Why Are People Leaving Portugal? 

almost 100% agreed! I am Portuguese 51, I have been abroad, I have brothers university teacher in US, been there some ocasions....when I started to watch this movie, even without leastening I said "it has to be expectations vs reality", foreigners sometimes want Portugal to be their system, and it is not, its a system with history, it was not so long ago a population that the majority could not read, very rural and poor...bear in mind that , people they come from somewhere, they are not built in the moment u face them...most educated people they are not in the state system at least the service ones...And the wave of foreigners from the last 10 years is immense for a small country, and I am not talking just the rich or middle class people from the richer countries, I start from the Brazilians, the lets say "old african colonies" they are all in all more than 1 million now for a country of 10 , official number are lower because most of them some time ago where never legalized, so adding all up rich and poor lets simplify the language its a huge wave and they all want to live better , have to relocate, so it drives to madness and pressure to the system in various degrees , house market, job market, conditions of living , desity in big cities...even for a super calm country because of super calm local portuguese ( we complain about our system to, but generally we dont fight outside friend comments) , the friction of the entire humans frictioning around in this small country is for sure growing not to be to much conserned but it can be seen with political implication new parties from the extreme right rising etc...and so if a foreigner comes here with a restricted budget wanting for rapid solutions its going to hit the wall depending on his SMARTNESS and ADAPTABILITY for sure....to end I say this , Portugal is heaven if u are a common sense kind of people , relaxed, smart and have money...its a superb and probably on the top 10 countries to live, because of geography ( its Europe in the end where the valuation of human life is in the top for sure ), weather, not to many borders witch simplify and brings more stable peacefull country, etc...sorry for the long comment

@@Hdio99 I sense frustration from some here in Portugal...No one is immune from feeling taken advantage of...This is the World we are living in...There are many FOREIGNERS crossing the border daily in the U.S. looking to take advantage of America's resources...Education to Social Security...Portugal went out in the World and conquered for Gold, God And Spices wink wink...Only a very few families have benefited from the loot...You have had plenty of time to be innovative like the Americans with things like Technology...and etc...Without the internet you would not be able to sell cork, olives and wine...You have relied on a Social Government to be your innovation and future by giving you what? Nothing...They have handicapped you and future generations with Stinky thinking..."We are Poor" help us...Not only are they not going to help you...they are going to continue to help themselves and their cronies continue to get Rich...I want you think about 1 person in your country that get's paid Millions to kick a ball...Yet this same person feels entitled to buy a country club so him and his family have a better view and more privacy...Where's the outrage from Portuguese Citizens who want a better view and more privacy for their families...There is none because your own banks have stolen pensions from hard working Portuguese folks and the party keeps on rolling...Yet you want to blame strangers...Reality vs. Fiction...😉

@@dickielarue1451 In my point of view I opt not to include in the mix what does a government do or not , because all coutries have one , some better some worst, we just have to look has an example of US or the UK, people g7 coutries but one worst than the other, so about the future reality for each one of us, goverments play some role but not the most piece of the cake, so pointing out some general aspects of goverments is like tavern talk , even experts dont have the clear view, and all public matters are a show to behold, media included and they generally dont display what in reality plays or not the very truth... the biguer picture comes from what are our option some have more than others no doubt but its the decitions we make and the learning we take with our errors that makes one advance and with that helping others by giving example if they are able to recognize, in general people that advance the world is never or for the most part in any goverments, its the einsteins, the scientists that nobody normally knows , and other man of knoledge that make the biguest advances in silence from the general knoledge, not deniyng that some good politics can help very large groups of people to have the base to grow...but its an example that is in most cases some poor people that gives to excelent science and some of the suns of the weathy people in general brakes their parents and olders generations empires... so its a person desire and balaced actions that probabilitically have more chance to be succefully...I give my familly own example, we come from rural and agricultural grand parents very poor my grand parent who died a decade ago , we has a child of that at 3 is mother died, we was from a very young age working from sun up to sun down , eating only bread and cheese, times that now we dont have in the majority of the population here in Europe or US, my mothe saw is father suicide himself when she was like 9 years old, but my parents raised the 3 boys me and my brothers well , they studied against all odds, my mother became later in life with 3 sons as a school teacher , in the interior city and 1 time going per month to lisbon , she reached PHD , she became university teacher now retired, my father taken his degree later at 52 became member of local goverment for education, I took phisics and IT, my brother is teacher in howard university school of medicine in washington DC , where your vice president Camala Harris graduated from, his wife is professor in george town univeristy...my other brother is a cinema director and art teacher , that just in 2 month ago won one of the san francisco cinema festival in foreigner movie category, so you see its beacuse nothing was given nor the state govern did nothing and is the proof that we all can achieve and be great with the power of our own mind, has is the phrase I have from Einstein!!! all the rest is just opinions and the like, its simple but not simplistic right!!!

@@Hdio99 Bom dia from Horta, Acores...Education is important...However what's being taught in school is not being used in the real world in terms of accounting, medicine, i.e. Vaccines wink wink...and etc...The United States is a Predatory Country Abroad and even more so Stateside on it's own Citizens...this is the business model...It is also a country of Negative and Toxic Energy...Morrally and Financially Bankrupt...It is not alone...As Empires of the past went to conquer for God and Gold...We have a human beings value issue...Some think Pop Stars, Sports Stars, Movie Stars and etc. should have excellent Salaries, yet what value do these professions truly bring to humanity...While folks that clean the streets, drive the buses and etc. are doing more for their communities, yet are not valued with a paycheck to match there contribution to society...But kick a ball? The orginal title to the video could be anywhere...The real reason why many folks are leaving any country on this planet...Poverty, persecution, War and etc...What one does outside it's borders will be returned 10 fold within it's borders...Almost biblical, no? Looks like Chuva...Going to hike around Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo...Have a blessed day...😉

As a portuguese who lived abroad several years I could not agree more. Portugal as a small country have some good features that make it unique but never was a easy land. Ot is a place were you need to be a hard worker and most of the time you dont feel reward for it. But é a vida que Deus quis.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed our video. Yes, we try to give an honest and balanced view of how we see it. It's a great country, but saying it's paradise probably depends on your expectations and what kind of life you wish to live :)

You are right! Just what I needed.

There are many good and valid points in your comments! And trust me I have similar experiences. Where I think Portugal falls short is the amount of press etc Portugal is trying to get. The efforts with NHR, Golden visa, D7, D2, Digital nomad visa and a bunch more to trying to attract foreigners. When a EU country make so much effort, then you would think that it's prepared for handling document work and generally have thought of that people arrive here and won't be speaking Portuguese :-) This isn't quite the case :)

yes....But Humans seam to never learn...A New shop or restaurant open, they have good advertiaing all over isntagram( even show how big is tge line to be served...) what people do? They join the line even that they know the experince of waiting or not even have sufficient good for everyone...but they still do it....

@@HyggeJourney You say that Portugal is putting a lot of effort to attract foreigners... but that is not correct, on the contrary... Lets see: During the pandemic a lot of interest in moving to Portugal started on social media, nothing to do with the government and all to do with the SHEEPLE (people acting like sheep and following one another on social media). Portugal was not prepared for this interest and did not have visas for these situations or enough staff to process them. The Digital Nomad Visa was only created 5 months ago (October 2022) in response to the HUGE number of people wanting to move to Portugal as Digital Nomads. Until October, Portugal was issuing visas to Digital Nomads through the D7 programme, and that visa was never meant for Digital Nomads. It was for retired folks. SEF received more applications for visas than they could cope with and so they contracted VSF Global to do some of the admin for them, but ultimately, it's the portuguese authorities that have to finalize the visas. Another visa, the Golden Visa was a programme intended to attract investment, and yes, that visa was promoted by the government, but it was the ONLY visa that was promoted and only attracted less than 12,000 applicants. All the other visas for Portugal have been created in response to the HUGE interest. You say... "you would think that Portugal was prepared for handling document work and generally have thought of that people arrive here and won't be speaking Portuguese". Well... I lived in the UK for over 35 years and the way they handle immigration documents there is really BAD. People queue for WHOLE DAYS to get documents sorted. The department of immigration in UK (aka Home Office) often looses whole files including passports and then deports applicants on the grounds that... they do not have documents. They have been recieving millions of immigrants for years and years... so they too should be better prepared, don't you think? And nobody in UK tried to make the language easy for me, I had to learn English before arriving in UK as I didn't expect the UK to translate everything for me. I've also heard stories of incredible inefficiency in the US immigration departments. They don't help with the language barrier either. All considered... Portugal is doing very well and have wellcome more than 300,000 immigrants in the last years. Most of them speak portuguese, they are Brazilians. Do you think immigrants in Portugal should be entitled to any special treatment that the portuguese don't get elsewhere?

@@donnacosta5633 ❤

@@donnacosta5633 ✅

I don’t think it is just an American trait. I think that type of person can be found in many nationalities. I am Brit that has lived in Sweden for thirty five years and still meet expats that have never bothered to learn Swedish. There are also some Swedes that are in England , Australia and other diverse countries that basically create a little Swedish subculture within the main culture of their newfound host country! I am not fond of the USA and have no intention of ever visiting again (last trip was forty-four years ago)! However, I do not hate Americans as a whole, in fact some of my closest friends are indeed American! 😎👍🏾🙏🏾

@@skygblue6250 Middle East

its called the Ugly American syndrome and based on a book of that name in 1960s

I would move from Europe to the US when I coult, but it is quite hard to get a visa for the USA. The US has all kinds of countries, desert, jungle, mountains, coast, and so on, people are allowed to own weapons, it is quite free compared to the socialist EU-countries where you are forced to have e. g. a health insurance, which is quite expensive in Germany even for people on the lower end of income. You are forced to pay into retirement insurance even if you know you will not see your money later, because they throw the money of the people out of the window. Never understood why people go away from the US, just very rich people who need to pay a lot of taxes I understand why they buy another passport.

Who pays your retirement as expats ?

Thank you for the profound perspective. I currently live in German and I was a long term stay veteran in India. And given a chance I will NEVER wished to have lived in Germany. India is also not a place for single female. Today is Freedom day and I have learnt so much. I will definitely look deeper into the history of Portugal. Thank you!

London is a joke. You’re right no way can anyone compare life in London to Lisbon. Unless you like a bit a light crime, high priced dirty accommodation and a steadily growing culture of poor, woke and very lost younger people

I don’t wish to walk around feeling the ancestral burdens of trauma caused by others over the centuries

Did you like Italy at least?

@@Happy-wb8gi I liked every country for their own specific reasons, and Italy was really nice to be. Germany feels more like home than Portugal, I understand their language and culture effortlessly. But no, not to live there this time. Portugal keeps me on my toes to constantly be surprised by the generosity and kindness of the people I meet; knowing that there's still some "letting go of Dutchness" to work on. And yet fully aware that 50 km north or south things roll very different. In a sense we attract people and circumstances that we resonate with. And the more we resolve inside of us, the more our world will reflect that inner harmony. Portugal is patient with people, they give you time to transform yourself and understand the hurt that souls have accumulated over various lives. It all depends on what you are looking for and what you want to do with your life.

Thank you for sharing your perspective, really interesting. I am 52 and have young children. They would find undoubtedly find it all an adventure, but not sure if they would adapt to the pace of life.

Glad you enjoy it :-) Hope you have a good trip to Portugal :)

THANK YOU!! Glad you like it. Yes we will try to make some more... But we are trying to make them valuable rather than just pumping them out ;-)

🙏 thank you! So glad you enjoyed it

Thank you !!

NICE, PT is a mess, a lot better countries to live in I am in the cheap PT, Brasil. It's PT with a 75% discount that actually works

It's tough to get a visa in Spain.

​@@InBrz Plus a rampant crime scene. Get a grip.

@@sassy0010 Portugal is so much easier but it's expensive there D7

I don't like the govt attitude towards immigrants from PT, seems like their only goal is to RIP OFF people and make riduculous requirements

Not sure where you get your numbers from as the down voting isn't public here. The down vote as we speak is around 35 vs 1700 upvotes. Of course there will be people that disagree... But more than just "us" we made this video with a bunch of collected data on this. So we have really tried our hardest to make some sort of an average view on the challenges you will face.

Yeah, it certainly has the potential to get to that point very soon. The income the locals can make vs. what the foreigners coming can create a real gap that is hard to patch.

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

Glad you enjoyed :-)

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :-)

Glad it was helpful!

Very glad you like it. :-) Thanks for following us! And thanks for the Super Thanks :-)

Glad you enjoyed it :-)

Glad it was helpful! 🙏

Glad you enjoyed the content. Enjoy Portugal :-)

Glad you enjoy! Hope you have a great trip :-)

@@HyggeJourney Thank you! If you have any info on great places to eat or events to go to in May, we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!❤️

Glad you enjoy it :)

Hi Brian, Glad you like it :-) We try to provide an alternative side of the country that always is presented in the shiny lights :-)

Haha good one! Yes, definitely do your research before jumping out. Also the housing quality in Portugal is super poor compared to other European countries (we are covering this in other videos). Glad you enjoy the video - hope you will enjoy our channel :)

Glad you like it. NHR - is a tax regime to lower taxes for foreigners for 10 years. In reality it can be rather complex to be on the "safe" side of the rules... And the total taxation on it can be either 0%, 20% or 33% (20+13 socials). Finding an exact answer on taxation that 3 accountants agree on can be rather difficult.

@@HyggeJourney i see. Got it. Thank you so very much for clarifying that for me

Look into Thailand

The same people that say others are leaving a country, don't leave themselves,why?Live and learn for yourself because we are all different.D sometimes people miss out on alot just because someone said something negative,there is no perfect place on earth,i wonder 🤔 why so many Americans moved to Portugal and are still moving.

@@chucknorris2266 I actually had one of my most life changing (for the positive) holidays while I was on in Thailand! It is indeed a beautiful country with lovely people but countries that have the death penalty are not my first choice for where I would retire too!🙏🏾

Sweden is gorgeous!

@@zafira976 How about Denmark?

Hi Tomi, Thanks for your comment. Yes, we are trying to be fair and respectful but still being honest about how things are. I'm sorry to hear that you have had a hard time here. If I may ask - what is the cause of you deciding to "give up" the dream of Portugal? Do you have any points that we haven't covered in the video? I'm glad to learn so more people can prepare themself before landing here :-)

@@HyggeJourney You hit many of the problems on the head in your video. Here's some of ours: The traffic is terrifying. You may not notice it in the city, but here in the countryside they'll try to pass you (and I drive at a normal speed within speed limits) at any cost, they tailgate you - driving so close to you that you can't even see their licence plate looking at the rear view mirror, they speed, pass even on a curve and cause dangerous situations. Every day behind the wheel I'm in fear for my life. Statistically speaking, Portugal is one of the most dangerous countries in terms of traffic fatalities and the worst in western Europe (53 deaths per million). In the EU only Romania is worse (93 deaths per million). It's almost impossible to set up a small business. Bureaucrats will bully you, rivals will resort to really low ball tactics to drive you out of business. We've been swindled by an unscrupulous contractor for thousands of euros. And when we tried to sue him, the city wouldn't take our case! The city itself issues absolutely insane fees and fines for small businesses. Foreigners are being charged extra for everything. There's not enough customer base to do business here. That's why only international call centers and multinationals thrive here. We tried to get our small farm renovated. At least ten contractors came to look at the place. They looked, took down measurements, spent an hour or two. Then they left and that was the last we ever heard from them. They didn't even give us an estimate! The country is shrinking and the countryside is already all but dead - just empty businesses, shuttered factories and ruins is what's left. It's very sad. Old people are dying and no new people are moving in. Portugal loses 30 thousand people every year. They do try to attract immingrats, but once those immigrants realize the conditions here, they too will leave after getting their papers in order. Excuse me for saying this, but the Portuguese people as a whole are not very nice. Of course there are exceptions. I have found many of them rude, bitter and unreliable. If a Portuguese person promises to meet you at a certain time and place, there's a 75% chace he'll never show up. I've been yelled at at stores, I've encountered clerks who don't want to sell me anything, restaurants claim to be full, refusing service to our group of my partner, I and 3 Americans. Like you said on your video, it's almost impossible to make friends with locals. There are wonderful Portuguese individuals too that we know - a marvellous veterinarian, a kindhearted grocer with a twinkle in his eye and a darling of a shopkeeper near our store. But they are not friends. We have made friends with fellow immigrats / expats, whatever you want to call us, but it's almost impossible to make friends with Portuguese people. They are very insular. If you smile and nod at them in the street, they stare emotionlessly "through" you like you didn't even exist. The general atmosphere is depressing. There is no energy. Everybody just goes through motions and does the absolute minimum. And we have invested in this country. It may not be much for others, but we are not wealthy and it's a lot for us. My partner speaks Portuguese as his first tongue being from Brazil (Brazilians are discriminated against), I (originally from Finland) have studied the Portuguese language for five years and speak it enough to get by. We both lived the majority of our lives in the U.S.. The Portuguese people don't want to have anything to do with us. Nor are they interested in anything about us. It's their way or the highway. And we choose the highway. Thank you for this opportunity to speak my mind. I'm sure I will get flak for it but that's alright, I can take it.

We live in the ‘countryside’ and never have an issue with drivers - one MILLION times worse in the UK. Look for the bad and you will find it….everywhere

@@shelleypeppard4694 I agree with both of you. I have been in areas where I can't complain over the driving where the Portuguese roads are no worse than the slim country roads of Cheshire. And then I have spent time where the roads are inviting for bored people to push their 20-30 year old car to the max going 150+ in a 70-90 kmh zone. I have seen traffic accidence in front of me in both countries and I have spent significant time in both. So yes, if you look for it you will find it both places. However, in Portugal the cars are so much older than in the UK so safety features are not existing on many cars. :-) But I agree with your overall attitude that we need to find the positive in it and enjoy life. Purely providing context of experiences for others to get the full picture.

@@tomihinkkanen7351 Hi Tomi, Sounds like you've had a bit a rough time here! Sorry to hear that! We haven't first handed had it anywhere near as bad - which is also why we are not complaining. But thanks for sharing and hopefully all in all these comments will over all give a more balanced view over the expat experience here. Stay safe and enjoy :-) We should always go where we are treated best :-)

Glad you like it :)

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes we are try to be very respectful, we are guests in the country essentially. But also we must try to prepare people coming a little better than what we have seen in the past few years :-)

@@HyggeJourney yes.People must do informed choices and don't be naive thinking they can change the status quo, ending blaming everyone but themselves for their poor choices.

@@sdn7474 Yes, when people are selling all their assets to buy homes in Portugal sight-unseen then we need more realistic content and press on Portugal... Or moving abroad generally :-)

Glad you like it :)

It depends on expectations. They will happily work 12 hours a day for not much money... But mentality, culture means not much is accomplished in that period. I guess you real challenge is the paperwork etc. But you need to spend some time with the locals and see if you vibe in a professional setting. It has been a struggle for me... But maybe the perfect fit for you - that's why you need to dive a little deeper :)

@@HyggeJourney You summed up why I see a potential market as a builder in your first paragraph. I'd rather pay top dollar for tradesmen and get the job done professionally. I'll take a deeper dive if that's the route I decide on. Thanks again for the info, much appreciated.

Glad to hear that! Also remember to rest a bit in the comfort zone so you have the energy to keep growing. 💪🚀🚀

@@HyggeJourney We've had our culture shock last year... enjoying our journey much more now!

We are still waiting for driving license exchange 3 years in. Getting seen my public hospitals under pregnancy never happened... We had to just pay for private. SEF - all processes take long!! Paperwork to register our baby took two translators, a number of days spent in uncertainty straight after giving birth and a lot of hard efforts to keep up with what the law dictates.

Glad you like it. We try to add another dimension to the other videos on Portugal that probably over-sell it a little. With all relocations to all countries, you must have a balanced view. Portugal is my 6th Country, so I've tried the process of moving country a few times :-)

We've already made a video on this. I think you've already found it ;-)

Probably not too dissimilar.. but I’ve only been in Thailand as a tourist :)

Me too and it is interesting to see what is what and the reality of things. Learn from others always helps. Good luck with your move.

@@Maruwasa Thanks 🤗

Please choose other country .Portugal is bad for your health.

@@isabelinhagomes9076 why you don't like Portugal?

Glad you liked it :)

This is exactly my impression of Portugal. I'm an American, but found it far more satisfying and welcoming if I interacted with the locals. We researched the country for 2 years, then visited, then hired a company to assist in finding a place to live/immigrate, then visited again with assistance from a Portuguese native working for that company. Great experience. On our last trip, we didn't spend time with a single other American, only Portuguese. I've been working on the language and we've been learning the history. In my experience of travel, every country has its ups and downs. But the Portuguese people are welcoming, especially if you try to speak the language; they are very appreciative of that.

The reason there are so many housekeepers available is because there is a lack of employment. You sound highly entitled for that attitude. What may be simple to you since you have an independent income doesn't take into account the lack of opportunity for others. One of the things about Amazon or any other service, one never has to use it. So, you can easily live in Canada, US, UK, Australia, France and never use it. I have medication that I receive from Amazon and it costs me $30 for a 3 month dosage, in the Latin American country its $150/month, so I'm glad I have access to it.

Portugal is overhyped

I just back from a month there and was very disappointed. Not making the move, gave up

@@369dabbler yes overhyped by foreigners and their no common sense and lack of knowledge, and for just touristic point of view, for sure

Glad you didn't choose Portugal.

That makes the two of us.

Its a good one

There are plenty of expat groups on FB and a couple of apps already.

Island life is very hard... It cost more to ship things there and it's hard to travel there as the only way is flying. It might work great for some, but there is also many where this is a limitation.

I think if you stick to the motorways it's not too far off. But you can go along the smaller roads to see the nature you can for sure spend days getting around ;-)

16:32 I do not know where this happened but be aware that real estate agents are not licensed in Portugal. I have lived in Portugal for 3 years and there are very few things I would want to change, however, the lack of professionalism in this field needs to be improved.

Sure… look through our channel we have already made a video on this :)

Glad you enjoyed it :)

The HARDEST LESSON for expats to learn is that VACATIONING in a place is NOTHING LIKE LIVING THERE !

@@InBrz absolutely.

Hi Nick, Yes, but also in some situations you have a 15 min appointment and you can spend your day in waiting room with no updates on when you are being seen again. So it's often just long delays not always an added cost.

Hi Daniel, We both came in as EU citizens with EU passports. So people that hasn't have been through more than us. Visa delays is only a part of the bureaucracy - our feedback is more of a "general" report of state of the country.

Same for everyone. The southern European countries tend to be like this. Too left leaning for too long. People who want to succeed and would improve the country leave because it’s not set up for prosperity and success. The problem with socialist countries is the worse they get the more socialist they lean and the more they blame capitalism. It’s absurd. I feel sorry for Americans coming over thinking it will be better or similar then realising it’s just not.

@@simonmcintosh6565 as if Capitalism is any better lol, at least in Europe we do have universal healthcare which is a basic way of showing everyone they deserve equal respect.

@@rir75 how much does the US government spend on Medicare each year?? In 2019 it was 1.2 trillion . Forget the covid debacle. That’s more per capita than the UK on the NHS. There is your problem. The Medicare and insurance company and lobbyist backhander triumvirate. Corruption is a huge problem. Free markets are the only thing that has provided prosperity and human flourishing, innovation and abundance. That’s the truth. Where do people emigrate to in order to make the most of themselves?? Only places which were part of the British empire at some point. Why? Because free markets, individual freedom, proper laws and courts and law and order allowed people to succeed.

@@rir75 how many Portuguese are in my country of Gibraltar working?? Many hundreds of construction workers. I speak to them all the time. Extremely happy! All of them. Earning 3 times as much. Why? Your dreaded capitalism compared to the socialist policies in Portugal. 10,000 Spaniards cross the border daily and earn almost double and are also far happier than working in their own country. Once again. Free market capitalism winning hands down 😁. You know it’s true but left leaning people can’t face the fallacy in their thinking. That’s why countries keep going more to the left and end up in worse and worse states.

I think Portugal probably function best if you want a simple life and you don't plan to make money here. It's a hard country to be productive in.

they look a country that can get a worker for 2 dollars a day , no such thing in Europe you must try indonesia , bangladesh for that , portugal is a expensive good quality country to live we don't eat processsed food , and dress5 dollars singlets we dress like good looking people

It does indeed

the EU have open borders, container over sea shipments are now very expensive,, due to the open borders you might find a lot what you need rather cheap and or second hand in other EU countries, take your sweet time before you buy, drought is a problem, wells do/can fall dry, rivers might do the same in summer, forested areas ? high fire risk, today small scale farming cost money, be prepared to really live an Amish lifestyle, just in case, if you can, build some cabins for the more alternative tourists, we all need a bit of cashflow, clamping is an idea too, renting out tents, we did rent one last february, was still cold, our 2 dogs kept us warm,

@@ertsixbarf There are items that are going to be shipped. Looking for reputable options. Thanx

Lovely, always make up your own mind at the end of the day, having the right attitude and an open mind.

@@ertsixbarf Yes I have done extensive research and have created contacts and somewhat of a community already with referrals. That too is so important. People will still rip them off. It happens all over the world thanx

@@geraldinefrank3388 I love Europe. Finally a country that encapsulates all that I have wanted. I realize nothing is perfect.

Thank you :)

Quando voltares, já não existem cá Portugueses. Eu repensava nessa reforma...

Eu devo ir para "White Castle". Deve ser assim que Castelo Branco já se deve chamar. O meu inglês vai dar muito bem.

We've made a couple of tax videos as well... Remember if you update your NIF (tax id) to a Portuguese address, as default they treat you as a tax residence, so then you have to consult accountants to get your paperwork in order. Also not to miss out on NHR if applicable to you.

Like a real real expat community? Lisbon and Porto... If you ask me... Cascais is over priced and people don't seem to stay. Algarve has some, but many only live there some months a year and don't have a big city where expats are seeking towards... So it can easily be lonely. I don't think the rest of the country has a solid base... Some might say Silver Coast, but after spending 3 years around these areas I disagree with that... They seem far spread out... Might be a few small villages there is full of foreigners.

Glad you enjoyed :)

Similar life in Portugal will cost you double :)

We are ahead of you! ;-) Check it out here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_iZFDIDIfxw.html

Glad you like it :-) Yes, all countries has their fair amount of challenges. But I think that's exactly the message we are trying to get across here... People travel to Portugal because they think the grass is greener - and it isn't always greener. So things there is bothering you in any other country, might also bother you here. I think Portugal is being a bit "over-sold" - as with the easy visa and the tax regime, people think that the country is prepared for foreigners - but in reality both the locals and the foreigners are struggling as things are just not set up :-) Lisbon is not how London was years back and it's not a Dubai, where everything is translated into English. However, it's still a beautiful country. But if you are not coming here for the right reasons, you can be disappointed. Especially with the rising costs.

@@HyggeJourney That is what I was thinking as well. I think the "grass is greener" thing is tied to people looking to fix their problems and thinking than moving will do it. In some cases that is true (healthcare for example is better in Portugal than Canada or US) but if your expectations is to have the same thing while fixing the gaps in your life then that would be misguided. Good on you for bringing some reality to the discussion.

I am curious to hear how is Portugal health care services better than the Canadian health service? As a 71 year old, lived in Canada for 53 years, there was never a time I couldn’t access all my health care needs on a timely and reliable basis. Just returned from a three weeks trip to mainland Portugal. Loved the food and the warm weather, and it’s historical places.

I was able to see a doctor in an hour or so. Here in Canada (Ottawa valley) I was on a waiting list for 9 months just to be interviewed to see if they would take me.

Mas o governo do Canadá,proibiu a venda de casas a não residentes, em Portugal os vistos gold só acabaram, porque a UE pressionou TODOS os países da UE que têm esse visto acabar com ele, senão continuava

True... We followed the advise... TAP = Take Another Plane ;-)

I think this is actually fairly solid advise... I think 18 months or so is the turning point for me, when I can fully see if the place actually works... The duration of the "honeymoon" period as we call it :-)

Keep dreaming.

We are very "closed" compared to other countries around the world, even in Europe. I have some foreign friends and the inability to make friends with the Portuguese is something every single one of them tells me it's true. =\

There is for sure a variation to all arguments made. Some will be different for each individual that tries it. However, in all the people we've spoken to it is something that has come up. But I agree with the fact of that when we come here as a guest in the country, then we also have to make the effort and build the relationships. Hence why we also have all our three kids in true Portuguese schools. So we get to struggle with the language :)

@@HyggeJourney agreed. It also depends on where you live. I'm currently leaving in one of the most diverse quarters in Lisbon, and I can assure that you can live in Lisbon only knowing english. Of course that knowing some words to show some effort goes a long way to be accepted and not seen as rude. And knowing the language improves your ability to blend in. But it is not a must. Outside Lisbon its a bit more complicated of course.

@@carlossaraiva8213 agreed

​@@Tusiriakest If I lived in Lisbon and knew you had been living in Portugal for years and never bothered to learn Portuguese, I would feign ignorance and never speak to you in English.

True indeed. But it's even harder for the Portuguese. Foreigners have tax benefits, so they better not complain!

I’m sorry to hear this is still a question in 2023! My own humble opinion is racism decline by a lot when you are living in areas that either have highly educated population or a monoculture that doesn’t have a certain perception. We haven’t felt anything here and we have been treated extraordinarily well. But we have also chosen for our kids to be in Portuguese Private School… I know there is some there seem to believe the public schools can be a bit more rough, but also others that thrive. All in all. I don’t think you should be overly concerned.

@@HyggeJourney We live in Canada and our kids are grown, so we’re not worried about them attending school anymore, but I was wondering about smaller, more rural areas because that’s where we’d like to live-maybe even the Azores. A few years ago, we moved to the east coast of Canada and experienced some overt racism unlike we’d experienced in recent years from whence we came: similar to when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. It was disappointing. Since you’ve been in Portugal over a year, you would have broader experiences to draw from compared to a vacation. That’s why I was asking. I’ve been steady searching for a new home for about two years and am very seriously considering Portugal. The ultimate goal is to find the right ‘hive’ where people are kind and productive, but mainly mind their own business. It’s like we’re under constant pressure here, in one way or another and we’re unwilling to live this way for the rest of our lives. Any further insights from you would be welcomed. Thanks for your time and videos. Congratulations on your lovely family and newest addition. Blessings.

No way! Portuguese are not racist people. I am not white. I am Asian and i have many Africans friends. Portuguese are very very friendly people. From the young to old, they are all friendly. I've been here in Portugal for 3 months now.

@@Voteford hi, Portugal over all it´s not a racist country. We welcome everyone who comes in good faith, with a good earth and willing to respect our culture. We are very open to other cultures and I suggest the Algarve region, have beach and country side - it´s the most turistic part of Portugal. There are plenty of English, Irish, German and American people that leave there for years. Despiste many of the locals speak English I suggest, with time, that you try to learn some Portuguese......that will make you look like you are making an effort to live in our culture (it´s not an easy language but it´s fun to learn). Azores is lovely too.....also Madeira.

@@mariamonteiro7023 thanks for taking the time to comment. We are very serious about moving and look forward to learning the language and culture. However, it’s just something that needs to be addressed when you’re someone in my position. We moved across our own country and found that racism was still an issue in some parts, despite us being citizens, born here. I thought that I would ask in order to allay fears and temper expectations. We want to blend in and want nothing, especially our skin colour, to hinder that successful transition. Thanks again.

Many truths in this!

I think it’s important to see both sides of the 🪙 coin! But … all in all… we still live here so we are not complaining, purely trying to help more people have a realistic view of being here.

True... In all fairness there is also more people speaking english in Portugal, than Spain for an example. But the truth is, it's quite hard to move to a country where you don't speak the language and where the culture is different to what you are used to :)

Portugal is not a good place to go to for a job. Look for somewhere with a better job market

I’m so sorry to hear that! It’s not easy to move country and finding your feet. Wish you all the best 💪🚀

Are white portuguese doing tjis ?

You are still in Portugal?? Do you speak Portuguese?? May be you could inform me why thousand of Brazilian moved to Portugal in the last years? What do you know about the Cigano community? Give you 1 example: drastic measures had to be imposed, so girls were sent to school, security cheques suspended. Girls, have ''arranged marriage' /dowry, before the age of 10 and married at 16, in some cases 12. I have no problem if you agree with (some) Ciganos and hate me. Portuguese Ciganas, deserve to be treated like a human, not like a brainless/comodity. Houses are not given, there is a HOUSE SHORTAGE, all are suffering, including Portuguese.

Can you talk about Indian students moving to Portugal, your opinion and the risks etc...

You will always find work, and you will always want more for that work than a local. Give it a try , see how you get on . I've worked at a few places in Portugal , its always been more work for less pay so far !

There is a great dark number here... Many from EU just move... Forget to register, stay 1-2 years and leave. So even if you got the numbers, I can tell you they will be wrong :-) I feel that I can count the people that have been here longer than us that isn't retired on two hands... Most cases they have married locally and therefore have other ties to the country.

Yes that's what happened to me in Canada. Year after year all my friends and acquaintances left the country due to so much disappointment, bad quality of life and extremely expensive lifestyle. All those propaganda videos about being one of the best countries in the world turned out to be false advertising. I am glad I left Canada but not sure if Portugal is the answer. I just regret having wasted so much time in Canada, it definitely wasn't worth it. Struggling for nothing in the end.

​@@Carolinapetroskahow long were you in Canada and what is your origin country?

Fr

Exactly... Basically, we plan a journey out of the country for these purchases as it's simply easier than rely on mail/packages outside of EU... Amazon UK has however done a great job of doing all the toll papers etc and making it smooth to get many things that way.

Of course .. you need to join the Facebook group for tax.. Regarding apartment see our other videos on renting and educate yourself on how the market is on that part of Algarve that you want to move to

Exactly… even make it harders for foreigners to exist