Am I leaving Portugal? 

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Dudes. I’m from Portugal. I live in Switzerland. Work in Switzerland and have a monthly pay check most Portuguese people dream about. I can’t afford to move to Portugal. Portugal is nice and great IF you don’t have a Portuguese pay check

I arrived in Portugal three months ago with my wife and we love this beautiful country.

Hi Dave, I've been following you because I was very curious to know how an American felt living in Portugal. From what I've seen in your videos, you've started to document the tax and other systems for Non-Resident Citizens well, and you've shown your followers in the United States how beautiful and wonderful Portugal is. Honestly, I feel that you've adapted well to our culture, to our greatest pride, which is our country. In my opinion, after being in Portugal for 2 years, I can already consider you a Portuguese! It seems that you already speak Portuguese well and you're amazed by us. As a Portuguese person, I'm proud that people like you, with a different culture, mentality, and nationality, have come to like us. I was a little sad to think that you're leaving our country without getting to know even more Portuguese traditions and cultures, including Portuguese history, which is one of the richest! About the taxes on Non-Residents, it's still in a proposal for the State Budget, but we Portuguese aren't the type to throw in the towel because that proposal is totally contrary to our Constitution. I hope that your decision is to stay in Portugal. I'll continue to watch you on RU-vid and I hope that this absurd measure that kills the foreign investment we need will "fall flat." A warm Portuguese hug from this Portuguese who follows you.

It is amazing how the Portuguese can live in Portugal! I moved here in 89 and I have lived here like the Portuguese live - not like the expats. No private health plans or schools for my kids and living on a minimum wage. It wasn't easy. My eldest son had to leave the country to get a decent wage and be able to make something of his life. Like so many Portuguese nationals do. My youngest is off to Ireland in a few months too. I think the Portuguese government needs to think carefully how it 'sells' Portugal off to the highest bidder. This country is much more than sun and beaches. 😊😊rant over.

Hi Dave. Thanks for your videos. As a portuguese citizen, I welcome you to stay here as long as it pleases you, counting that you are happy. Nothing and nobody is perfect, so all we have to do is to weigh the pros and cons of every situation we are in. Enjoy Portugal.

Most people saying they aren’t going to Portugal because of NHR probably don’t even understand if it’ll affect them anyways. I personally won’t be applying for the NHR because it would lock me into a 10% tax scheme and honestly my portfolio doesn’t make enough to reach 10% taxation so if I got enrolled in NHR, then it’d cost me money, not save me. So people that are concerned about that should consult a tax attorney in PT and US to decide based off facts.

Dave, thanks for ur down to earth videos on 🇵🇹. We are far from being perfect but we have so much potential, and are certainly very good people. U have adapted, gotten involved in our culture, customs, language, and I am so thankful. You have been utterly exemplary and I hope u stay with us for a very looong time... How about forever!? You are the type of human being we want and need living amongst us, so TY for giving 🇵🇹 a chance, for sharing yourself with us and accepting us as we are. 🙏😊❤️🇵🇹

Thanks as always for the honesty and the "raw" vibe of this video. I would add, while Europeans may pay a "higher tax" on the face value of income ... it SHOULD be considered that most Americans only calculate their Federal Rate and compare it to what they think they will pay here. If you ADD in your HEALTH INSURANCE costs in the US (my last year in California, I was paying $900/mo in premium for a family of 2)... that makes your total layout for a 28% tax bracket in the USA actually closer to a 48-50% effective 'TAX'... Then consider that Portugal has one of the best healthcare/cost ratio systems in Europe, and ranked 12th in the World to the US' 17th overall rank... This makes Portugal much more competitive... add in that: you cannot be bankrupted by medical bills here, cost of living is considerably lower, violence is almost non-existant.. and you can hop on a plane and be in Paris, Rome, London, Berlin, in a few hours.. final analysis,..quality of life, lack of stress.. is much better here.

I love your channel! Thank you for sharing a piece of Portugal with us, every once in a while!

I subscribed his channel because I thought he was genuine and fair, plus it helped me to understand the current situation in Portugal 🇵🇹.

Here in Portugal (central rural) also, retired able to buy land…no chance in Uk even better able to BREATHE and integrate with the WONDERFUL Portuguese people. We live in a very small village only speak a little português, but we have been made to feel very welcomed and accomodated despite our lack of language. Enjoying your videos.

Your house is so beautiful. Hold on to that house. I hope you are making good Portuguese friends. I know it's not easy. I glad you are enjoying your life in Portugal.

Hi Dave, congratulations for the contents of your videos with a honest and internal/original perspective. Thank you for your efforts and sharing with all of us. Wish you success! 👍☀️☀️💪

Thank you for your time and posting. :)

Thank you for the practical informationals.

Thanks for You're brutally honest take on Portugal. A lot of RU-vidrs are sugarcoating it. Not cool. Every country has pros and cons, but when people mislead you that's showing a lack of integrity. Keep up the good work!

Hi Dave, thanks for your great and comprehensive covering on how its like to live in Portugal. I was there for weeks at that " Expo-98" and travelled thru. the couctry. I Loved the food and culture, and it is so easy to travel to other countries in Europe from Portugal. I'll be watching more of your video production. All the best. 🙌🇺🇸🇵🇹🗽

Hey Dave, I am relieved to hear you are NOT leaving Portugal. Best of luck with your opportunity. Randy/GA(USA)

Good for you! Good luck to you!

Hi Dave. I am a Portuguese living in Japan for already many years now and I enjoy so much your videos, because I appreciate the real way in which you introduce my country. It helps me to learn from your vision. Thank you.

Hello Dave, I'm Portuguese and I've watched most of your videos. Thank you for showing what it's like to live in Portugal and what the Portuguese are like. If the time has come to leave, I wish you all the best and thank you very much.

Great videos. I’ll definitely keep watching and hope everything goes well for you.

love watching your videos, I love Portugal, wish i was brave enough to move. Visiting for now will have to do :) keep posting

Thanks for another amazing and honest video Dave.

I am Portuguese and I left Portugal to live in the UK and I can clearly see the problem is always the government and NOT foreigners. I love Portugal but the way the government treats people is unspeakable. Always taxing the poor, not incentivizing anyone to start a business, too much burocracy to do anything, all they want is for the Portuguese people to be miserable. I mean, Portugal gives 300-400 euros for elderly people to live off... And they worked all their lives! In countries like the UK, you build your own pension with the help of the company you work for, which means when you retire you have (at least) 6 digits in your account - while companies use that money to grow the UK economy until your retirement age. The economy grows, the worker gets a big pay check and everyone is happy... In Portugal you can't even afford medication

Thanks for this video… its inspiring, because what draws me to Portugal is the culture and the people and less about some tax benefit.

Dave you are awesome Tysm for your content 😊

Great video! My Portuguese CPA filed NHR for me, it took only 2 days to ger the NHR.

I am glad to know you are staying in Portugal! 😁🤗

I just got back from my "check out a few areas to vibe check them to see where i want to move" portugal trip. I was never banking on the tax break or anything, so it's still part of my plan. Looking forward to my future trips to do a deeper dive into various areas.

I always compliment how hospitable and warm portuguese people are ! it's been a 9 months that I've been living here and whenever I face with local people they ask me that do I love living here and always they are kind! I am attracted by portuguese history and now I am making videos about here to introduce this amazing country to the world

Right on Dave!!!! We need both sides in order to make informed choices. There will always be haters. Just build the well rounded content and they will come

yes , if you continue to go in the authentic direction, i will be watching and liking. in the past ihad given up on you for a while...

Every country just has to have a law that stops companies from buying homes and turning them into monthly rentals - Homes should be for people who want to live in that house for years or for life so create a law that you can only own two homes and that you can not rent either one. That would help drive prices down immediately

Glad you are staying

Dave, I like your videos because your underline message was always, try to make effort to know the place and the culture, not going into the rabbit hole of criticism how the new country is so much worse from your place of birth. The truth is, if somebody does not like Portugal, it is his decision that is wrong and he is the only one with the power to change it! I admire the fact that you learn the language and seeing how different the mindset is, you embrace it! Let's not forget that one of the main reason Americans like Europe is the slow-pace life, the human connections and actually, having life 😊

Hi, Dave - your vids are an amazingly timely and helpful find. Esp on the NHR. Since, as mentioned prior, I want to live in Portugal because I fell in love with the country and people at the same time I was looking for a place to live instead of the U.S. and I am retiring. Like you, I had not heard of the NHR -- until your videos! Like you my plan is to integrate as much as I can into the culture. I study Portuguese 2 hrs a day! And I expect to pay taxes. But 48% is high, I dont' care who you are. Esp on top of the fact I'll remain required to pay U.S. taxes. So I am very intrigued to hear more re your plans. Thx for the Good, Bad & Ugly reporting!!

Great video as usual

Hey Dave I do appreciate your videos and honest information. I am one that is coming for 3 months to buy a small farm in the North or Central in Dec thru March and was not going to apply for residency until 2024 so I lost my ability to apply for the NHR. Although that is NOT the reason I am moving to Portugal, but it would have enabled me to move next year instead of waiting to receive my SS. So I am not sure if I can afford to move now. I am still coming to narrow down my area and look to see if I can find a property, but I want to get more information about the taxes I will have to pay and the tax I would have to pay on the gain on my house when I sell it in 2024. It was the interest I was going to live off of until I got my SS in the next several years. So the NHR was my way to move early. Now I am not sure. YES IT IS THE SAFETY and to be able to live in an affordable place in Europe with mountains, water, beautiful villages and cities and the lovely people. You are so right melding into the country and respecting the people is very important as well as learning the language. Hugs my friend. I even started my own youtube channel so to film my property search, history and to share the amazing places I will be visiting. Keep inspiring. Gina in Upstate New York USA moving to Portugal

Was just there loved it

A long term rental for at least a year is almost impossible in the most desirable areas of pt for retirement and D7 visas. So getting in on the the nhr tax regime before it disappears wont be easy or realistic . Thanks for your authentic and down to earth videos.

Look forward to the future content and your plans. I’m still hoping to move. My plans have been delayed as I have to move some assets before I can go but I’m going for the culture and life for my family not for the money so looking forward to the time when it comes. Life too short. 👍🏾 Ps. I’m learning Portuguese (Portugal iteration) so if I had Babel that’s what I’d do!

Hello Dave thanks for everything that you’ve presented about Portugal my wife, kids and myself were just there for 3weeks and we were so blown away by its beauty. So we decided to move there next year regardless of NHR. We didn’t know about before so we’re not going to let it prevent us from moving there. Hope to run into you someday when we get there. Thanks again for all the advice and how to adapt to the culture.

Can you do a video on the tax price changes on normal day living purchases & a monthly cost without having the tax break? Did you apply for the tax break? How will it affect you after the agreed time is over?

Portugal o nosso cantinho a beira mar..❤ respeitem que serao sempre bem recebidos.

I love and look forward to your videos weekly.

NHR has been cancelled for a very simple reason: it made the house market prices go up like never before and today not a single Portuguese can afford to buy a house, and even renting has become difficult. All due to wealthy foreigners making the market prices go up. You can’t really blame a government to think about its own people first, can you? We’ve had the same problem here where I live and the result is that only wealthy Saudi Arabians or billionaires can afford a house, even local millionaires can’t afford it and the local middle class can barely afford to rent a small apartment and won’t ever have their own house unless they inherit it from they grandparents.

Hey Dave, when are you going to do a series about the castles and citys of the "Beiras"?

As a portuguese I'm glad you decided to stay in our beloved country. Love your authentic view of Portugal (the good and the bad). Hope things get better for locals and for everyone who wants to live here, as long as , like you said, they respect the people and the culture.

Good luck with your project 👍 Some good points about intergrating into the Portuguese culture. Unfortunately for our family it doesn't make sense to pay 48% tax and another 23% VAT. We couldn't make the move in time. NOTE: IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FINANCE OR HAVE SOME MONEY BUY A CHEAPER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN NOW LIVE IN IT! WORKS FOR D7 RESIDENCE. 😮👍🌞💪

I appreciate your honesty. There is no perfect place. I have been in Canada practically my whole life, came here in 1963 with my parents. Originally from the Azores. I would love to leave this country, but unfortunately husband does not.

Dude….youre a roll model for us Americans. I tell my 2 American kids “be like Dave.” But hey Dont let that compliment go to your head. Keep giving us the good bad and ugly and funny content. Thanks Big Dave!!

You seem like a cool guy to have a cerveja with!

Dave, I'm not sure if this was your intention, but you make it sound like that NHR is ending for you as well, but you've decided to stay in Portugal, regardless. Assuming that you are on NHR currently, you will not lose it. It is only for newer visa applicants. I think you know this. So for you to decide to remain in Portugal regardless of NHR ending has no bearing for you since you will not be losing it.

I realize you're videos are mostly targeted towards an American audience. And that's perfectly fine. You're an American and that's your perspective. I just wonder how different these videos would be if you took a more holistic, global approach. Maybe interview some people who have moved to Portugal from Southeast Asia, India, Vietnam? How about Africans from Mozambique and Namibia who are native Portuguese speakers? Love your content, looking forward to deeper content.

Hi Dave, I've been following you for a whilte since my partner and I want to move to Portugal in a near future. Comgin from Canada, having to pay taxes is nothing new,, so the end or the reform of the NHR doesn't change our project at all. If it does soemthing, it encourages us to do so since there will be less "rich people wanted to escape paying taxes" in Portugal. I would be interested on connecting with you just to learn more about how you made it possible. Francois

Ue bom que vais ficar por cá.

Thanks!

Pleas make a video of your town in Portugal

Hi Dave, What is the name of the law firm you mentioned for visa/residence assistance to expedite our already gathered documents. Thank you.

Hi Dave, My partner and I have really enjoyed the information you provide in your videos. We almost feel that we can take an early retirement and settle there. Thank you so much for your views and insights into life in PT. We are taking a trip there in November and can't wait to see all the beauty the country holds. We are proactively learning the language, and by the time we are ready to move there in a couple of years hopefully, we won't sound like idiots!! lol. I am a web developer and teach at the local college, and my partner is a programmer. While we are close to retirement age, it is still a few years off. (We may not wait). In your opinion, are there jobs in tech in Portugal? I love teaching programming and would love to continue to do so, even if it was as a volunteer at a school. Again! Thank you for the videos!!

Thanks Dave. We're gonna figure it out and retire there early next year. Hope to see you there someday! ✌️

Glad to know that you don't plan to move :) You are very welcomed here and congrats for your channel. We have to admit that the video about taxes was a bit alarmist ;) and I agree, if people are planning to move just because of the taxes regime, better think twice. Nevertheless our tax scheme is not that high as you mentioned in that video, as it is a progressive and only applies to the margins above the different levels. Plus, it is more than fair that everybody contributes for the common good

There are a lot of expats living in Terceira and still coming and not just locals that are coming back, have you been to that she specific island yet?

Hello! I love your videos. When you want to come to Algarve, you’re welcomed

Obrigada

You Rock...have to scream when coming to Queluz. coffee is on me...

I looked into properties in Portugal. It is not a cheap as you think it is , as of now . I found prices better in France and Italy.

Leave Portugal? No way Dave you are already one of us.

I really appreciate your honesty in these videos. Also the extensive comments after your no more NHR video gave me a better look at the variety of things a number of Portuguese people are thinking than I've had anywhere. Three years ago I decided I wanted to leave the U.S. though I'd been thinking of it for awhile. I'd already lived in Europe for a number of years in my late 20s. Now I'm well into retirement. Unlike most U.S. expats I see commenting, I don't live in NY or CA or Seattle, and living in Portugal was never going to be much less expensive than staying where I am. But I want to be away from our politics and guns and expensive health care and I very much "want to be an old woman who can walk on the beach." And have good public transit, and be accessible to the rest of Europe. And I love living bi lingually, so the challenge of learning Portuguese never put me off, though knowing it wasn't essential to survive was helpful. But as we've watched real estate prices soar before our eyes, I've wondered what else could be changing. Is the health care system being over extended? Could the crime be going up as richer people move in and displace locals? Might the kind Portgueuse start to feel a little less kindly toward expats? The comments after your NHR video made me think that all of those are possible. But you're right Dave, the wealth gap is affecting life everywhere. And I'm in favor of a progressive tax system. How else do transportation and health care get paid for? So we'll still be coming to look around again in April. Thanks again for these

Everyone wants to live the dream in another country because it's more affordable and be entitle to special tax reduction or program, my question is how fare is that for the locals?!?

Why would you leave Portugal unless you wanted to? It wouldn't be because of the NHR going away because you would be grandfathered in until your 10 years are up. I'm not sure if you discussed this in previous videos.

Off course you have to integrate, If one goes to a new country, one has to. I lived 7 years in London and I had to integrate otherwise I would not be happy or have friends. If I just wanted to have Portuguese friends I would never leave Portugal. 😉 Having respect for the culture where you live, it is a must! 😊

All of my grandparents (mother’s and father’s side) came from Portugal (Azores). A friend said I could apply for dual citizenship. Just curious if you knew anything about this or who I would talk to to find out. Portuguese consulate?

Many Countries have a tax treaty with Portugal. I am from Canada and they do. So we are not double taxed on our pension. It is funny how quickly people blurb without any knowledge about the situation. BTW Crypto in PT is only taxed if you sell/convert it into fiat money within a year. If you hold it longer than a year it is tax free. This also includes stable coins. Any trading in crypto ( crypto for crypto) is not taxed at all.

At first i loved watching videos of youtubers that was moving and talking about my country and the culture shock. Was fun but know, knowing that that interest of Portugal come, from most of foreigns, because of the tax incentives i lost faith on all good intentions of them. Sure some love Portugal but first they love their money and where can they leave without losing on even gain some much. If that didnt affect our existance that would be great but its affecting. Our natives are having a lot of dificulties to leave parents houses and generate their own family. We should achieve a reasenoble point.

The comments … lol. Great video, except the hand-held camera. Lots of reasons PT was so highly rated as a place to live/retire. Certainly taxes were part of it, but that’s as never the sole reason. But certainly, this change will have a huge impact on immigration.

Dave its time for an episode in portuguese. would you acept the challenge?

I live in California but my family is from portugal I hope to go there one day and would like to have a house there maybe

So you are saying that despite your insane tax increase, you actually see the return benefits in real life?

The problem with many language programs is they offer only Brazilian Portuguese which I am not interested in. Is that the case with Babble ? My Portuguese is pretty good but I want it to be better.

Will the NHR affect people who are coming over on a D7 as l will be a retiree and as far as I'm concerned the country that l will receive my state pension and local government pension from will have no doubt taxed if it does get taxed, so I'm confused about how the NHR issue would affect me.

Good, good 👍👍👍

The worst problem in Portugal is you cannot make a decent living working for a local company. Even if you have a tax break, everyone pays IVA (call it VAT or sales tax), which is 23% and in a lot of goods and services everyone may think are essential. Taxes over revenue are also high and in return, you get very little back: national education and health systems are cracking up, public transportation doesn't work as it should and most of the times their workers are on strike... The only advantages are food and sunshine, good beaches and countryside - but even that is changing and some places are being literally destroyed to give place to condos for expats... who want to come here because of its beautiful landscape... and tax breaks. For most Portuguese earning around 1000€/month is not a dream to live in Portugal, when the rents are 700€ or higher. The demand for housing is making local people's lives miserable and fortunately Portuguese people are patient and control themselves, but they are reaching a point that even patience has a limit and I feel hostility and bad temper growing. What you see as an attack to everyone looking for a tax break is just a Government bandaid to solve a much deeper problem for the local population. Anyway, if you really like Portugal, you can stay and see how it really is to live as a Portuguese with the full package experience. It's challenging.

Living in another country, regardless of whether it is a success or not, is immensely enriching. In that sense, if the opportunity arises, always try is my advice. I myself have been living as a Dutchman in Switzerland for many years, and although that seems a safe approach, there is a lot involved, also on a personal level. Learning the language and culture, finding a job, building a social network. But what an enrichment. Although I have no plans to live in Portugal, I find your channel always interesting, especially while you are not sugar coating. Cheers, Ronald.

I am a Californian who moved to Minnesota for the low cost of living.

Im glad you’re not leaving Portugal

I know a lot of folks leaving NY for the promised land, Portugal. I feel sorry for that country- it’s like the gold rush is on

What Dave does NOT mention is how difficult it is to get laid in Southern European countries. I live in Europe and NO man is getting near to you unless he has a good character, is all about family and christian culture and of course money to live by. But we are never about money alone and so many Americans coming to Europe just don't grasp that.

Fresh Portugal, $3500.00 fee for NHR, did I read that correctly? Whoa!!!

I absolutely love Portugal. It is thee best country I've been to, and I've traveled all over the world! But ita not perfect no place is! However I am wondering if you have a business thats registered in the U.S. and you are paid in U.S. dollars do you still have to pay Portuguese taxes as a foreigner considering your business and income is outside of Portugal?

Anyone especially those are retired considering moving to Argentina instead? Muito Obrigado. Muchas gracias.

O ideal será voltares para os E.U., lá é muito melhor! não pagas impostos e tens saúde gratuita!

I really love you are not sugarcoating.. it is SO important. There are people moving here, spending many thousands, with the wrong expectations, then trying to leave again or being "stuck". I have had personal conversations with hundreds of "pending" immigrants to give them the balanced view from my perspective, and they simply had no idea of many of the realities. And then those same people will still perpetuate "rainbows and unicorns" to others, so as not to be seen as being critical or whingeing. Even this week I took in a hiker caught in the huge rains of the past week & he had been told that Portugal did not get much rain and only in Jan/Feb; so his whole three week trip was wrecked because he came at the wrong time of the year, and had to leave for Spain. It is simply ridiculous that people are not giving honest feedback on the country, as we see it, to help people make good decisions for them. By the way, I have land near Óbidos, so if you are in this region, feel free to message me to connect

The Portuguese NHR tax regime does not affect americans as much as tax residents from other countries because the US is one of only two countries worldwide that taxes its citizens no matter what country they live in and become a tax resident of. Also, because of the US-Portugal double taxation treaty, americans can claim a Foreign Tax credit on their US tax return for any Portuguese income tax that they paid. Regarding retirees who receive income from pensions, stock capital gains, dividends, interest, etc., under the current NHR regime, they only need to pay portuguese taxes on 10% of private pensions (such as those received from corporations), not on public pensions (such as state, county, city pensions), capital gains, dividends, interest, etc.

Dave if I were you. Don’t sell. Stay in Portugal.. you got it good. ❤ if you have to leave Portugal, then find somewhere else in Europe.

Hi

Sorry you're leaving. How much you want for the house?

🌸