Why Are People Leaving Portugal?

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There is a huge boom in the interest in relocating to Portugal. However, there’s a small percentage of people who decide that it’s not for them. In this video, we take a deep dive into the most common reasons why people leave Portugal. We hope that it helps those thinking about relocating to Portugal with their due diligence.
Link to article referred in the video: www.portugalist.com/portugal-...
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#expatsinportugal #portugal #lisbon #livinginlisbon

[@HyggeJourney]

One of our good KZbin friends has recently made this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2fHeGSai8ehask He is providing good views to this conversation as well. Worth a watch.

[@dickielarue1451]

Greetings from Estoril...Originally from Texas...Been a legal resident here since 2016...I have traveled all over this beautiful country from Bragança to Tavira from Marvão to Ponta Delgada and everywhere in-between...I have lived in Alcântara , Ponte de Lima, and now Estoril...The country in a small package has everything I could want...Beaches, lakes, Island's, mountains and rivers...Did I mention the food...Been blessed to live and work in 42 different countries around the world...all with pro's and con's...No where is perfect...Pre-pandemic Portugal was on a tourism high and looking to attract foreign capital, i.e. Golden Visas and etc. Hardly anyone saw that before all of this...the country has been on a economic decline for years...A lot of Portuguese left 20 plus years ago for places like France, Switzerland and the good Ole U.S. The country is ran by the EU and ECB...The Socialist Government and it's state owned companies like TAP, CP Combio and etc...through corruption and etc. have been bankrupt for years...The Banks are corrupt to the core, including stealing pensions and savings from hard working Portuguese citizens...Most folks that move abroad do not do there due diligence in the culture, history, language and etc. They visit once or twice are charmed by a place and pack there bags and go...Reality vs. Fiction...Now you have folks selling Portugal on KZbin as the next destination and or hotspot...This is happening everywhere on the planet...Folks have become nomadic, some looking for better job opportunities...Others looking for bang for there buck, Pensioners...Other's like myself want to live peace and tranquility unlike the U.S. where Mass Shootings are happening all the time and etc. I did not move to Portugal to change it...I'm here on my own dime...also I am in control of my happiness, health and well-being period...If one is not secure in there own person...It matters not where you go...I never blame folks for my countries problems, however some Portuguese folks refuse to blame themselves...I call them on it daily...Education begins when you leave the country of your birth...If you have never been anywhere, you know nothing...And if you have been everywhere and or simply moving your lifestyle from one place to the next...Expect to be disappointed...Bênçãos e Energia Positiva! 😉

[@Hdio99]

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

[@dickielarue1451]

@@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...😉

[@Hdio99]

@@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!!!

[@dickielarue1451]

@@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...😉

[@antonioribeiro6119]

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.

[@jamesjenner3381]

I'm 53 and British, My father moved our family to Portugal (Algoz, Armação de Pera) in 1988 when I was seventeen and I learned how to speak Portuguese fluently over the course of four years as I was working in construction and my work colleagues were immensely helpful in teaching me how to speak Portuguese. We had to leave Portugal as my father and I were put out of work in the start of 1992 and my fathers dream of building a property stagnated as he couldn't get building permission. My tip to anyone wanting to move to Portugal is DON'T BUY LAND, BUY PROPERTY that has already has residential status!! My father's dream would've turned out very differently had he bought property and not wanted to build his own place. Hope this helps somebody.

[@Taylor47]

You are one of the very few streamers who talk about the reality instead of an idealised image of living in P.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@Securett01-ye2bc]

You are right! Just what I needed.

[@hawkeye98]

Thanks for your honesty. We have been living in the ME as Expat Americans for the last 15 years. As we neared retirement we knew that the US was not in our picture. It has become such a shit show that it isn’t the country we left 15 years ago. We have made over a dozen trips to Portugal over the years and although it was our first choice of retirement countries we began to see thing changing (and not for the good) over the course of our travels we made several friends in Portugal. You could see as the expat population grew the change in the locals towards us. Just the influx of expat who act as though they are entitled and not what they truly are (a guest in the county) is the root of all of this IMHO. We were always treated with respect and kindness as this is how we treated people. I don’t understand why Americans want to move to another country because they don’t like America but the first thing they want to do in their new place is change their new country into America. No wonder we are hated universally around the world.

[@EugeneMaynard]

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! 😎👍🏾🙏🏾

[@hawkeye98]

@@skygblue6250 Middle East

[@Kimllg88]

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

[@WolfF2022]

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.

[@Bambotb]

Who pays your retirement as expats ?

[@candidosantos9742]

The grass is always green on the other side. I have lived in work in more the 12 countries. I have and still work as a consultant in more the 90 countries. been living outside of Portugal 34 years...I have been back for 1 years. all of your points I have experienced everywhere in the world some countries worst then others. People need to understand that if they move to a new countries is like being born again and your parents will not do your own things as when you were born. you will have to do every document from zero. you need to learn how to live here. most humans study 30% of their life to live in their own countries. when you move you starting almost again.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@candidosantos9742]

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....

[@donnacosta5633]

@@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?

[@angelaarmstrong3276]

@@donnacosta5633 ❤

[@lv3609]

@@donnacosta5633 ✅

[@waltermessines5181]

Okay, been living in Portugal since 2004, lived in UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, US, been to India quite frequently. Would I move back to the Netherlands, or to Germany, UK, USA? Neva! Yes, there are things that roll different here, yes the language is a pain to learn for many. All depends on what you want from life; this will never be London on the Tagus. in those 20 years I have never encountered any violence, not even seen almost, except for a one time verbal aggression in the metro of 2 people most likely under the influence of drugs. Lived 3 years in Algés, 2 years in Fátima, the rest mostly Lisbon and "margem Sul". Away from greater Lisbon or Porto things roll different. Just read the history books on why there's so much unresolved trauma... Lisbon is about 2000 years old and has seen many, many foreigners trying and sometimes succeeding to take over the reins; throw in the Colonial era and the Salazar period and you can only wonder how people manage to smile every now and then. Go gentle, you have no idea what most families have been going through. If you can't muster that compassion maybe this is not the right place for you.

[@soundyoucantouch]

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!

[@jondeanpt]

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

[@369dabbler]

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

[@Happy-wb8gi]

Did you like Italy at least?

[@waltermessines5181]

@@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.

[@ianworley8169]

I've lived in Alentejo, Portugal since 2002. My own personal paradise, but in that time I've known numerous Brits, Dutch and Germans come and go. Many because they seemed to lack patience, tolerance, a sense of perspective, the energy to effect meaningful change or just sufficient financial independence to survive. For some, the lack of other 'like minded' people in my rural area, seemed to lead to loneliness. Personally, I've always sought to make Spanish and Portuguese friends, but not all chose to do so. For some, it just seems to be an inability to adapt to the pace of life and cultural differences. Additionally, as someone who only drinks very moderately, I've also known quite a few who just seemed to drink all day, every day and quite literally drank themselves to death. That all said, quite a few fellow immigrants have successfully settled and adapted perfectly to Portuguese life. Probably a minority, but still a significant number. Personally, I've loved every day of my life here. I'll never, ever live anywhere else.

[@MulkRaj101]

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.

[@leonelduarte1822]

People forget but Lisbon is older than Rome it goes back to the Fenicians almost about 2500 years and although of all of our collective trauma... we came out as fairly decent people. Lisbon will never be London (thank goodness) and Portugal will never be Germanay (thank goodness), althoug all the attempts of the EU Masters imposing the slavery concept of the north of Europe. We will be carrying on as always adjusting the rules of the Northern European masters to our reality ... and thats what I most love about portugal. Outside of Lisbon and Porto in the little villages and mountain aldeias we can breath a little bit of libertarian freedom, a concept that rarely you find in the rest of the EU

[@jollymonsing40m58]

In the middle of this process myself. Thank you for sharing. I am a firm believer any information, especially when it is as helpful as you guys have been, is always good to have . THANK YOU!!

[@JudySchwartzHaley]

Love the info you're providing here. We'll be setting off on our own Portugal adventure next year and we're learning so much from your videos.

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@miguelbarradas9858]

To many foreigners, it’s becoming another Costa Rica 🇨🇷 local’s aren’t happy 👏👏👏

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@nilmaxavier1233]

Amazing video thank you 😊 guys ! Keep up with the good work👏👍

[@HyggeJourney]

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 ;-)

[@TessaHill22]

So VERY well said! Honest, accurate, and respectfully shared. Beautiful work!

[@HyggeJourney]

🙏 thank you! So glad you enjoyed it

[@ourworldfinallyelaine]

I got my temporary residency in Portugal but I left by year two. It just wasn’t a good fit for me. It’s beautiful for vacation purposes, but it’s not for living there forever. I didn’t click with it: I now live in Spain.

[@InBrz]

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

[@sassy0010]

It's tough to get a visa in Spain.

[@cilajoao1]

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

[@InBrz]

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

[@InBrz]

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

[@minttea4972]

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to do this. 🙂

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

As I finish watching this today you two are really up on the feelings and situations that can happen by expats. I have traveled in winter for 3 to 6 months for over 25 years I have at the beginning of doing that have found it very lonely and there is a transition period sometimes. Now that I have done it it reminded me of a COVID time when you go over seas in off season when, like you said, finding your tribe or living near local people. It's a very great way to k now yourself. I can imagine a lot of people leave because they have never been through that transition period and depending on, like you said, their personality, they do not know what they are walking into. I am so ready to head to portugal buy a small farm and find my farming tribe with the same mind set. I loved the isolation of COVID and not everyone can deal with that feeling of isolation in another country. For them like you said gravitating to english speaking people. And they miss what is familiar. I always suggest someone spend 3 months at least and find the right place. So yes I can see many leaving. That's ok moving abroad is not for everyone. Better to try than not, right? Thanx so much for your lovely video. I will be in Portugal for 3 months this winter to buy a farm , find my area in central or northern. Gina in Upstate NY USA headed to Portugal

[@therocknrollcook]

Very balanced perspectives and you’re both always charming and insightful. 😊

[@HyggeJourney]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :-)

[@luissalazar2021]

Good job team! Thanks for sharing

[@HyggeJourney]

Thank you !!

[@wisnomjr]

Excellent and honest video. Thank you 😊

[@chinesecrested9528]

Great video. I found your channel on our last day in Madeira. Great points and great no-nonsense presentation without the standard KZbin "Drama factor". I will check out your other videos tonight prior to our trip to main land Portugal. My wife is thai, I am from the USA. Our house is in Thailand. We both enjoy the people of Portugal and the slow pace, much like Thailand where we live. Your points about the local bureaucracies are spot on as this applies directly to out experience in Thailand and Mexico where we previously resided for 7 years. I will check out your email, if attached here and contact you in a bit, many thanks, your video is a much needed perspective on life elsewhere!

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed the content. Enjoy Portugal :-)

[@BeBeBraveSpirit]

Wow! Thank you for your thorough explanations of very important concerns and considerations before moving to Portugal. You talked specifics and gave examples. I know someone who is learning Portuguese so she and her husband can retire there in the future. Tbh, I think it’s difficult to make friends anywhere, especially more so coming out of the thick of the pandemic the last few years. That’s the part I notice too when traveling anywhere. Keep up your great videos. I’ll keep watching. Just started 😊

[@ArchangelMLM]

Great and very informative video, thank you.

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@matthewrubaii7051]

Thank you for the honest and balanced opinion.

[@Take5North]

Thanks! for your excellent articulation of the issues one may find as an expat moving to Portugal!

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@AsifSaifuddinAuvipy]

Thanks for Very detailed honest review & suggestions

[@stephaniehigginsgarrett5998]

Great info! I appreciate your honesty. My husband & I will be there next month.🙏🏽

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@stephaniehigginsgarrett5998]

@@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!❤️

[@dallassukerkin6878]

A very good "Cool your jets a minute" video for me :) Most timely indeed as I have been becoming increasingly uneasy with how the UK is going and the feeling has been growing that I need to get out before it all starts tumbling down. I had been getting to the point that I was almost ready to just buy a house, sight unseen, and sort the necessary visa's out afterwards.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@bioliv1]

Thanks! Very useful information🙂

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed it :-)

[@TaipanTex]

Good stuff to know. Thanks!

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed :-)

[@Constellasian]

Why is there around 37% of viewers here downvoting this? Your info pretty much matches a lot of what another KZbinr, Dave in Portugal, said about Portugal. It seemed like you two said some hard truths about living in Portugal. Thanks for giving me a reality check. I want to live overseas again and was interested in Portugal, but now having doubts.

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@maung4935]

Super helpful video thank you :)

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad it was helpful! 🙏

[@garyg6000]

Great video. Useful information. Thanks.

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad it was helpful!

[@EugeneMaynard]

I am a Brit that has lived in Sweden for thirty five years, I was considering Portugal as a possible long term vacation destination and possible future retirement country. Thank you for this straight talking video, I think after watching, that I will just visit on holiday rather than think of moving from Sweden. Your last point of community is so important, I found that here in Sweden and I know it takes time and I realise I would not want to start that whole process again at the age of sixty two! 👍🏾🙏🏾 🇬🇧🇸🇪🇹🇹

[@chucknorris2266]

Look into Thailand

[@geraldinefrank3388]

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.

[@EugeneMaynard]

@@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!🙏🏾

[@zafira976]

Sweden is gorgeous!

[@ibberman]

@@zafira976 How about Denmark?

[@vida2]

I moved here to Portugal 6 months ago. Your video is chillingly honest. Not like the 10's of videos that posted just to gain KZbin videos. Very good advise, wish I had viewed your channel before I emigrated. To those that choose to ignore the content of this video and do decide to move, good luck.

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@minttea4972]

Oh lumme! I'm one of the many thinking of moving to Portugal rather than Spain. I'll take it all on board. Fortunately, I don't have funds to buy a property, so that's one thing less to worry about, at least! How's your life in Portugal going for you a year on from this video??

[@tomihinkkanen7351]

Many good points presented in a very polite way to say the least. My partner and I moved to Portugal from the U.S. (Los Angeles, CA) a little over two years ago. We bought a farm and opened a business. Now we are selling out and moving to my native Finland. Portugal turned out to be a huge disappointment for many of those reasons you mentioned on your video. I hope everybody considering moving to Portugal will see it before making a move.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :-)

[@tomihinkkanen7351]

@@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.

[@shelleypeppard4694]

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

[@HyggeJourney]

@@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.

[@HyggeJourney]

@@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 :-)

[@hypnotechno]

love you guys great content

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoy it :)

[@ChelseaFuss]

I love that we don't have Amazon in Portugal. To me it's refreshing that we don't have a lot of services and businesses that I grew up with in the US. In turn, our carbon footprint is much lower here. I'd much rather live in this simple way. I get sad when things change here to more wasteful, quick consumerism. Also, house cleaners are much more common here than in other places. It's very normal here to have domestic help. Thanks for your perspective!

[@mtngrl5859]

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.

[@sdn7474]

Very mature and respectful opinion.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :-)

[@sdn7474]

@@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.

[@HyggeJourney]

@@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 :-)

[@tinglestingles]

We are in the growth zone, enjoying the lifestyle and enjoying learning the language.

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@tinglestingles]

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

[@carlossaraiva8213]

If you are a foreigner living in Portugal, dont just stick with your other fellow countrymen. Make friends dith the local portuguese. Its easy, really, we are smong the most approachable people in Europe, like the irish and the scots. Dont stay in your native cultural bubble. There might some places where that's advisable - russia and many asian countries - but the reverse is true here in Portugal.

[@user-gt7cc7yh9d]

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.

[@gemox3225]

I like your little diagram - comfort zone, stress zone and growth zone. The slow pace sounds a bit like Thailand.

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@garyhartley9185]

Great informative video. This was one of the best i have seen in a while. I have a question at one point after the bit about the Golden Visa you mentioned NSR i think. What is that?? Many thanks

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@garyhartley9185]

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

[@paulogarciadesousa]

Kudos, guys, this content should be mandatory for anyone contemplating moving to Portugal!

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :-)

[@fitzroymorgan1561]

We need to talk, after coming across this video maybe a few months old but it's perfect for me in so many ways..! 👌

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you like it :)

[@TheLastSongbird124]

Talked to many Brits & Americans in PT, the most common issue I found was that at the foundation of people's thinking, the truth is they made moving decisions by using the same picture they had in their heads from their holiday experiences here! Follow up problem...when it wasn't like their holidays, many began complaining about the country/people/politics/admin etc they hadn't related to issues to their own lack of serious research. This problem is more common in Brits than Americans from conversations I've had in the last 5 years. The other big issue I found is that many people don't do enough research on the history/culture/politics of Portugal. This is extremely important because it is such things shape the people/politics/admin of a nation. One of the things I love about Pt is that people are much more relaxed about time, it's not as important to them as the fast paced cultures of UK & US for example. The history of Pt will tell you how and why this came about and that it's therefore not something that is going to change quickly....or at all :) One other thing I love about living here is that in general, Pt have held on to their 'old values'. So, there remains a respect for older people here. That often means 1 or 2 old women in supermarket checkout queue will be slow putting things into their bags, getting the money from their purses, having a little chat to the checkout person as if no one is behind them and yet in 5 years, I've never seen people in those queues get angry on occasions like that, which is often. I had this thought go through my head one such day..."what's more important, that your culture respects its older people or your checkout is 30 seconds quicker?" No contest in my view :)

[@InBrz]

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

[@TheLastSongbird124]

@@InBrz absolutely.

[@kseniamatos2158]

Hey guys, since you've mentioned that you lived in Spain too, could you please make a comparison of the two countries, which one is better and why? I'm living in Spain right now and thinking of moving to Portugal as for tax benefits. After after watching your video I've got an idea that "mañana and no pasa nada" attitude in Portugal is much worse than in Spain. Thank you for any insights. Btw, loved your video, I wish there was more content like that just true and straight to the point, well done!

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@MimiBlumm]

BRAVO! More for me 🎉❤

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you like it :)

[@Carolinapetroska]

I agree with what you are saying and when the gentleman says 'some people have 1 foot in and 1 foot out !' I am in that situation, but not too sure on where to go.

[@lat1502]

1) Truly enjoyed your video. 2) Surprised that the wife said "It's not our first rodeo." (approx 30:00) Brought a smile to my face. An American saying that I wouldn't have thought too many people outside of America would know. .

[@noctusowl]

Portugal works besr for digital nomads, retirees and those with niche turistic concepts like villas running yoga retreats, who already have a clientelle from elsewhere. And ideally you should be financially stable enough to wait the years needed to become fully established in Portugal.

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@robertolang9684]

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

[@amerlinphycian8132]

I always dreamed to retire there in a few years after I visited the country 5 years ago, recently I went back and drove through the country to see what town would be my future place to live, the experience was very different, quite disappointed, totally gave up.

[@369dabbler]

Portugal is overhyped

[@gabriellarosa5015]

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

[@Hdio99]

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

[@isabelinhagomes9076]

Glad you didn't choose Portugal.

[@gabriellarosa5015]

That makes the two of us.

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

This is so true. I personally have been looking to move overseas from US for over 25 years. I have spent winters in many different countries but nothing fit the bill. I do not wish to move and be stressed so yes that is important. The reality and the dream is vast. I know the reality since I have spent 3 to 6 months in Italy, Mexico, Croatia, NZ and Australia. Looking for a small farm no farther than 2 hours from airport or city. So I am excited to come for the winter this year. Concerned about your drought. I love the slow. Going to build a small home off grid FINALLY...bringing a container of what cannot be gotten reasonably inexpensively after much research. Love your videos. Thank you. Researching now. Cheers. Coming with the right mind set. No expectations and looking to disconnect and learn the language. Patients...like the no rat race, can deal with the infrastructure lacking. Ahhhhhhhh......

[@ertsixbarf]

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,

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

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

[@geraldinefrank3388]

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

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

@@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

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

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

[@Futures62]

So true - you try hard to be careful in your excellent presentation but the truth leaks out between your careful phraseology (e.g. "double check" at 15 mins actually means "they are lying to you for profit")

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@homyce]

Thanks for the video! I am moving to Portugal in a few months and I am excited, but I am also terrified, especially after reading some of the comments on the video. I was aware of many of the topics you mentioned, but I think you went more in-depth on some of them, which provided me with great insights. I saved it to my Portugal playlist 😁

[@Maruwasa]

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.

[@homyce]

@@Maruwasa Thanks 🤗

[@isabelinhagomes9076]

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

[@homyce]

@@isabelinhagomes9076 why you don't like Portugal?

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you liked it :)

[@zepedro64]

We feel you. Even for the Portuguese it's always complicated. I decided to leave Portugal to work abroad and it was having to deal with these inept institutions that I realized I was doing the exact right thing. Leaving. Will be great for retirement.

[@pedroRodriguesMD]

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

[@zepedro64]

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

[@carlossaraiva8213]

It IS easy to make deep friendships with the portuguese! It all depends on the foreigners' interest, not ours. Lots of us are very curious about the world abroad and making friends with foreigners. Its the foreigners that tend to be aloof and suspicious. Remember, the baggage comes with who traveled.

[@Tusiriakest]

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. =\

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@Tusiriakest]

@@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.

[@Tusiriakest]

@@carlossaraiva8213 agreed

[@susiex6669]

​@@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.

[@dipankarchatterjee9416]

Appreciate a few actual examples which took some time. Was it to get for example Drivers License? An appointment for Doctor checkup?

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@gasparini76]

Planning permission taking ages, this is very sad for those trying to invest in the country and trying to be happy...

[@HyggeJourney]

It does indeed

[@lr4187]

You're right on the topic of finding like minded people and that people do not actually 'live' in portugal, or at least all the people I've met mostly goes to portugal spend sometime like a month and do not have deal with any portuguese institutions bc if they had to deal with that they'd never have chosen portugal in the first place. Portugal has always been just a transient country.

[@HyggeJourney]

Many truths in this!

[@ruiamaral7954]

Portuguese Canadian here (looking to move back to Portugal as I was born there). Many of your points are valid especially the burueacracy. But I must say that it sounds about right - it is the same here in Canada (need many people to rely on, building permits can take years with changing municipal bylaws, house prices are crazy, and so on). Better weather though 😊.

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@ruiamaral7954]

@@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.

[@edesouza2279]

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.

[@ruiamaral7954]

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.

[@sandraalmeida5358]

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

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Thanks for all the info. I heard that you can drive from top to bottom of Portugal in 6 hours.

[@HyggeJourney]

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 ;-)

[@daylight5500]

Thank you once again for an informative video. As an expat, transplanted human, I find it very frustrating that there is no App for people who find themselves in a foreign environment. One would think that by know with all this technology someone would have come up with a business model( App driven) that would link newcomers to their environment. Some kind of international club that one can join to make transplanting oneself more efficient. An international travel club. What do you think of this idea?

[@DominicOwen]

Its a good one

[@TheRaddestB]

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

[@creativeleodaily]

I being an Indian living here for almost 5 years, have heard and seen it all... I worked as a Production Designer for 3 years and after Covid19 Pandemic, ai called it quits and workingnin Food Deliveries for some change 😅, Its a massive downgrade, but it gave me the opportunity to learn about the locals, their behavior... The hate towards Brazilians is on some next level, But its not as much as it is against Cigano Community, but i call it mutual hate as Ciganos hate portuguese 😅, but recently Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, Nepalis are on Target, No houses are given to People of Indian sub-continent SADLY... Lisbon is not as secure as people think it is... I have been threatned with Hammer, One dude last year Pointed Gun on me, I have been recently blocked from exiting and checked by Drugs Gang when i went to make a Uber Eats Delivery near justice department in Parque das Nações, My brother was intentionally hit by a car and Police actually balmed my Brother and Indians, even when 5 Portuguese people came forward as witnesses in favor of my brother. But apart from all this, I have never seen such hard working women as portuguese women are. The way they come forward to help is mind-blowing.... Their is so much i would like to say, maybe We can do a collaboration video. I would love to talk about positives and negatives of my experience.

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@Bambotb]

Are white portuguese doing tjis ?

[@odetemoura6786]

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.

[@sarathkrishna1551]

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

[@gee3883]

Good vid. Amazing how many people are romantic about renovating farm buildings. These projects are notoriously difficult at the best of times. I'm a builder thinking about relocating, is it really that hard to find decent contactors? Also talking about feeling comfortable with the culture,.I'm a jazz/soul/reggae fan. Is there a vibrant music scene there?

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@gee3883]

@@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.

[@paulbradley5769]

Really good point about mail in Portugal, I think North Americans will be shocked that the duties you pay on anything from USA has a 30% tax and extra customs fees added on it. Basically forget about buying anything from USA that you were used to like your favorite clothing brands you can't find in Portugal or EU. Definitely people moving don't think of these things as you will need new cloths, electronics after staying a few years. Its more expensive to get the same products.

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@christiepeters4467]

This is an excellent, thoughtful and honest video that reflects my experience in Portugal thus far. Yes, the country has its issues as does every other place on the planet. The question is how do we all work together to improve our native and adopted country? I don't have the answers but will do my part to be a part of the solution.

[@pedroRodriguesMD]

Keep dreaming.

[@luisfilipe534]

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

[@HyggeJourney]

Exactly… even make it harders for foreigners to exist

[@user-qg5ui8iu2n]

Portugal has become so expensive to live at, rents are threw the roof, how the heck are the locals dealing with this high cost of living now, crazy!! i remember the old Portugal!!!

[@christiepeters4467]

So much to say. I am a new immigrant to Portugal and I love it here. We researched this move for 3 years prior to coming. We made Portuguese friends and met other immigrants, started to learn the language, tried to familiarize ourselves with the policies of the government, the history, etc. One of the things that I find most irritating is how little credit Portugal is given for the progress they HAVE made for a country not quite 50 years out from under a dictatorship. There are so many socioeconomic vibrations still being felt from rebuilding from an oppressive regime. It breaks my heart that so many Portuguese leave their country to pursue a "better" way of life. Hyper capitalism is not the answer and brings its own instability, income disparity and violence. I encourage the younger generation to explore larger roles in their government, implement processes that will help with the bureaucracy but don't abandon ship all together. I know this is rich coming from someone who immigrated from the U.S. but trust me, these other "advanced" nations don't hold the answers either. Money is not enough for all you will be losing although I realize how important economic stability is as well. So hard to convey my feelings in this limited forum without writing a diatribe. The whole world really needs a reset.

[@amykraushaar1750]

Completely agree. Context is everything. I wish researching Portugal's history would be part of people's prep work before moving.

[@rir75]

Honey, we are immigrating to at least make a living, not to become rich, and there comes a moment where if you can’t pay for your flat and there are no jobs, you need to move abroad. All you say comes from a place of privilege, some people should really learn when silence is golden and to just enjoy their expat 1st world problems 😘

[@christiepeters4467]

@Rir75 First, we are not familiar enough for you to address me as honey. Keep it cute. Second, I understand the need to move for economic and social stability. Same reason many of us Americans look abroad. However, my hope is that there will be a viable option that makes it feasible for Portuguese people to earn in and enjoy their home country. My point is that a lot of the world is facing these same challenges and I hope we can collectively find a solution that doesn't force people to leave their homelands unless they truly desire to do so not because they have to just to survive. I work every day to speak with my Portuguese friends to listen, learn and be a part of the solution not adding to the problem.

[@rir75]

@@christiepeters4467 Your answer just told. Me all I need to know. But Honey, and yes, I call whatever I want, we have the lowest wages in Europe so I am sad to say that yes I did move because time does not stretch and for Portuguese people on low wages there is no time to wait. I am now being able to afford a house to live, pay my bills and still save some money to whatever there will be need for money. Our families in Portugal fortunately bring us up to think of money as something that you don’t and shouldn’t love but need to save, and unfortunately only abroad am I able to do that, finally. It was a long way. Btw, I was 29 when I left and you as an Expat from the US should know better that it’s not by blaming us that you suddenly become right. But as I have come to understand, Americans always need to be right and control the World as if it’s yours. You know what? Enjoy my country while it lasts, the more I visit the less it looks and feels like my country anyway, blame you, not me as my choice was to have no place to live or to be able to afford a living without the constant stress of knowing what is happening next month. Try searching for the country where people are the most stressed and on anti-depressants, you guessed it, it’s Portugal! I am glad I am away from that environment, I feel like I got years back. Your whole post also made me know immediately that you don’t care about Portugal at all, only about your greed. Go ask your Portuguese friends what “lambuza-te com o que resta, não tarda nada não há nada” or go use Google Translator. And honey, God Bless you for you are a fool.

[@rir75]

@@christiepeters4467 and finally, no Portuguese person on a minimum wage owes a privileged American an explanation of why they are leaving the country. More space for you in the end, right? Vai pentear macacos, amiga.

[@mariabrito3166]

You are lucky, almost everyone here speak your language. If you came and buy some land before information if you can build because its cheap you have a problem . I live in Belgium and its much dificult to done some thing and i had to learn their language first, because they dont speak other, at least here we speak two or three . Its never easy leave everything we know behind

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :)

[@greggbisgrove7499]

It rain all day on Saturday Sunday was heavy showers on and of all day.The temperature is 13c the date is 24 of July in England !

[@skbuydens7717]

It seems like a wonderful place in comparison to a high tax cold weather country like Canada.

[@user-fq5xh9vn3o]

I rented an apartment from a small real estate agency and after giving my move out date, I came back to the apartment to find that I was being robbed by the real estate agent. When I tried to call the police and intervene, I was attacked. This may be more common than known because the police department was relatively unconcerned. They seemed bothered that they would have to write out a report. Do you have suggestions on how to get results from such issues. I was told nothing will be done and I will never get any of the stolen money back much less any other loss such as stolen phone, etc.

[@user-bn8sq7el6m]

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.

[@Celebritynews16]

I also moved to Portugal and left within 6 months. I still have my resident permit, but I don't plan to go back. Except on visits.

[@jondeanpt]

I agree. You’re not coming to save , it’s all about squeezing a good life out of the few years we have. We currently live in Cairo and it cost £2500 for a beautiful life with two primary school age boys. We save here and enjoy the sun and chaos but the system is broken and it’s dusty. Not great for long term. 3 years here means we can semi retire in Portugal. Worth it ?

[@HyggeJourney]

Similar life in Portugal will cost you double :)

[@user-oo2fz5sx6o]

I don't know how long your moved to Portugal ,in my experience it took me many years to feel comfortable in Canada ,all my life I always dreamed to go back to my original country even after 46 years .with your point of view I can see you did not spend enough time in that country to be integrated..you said few time everything is slow!how mush faster it is in Jamaica?. DOMINIQUE

[@Nikyd300]

Many Good factual points. Sadly some people do no research, which is vital. Remember Portugal owes you nothing. Too many people have a dream of Pt which can become a nightmare. Research research Research. Visit , rent travel before making a firm commitment . We love Pt and on a personal note it was right for us.

[@michaelfoeofevil5587]

I love Portugal...the problem was became it became so popular and of course there is a downside to that because it tends to stress out the system and the people. There is no heaven on earth. I moved to Vancouver a few years ago and it's been going downhill like a nightmare rollercoaster. I've lived in various countries and as humans it is natural to want something else. I thhink Portugal has a wonderful future ahead compared to many other nations.

[@andrewtaylor6737]

The EU was supposed to level up countries across the continent, but that isn't ever going to happen ! Worst thing Portugal ever did joining the corrupt club, hope the whole project fails and countries get back to some sort of reality without being beholden to Brussels. Good luck Portugal, you're going to need it !

[@HyggeJourney]

10 years I would battle this argument! Not let you get your feet to the ground on this. I'm starting to see the other side of the coin - and start to agree with this. EU has gone wrong, but we need freedom of movement and no toll borders - so I don't know how we even get EU converted to this?

[@regina4176]

Thank you for removing my rose colored glasses of Portugal

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@shinyshinythings]

People think they are moving into a fairy tale when they move abroad, whether it’s Portugal, Spain, France, or the United States for that matter. Reality is not a fairy tale, and like they used to say in the sixties, “wherever you go, there you are”.

[@HyggeJourney]

You aren't completely wrong on it. But more people than ever before is moving to a new country as an effect of Covid. So also there need to be more "true" content on this so they are better prepared than what we are seeing here... Portugal is my 7th country - so I thought I knew what I walked into when we moved here - so I try with the KZbin channel etc to voice the warning to educate :-)

[@rir75]

@@HyggeJourney Portugal is your 7th country because you have a deep identity crisis and used our country and ita perks to find yourself. Didn’t work, good luck.

[@kevinfitzmaurice-brown1683]

the estate agents tell you there are vast new numbers of people moving here to buy property. but that is only to push house prices up.

[@Zb-uo2bl]

Born and raised homestead Alaska 1950s, dirt road, no electricity. Grocery store smaller than most any home in US! But lady I married is from Montana so we've been here 10 years N E corner, very slow making new friends, everyone has their own busy circle in life!

[@josesousa272]

Big bussiness can strive here. Bosch, VW, Mitsubushi, Embraer, and others are the exemple. Small ones are very hard due bureocracy and taxes. You must have good local connections. Sad, but true.

[@XofHope]

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

[@sanhema7681]

​@@XofHopeit's the same in Hungary

[@josemanueldacostadiogo5574]

Ok nice one injoy it

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@kindeveryone]

PT good for Holidays and short term!

[@danielparish5378]

are alot of these issues. the same for eu passport holders. or are you talking about foreigners from other countries outside of the eu. Thanks, great video. Ill be moving to Pt in October. with an Eu passport. Can't wait.

[@HyggeJourney]

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.

[@simonmcintosh6565]

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.

[@rir75]

@@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.

[@simonmcintosh6565]

@@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.

[@simonmcintosh6565]

@@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.

[@TigerBoyX15]

Having lived in s fair few Countries...Keep your Property in your Home Country...and just rent in the Countries you want to visit and spend time in....because after the novelty wears off..usually you see the Real Place around the 2 year mark...you may become ' bored' of the same day in day out ..as it is no longer a ' holiday'......and you are part of the fixtures and fittings...For some Variety is the Spice of Life..

[@HyggeJourney]

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 :-)

[@steve50100]

Hi Guys You mentioned you have lived in Spain before you moved to Portugal. What are the pros and cons comparing both countries. Thanks

[@HyggeJourney]

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

[@josetavares8252]

Yes I agree Portugal the things never get done in time. Takes forever That's why i moved long ago to Australia.

[@HyggeJourney]

Haha! Good recommendations but slightly too far from us ;)

[@TheCountciano]

Some other things rarely discussed. The majority of homes in Portugal have no heat in the winter and many have no AC in the summer. Most of those homes have chronic mold problems that impact human health in profound ways. Many of those homes are poorly constructed and the landscape is littered with ruined homes that can't be repaired because the permitting process is broken and takes years. Construction quality lags behind Spain and the rest of the EU. Contractors are often unreliable and perform sub-standard work. Few communities have adequate sidewalks or bike lanes. Most private property is fenced and off limits for hikes in nature. Environmental policy lags significantly behind more advanced EU nations. There is a short-term, transactional, thinking about policy and money that makes long term goals like high speed rail almost impossible to achieve.

[@HyggeJourney]

Very true! Housing is a challenge here :-) We have covered this in a bunch of our other videos here on the channel.

[@sdn7474]

Don’t think you’ve been To most homes. Or the majority of homes. I have properties from the XIX century, from the 80’s of the XX century, and from the 2000. As you can imagine they are quite different. The heating or the AC is just a problem I don’t understand. You just have To install it and pay the energy bills.

[@tinportugal4655]

Heating, AC and humidity are easily fixed by installing what you need and pay the price. We have central Heating with gas and dehumidifier. Problem solved.

[@HyggeJourney]

@@tinportugal4655 It can be a bit more difficult. If a place is already suffering under the humidity, you are at best only delaying the issue. I'm not sure there is a permanent fix. I've tried to find an expert to interview on this - but I haven't been successful yet.

[@Carolinapetroska]

Yes that's what makes me suffer the most. No heater in the center of Portugal where it's cold and raining all winter long, can you imagine ? Walls made so thin that you can hear your neighbors as if they were living with you. Dogs barking. Elevators (if you are lucky enough to have one) loud as hell, no trash room. Many abandoned homes in prime location. This is terrible. The real estate market is expensive and not even pretty, or comfortable. Most of the owners have closed their balcony, so dumb. It's as cold inside as outside. And don't believe people who tell you 'Portugal is the country of sunshine' because it's not true. It's much warmer on the French riviera even if it's north of Portugal. Anyway, full of disappointments.....Many homeowners don't even want to bother renovating their property.

[@mazdak2020]

To be honest, choosing a country to move it is truly personal.its simple as liking a one color,some love orange some hate orange! It all depends on what you're looking for in life! Recently i decided to move to another country and these kind of videos truly help a lot,but again im more into what i personally want to be my life be like.i name some of my wishes maybe someone could help me to decide! I dont work outside, thats the first thing,i have my laptop and thats it no matter where i live! Im looking for a country with mid temperature not as cold as Canada and not as hot as Dubai! With kind and non-racial people, to be able to have many possibilities for entertainment,not crowded like India, i love moving so my estimate stay wouldn't be longer than 5 to 6 years.please help me decide 😅

[@nicolelimbasuta1102]

🎉Sim; sim: Obrigada!

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed :)

[@sleite41]

Fabulous, that's just it

[@HyggeJourney]

Thank you :)

[@papisaoco708]

Love your accents ❤

[@tamaramadelin4831]

GREAT VLOG!!! So, thankfully I am not here on a visa and my hubby is an EU citizen! I lived in France for 13 years before moving to Portugal! Not for yhe faint of heart!!! You must be prepared and do your research...NOT the US nor any other country!! Mentality, culture...All different!

[@HyggeJourney]

Glad you enjoyed it :-) Thanks for continuing to follow us ;-)

[@korikrali]

If people from Denmark and the UK are saying that Portugal is expensive for visiting families, it must be really expensive

[@HyggeJourney]

The combined cost is yes. Supermarkets are much more expensive in Portugal than UK for an example. Most of the time the airfares cost more than going from UK to US even just within Europe.. So you can find a scenario that looks cheap, but the reality of a busy life is that the price tag is high. Portugal is also not a place you do anything without planning ahead... So lets say you want to do a trip with 2 weeks notice the price can be insane.

[@amando96]

I'm Portuguese and left 9 years ago for the same reasons. It's a hole. Great for holidays but little more. Decades of awful policies have made the productive people leave. All that's left behind are crabs.

[@HyggeJourney]

It's annoying - because the country has potential. They truly never knew what they were doing with NHR and Golden Visa and was surprised over the amount of people that jump on the chance of a schengen passport. But yes productive people, with growth mindset that wants to build will struggle in Portugal - unless they bring their own village of people to keep them up :-)

[@tinportugal4655]

@@HyggeJourney "the country has potential" is true for the worst places in the world. Other than that you are right. Don't come to Portugal for work / making money. The number of Portuguese leaving the country says it all. Considering that so many people that are doing the physical work in the construction industry or in farming are coming from Asia or Africa or Brazil says a lot.

[@odetemoura6786]

Não percebo como um 'hole' é 'great for holidays'. Muito menos se só restam os 'crabs'.

[@teddydavis2339]

2 million Portuguese live outside of Portugal for a reason. I am from the US, but I lived there a few years ago. I didn't like it at all. I found the people extremely racist. Honestly, I had to leave in order to have faith in humanity again. I had hotels to refuse to rent me a room. My impression is that they only like white people. You would think with their history. they would be a little bit more humble. People should really research before moving anywhere. Portugal is not paradise. It's small, but it has a lot of problems. By the way, this was a great video. I'm sure this will help a lot of people.

[@Odyssey12375]

Im white and from Belgium, I live in Portugal sands 5 months and have never experienced so much racism!! And I have been all over the world. They just don't like foreigners , I feel tolerated here ONLY because I spend money.

[@francispowell1811]

That's a very interesting take. I'll watch closely for the signs.

[@pauloduarte2183]

Not everybody is treat the some way... and this is not racism, but quimic between people. You like everybody the same way ?

[@sandraalmeida5358]

Até porque nos EUA ninguém é racista

[@Quidproquo1143]

I'm Portuguese and I've also had hotels that refused me rooms, they were full... It's quite true that the net came to give voice to any idiot.