Moving to Portugal Vlog 4 - Pet Travel Requirements and Final Visa Approvals

[@petar87]

Hello, I have accidentally found your vlog about moving to Portugal. I don't know if you mentioned in your previous videos or anybody did in the comments but it's good to know the fact that Portugal has a tax refund scheme. Whatever you buy, groceries, transportation tickets, cosmetics, anything with a receipt, you can enter your NIF number and at a specific time of the year, you can request your tax refund. It can be something about 700-1000 eur per person, depend if you filled all provided categories (can be checked online). My friend who lived in Lisbon for almost 2 years, had heard about it one year after moving to PT, nobody had told him about a tax refund. Best regards from Belgrade, Serbia.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Hi, thank you! We know of the tax refund 🙂 We've been purchasing few things to get settled and we have memorized our NIF numbers already. We will be sharing the information on the next videos 👍🏼

[@leoz6338]

Pro level content. Thank you for your considerable efforts in getting these videos out.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

thank you for watching, comments like yours keep us motivated 😊

[@rebeccar4312]

OMG-You guys are fierce! I just discovered your channel while exploring Guadalajara and Lisbon. I would love to move to Portugal, but what an ordeal!!! I was overwhelmed and stressed just listening to your last 5 videos. What an under-taking and SO expensive! Also Dianne, I share your feelings about getting vaccinated. Did you have side effects? Hope you are enjoying Lisbon. I look forward to your next video! I love how detailed, informative & authentic you are!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Thanks Rebecca! After being here in Portugal for less than 3 months, we can say all the time and aggravation to get here was definitely worth it!! We're loving our new home base. After the vaccine, I didn't feel well for a day but no other symptoms since then at this time. Best of luck!

[@rebeccar4312]

Yes, I am sure, now that you are on the other side of the muck, it is worth it! I will be spending 90 days of my alloted time there soon! Look forward to your "we made it" next vlog. Obrigada

[@rebeccar4312]

Forgot to ask, besides showing proof of vaccination did you guys have to take a PCR test or anything else before you could enter Portugal. It is my understanding that restrictions in Lisbon have been strict...?

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

we did have to take a PCR test. A lot of restrictions have been lifted recently, Portugal has over 85% of the country vaccinated 😳 and slowly things are getting back to full normal status. 👍🏼

[@cathyholling6088]

Great VLOG very informative.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Thank you so much! Congrats again on your visa!!

[@elgronchosucio]

Once again congratulations for making such a great job on this valuable video packed with information. Best of luck on your next adventure!

[@normabyrd3896]

Hi, could you let us know did you manage the long hours for your pets in the kennels? How about their needs?

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Our biggest concern of the move was for our fur babies. Luckily, we were able to book flights that went around their normal walk and feed schedules. We fed and took them on a 45 minute walk before the transport van picked us up for our first flight out of Mexico City. We arrived at JFK around the time they usually eat and take their afternoon walk and we fed them a reduced meal and took them on a 30 minute walk and around the pet relief area at JFK while waiting on the pet cab transport. We had them out of their crates with us in the pet cab for the hour drive to Newark and kept them out of their crates at the airport until they were taken for boarding. We walked them again right before we knew they were going to take them and this flight was overnight so during the time they usually sleep anyway. When we arrived in Lisbon, we had to see the vet there at the airport and she was very kind and closed her office doors and allowed them to relieve themselves and eat/drink as they'd been in the crates all night. They did great the entire trip and we believe it helped that they were together. We also had one of our old shirts in each of their crates. I hink we were more traumatized than them. We will be going over this in our next vlog about our travel day. Thanks for commenting and let us know if you have other questions.

[@ernestripepi1564]

I love your vlog and watch/read all of your content. I live in NY and have been stressing for years over transporting my dogs to Europe. I am a retired teacher and I have US and Italian citizenship. Don’t need to deal with the visa mess but it’s always been about getting my girls there. After watching the segment on transporting your dog I have tried, unsuccessfully, to contact Pet Friendly Travel, LLC to inquire about private plane sharing. I have just sent a letter via snail mail, hoping to get a response. If you have any further suggestions in would really appreciate that. BTW, it’s between Portugal and Greece right now, as explore the expat tax implications. Thank you again. Ernest Ripepi

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Hi Ernest, so glad you're enjoying the videos. Our fur babies were what we stressed most about and we are so happy that they did very well and settled in as soon as we got to the Airbnb. They were definitely stressed when we got them from baggage claim but calmes down quickly once we were able to hold them. We recommend you join the Facebook group facebook.com/groups/232240235092427/?ref=share if you want to share costs on a private charter. We've seen a number of posts from people that were very happy they chose that route. Best of luck and let us know if you have other questions!