Does Moving to Portugal Live Up to the Hype in 2024?

[@MarinaLaroche]

Yes, please do a video on detailed cost of living.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks!

[@anthonybutler3157]

Great video. We moved to portugal after 34 years in nyc. Moved here in 2018. We are retired and living in a village located sort of inland silver coast. Haven't looked back. This is home now.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @anthonybutler3157! What a coincidence! We lived in NYC for 10 years before moving here to the Silver Coast. Glad you still love it!

[@antoniodasilva1230]

Ditto NY LI

[@macaccount4315]

For me, Portugal exceeded my expectations as a retiree

[@TheUnretirees]

We love it here too, @macaccount4315!

[@jks774]

Nice job guys! I admire your gumption to move abroad after 50 and even scarier, starting a KZbin channel!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for the encouragement! You're right, starting the KZbin channel was much scarier!

[@debbieretzlaff2912]

Would love to see your home and neighborhood! Great video!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @debbieretzlaff2912! We love it! Maybe in a future video!

[@southafricanexplores]

This is an amazing journey you both have decided to do. I love all the visuals content you used. Thank you for sharing your experience thus far and congratulations on your husband gaining that residential card. Please do a cost of living video. I enjoy such video for my own research.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks so much for your encouragement and support - it means so much to us! (And yes, we recorded this before we got the residence card, but all good now!)

[@kathyhirsch379]

@@TheUnretirees how long it takes to get the residence card pl thank you

[@mylittleocchio]

Just found your channel and am working my way through every episode. Always interested in Healthcare experiences and will watch all videos about that topic. Thanks!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @mylittleocchio !

[@gauravrohilla8486]

This is probably the best video one can find on the topic. Very well done with attention to detail!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for the kind words @gauravrohilla8486!

[@tammiepulley7167]

Very impressed with the planning and editing around this first video on this channel. I subscribed. Looking forward to future info on Portugal.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks Tammie! Happy to have you along on the journey.

[@frannieb5203]

I love Portugal. I have traveled there many times. One time in a taxi in Lisbon I was freaked but good to hear you feel safe. I have lived in a planned community that was once Portuguese dairy farmers properties. My daughter in law speaks Portuguese and so does my son and grand daughter. I would love to stay for a few months. You have made me think about it.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @frannieb5203! It’s a big decision for sure, and if you can, it’s not a bad idea just to come for a few months and see how it fits on you. Depending on your citizenship you may be capped at a 90-day stay in a tourist visa but that’s enough time to test it out! Best of luck!

[@cindib1596]

Thank you so much for this video. You are both a delight to watch and learn from. We are making our scouting trip in September to the Algarve. I was feeling overwhelmed but, your video has made me feel so much better about all of my concerns. Yes! I would love to see a deep-dive video about cost of living and...anything else you have to share about your Portugal experience!😊

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @cindib1596 . Everyday feels more “normal” here but it wasn’t that long ago that it all felt overwhelming to us, too. The Algarve is great, but - for us - a little too hot in the summer. But it is beautiful for sure. Until we do a cost of living video, you can check out sites like numbeo.com or expatica.com to check out comparisons! Thanks

[@catherineshaw3197]

Thank you for this video. Delighted to hear that you feel happy living in Portugal after a short period of time.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @catherineshaw3197. So far so good!

[@donnal7414]

Great video and very accurate. My husband and I just started our retirement at 60 and moved from California to Madeira, Portugal a couple of months ago and so far our expectations have been exceeded. We have also joined Serenity, purchased private medical insurance, a car (you are correct $$$$) and completed our final visa appointment. With some help from the lovely Portugal people everything has gone smoothly for us also. We look forward to our new adventure and best of luck to you on yours.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @donnal7414! It is such a great adventure you’re on. We love Madeira and can’t wait to get back there.

[@jared1512]

Love Madeira!

[@TheUnretirees]

@@jared1512 We do too. :)

[@viniciussilva3065]

Great video. I like how honest description you both have. How about infrastructure to move around such as Public transportation and electrical vehicles?

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @vinicuissilva3065 and while we’re not pros at infrastructure - electric vehicles are quite common here and charges are, it seems to us, quite easy to find. Electricity is a bit expensive here but it’s a great place for solar, so it would seem like a solar charge at home would be possible. Buses are very common and we can take a bus to just about anyplace in Portugal (or even into Spain) quite conveniently. Trains are also common here but we haven’t taken them here, other than using the subways in Porto and Lisbon.

[@ronaldrass3426]

I have just found your videos today and started to work through them.I am also interested in Europe to immigrate and so far Portugal sounds good. I must do a lot of homework though. I am presently in China.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @ronaldrass3426 and best of luck with your plans!

[@MindfulMidLifeTravel]

Wonderful video! We loved our first trip to Portugal in April '24. Planning our next recon trip as we research our retirement options! Would love to see a cost of living break down. And a home tour with cost for area. Thanks!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching and for your suggestions! For a quick cost of living breakdown, check out expatica.com or numbeo.com, both of which allow you to do some cost of living comparisons between cities. Numbeo does more of a breakdown of costs and both rely on user data, but a good feel. Good luck on your scouting!

[@asif559]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS I HAVE A TIP PUT BLANKETS ON THE FLOORS TO REDUCE ECHO ❤❤❤AND KEEP THEM COMING

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks @asif559 and we’ve gotten our sound better over time and blankets and pillows are a big part of that! Thanks!

[@MrsSensibull]

Please make a video on cost of living breakdown.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching and we did a cost of living review about a month ago.

[@rasputindasilva858]

I've moved to Portugal in the belly of my mother and i'm loving it, I will never return.

[@TheUnretirees]

That’s early immigration, @rasputindasilva858!

[@SHIRALIMakalande]

Great guide, you got me thinking about Portugal. Many thanks!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @user-wj4nm7wq5v! Portugal has been great for us, but don’t take our word for it. Plan a visit and check it out!

[@laura_and_shanman]

Just found your channel and really love the info!! Thanks!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @laura_and_shanman!

[@newvision101]

yes, detailed cost of living please

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @newvision101 and we’ll do a video like that. Thanks!

[@DamionLouisInPortugal]

Great video guys, I would love to hear what your monthly expenses are for the winter months.

[@TheUnretirees]

Hey @damionjackson6548, thanks for watching! The only real difference in winter vs. non-winter is heating, and that will differ based on where you live (and how cold it gets), how your home was built, and how you choose to heat your home. For us, we have electric heaters, and we see our electric bill go up a few hundred euros a month in the coldest months. We don't have A/C, so the spring to fall electric costs are modest then.

[@kristinaexpat3843]

I’m going on my 5th year here in Portugal and I never want to leave! At first I was up north in the Porto and Braga regions for 6 months but it was too cold and rainy for me so I’m in the Algarve and loving every moment!!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @kristinaexpat3843. We liked the Algarve as well, but - and maybe it was just when we visited - it was too warm for what we were looking for. But, there are some days in the winter here in Nazaré where a few degrees warmer would sure be nice!

[@DarrenJ64]

Would love to hear more about your experience or knowledge on taxes for passive retirement income - Social Security, 401K, etc. Do you have to pay taxes in the US and Portugal? Love your videos, very well done and informative. We are looking to move to the silver coast within the next year.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @DarrenJ64 and you may want to check out the Facebook group “Tax Benefits for Expats in Portugal” which has a tax professional as the admin. Thanks!

[@DarrenJ64]

@@TheUnretirees Thank you so much. Really appreciate your videos. We live in Massachusetts and really aiming to be in an apartment within the next year. Our plan is to scout but then also rent for a year to really figure out where we want to be. Again many thanks!

[@TheGforceuk]

Looking to move to portugal in 5 years from the Uk and just hope there are still options for us to get there. . And also hoping we can easily live on 20k euros a year , we will be buying a property outright so that budget will be for food and living … nothing else

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @TheGforceuk and it would be great if you are able to come to Portugal. Whether 20k Euros works will depend on where you live and how you live, but plenty of people live on that today in Portugal. Best of luck!

[@SarahWolf-f5y]

Thank you! This is very helpful, even though we've watched dozens of other videos on moving to Portugal at this point. We're both over 65 and are seriously thinking of moving to the Silver Coast. We'll be back in October for our third visit. What's holding us back is that so much has changed and still seems to be changing so fast in Portugal just since we've started seriously considering moving. The cost of housing has gone up, and we hear that the great health care system is stressed at this point and that the huge influx of tourists/expats is starting to change attitudes towards foreigners (partly because it's had a bad effect on the lives of the Portuguese). Though I have to say that the Portuguese people we've met have been consistently lovely. I could tell a number of astonishing stories of kindness in both good and difficult situations. I have a couple of niche" questions, that maybe you could touch on in a future video Do you need a doctor's RX for physical therapy in Portugal? Also, I gather for the D7 we need insurance that covers repatriation. Is that travel or health insurance? Again, thank you so much for this excellent video

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @user-Is8ey4mw9z! When you apply for your D7, you need a type of temporary health insurance that can get you back to your home country if necessary. However, once you are here, you need a different type of health insurance and repatriation is not a consideration. As residents of Portugal, this is now our home country. During the D7 application process we had a 6-month policy thru Allianz and after we got here, we got regular health insurance thru Medis. In terms of physical therapy, I don’t know if an Rx is required. As for your other points, there is quite a bit of nuance available. While I don’t doubt that some people have difficulty with the medical system, we have not experienced it. While I have no doubt that some people are unhappy with the growth of the expat community, we have not experienced it. The Portuguese government itself put plans in place to attract expats with the purpose of bringing in assets, investments, commercial activity (spending) and collecting taxes. As for prices, yes, prices are higher here than they were a few years ago, but isn’t it true of most places? We were back in the U.S. last month and were surprised at how prices have increased just in the nearly 8 months we had been away. One tool you may want consider using to compare costs is expatica.com. We find that helpful. Thanks and good luck!

[@SarahWolf-f5y]

@@TheUnretirees Thank you very much. This additional information is also most helpful.

[@ukraniano7163]

For the tols you can buy the Via Verde device. Or the cheapest and Portuguese normal way, set your sat nav to avoid tolls.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @ukraniano7163! Yes, we have the Via Verse device so we can speed through the toll booths, but it still is expensive! And, like the locals, we do set our GPS to avoid tolls when we have the time :)

[@ukraniano7163]

@@TheUnretirees I know it's expensive. I'm emigrated in the UK and every time I go to Portugal I spend a fortune from the airport to home and round trip through the tolls. As long as the Government makes profit from that, they will stay there, unfortunately. Really hope you're enjoying Portugal. I suggest you start visiting the inland, it's beautiful and cheaper than the seaside.

[@TheUnretirees]

@@ukraniano7163 Thanks @ukraniano7163. We love the interior! We didn't move there because it gets too hot for us in the summer, but we've been to Guarda, Castelo Blanco, Viseu, and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head...and we have many, many more to explore!

[@mohitdudeja2627]

Lovely Couple . God Bless !

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @mohitdudeja2627! May God bless you as well!

[@Lighthouseconsulting_raquel]

Love this you guys!!!!!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for the encouragement @kellygarcia928!

[@GoodMorningPortugal]

When are you coming on the morning show?!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @GoodMorningPortugal! We’re ready when you are :)

[@norbertoencarnacao7756]

Great video.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching!!

[@antoniodasilva1230]

Long Island New York living in Portugal

[@TheUnretirees]

thanks for watching @antoniodasilva1230! Whoo-hooo Rangers!

[@antoniodasilva1230]

@@TheUnretirees im a NJ devil's fan

[@DeborahCody-z2n]

Love watching your videos!! We are anticipating a move to the Silver Coast in Sept. 2025. Is there an email address I can contact you on? I'd love a recommendation of who you would use for as an immigration attorney. Thank you soo much for all the great content. We will be there in April any chance of meeting up?

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching! You can reach us at [e-mail]. In terms of an immigration attorney, we did not use one-and you may not either. If you’re from the US, there is a Facebook group called Americans & FriendsPT that has detailed files on many things including getting a visa as well as a helpful community.

[@samh3082]

I love your videos, full of valuable information. I am 41 & my wife is 33 and we have 2 kids. I am planning to move to Portugal on D7 but i am bit confused regarding the education for my kids as my daughter is 13 and studying in grade 8. If i am going to enroll my daughter in public school where medium of instruction is in Portuguese which would be harder for my daughter to adjust. I would love if you could give me bit of information. Thanks

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @samh3082 and I’m not sure we’re of a lot of help since our kids are adults. But many areas have an international English-speaking school. I really don’t know anything about public schools here - they may be great, and certainly would get your kids speaking Portuguese quickly. Best of luck!

[@upcycledcopycat8389]

Great video. Showed up on my feed. I've been to the Azores, the algarve and Costa del Sol Spain. I'm dithering. The Azores are beautiful but isolated. Found the prices for most things cheaper on the island than the mainland thanks to EU subsidies. But the isolation would drive me nuts. I love road trips and well.... Just not avail on the island to discover new places etc. The algarve tolls drove me nuts with a rental car. Automatic vehicles avail, but not that cheap compared to standard. Found the food in restaurants that were Portuguese very bland and just kinda blah. But the food at most other experiences great. The Indian, Indonesian, tapas, most bar food GREAT. and the wine & beer👍. Malaga was great. The food, the transit infrastructure(no need for a car), the fruit & veg the restaurant food amazing. The great transit system is bonus points for sure. But the water shortage is real. The reservoirs are almost all very very low. We were there in March and shocked on a bus trip to Caminito Del Ray hike that the reservoirs are almost gone. I just wonder whats going to happen with water restrictions for the country that relies so much on tourism and expats etc. Id like to hear more about water shortage in Portugal?? Compared to Spain. We didn't make the turn on the Expressway one day and instead on ending up in Villa Real, we ended up in Ayamonte Spain. With that foot ferry and easy access the Spain. Thought that might be the location to check out next trip. Sooooo we never did make it to Villa Real but a scouting trip is in the works for October.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @upcycledcopycat8389! We like the food here as well but agree that there isn’t much kick to it unless you put piri piri sauce on it. It’s even hard to find spicy spices here - fortunately we have a son who works for a spice company in the US so we bring back spices whenever we’re there to visit. In terms of the water situation, it seems to affect the Algarve more than it does here on the Silver Coast, but we’re not experts on the issue. Enjoy your next scouting trip to the region! Maybe it’s for you!

[@2blackcatz426]

Ooooh im australian and spent a long time n3ar the border. Villa real was one of my favourite places

[@TheUnretirees]

We’re not yet been to Villa Real. Now on our list!!

[@upcycledcopycat8389]

@@TheUnretirees ... Watching a KZbinr "American In Portugal"(she doesn't post very often, must be busy living life I guess). Seems the area is ideal for biking... Nice & flat.

[@TheUnretirees]

@@upcycledcopycat8389 Thanks for watching! We'll have to check out "American in Portugal". There is a lot of nice and flat spots to ride bikes - and certainly the central coastal area is one of them. There are people who ride from Porto to Lisbon allegedly! However, the further east or northeast you go in Portugal you get into some serious hills and mountains, not for the casual biker for sure!

[@mariacorreia8362]

I loved your video , just going to give a tip : transportation , depending where you live u can get a monthly pass and it’s cheaper to use public transportation. If that’s something you don’t want to do then bolt is other suggestion. I was in Portugal in March and bolt save my life. Cost to rent a car ain’t worth it ( my opinion) u better off just requesting bolt . It’s cheap and on a rainy day it’s perfect …. When me and my family we used to live in Portugal we used bike to get to nearest city. But overall it’s worth it I agree. One question I have for you guys : did you hire an attorney when you bought your home ? And I think you probably paid little more because when people know you from USA automatically they assume u got $$$ , Portugal u can negotiate ain’t like USA : highest but wins . Just saying …. Happy u enjoying my home country . I also lived in Portugal and I live here in USA now for 25 years and there’s no life here. U constantly have to worry about insurance and food ain’t same here as Portugal ; not even close .. happy u picked Portugal and welcome 🤗 hope I get to meet you guys someday I plan to go Portugal again next year 😀

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching Maria! Thanks for letting us come to your home country!! We hired an attorney but near the end of the transaction she just disappeared, so we had to finish the purchase without an attorney. Not ideal. Maybe our paths will cross when you come back to a Portugal next year!

[@SharonBreslau]

Can you rent a room in your house...as an AirBnB? Or, only if it's a separate unit?

[@TheUnretirees]

From what we read, you can rent a room out on AirBNB in Portugal but you need an AL license from the city you live in to do that. Some cities are tough on new AL licenses (like Lisbon and Porto), but others not so tough. Thanks for watching!

[@teodoro1007]

I was born in Argentina in 1952, but am a Lithuanian citizen. In Argentina I bekame a widower in 2017. Currently I'm in Tigre selling things. In 2021 I emigrated to Coimbra, it's marvelous. Madeira, where I started 2023, is even a little bit better, and autonomous. Subscribed. 👋👋

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @teodoro1007! We were just in Coimbra a couple of weeks ago for the best meal we’ve had in Portugal, and we love Madeira too. Thanks for subscribing!

[@THughes-i3e]

So, with health care costs being low in Portugal, does it give you the confidence to stop paying for Medicare in the US and depend solely on the Portuguese system? How much does this save you versus on the US?

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching and we don’t know the answer. We’re not 65 yet so we haven’t even investigated Medicare. However, at the moment, our only health care coverage is here in Portugal.

[@travelergirl49w53]

Hello ! I really enjoyed this video. I plan on moving to Portugal and I’m in the process of doing all the research. Would you be able to talk about the best way to transfer US dollars to Euros ? There are some companies like Smart Currency as an example. Would you recommend using a company like this ? The medical concierge information I never knew about and this is wonderful. Thank you so much for this helpful tip. I will be looking into this company and this service which could definitely be helpful navigating the health care system. Thank you for this information in your video !! Very informative.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @travelergirl49w53 and we used Wise to move dollars to our bank account in Portugal. They are the only firm we have used so we don’t really know how they compare to others right now. But it’s a lot cheaper than having Chase or Wells Fargo do the conversion. And on the medical concierge, yes we are really happy with Serenity. Best of luck on your move!

[@lesleysmith8300]

Thanks for an informative video. I have been going to Portugal since 2009 and planning to retire there in about 2 years time. Did you have to get your health insurance from your own country, or can you get it from Portugal before you move? It's also good to know you can use the health system after a year but l thought I'd also get private health care just in case. In the UK we have long waiting lists, as the health system is being under funded.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @lesleysmith8300! Private health insurance here is from Portuguese companies (or companies with a Portuguese presence). We use Medis. And it’s not really a year you have to wait….but you do need to have your residency card to get access to the public system. We have our residency cards (about 7 months) and applied for the public health care access number and are waiting to get it. So it may be a year plus or minus a few months :)

[@Alfablue227]

Get MGEN by Advance Care. Pre existing conditions accepted, you just hv to wait one year B4 any medical service for those (pre existing )are covered and for any surgery. I am 62 and pay about 80€ per month and after one year, I had my TKR of my right knee and my out of pocket for surgery and 5 days hospital stay was €500. Good luck and hope you come to us soon.

[@FranciscoPerola]

@@Alfablue227 There is a slight inaccuracy in these answers, because although you need a resident card to access regular healthcare system care, this is only for citizens outside the European Union. And, if you have to go to the emergency room, you will always be attended to, like any Portuguese person, even if you are a tourist who will only stay here for a few days. In fact, our National Health Service has a reputation for being very permissive, which has led many foreigners from Asia, Africa and even the USA to come to Portugal, to be treated in the NHS, mainly patients with cancer or HIV, which are treatments too expensive.

[@FranciscoPerola]

Citizens from outside the European Union need a resident card to access regular health care. However, if you have to go to the emergency room, you will always be attended to, like any Portuguese person, even if you are a tourist who will only stay here for a few days. Indeed, our National Health Service has a reputation for being very permissive, which has led many foreigners from Asia, Africa and even the USA to come to Portugal, to be treated in the SNS, mainly for risky births, patients with cancer or HIV, which are very expensive treatments. This happens because the Portuguese SNS is said to have high quality service. And it is clear that the increase in the number of immigrants, or returnees as they say in the USA, is putting pressure on the public health system. However, it should be noted that much of what is said about the SNS in the media is politicking, because now, after the change of government, these problems have stopped being talked about.

[@Alfablue227]

@@FranciscoPerola No... unfortunately it is not just politiking, the reality is that our SNS is beyond repair. Maybe in the bigger cities the services are better, but in places like Alentejo, Santarém and Trás-os-Montes it is sadly lacking, believe me I know...to say I am scared even of going private, that's putting it mildly. Yes, it could be worse, at least we have something, but Portugal has not seen what great health systems are all about, and to say it is one of the best is certainly not the case.

[@wendiezzes2281]

may I ask which insurance, medical, did you chose? We are relocating there soon, are retirees as well, and also plan to hire Serenity

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @wendiezzes2281! We went through a broker and ended up with Medis. It was perfect for what we were looking for, but there are several insurance companies here that could work.

[@teddydavis2339]

I wonder if I missed something. I lived there 20 years ago, and I couldn't wait to leave. I really believe that Portugal hides a lot of it's crime statistics. I watch and read the news from Portugal, and it tells a different tell. I'm not saying this to be negative- I'm saying this to be honest. Please do not let your guard down because crime is absolutely everywhere. Even Portugal. The US has become such a complicated place to live, so I can understand people wanting to leave. I am one of those people. We must be mindful of the locals, who have much lower salaries and who are having problems finding housing because they are being priced out. Congratulations to the both of you. I'm sure you've worked very hard and you deserve a good quality of life. Parabens!

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @teddydavis2339 and sorry your experience twenty years ago wasn’t great. Ours has been and while I agree that one always needs to be aware of their surroundings, Portugal - at least for the last several years - continues to be rated very highly in global safety studies and we have never felt unsafe here. We appreciate your words of caution, however.

[@Zzues]

Best advice in your video is learning more Portuguese before moving to Portugal, which sounds obvious, but is much more difficult in practice. I have been here 6 months and it is awkward not speaking Portuguese, but I am still getting by OK here in Braga. One of my biggest issues, which comparatively to other places ive lived isnt a huge deal, are the tailgaters and aggressive drivers. I have not driven one time here in 6 months without having a tailgater right on my bumper and/or speeding dangerously passing me on very, very narrow roads (with me going the speed limit or faster).

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @Zzues! Yes, we’re getting by with our small amount of Portuguese but we need to get at least conversant here pretty quickly. As for drivers, tailgating is a common thing but, unlike the U.S. where we are from, it doesn’t seem like it’s driven by road-rage. It’s just the way people here drive. Otherwise, we haven’t seen many aggressive drivers. I’ve been practicing trying to not get agitated when there is a tailgater.

[@jsilvamaintenance]

Portuguese drivers are very fast ? I agree

[@TheUnretirees]

@@jsilvamaintenance Thanks for watching! We've found driving in Portugal to be more calm than in the US -- but most of our driving is on the Silver Coast. Perhaps we'd feel differently if we were in Lisbon or Porto.

[@sarahdeshay1394]

Our portugal home is in a small village and we get by with no Portuguese although we are learning slowly, as for the drivers we find them to be fast and aggressive on the secondary roads yet more courteous on the highways than any place in the US. The roads are so well maintained and no one rides the passing lane without passing making driving an enjoyable scenic experience there. While in the US I dare not venture out on the busy roads of Austin Texas because it will take me days to relax again after a hour or two out in the “me and where I’m going is more important than anyone else” environment. No compassion, the people of portugal (away from the big cities) are truly happy, friendly, helpful people. I can’t tell you how many I have been told “sorry my English is not better”, imagine someone here in Texas telling an immigrant “I’m sorry my Spanish isn’t better”.

[@grizfan93]

heh - we're also in Braga, and even though our Portuguese is still very limited, we're able to get by with a few key "survival" phrases. I actually disagree about learning Portuguese before you move. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the language, sure. But it is much easier to learn once you move. Check out the Portuguese Host Language (PLA) courses available starting in September at Alberto Sampaio high school. Free, lasts 6 months, and at the end, you will be certified A2, and won't have to take the language test should you later decide to pursue Portuguese citizenship.

[@peterhebert7192]

What’s the list of things needed for a D7 visa?

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @peterhebert7192! We really relied on the files in the Facebook group called “Americans & FriendsPT”. This group has detailed files for everything you need for Visas, for moving a pet, for moving household goods, etc. If you are considering a move to Portugal, this group is your key resource!

[@filipejesus5525]

I'm Portuguese, I suppose it's harder to find a doctor that doesn't speak English then the ones who do. Nice video

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @filipejesus5525! Yes, of the staff we have met in doctors’ offices speak English, but not all of them and not all doctors. Maybe we found the only ones :)

[@mariomarques4247]

What city are you guys living at in the S.C.??? I´m from Rio Maior.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching! Nazsré!

[@peterlagroove6555]

It's not complicated to understand. If I want to live in Italy I speak in Italian... if I want to live in Germany I speak German... if I want to live in Portugal I speak Portuguese....

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @peterlagroove6555. We agree.

[@catharinewhitby3649]

Gasoline is more expensive almost everywhere in the world than USA....

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @catharinewhitby3649 ! You may be right. We only know the things we know!

[@FERNANDOAUGUSTO-fv1ck]

The hype is not a sure thing . Portugal is not for everyone. For some people it is paradise for others can be heel

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching Fernando! For sure, there is no where that is paradise for everyone. For us, though, Portugal is pretty close so far!

[@rickreid8572]

What do you do there all day??????

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for asking @rickreid8572! Matt is working full-time for a non-profit and Dawn works part-time for a non-profit and part-time on online businesses. Thanks for watching.

[@CraigandJoan]

If healthcare in the US really was the best, it would be worth it. Unfortunately, the healthcare in the U.S. is not the best, but don't forget your bag of money, anyway!

[@TheUnretirees]

Haha @CraigandJoan! It’s a small bag 😂

[@PauMaz]

How much does your concierge service cost?

[@TheUnretirees]

For two people it is €450 per year: serenity-portugal.com/shop. And for us, with our limited Portuguese and no familiarity with the Portuguese medical system, worth every penny. Thanks for watching!

[@charmerci]

Ease of visa? The government now is overwhelmed by applicants. Be prepared for long, long, long waits and more.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @charmeri! Our experience was pretty smooth getting our visa to Portugal. We had our meeting in NYC and it did take a little more than four months (within the 3-6 month time window that had been told to us). Our AIMA meeting in Portugal was about 6 weeks after that, and we got our residency cards about two months after. No back and forth, no missing documents. However, we are aware of people who have had challenges but it wasn’t our experience.

[@charmerci]

@@TheUnretirees - oh I'm sure that many people don't have problems. But I'm commenting on now as opposed to say, two years ago. lol You also bought property before - so that very likely makes it easier on the process.

[@module79l28]

It's not the government that's overwhelmed, it's that mistake called AIMA.

[@grizfan93]

@@charmerci it didn't. Don't confuse visa applications with residency. the visa process, especially for the D7 and D8 has largely remained unchanged for the last few years, as has the processing time. Now, once you move to Portugal, you need to convert that visa to a residency permit, and that process is kind of a mess right now. To be fair, SEF, the previous agency in change of that process, made a massive mess of things, and AIMA, the agency now in charge, has also made their fair share of f*ck ups, too. AIMA is slowly clearing the backlog, and there are some positive signs, but still not great. So, getting the visa is still fairly smooth. Getting your residency permit is a bit worse than 2 years ago, but some signs of finally improving.

[@luisfilipe534]

Real estate speculation by foreigners is making impossible for locals to buy or rent a house

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for sharing @luisfilipe534

[@grizfan93]

Does it contribute? yes, is it the primary reason? No. In fact, it is likely not even a significant reason for rising home prices. also, an immigrant buying a home is not real estate speculation. It is just someone buying a home. Countries all over the world, including Portugal, are experiencing a housing affordability crisis. Blaming immigrants is not only wrong, but counter-productive. The population of Portugal has remained fairly static over the past 20+ years, as has the ratio of immigrants. Keep in mind, with a rapidly aging population, Portugal needs immigrants working and paying into the Social Security system, too. There are many factors making housing more expensive (for everyone). Immigration contributes to that problem, but it is far from the biggest factor.

[@luisfilipe534]

@@grizfan93 imigrants and here to work. They suffer the same as locals on house Crisis. Non residents live on short rentals and RE speculation. Even with tax benefits paid by locals and imigrants. In many countries non residents are not allowed to purchase residencial houses The same should happen here.

[@grizfan93]

@@luisfilipe534 That I completely agree with. I get the impression that due to Portuguese rental and tenant rights laws, combined with tax issues, some property owners would rather have the place sit vacant than rent it out. Real estate purely as an investment is a huge problem here and in other countries. I think even more restrictions on AL licenses will help, too. When I lived in Lisbon, I was amazed at the number of unoccupied apartments in my area. All these really nice apartments with no sign of life. Not only does that drive up prices, it deprives local businesses of a bigger customer base. Tax the hell out of unoccupied homes.

[@luisfilipe534]

@@grizfan93 is not just taxation. In countries like Canada, Denmark, new Zeland, you simply cant buy a house as a non resident to prevent RE speculation. You dont have portuguese residents on the center of Lisbon. You cant see portuguese there. Is just a playground for tourists or digital nomads. Same is happening in other places in Portugal. We are having an all time high on portuguese emigration among youngsters JUST because they cant afford to buy or rent a house.

[@aclem8246]

I wouldn't do it unless I had visited a few times and Really loved the place. Realistically it comes with a lot of hassle. Is it worth it ? Only if you Really love the place. Leaving your friends and family behind, the language barrier, loss of convenience that we have in the US, the huge expense of relocating to another country, on and on. You know you could just retire to Florida.

[@TheUnretirees]

Hi @aclem8246. I hear you! We made several trips here before buying, but some people don’t. It is a big step and not one to do casually for sure. Let me know how Florida is when you get there, lol.

[@CraigandJoan]

We are retired in Florida but will be moving to Portugal. We are in the process and appreciate your list of considerations. We have visited a few times, and we do LOVE the place and also want to travel through the rest of Europe easily. I would say your list is very accurate, but the positives, for us, are stronger.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @CraigandJoan! The positive far outweigh the negatives for us too! Maybe we’ll run across each other in Portugal!

[@lesleysmith8300]

I'm planning it in about 2 years but l have been to Portugal many times since 2009. I definitely think it's worth the hassle. I adore Portugal. 🙂

[@hugomaitre7600]

Portugal is not at all cheap there is a huge hype around it is totally overrated now

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for your thoughts and "cheap" is always relative to where you compare it to.

[@toddl.3454]

Over 50 or over 70?

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @toddl.3454. Not close to 70 yet, but we’ll be sure to wave at you from the mountaintop then.

[@krerpas]

Middle class Americans who can't afford to retire in the U.S due to high property tax, high cost of healthcare and Gun violence moving to Portugal for retirement leads to rising prices in Portugal and due to this poor/middle class Portugees have to move out of country as they cant afford to rent/mortgage... Probably they will have to go to the U.S.

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching!

[@JMgmkh]

True

[@tinglestingles]

Moved here over two years ago - we are in our 60s. Unfortunately, after 12 months we have found that the issues around bureaucracy, problems with customer service, nightmares importing goods, major issues with SEF/AIMA, labour strikes, indifferent healthcare with long wait times, even in the private system and the recent political elections where the anti-immigrant party Chega! got 20% of the votes - that's 1 in 5 of the Portuguese not wanting immigrants here. We have had unpleasant incidents with local people. We have now applied for residency in another country.

[@marker5758]

Could you please share which one is the other country? Interested myself, thanks

[@TheUnretirees]

Thanks for watching @tinglestingles! So sorry your experience hasn’t been great. Perhaps we’ve just been lucky but our experience with AIMA and healthcare have been positive, and have never had any unpleasant encounters here. Wishing you the best in wherever your next destination is.

[@tinglestingles]

@@marker5758 We are heading out to Penang, Malaysia - we've been there many times over the last 30 years.

[@tinglestingles]

@@TheUnretirees For example SEF/AIMA cancelled my residency appointment after travelling for 3 hours - I was waiting in their office. They rescheduled it for a month later - no reason, not interested in discussing. My wife had to visit IMI 4 times before she could get her drivers license, we got a fixer to wait for 6 hours to get our Udente numbers - the list goes on. I'm very happy you've found you're paradise, hopefully we'll find ours soon. I think the influx of immigrants has put a massive strain on the services and the employees have lost patience. When we meet the Portuguese socially they have been great.

[@serramcs]

There is not problems with people who come from Europe or USA. The problem is that portuguese people don't want asian/african people in the country. Look at so many english people live here since long time. They live everywhere.

[@dnnsmtchll]

no numbers ??!!!! lower cost BUT WHAT IS THE COST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheUnretirees]

Easy there @dnnsmtchll, but thanks for watching. So much depends on where you decide to live - Lisbon is a higher cost than Caldas da Rainha, and that’s higher than Viseu. We’ll likely do a video in the future comparing the costs of common things in our area vs in the U.S. However, you can also look at a resource like expatica.com to compare costs where you live with various cities around the world.

[@grizfan93]

I think you need some more exclamation marks there. All caps, no less. You could always try behaving like an adult, asks some follow up questions and do some additional research. Or, throw a fit like a spoiled toddler. Your call.

[@maialilly925]

Please please please stop making videos like this. All this hype is making life in Portugal for the Portuguese too unbearable. Just stop this nonsense.

[@TheUnretirees]

Sorry @maialilly925. You can choose to not watch, but I’m pretty sure that what makes Portugal attractive is just a little bit more than our little KZbin channel. Obrigado!

[@maialilly925]

@@TheUnretirees it just pops up on my feed , constantly all this videos of hundreds of expats saying the same. I know that Portugal is very attractive . But just enjoy it and keep it to yourselves. Share it with friends and family, but not masses. Lisbon is a nightmare now because of excessive tourism. The Portuguese cannot pay rents anymore. This so incredible health system is only available for the deep pockets like yourselfs. Yes learn the language and make some local friendships. You might start seeing a different picture.x

[@TheUnretirees]

@maialilly925, thanks for your opinion. Good luck with your campaign.

[@JMgmkh]

Most move back . but are replaced by newbees , but the higher prices they cause stay the same.

[@Mr11ESSE111]

usa are number 1 but you must take bag of money with you everytime no matter you have or not insurance and you will pay probably thousands of $ for your eye injury in usa

[@TheUnretirees]

Haha @Mr11ESSE111 - We lived in the US all our lives until a few months ago and loved living there. Yes, health care is expensive there, but there are pros and cons to everyplace. For example, good TexMex food is very hard to find in Portugal 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@Mr11ESSE111]

@TheUnretirees Why you go then in portugal if everything are fine in USA!? you will pay basically so much costs of healtcare /hospital services in USA like some property in portugal

[@TheUnretirees]

@@Mr11ESSE111 Yes, we could have stayed in the USA, but where is the fun and adventure in that? Take care!

[@Mr11ESSE111]

@TheUnretirees then obviously you sleep on bags of money because those who are on budget cannot talk about adventure if their USA "adventure " will be sleeping on streets or trailers,cars....