prevent the stress of the 90 days, we encourage our Non-EU clients to work with our Real Estate specialists ahead of your planned arrival to Portugal. They will be able to advise you on your desired locations and work with you in advance to identify properties that best match your collective needs, making the best use of your time during your stay on your temporary visa.
Relocation Considerations
A common mistake when relocating, is to pack up and bring all your possessions to Portugal. Generally speaking it is quite expensive and could become a real headache, if your belongings are not well suited for your new home. You can buy pretty much everything in Portugal nowadays and if not, everything is available online.
While bringing your belongings within the EU is reasonably easy, however, the logistics involved in bringing everything can become complicated, and if you are a Non-EU citizen, the paperwork involved is overwhelming and the cost a total nightmare as described below. In general, our simple advice to our clients is to travel light and sell everything that you possibly can, while focusing on bringing only items of sentimental value.
Portugal allows a one-time customs tax-free import goods and one vehicle per family. Non-EU citizens, should keep in mind, that customs-free relocation process can only begin after you obtain your residency, and you are required additional documents approved by the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in your home country, you then have 12 months from the time you obtain your residence card to complete the process.
Another Important consideration, in relocating to Portugal, is to decide whether you need to own a vehicle. Unlike some European countries, such as France or Austria, with superior public transport systems in place, mass transit in Portugal is a spot more difficult. While Lisbon and the surrounding areas of Cascais & Estoril offer good public transportation, with access to buses, taxis, metro and Uber, if you choose a property in the suburban areas such as Sintra, you may have to use Uber a little more than usual, take in possible lengthy bus rides or have to own a vehicle to get around.
As mentioned above, you are allowed to bring one vehicle per household free of customs fees. We highly recommend to our clients to keep a variety of factors in mind, such as the size of your vehicle VS the nature of the roads in the area you plan on residing in. If you are thinking of importing a vehicle from a Non EU country, please keep in mind that the process is quite lengthy, often expensive and more likely requires modifications made to your vehicle to comply with EU standards.
That said, we along with our team of partner organisations are fully prepared to assist you every step of the way.
Bringing your Pets
For most of us, pets become part of our families, however, you should plan ahead, if you plan on bringing your pets to Portugal, as requirements vary, depending on whether you are bringing a pet from within EU vs. Non-EU countries. In addition, the regulations may vary, depending on the type of pet you are considering transporting.
If you are transporting from the EU you should consider some important rules:
- You cannot enter Portugal with more than 5 animals in total.
- If you are flying, check with your airline regarding their requirements, as some may have additional restrictions in bringing pets on board.
- Your pets must be at least 12 weeks old.
- The animal must not be pregnant.
- Owners must arrive within 5 days of arrival of their pets, or else it is considered a commercial move, and you will incur more charges.
- Pets must have a microchip used for identification linked linked to the pet’s passport.
- Valid rabies vaccination document showing your pet has been vaccinated.
- If your pet has had a rabies booster shot, you need to wait 21 days before travelling.
- Your pet must have an ISO compliant chip. Consult your veterinarians in your home country.
- You will need to show proof of a rabies vaccination of your pet. If it is the first rabies vaccination of your pet, then you will have to wait 21 days after the vaccination, before travelling.
- You may also need to do a blood test for your pet, if you are bringing a pet to Portugal. Please consult the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (“Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária”).
- A health certificate must be issued by an accredited vet. It shows your pet has had the latest vaccinations, and is fit for travel. The health certificate, is usually valid for 10 days, from the date of issue until the point of entry into Portugal.
If you are staying in a temporary residence such as an Airbnb, you will need to ensure that your accommodations are pet friendly, to avoid any last-minute surprises.
As the regulations for transporting pets can change from time to time, we highly recommend that you consult EU regulations, well ahead of your departure. If you are brining your pets with you, but due to their size or airline regulations, they are traveling in the cargo section of the plane, please consult your veterinarian as for example, some breeds of dogs or cats may be more prone to health complications, if traveling in the cargo section of the plane, due to the differences between the cabin and cargo pressurization.
You may also consult with companies that specialize in transporting pets, to ensure that you are well prepared in advance. In addition, if you are planning on arriving in Portugal in advance of your pets, you may want to consider using a professional pet transport company, as there may be additional requirements. While transporting your pets with professional pet transport companies can be expensive, they do take into account a wide array of considerations, such your pet’s breed, temperature at the time of flight, length of their journey, such as all extra stops to provide your pet with food, water and rest, to ensure safe arrival of your furry friends.
Some of the companies include:
C Four Paws, Animal Couriers, Air Animal Transport, Pets for Pets, Euro Pet Transport, Pet Air UK, World Wide Pet Transport.
In our experience, Cascais, Estoril and Sintra represent three of the most desirable areas for expats moving to Portugal.
Cascais & Estoril
Cascais & Estoril are two of the top choice destinations for Expats from all over the world. These Lisbon municipalities, are located only 35km from Lisbon Airport, and are surrounded by nature, beaches, mountains, & all the very much needed amenities.
The climate of both of these regions, is temperate pretty much all year round. Summers, grace residents with up to 14 hours of sunshine, and temperatures averaging 25º Celsius, 76º Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and windy, with average temperatures of around 20º Celsius 68º Fahrenheit, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day.
Typically, November is the month with the largest amount of rainfall. Approximately 10% of the population, of these two regions, is made up of foreigners, from all corners of the globe. This area offers, 7 international schools, 3 hospitals, 7 golf courses, 2 marinas & dozens of beautiful picturesque beaches, scattered along the coastline.
International homebuyers, seeking a cosmopolitan alternative to Lisbon, will be expected to pay around €5250 per m2, for a well located home, and around €6100 per m2, on average, for apartments overlooking the coast. Prices as of November 2020.
Sintra
Sintra is an enchanted municipality, known for its picturesque architecture and its historic royal connections. It is popular amongst expat communities, and lies along the remarkable coastline North West of Cascais. Sintra is a Unesco World Heritage Region, located only 30 minutes away from Lisbon. It is a more affordable alternative to the capitals higher property prices.
Sintra is approximately 256m above sea level, the climate is mild, generally warm and temperate. Rainfall is mostly during the winter, with little or no rain in the summer months. The average temperature in Sintra is 14.5º Celsius 54.5º Fahrenheit.
Sintra is characterised by moderate temperatures, wet winters and it is influenced by the existence of a microclimate which contributes to a rich botanical diversity surrounded by nature, beaches and mountain. Summers in Sintra, grace residents with up to 13 hours of sunshine, and temperatures averaging 22º Celsius, 71.6º Fahrenheit.
December is the month with the largest amount of rainfall. Approximately 9% of the Sintra population is made up of foreigners, from all corners of the globe. Sintra is located within relatively easy reach to most of the International schools. Homebuyers seeking an alternative to the capital, will be expected to pay an average minimum of €2530 per m2 up to €6967 per m2 for a well located home. Prices as of November 2020.
Bank Account In Portugal
There are a variety of Banks in Portugal, that you can choose to open up a bank account. Always have in mind, depending on your circumstances, some banks are more suited to your needs, than others. In general, the documents needed to open a bank account are;
- Passport or valid residence card.
- Proof of address.
- Proof of address if different from residence address.
- Proof of profession.
- NIF (Portuguese Tax Number).
A bank account cannot be opened in Portugal with a P.O.A (Power of Attorney), however, depending on where you come from, you may be able to initiate proceedings in your country of origin, as some of the Portuguese Banks have their branches registered in other foreign countries. Those moving to Portugal from the United States should keep in mind, that due to the tax laws of the U.S., such as Foreign Account Tax Compliance Law (FATCA), you may be asked for additional documents from the Portuguese banks in the process of opening your bank account.
