DON'T move to PORTUGAL if...
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 січ 2024
- Portugal is not for everyone! Over the past couple of years, we have been plagued with videos, blogs, articles, and more about how Portugal is the hotspot. It's the place to go. But why? Does this country work for everyone? What should you be aware of before you move? While there are a lot of great things about Portugal, it's not perfect. No place is. We of course love sharing the good aspects about this beautiful country but we need to be realistic here too.
Josh and Kalie from ExpatsEverywhere lay out and discuss certain topics about Portugal that you need to know about. Don't like these things? Then maybe you shouldn't move to Portugal.
Need assistance with your move to Portugal? We have loads of resources to help with the visa process, housing, and more. You can also book a one-on-one call with Kalie to talk more about your unique situation: www.calendly.com/expatseverywhere
* ABOUT US *
Josh and Kalie left the US for a life abroad in 2009 and haven't looked back. They have lived in Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and are currently in Portugal. Yes, they realize they only moved to countries starting with the letter "S" until they spoiled that streak with their move to Portugal. Follow ExpatsEverywhere as we aim to get information to you through expat interviews, city breakdowns, expat life, travel, vlogs, and more.
* VISAS FOR PORTUGAL *
We have two courses to help DIY the D7 visa and the remote worker visa for Portugal. The courses include step-by-step videos, checklists, resources, recommendations, discounts, and more. They break down the timeline and when and how to do things, plus give action items to keep you on task but not be overwhelmed. Check them out here: D7: expatseverywhere.thinkific.com & Remote Worker: expatseverywhere.thinkific.co...
* USEFUL RESOURCES *
Below are a list of other services that we use/recommend for living abroad. If you have any questions about them, feel free to email us. Some links we provide we might make a commission and you might receive a discount or promotional offer. We always try to make a deal with companies we like to create a win/win for us and YOU!
* TRANSFER CASH *
Wise (formally TransferWise) | Banking/Transfer Partner (affiliate link) Get free transfer fees (conditions apply) transferwise.prf.hn/click/cam...
* WATCH YOUR SHOWS
SurfShark | VPN Partner (affiliate link) Get 40% off subscription at get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer...
*DIGITAL SECURITY
Protect yourself from the increasing risk of digital crimes with our partner Aura. Use our link aura.com/expatseverywhere to get a 2 week free trial to protect yourself from the increasing risk of identity theft and digital crimes. Sign up today and see how many times Aura found your personal information on the dark web.
* YOU NEED THESE FOR YOUR D7 & REMOTE WORKER VISAS *
Need your NIF and/or bank account for Portugal? Use our special link with Bordr to receive $10 off for each. No code needed. The discount will be applied at check out when using this link: www.bordr.com/?via=expatsever...
* INSURANCE ABROAD
Need insurance?
Insured Nomads: www.insurednomads.com/?ref=ex...
*LEARN A LANGUAGE
Ling is a fun way to learn and practice a language. Use our special link: ling-app.com/ling-affilate/?r...
Want something more intense?
Join the journey with Portuguese with Carla: journey.portuguesewithcarla.c...
Mia Esmeriz Academy
school.learn-portuguese.org/c...
* FORWARD YOUR MAIL *
Wanting to get your mail forwarded to you while abroad? Use World Post: worldpost.anytimemailbox.com/...
* TAXES
Are you an expat who wants help with your taxes? Use our link here for Taxes for Expats and get $25 off: www.taxesforexpats.com/ref/239
*AROUND PORTUGAL
Want to check out some awesome spots we like around Portugal? Check out our Atly Map: go.steps.me/hvX41KPnDwb
* GET IN TOUCH *
Questions? E-mail us at info@expatseverywhere.com
Want more? Go to www.expatseverywhere.com
Follow us on Facebook: / expatseverywhere
Follow us on Instagram: / expatseverywhere
Follow us on Twitter: / expert_expat
Check out our Patreon page: / expatseverywhere
#ExpatsEverywhere
* EXTRA HELP *
Looking for an expat consultant? Check out Expat Empire (expatempire.com/) and get 10% off when you tell them that ExpatsEverywhere referred you!
Thank you so much for this video. I've been in Portugal for two years and am happy. However, I've met people that are very unhappy about the change in life and the move has become a miserable experience. Most of these people are from the US and I know that most of them will probably never reconcile these problems and will eventually move back. I feel videos like this are important as it is easy to spend hundreds of hours online researching content about a foreign destination and everything is roses. This reality check is needed.
True point!..
You're welcome. Thank you for the comment. We're seeing it too although we've not seen people with a miserable experience per se but we see people struggling a bit. - Josh & Kalie
So many of the things discussed are not about Portugal, just about living abroad (anywhere). The whole point of moving abroad is, things are different! Literally that's the point
We certainly understand what you mean but I believe we were rather direct about what was specific to Portugal especially regarding taxes (plenty of countries have lower taxes), language difference (plenty of countries speak English that would tick other boxes for people's motives for moving), the food (some people come here and hate it and knew nothing about it before moving, which is a problem), the bureaucracy and inefficiencies are worse here by comparison than other countries. The missing family and friends thing sure, that could be said for moving cities or states, but it felt right to include it as we've known several people that have moved in the last 3 years because they couldn't cope with being away from family and friends. - Josh & Kalie
Quite a few expats I see that aren’t happy here in Portugal and probably anywhere is that it’s different than what they were used to. They never were onboard with the fact that everything is going to be different. If you don’t get your mind right with that, you’re most likely going to fail. Like you said, it’s different and if you are seeking something different, then just stay home.
I agree. Americans need to learn that they need to adapt like they expect migrants in their own country to adapt
@@rickchandler2570 I think they have this idea that enough people will speak English that they can always get by, or that they'll find a community of other expats where they can kind of build their own little US in the country.
Kind of ironic considering how bad that has turned out in the US when people from other countries decided to do the same rather than assimilating to some extent.
A native Portuguese, commenting on this video:
Although overall this video is correct, but NOT all entirely correct;
1° Yes, there is Bureaucracy, too much bureaucracy! But it has been improving in recent years, and it will get better now, with new laws in 2024.
2° Taxes: Unfortunately nothing to say. It's not bad, it's terrible!...Earnings above €2,500 pay heavy taxes. Above €4,000 it reaches almost 40% tax... (But the average Portuguese earns no more than €1,500/1,600 per month!) 👈.
3° It's not just Lisbon, Porto and Algarve that speak English reasonably well.
In almost the entire country, and especially in the youngest segments of the population up to 35/40 years old, English is often dominant. And don't forget the famous Portuguese Hospitality!
4° Another frequent mistake, Portugal is not just Lisbon, Porto, Algarve. Most of this country's history and culture resides in the North of Portugal.
*It is worth visiting cities such as Braga, Guimarães, Viana Castelo, but also not forgetting the famous Coimbra* etc.., land of many traditions and culture.
5° Yes, it's true, the Portuguese love food, and sharing a meal and good wine, with Friends and Family. Portuguese food is often praised by tourists and even critics! I suggest you stay away from other tourists, from the common tourist places. Best regions to eat and drink in Portugal: Minho Region, in the north and Famoso Alentejo, in the south, near Algarve...
Since you are native Portuguese you can best answer this question: aren't the high taxes necessary to pay for the very good infrastructure and public healthcare?
Thanks for the comment but what exactly did we get wrong? In point 3, we're saying those areas which most foreigners go tend to be top but if you go outside of those areas and generally you're speaking to an older person, they might not know English, which is true. We live in Porto and we actually know a lot of Portuguese people that doesn't speak English, which again is fine, but we're trying to make people aware of this. That's the point. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I don't think, and wasn't implying, that you got anything wrong. I was merely saying that someone of Portuguese nationality knows the tax system and can best help others to know why taxes there are higher than someone not of Portuguese nationality. Same as a native-born American knows America's tax system better than a non-native-born American. That's it.
Thank you! I will add these cities to my research.
@@danieldhardman5388 Our comment was in response to the original poster in this thread. @Thealexandrept It didn't let us reply directly to him before you had commented. Sorry for any confusion. - Josh
I love you, guys. I think the problem is, is that people think that they are going to have the same things as their home country. Thinking sunshine and rainbows. You can’t even move to a us state without different laws. Just be open to the experience and enjoy the ride.
Thanks for the love, Sharon! Yea, we're hoping to help people set right expectations. That's the heart of this video. - Josh & Kalie
I liked your intro and sharing the realities. Surely when moving to another country one HAS to adapt and integrate. We gotta take the good with the bad! Great video as always! Thanks Josh & Kayley and here's wishing you a successful 2024!
Thank you very much, Georg! We always appreciate your support. We wish you a great 2024 too! - Josh & Kalie
Great video Josh and Kalie! We’ve loved living in Portugal. Beautiful country, the kindest people, and any little inconveniences or new ways of doing things are totally worth it.
Thank you, Amy! "loved living", that's past tense. Did you move? - Josh & Kalie
Bom dia! Nice video. You have covered so many good points that folks really need to think about.
Alan
Hey, Alan! Thanks for the visit. We appreciate the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Happy new year !
Interesting video stating important facts. I like that you are always realistic and tell it like it is ! Can't wait to see your videos this year 😊
The truth means a lot to people thinking of moving to a totally different country! Great information that will be helpful to many!
Happy New Year!
We appreciate this comment a lot. We see that you see the heart of this video. Thank you. We're looking forward to making content in 2024. - Josh & Kalie
Thank you @terrisokolow7796 ! - Josh & Kalie
Happy New Year Josh and Kailie, great video as usual.
Thanks so much! Happy New Year to you too! - Josh & Kalie
Happy New Year!
You make very good points, as usual.
Happy New Year to you too. Thanks for the message. - Josh & Kalie
Realllly good video Josh and Kalie. Well done.
Thanks so much! We appreciate the positive feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Another quality video...great work!
Thank you very much. - Josh & Kalie
Feliz Ano Novo! 🎆 A great video with many important points, as I get ready to move to Lisbon in a week. I would say all of the points you brought up are why it’s important to do research and do scouting trips ahead of time, especially if you intend to stay for the long term. I started to research a move to Portugal back in 2021 and made 3 trips in 2022-2023 before fully committing to a move from the US. Watching YT videos aren’t good enough (even though your channel provides very pertinent info), but going in person and experiencing everyday life other than touristy activities are important. Obrigado!
Thanks for sharing and a very happy new year to you too! All the best with your move. Stay in touch!! - Josh & Kalie
Hi Kailey and Josh,
Great video. I am in the San Joaquin Valley in California and I do watch your videos. I visited Portugal as part of a tour in 2018 and then went back in 2019 to live for a month. I LOVE it. Then COVID came along. I am glad to hear what these insights reveal, and I still want to be there. The two of you make very good videos and I don't know how you learned to do this but I am glad you did. :)
Hi Marianne, that's very sweet of you. Thank you. We just learned over time. A lot of UA-cam and courses. No professional training or anything. - Josh & Kalie
Really useful to have balanced review. Thanks 👍🏻
Thank you, Mark! We're glad that you understand the heart of this video. - Josh & Kalie
Taxes are complicated and different types of income are taxed differently in Portugal. You could have all your income from stocks and it won't be taxed over 28% so it does depend. If you work in California, you probably pay federal income tax, state income tax, social security tax, unemployment tax, disability tax, etc which may take up to 50% of your gross income.
That seems high. I was a low 6 figure earner, paid around 20% federal and state taxes, and several thousand dollars in property taxes, and I live in a high tax state. No where near 50%.There's that.
Totally fair point. Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
@@stefanieneubert4842 The top federal tax rate is 37%, the top California state tax rate is 12.3%, social security withholding tax is 6.2%. Just with these three taxes, you can be at over 50% if your gross income is high enough.
@@davidmartinspresents nobody pays 50% in taxes in the US. I have no idea where you are coming up with that number?
@@trave7644 IRS website for Federal tax rates and social security withholding. For California state tax, if you go to the tax foundation website, it actually shows California's top marginal rate as 13.30
I totally agree with everything. We had problems with amazon at the beginning but the other day I ordered a converter from Spain and it arrived in less than 24 hours. It is getting better here for Amazon. Love your videos.
Thanks for sharing, Lorraine! Less than 24 hours! That's fast!! - Josh & Kalie
Two constants in life are death and taxes. It would silly to think that you can escape taxes in one country by living in another. Portuguese health services are in some ways way better than in the US, but there is always an incipient cost for it and that cost is divided among the people living there. Pure and simple math. It's a smaller county with a smaller population splitting up social service costs. Go figure. Also, I think that everyone who is planning to come there should study Portuguese on an ongoing basis here in the US long before they ever land in Portugal. The language study beforehand might be the major determining factor as to whether or not you'd really go there. Some people warm up to learning a foreign language others do not! It should probably be the first thing you try out long before you move there. I think what you both outlined is very very realistic so people do romanticize
going to Portugal without an informed idea as to what's going on. Thank you both.
Saudi Arabia is one of the contradictions to the tax thing but there are others. The whole Death and Taxes bit is pretty darn American. US, China and I think Australia are the only countries that have filing requirements for their citizens abroad.
Yes, people do romanticize it and we'd like to bring balance to that. Thank you for watching. - Josh & Kalie
I think people should take a Portuguese course at a nearby university to see if they can even get past the language barrier first. If you can't hack it don't bother to go. I paid 5K for the basic college Portuguese sequence in Ohio and then another 5K for a private tutor who I met twice a week for two years. You can't do real language study on Duo Lingua or Rosetta Stone. It's a big investment in time and money. You cannot bypass it and roll past GO and collect your money. What I learned is that the culture is imbedded in the language. Besides you're a guest there and no one should expect that people conform to you, right? Their country their rules their language and customs.
I like that you gave sage advice.
Solid gold honesty! 🎉
Nice summary! :) I always tell people: come with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and flexibility or don't come at all. :)
Good point, Tom. Thanks for the message. I hope all is well in Braga. - Josh & Kalie
Based off this video, I have a few ideas for future ones:
- Doing a video with a Portuguese person regarding cultural norms here in Portugal. Spain Revealed did a video with Yoly (James' wife..a Spanish national) showed the taboos in Spanish culture. They also explained the nuances that foreigners notice about Spanish norms. If you know about a few of the differences, it can be a big game changer. Either you'll be ready or you'll reassess wanting to move to a place.
- Creature comforts: We're all people from different cultures. Moving to a new one can be a huge change. Some things may seem small, but they're important to others. My wife misses ranch dressing. Maybe there's a person in the community that makes a solid ranch dressing recipe? She also misses certain beauty care products. I'm a diehard hockey fan and found it hard to watch games overseas. We both love stuff on Hulu. Heck, you could do a video on VPN providers and loopholes. You spoke about Amazon; that's a big thing to North Americans. You could do a video on that alone! Like Kalie mentioned in our meeting with her, Amazon in UK, Germany, Spain, and definitely Portugal is *not* like Amazon US/CA.
- The mail system. That's a doozy. Be it customs limbo to shipping options to the kinda...different (I'm behaving myself)...address styles, that's a video in of itself. You could even do one about international shipping. There's gotta be a person working for a shipping company in Leixoes that could explain the process.
I can come up with more, but the hockey game is back from intermission. Cheers!
I definitely like the one from Spain Revealed. We'll see who we can articulate it like Yoly but for the Portuguese. :-)
How'd the hockey game go for ya? - Josh & Kalie
Great! Love you guys tell it like it is!
Thanks. We try! - Josh & Kalie
Great video guys!
Thank you. :-) We hope you're having a good start to 2024. - Josh & Kalie
Your video was spot on! It made me feel better knowing that we’re not the only ones experiencing the bureaucracy.😊
Thank you, Cindy. No, you're not. And it's not just foreigners a lot of our Portuguese friends moan about bureaucracy here. - Josh & Kalie
Great episode, all points are valid. I can second them as someone who recently moved to PT and is still evaluating...
Thanks for sharing. How long have you been here? Which one has been the toughest for you? - Josh & Kalie
Great video with good reality presented. We had to smile at the Amazon section as we have now adapted to Portuguese Amazon. A funny little story to share. We were out for coffee at a local cafe when the Amazon driver called saying he was at our residence, so we asked for next day delivery. He asked where we were and about 3 minutes later he showed up with the parcel at our coffee shop, so it is not all bad, just have to get used to it, the personal touch was very nice and our visiting friends from Canada had a great laugh.
Door to hand service! Thanks, Ed. We appreciate your feedback here and love to read that story. - Josh & Kalie
Really good video overall! Wife n' I have been in Portugal for over a month and although it's been a blast...it's been a culture shock (and I lived in Greece and Spain years ago) as well. AIMA is a mess, but it's a recently consolidated agency. CTT is a mess, but strikes haven't helped that much. Grocery shopping hasn't been bad, but there are some quirky nuisances. The aisles can be a little...random (that's me being nice)? Continente has pet supplies next to the bakery. We're used to Publix in Florida, which makes shopping a breeze... Logistically, it's just... Different?
One massive pet peeve: Not a fan of the staring that we experience, primarily due to us being East Coast Americans. To us, staring is considered rude, if not threatening. I've lived in several countries and most would at least consider it rude. Yet, I've read all over that Portuguese stare and it's normal (to them). So... We walk by staring Portuguese and I throw them off with a "Bom dia/tarde/noite" or "Oi" (maybe give a wink or chin check at them for good measure). We have to accept the behavior...but it doesn't mean we can't have some fun disagreeing with it.
Cultural differences are what make moving to other countries interesting. People criticizing others for thinking "Oh wow this is different than in my country" with a borderline-pretentious response of "You moved to another country. Of course it's different Don't like it, then why are you here?" are simply being hypocritical. No one moves to another country without comparing their current location to their past location. It's that simple.
We like it here though. Growing pains are manageable. Overall, the Portuguese are very friendly and appreciate us stumbling to learn their language. We still have much to see and much more to learn 🤙
A local discount grocery here in NW Indiana had the insect spray next to diapers and baby food. Ever since we saw that, we figured anything we saw in the future couldn't be any worse. The Pingo Doce stores we visited in both Lisbon and Porto seemed to be of all different shapes and sizes so it didn't seem possible for them to have a consistent layout across the chain.
@@stephenjarzombek2903 Outside of a new build or an overhauled space, they kinda have to work with the space they've got.
That's strange, I've never noticed any staring, or even heard about that. We've been hear about 18 months, first in Lisbon, now in Braga, and haven't noticed that in store, cafes or just out and about. Maybe a regional thing?
Portuguese only star to staring if something is out of place 😂😂😂
All good points, unvarnished. Lucky for me I actively want something entirely different from US when retired; that’s the whole point for me. I enjoy language learning, love Portuguese cuisine, dislike pointless material possessions (so idc about Amazon Prime), love foreign adventures (and being the stranger), prefer mini-splits to central heating/ac (from experience living in Japan), so it’s really the Portuguese bureaucracy that’ll be the big challenge for me. My daughter did make me promise to visit future grandchildren enough to have a presence, so there’s that too….
Thanks, Gerald. We never want to move back to the US because we want something/look for something entirely different than the US. We've known that for 25ish years of our live. - Josh & Kalie
Good info. We just went on vacation for 1 month on bought a house. From Belgium to Portugal is not a big hop. And the weather at the silver coast is super. Again txs for the info.❤😉😘
Thanks, Peter. Congratulations. :-) Well done. - Josh & Kalie
A lot of the issues you raised are applicable to any foreign place you might want to move to. Being self aware enough to honestly evaluate your comfort level with the issues you point out. I'm still high on Portugal, but after visiting, I really had to ask myself some hard questions. The thing about PT that put me off the most was the amount of homes in ruin. They created a feeling of almost 3rd world (maybe better classified as developing) poverty. It was uncomfortable. And the smoking. Things I need to really consider for the long term.
Hi Josh. Yes it is a sad reality. BTW if I recall right you bought a home for refurbishing. Are you still going ahead with it. Wish you Good Luck with that plan and also wish your family a Very Happy New Year.
Hi, it's not necessarily a sad reality, it's just reality. Right?
Yes, we bought a house and things are moving forward at a decent pace. We're getting ready to start sharing videos on "Let's Get Building with Josh & Kalie" another YT channel. WE hope that you have a Happy New Year as well. - Josh & Kalie
Good point on the supermarket. On a similar note, I live in the UK and went to Spain for a couple of days and noticed that there are groceries I am used which are not common there. For example I could not find Pasta sauce / Passata in the same variety it is here. Also strawberry milk is not as common there as it is here (they prefer it as smoothie).
Def a point to keep in mind when moving countries.
Thank you and thanks for sharing! - Josh & Kalie
Well done!
Thank you! - Josh & Kalie
I'm not leaving cause I'm still trying to figure out bed linen measurements.
😂😂😂
100% John. I heard they tell you secret when you get your citizenship. I'll let you know in 2 years. - Josh
This is very good! I’m always surprised by the number of people who’ve moved to Portugal, very unprepared by how different things are in Portugal. They just ticked down the list of financials, had someone rent an apartment for them, and then they try to find a specialized service or medical treatment. Some haven’t traveled enough to understand, European and American aren’t the same. Plus, not all Europeans are the same. And, not all Portuguese will be the same. I’ve read some shocking misunderstandings!
Thank you. Very, very true! It's pretty wild isn't it? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I think I’m in my 3rd year of researching Portugal. France is a constant, due to my French nephews, and I considered France with my European fiancé over 20 years ago. Then, there was Ghana. There’s serious things to consider. I find the rush to move, especially by Americans to be fueled by privilege and/or by current political circumstances. Still, no matter our color, we have more privilege than most of our human cousins. I’m just looking for a comfy good time, that I can access my French and American nephews and I can explore Africa and the rest of our planet (I’m American without kids). Portuguese people match my sarcastic, deadpan, care about others, personality, so far. Plus, I love fish, olive oil, and wine!
Also been here close to 3 years, with a toddler! So very similar situation to yours. Can't help but feel in your video like maybe you're starting to get tired of PT ;-)? Am I wrong? I wonder if you guys have been exploring new options for the future (even if it's in 2-5 years). I'd be interested. I also assume that since NHR is ending, the interest in Portugal will almost entirely disappear (sadly...) and your audience is going to seek more international videos. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts or seeing what future videos you have in store.
Hi, very good to know that you're in a similar situation. :-)
No, we're not getting tired of Portugal at all. We have a real estate development in its early days and we're here for the foreseeable future. We're trying to give balance in our videos to be honest. We've seen people come and go now and we're trying to share our findings with others to save them time, money, and the hassle.
We don't believe that interest in Portugal will disappear although it might slow a bit. There are a tremendous amount of people that either don't benefit from NHR anyway or don't care/take their tax situation into account. Their "why" is bigger than simply how much they're going to be taxed. We have another channel called ExpatsEverywhere Explores where we're starting to do much more international videos and we're going to be adding more and more to that channel in 2024. At the end of the day, ExpatsEverywhere was established as a media/content creation company and that's what we'll do. We didn't mean for this channel to become so Portugal specific but at some point we started giving the people what they wanted. :-) - Josh
@@ExpatsEverywhere Thanks for the reply, Josh! Great to understand where you're coming from. We're also most likely here for the foreseeable future. I think it's a great place to raise a child. I wish you and your family the best!
Another great video… important information… if you expect ANYTHING to happen fast in Portugal, except a soccer match…. You will be disappointed… but I LOVE it!! The wine, food, slow pace of life, safety and healthcare are ALL worth the wait
Thanks, Dino! We appreciate it. Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
OMG - some of these are SO true. We live in a very small town south of Lisbon. It's gotten so I don't have to look at menus at restaurants anymore. THEY'RE ALL THE SAME! Don't get me wrong, we love it here, but the choice of food is basically McDonald's, one or two Pakistani places and 10,000 Portuguese places all with the exact same menu. Also, the bureaucracy! It took me over 2 years to get my final driver's license.
I agree about the food not much creativity or flavor I found the food for the most part quite bland.
Thanks, Jordan. I (Josh) still don't have my physical card despite getting my exchange approved a year before Kalie's LOL. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere my driver’s license story is so preposterous I should write a book about it
Sh-t !!! 2-years to get drivers licence!!! you got to be kidding me man !!!
@@jerryharanczyk To be fair, the driver's license exchange process is easily one of the 2 or 3 worst examples of Portuguese bureaucracy, along with family reunification visas and golden visas. If you have a valid license from a long list of countries, you don't have to exchange your license until it expires, or you hit a certain age. I'm holding out that my US license will last long enough to provide time to fix the issues.
Saw you guys on the metro going to Aliados yesterday. It was such a coincidence. I had just mentioned you guys to my parents. I’m from Brazil, living in Lisbon.
Hey, Jon. You should have said, hello! :-) Tell your parents we said "Hi". Thanks for watching and subscribing. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Will do. All the best
Honest review. Thank you.
Only thing I wonder about - how to live “ok” with €2,000 рег month? With current prices it is sounds unreal for me
Greatly depends where you live in Portugal…. Lisbon and suburbia like Cascais are definitely off the list. Rents are already around this level.
Yes, €2,000/$2,000 is rather location and lifestyle dependent. - Josh & Kalie
It is not just the government bureaucracies that are horrible in Portugal. Private businesses ( banks, insurance agencies, private health clinics, etc. ) can be just as awful. And the customer service provided by any entity, public or private, in Portugal? Just don't expect any and you will be fine. Having said all of that, I love Portugal and have no plans to ever leave. But without NHR status, I would never consider moving here.
My GF and I will be in Porto for a week at the end of February on a scouting trip. We were wondering if it's possible to meet with you.
Email info@expatseverywhere.come We might be having a group meetup then. - Josh & Kalie
I got my Residencia last year, but I had to return to the UK due to the health of my mom. I wasn't worried, because I hadn't yet transferred my tax address, and was planning to do the NHR when I came back. Then they cancelled the NHR! Ahh. So in December I came back on vacation and applied for Portuguese tax residency, and then the NHR. Now I am both a Portuguese tax payer and a UK tax payer. Then as soon as I had done this they announced the NHR 'Grandfathering' option, which could have allowed me to do I wanted by completing my move later in 2024. But too late. So I have already got the hang of the bureaucracy and sudden major changes. Still, my incremental Portuguese tax bill buys me my NHR until 2033, and by keeping my pension drawings low for the time being I can mitigate it. It is a fascinating country with long summers, and the longer summers and blue skies of the Algarve are what attract me, along with the mostly relaxed and safe environment. But I know the bureaucracy will frustrate me!
Thanks for sharing! You're one of the situations that we're talking about it. It's wild how these things can unfold. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Indeed! What I wonder about is the next step with the new administration. If NHR was a bad idea because it didn't generate the level of foreign investment to grow the economy, and presumably caused the outlook to worsen for Portuguese citizens, cancelling it makes sense as long as there is a Plan B. I can't say I keep tabs on every related development, but to date, I am unsure a viable Plan B exists. Such a shame because the country and people are so wonderful, and it's just flat out wrong that Portuguese university grads feel compelled to seek employment elsewhere in the EU.
@@stephenjarzombek2903 Even though the NHR suited me, I think it has done its job now, and Portugal doesn't need more expats coming in inflating rents and home prices, so I think I see why they did it. Personally, I think the bigger problem for Portugals housing crisis is caused by Airbnb rentals, but they are working on that aswell.
@@stephenjarzombek2903 Let's see who the next administration is and what their objectives are. Apparently, the Golden Visa investment "hit" its objective and NHR was "costing" the state so let's see where things go from here. - Josh
Hey! When is Mrs M's next video with you showing? "What he didn't tell you" #2 🥰
Is there more she didn't tell? ;-) - Josh & Kalie
Since I and my husband come to America from fife countries that didn’t speak ou language. Yes it’s a challenge. But live is challenging for everyone. As a foreigner and also as an American we understand all the challenges! If in the America move to new city it’s a challenge too. I believe we need have mindset that wherever we go we should following the waves and dance the music.
That's it! :-) - Josh & Kalie
SPOT ON! Adjustments to a new country are not easy, and finding your stride is imperative…if you can’t be happy come back to what you know.
Thanks for the comment. - Josh & Kalie
Everyone wants to move to Portugal after their 1st visit. Videos like this are important. We don't want to move there year round, but are considering a 2-4 month stay every year. Rather than leave Canada to go to Florida for winter, like so many do here, we'd go to Portugal instead. 👍
Thanks for sharing, Dave.
That's the way to go! Portugal is only good for temporary staying!Is a very poor country with a lot of poor people but very friendly 👀👀👀
I had the same experience with Malaysia. They keep changing the visa requirements, making it impossible to plan for the future. As a retiree, I don't want (and can't afford) to take risks with my nest egg, nor do I want to waste time and energy in a process only to have to start over again in a few years. I've traveled, worked and lived in 40 countries since 1990 and this type of government behavior is a huge red flag.
Right on! We've been tracking Malaysia for a while because we lived in Singapore and nearly took jobs in Malaysia and have considered it as a possible future place but they're always moving the goal post in some way. It's unsettling. - Josh & Kalie
Important to point out, though, that none of these recent changes impact people who have already immigrated to Portugal. There's been some significant changes to the immigration process and tax benefits for future immigrants, but nothing has changed for those who've already obtained residency. In many ways, Portugal has made the visa process even a bit easier with the introduction of the digital nomad visa options (at least in theory, SEF/AIMA issues can be a challenge). For the end of NHR, Portugal is leaving that door open a bit longer for people who already started the immigration process. I just don't agree that these are "red flags" or that there's been constant change to the visa process. I think that is more perception than reality.
@@grizfan93 Again, in the intro of the video, we stated it was for people in the process of moving. The digital nomad visa's introduction has cut several people in our YT community off from coming due to the new income levels that need to be shown through active income. - Josh
@@ExpatsEverywhere Very true, but the earlier comment seemed to imply that there has been a problem with the rules frquently changing, when I don't think that's really been the case, unless a person takes a really long time to plan. And to be fair, that is a risk in moving to any country, and not really specific to Portugal. I think Portugal's transition plan for ending NHR is pretty reasonable. Fair point about the DN visa, as that sort of closed a loophole in the D7 and definitely squeezed some folks out. Goes to show how important timing can be.
Hey Guys, thank you for sharing your experience...
I am from India but now relocated to Matosinhos and working in a multinational company.. not sure if you already made a video but would like to know more about investment options to save some taxes😊..
May I ask which company it is? Looking to move to Porto and exploring the job market.
Hey! Thanks for watching. Have you spoken to John from Green Ocean Global? He might have some leads for you.
- Josh & Kalie
I think I've heard that this is the same in the U.S., but there's something called wheat fibre (fibra de trigo) that's listed as an ingredient in a lot of supposedly gluten-free food items here. The gluten content in it is supposedly extremely low, which allows it to meet a certain legal definition of "gluten-free", but it definitely isn't safe for people with celiac. I'm from Canada and have never seen it there, so it was quite a shock to see it in things that are specifically marketed to people with celiac. Não é bom.
The tax rate in Portugal is progressive it wouldn't be a slice of 40% off the top and there are deductions. One other thing to consider is the tax rates for the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores are different.
That's true. Everyone should plan and run different scenarios based on their own situation. - Josh & Kalie
Lots of people talk English in Portugal. It is a greater contrast to move to European countries for Americans compared to people from Europe. People from for example Scandinavia adapts really fast in Portugal. Things are different in the States, sure.. But it is easier to understand Portugal and the system if you are from Europe.
Good Analysis and good that you brought it up for the benefit of new comers. I was very serious on a D7 visa but now with the NHR rule changes, it will be a big hit on my income in retirement and I am not for it. I would rather stay for 89 days get out and comeback after 90 days and avoid all the paperwork and legalities. The only thing is that it will be nice to have a place of your own to come back to, and not sure how a home ownership impacts you being a taxable entity.
Thank you. Yes. This one is very much for newcomers. We can't only make videos for people that are already here. We appreciate you recognizing that. - Josh & Kalie
Same!
You can own a home in portugal as a foreigner
@@ninim8118 Thanks. I know for sure that you can own a home as a foreigner. The question though is as a result of home ownership do you become a Tax entity of Portugal and have to file taxes there even if you dont rent the place at all during your absence.
@@cookmaster3626 I am not a tax expert, but my understanding is if you are not getting an income from your property and this property is not your primary residence then you don’t have to deal with income taxes.
Most countries don't have central heating and cooling.
I'm genuinely not sure how many countries do but our core audience is American, which is why we used that example. It's becoming increasingly more popular in new construction in Portugal. We're going to have it in our new development. - Josh & Kalie
Thank you for the video. We've been in Portugal for 2 years and do not plan to renew our temporary residence but rather plan to move to another EU country. For reference, I have double citizenship - US, EU. One of the main factors for me that led me to the decision to leave is the negative experiences I have encountered with the medical system, in particular some doctors' rudeness and lack of professionalism - I have been humiliated several times by specialists in private hospitals because my Portuguese was not up to par to conduct a medical dialogue. The anti foreign sentiment is real and not something I am willing to tolerate.
Hi, you're welcome and we're sorry to hear about your negative experience. Just for more detail, where were you? You know, we've heard several Portuguese friends of ours complain about how they were treated especially with mental health issues. They felt like they weren't being heard or taken seriously. We've only had good experiences personally. Where are you going to move next? Do you know? :-) - Josh
Portugal is one of these picture perfect countries that looks good on a postcard but the day to day living can be hard. I lived there for a while but the bureaucracy and high taxes drove me nuts. Its difficult to get small things done in Portugal and general services are not great. You can deal with it for a few years but it does get to you after a while. I liked the people and food and if your main goal is to get EU citizenship then its a good place to go. But for me I decided to more back to Asia where my day to day living is more interesting and a lot more affordable.
Where are you from? And are the Portuguese xenophobic? Some of my mates had such experiences
So, you treat countries like a commodity. Suitable or not suitable, you coming from a country in which you don't wanna live in.
@@bluetooth2000 All countries are commodities and are even listed on stock exchanges. Welcome to the globalised world. If Portugal did not want to be a commodity it should never have joined the EU and isolated itself from the world. We are only doing what Portugal allows us to do with open arms. And those with money have options as to where they wish to live or not live. If you don't like it take it up with your government.
Every country has its ups and downs. When you come from a country that is advanced (as an example USA or similar), one wants to take advantage of their $$ buying power and live large in a poor ( I mean relatively poor) country. That's perfectly fine and the system allows it and welcomes you.. The problem is these new comers want to change or see things to be the same way as their home country. It is not going to happen and one has to deal with the downsides and weigh out your pros and cons. Its like a guest you host in your home complaining about the way how its in your home than his home.
Have you heard the phrase "Beggars Can't be Choosers". Portugal is giving you something that you are begging for like a nice picturesque, low cost, crime free, culturally great place to live. You came here because you got tired of whatever that got you in your home country. Don't expect the country to change, because you brought some buying power to Portugal. It ain't gonna happen that way.
Tax isn't a bad thing if it is spent well. In the US you get virtually nothing for it whereas in other countires you get a lot more i.e. healthcare, good schools, good transport etc. I think Americans are so anti tax just because it gives you very little apart from an oversized military that does nothing but make you more unsafe!
As someone born and raised in the Middle East, probably the most beraucratic and corrupt place in the world, the so called Portuguese beraucracy is a child play in comparison. On the other hand, having been through the process of immigration to Canada, moving to Portugal was a breeze! From all the points you mentioned the most relatable to me is groceries shopping. It's really difficult to find ingredients for any type of ethnic cuisine and I am talking about basic things that you find in any Canadian supermarket like fish sauce and pita bread! and I live in Porto, not a small town in the middle of Alentejo! I am also surprised you didn't speak about the cost of living! That was probably the biggest disappointment for me after hearing so much about how "cheap" Portugal is to come here and find the prices of many things actually more expensive than Canada (and I lived in Toronto)!
Thank you for the comment, interesting
Oh, fish sauce is surprising considering all the seafood here. Did you find a place yet to find it in Porto? I haven't been here long and haven't looked for it yet.
@louisrios5546 Yes I did, there is a Chinese store very close to the central market called Supermercado Asiático - CHEN. They have good products and the prices are reasonable.
Geez, what do you find in Porto more than Toronto? That's fascinating. www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Portugal&country2=Canada&city1=Porto&city2=Toronto Here's the Numbeo comparison between the two cities. Is it fairly accurate in your opinion. We really find that overall it's the housing that's gone wild here and the thing that people can point to when it was said Portugal is so cheap that it was "true".
Regarding the Middle East, yes, when we lived in Saudi we were so fortunate to have an HR be the go between for us because the bureaucracy there is next level. :-) - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I had no idea that you guys were in the Middle East as well! You are really well-traveled.
I know about the Numbeo numbers and I agree with some of them, however, I tend to find their numbers are accurate when it comes to Portugal, but are quite exaggerated when it comes to a few Canadian ones. This could come down to several reasons in my view, it could be that I was really clever in finding cheap products in Canada, in a way I couldn't replicate here yet, or maybe because many of those comparisons focus on things that don't matter to me (I don't drink alcohol, and don't eat much at restaurants, two areas where Portugal is way cheaper than Canada obviously).
One area of big disappointment also is the absence of dollar stores here in Portugal. Those were amazing in Canada and you could buy tons of cheap items that are very useful around the house, and they even have some good food products! The closest I could find to that here in Porto is the Casa China store in Gaya, but it's way more expensive, less organized, and with products of much mediocre quality compared to what you typically find in Canada.
Regardless, thanks for the reply, and please keep up the good work, I am a big fan of yours.
This was great information. I had seriously considered Portugal as a place to move for a few years, but I did not know that they had issues with homeschooling. This seems to be a bit of a problem around Europe. It is funny that you often don't realize what things in life you take for granted. You touched on them in this video: proximity to family, easy access to a certain type of food, or (in my case) being able to choose how to educate your child. So again, thank you. I have really enjoyed watching your adventures via this channel.
Thank you. We're glad that you liked the information and we appreciate the channel support. If you need any direct advice on the homeschooling thing, write Kalie, she might have some advice since we've had several friends go through the process. (info@expatseverywhere.com) - Josh & Kalie
Also prices have gone up to include rent. We are a family of four and 2000 euros is definitely not enough. We just paid 400 euros for electricity… also people older than 65 have to pay alot for their health insurance. And they can’t get a loan…
There is a shortage of public doctors that you should be registered to. We don’t have one still…
But yes, Portuguese poeple are really nice and it’s amazing how they speak English so well. We are lucky to be here.
Basically do a reality check about yourself and what you expect from life before you move here.
Our family of 3 lives on under €4,000 in Porto so we weren't trying to say anyone regardless of family size can live on €2,000 per month. A single can though. There are still places in the country to do that for sure. We know a couple living in Porto that got a rental contract before prices really rose that are living on under €2,000.
30% of Portuguese in the SNS system don't have a regular GP according to Serenity Portugal. - Josh & Kalie
It is probably worth mentioning in a discussion of Portuguese taxes that, for Americans, some or all of your Portuguese taxes can offset your US tax liability. That has been the case for our family.
Americans are, unfortunately for us, the only folks who have to worry about paying taxes in their country of residence and the country of their citizenship. Most people can zero out their US income tax bill, save for really high earners, since taxes are higher here. But, we still have to deal with filing every year, FBAR, things like that.
Is it me or am I seeing a rash of videos, from Portugal content creators, that are trying their hardest to dissuade people from moving to Portugal? I echo the last posted comment that moving anywhere, you'll face these problems, and it's how you adapt to the changes that show your resolve. Speaking for myself, I'm retired prior military so bureaucracy is NOTHING new!!! I've been in Germany for the past 4 years, and hopefully I'll get to stay here permanently, but we'll see what happens next! Things haven't always been easy, but I want to be here so I make it work. I'm sure that that can be said for those that really want to be in Portugal (or wherever they want to call home)!
Hey Bobby, thanks for the comment. I think these videos are intended to add balance to the otherwise sugary pieces of content out there. If you're used to bureaucracy and cool with it, then that part doesn't pertain to you but maybe some of the other parts do. This video is much more intended for those that haven't come yet as a don't say we didn't warn you as we've seen people now leave because of one or more of the reasons outlined in the video.
All the best in Germany. We love it here in Portugal and are staying for the foreseeable future. - Josh & Kalie
I don't agree many things you said.
Interesting. - Josh & Kalie
❤
I wish I would have know about Portugal before the NHR went away. It is perfect for us in all aspects, except paying 48% of taxes for monies we worked for all our live for. I am retired, hope after March some positive changes will come that will ease the pain. We are ok with the 10% pensionado tax. I guess it will be tax based on the Progresive scale now!😕
So true! - Josh & Kalie
You won't pay 48% on your retirement income, that's just the top marginal rate, and there's other options to lower that. Schedule some time with a Portuguese accountant who specializes in taxes for immigrants and run a few scenarios to get a more accurate number. It will 100% be higher than you're used to if coming from the US. But, there are other areas where you can save. Property taxes, for example, are much lower here. Medical, dental care, too. You can get along just fine without a car in a lot more places in Portugal than you could in most lower-tax countries. So factor the tax burden into your overall cost of living planning.
Great info Kailey and Josh…
Course i was born in Portugal a long time ago….I live in the USA..
But i still KNOW MOST of the ins and outs of how portuguese society works.
Love you guys…Porto FC is doing Ok in the Champions League…..but they are kind of not living up to expectations in the LIGA.
Drove by back in 2003 when the Estadio do Dragao was being built.
Miss my home country….but hey…I am happy here also.
Keep up your good work.
Thanks, man! Where in the US are you?
Porto just doesn't have the talent needed to win this league I'm afraid. Sporting and Benfica are out ahead in terms of talent. We've sold and not replaced. To make matters more complicated, Porto is going to play Arsenal, which is our first team. The team that we've supported for a long time (since HS for Josh and 15 years for Kalie). - Josh & Kalie
👍
that thumbnail made me laugh..lolol
Portugal é ideal para idosos americanos, a saúde é um bónus que não têm na América, pois ela é muito dispendiosa por isso tantos americanos vêm para a Europa. Os impostos servem para pagar estas despesas como também na educação. Por isso os portugueses pagam tantos impostos e porque os estrangeiros não poderão pagar se têm esses benefícios.
Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
But you have to wait for a long time in public healthcare to be treated. People who can afford it buy private healthcare insurance.
As situações mais complicadas na saúde são tratadas nos hospitais públicos, geralmente os privados enviam os doentes mais complicados para o público. Porque dão muita despesa e os privados querem ter lucro. Aliás os estrangeiros nomeadamente americanos pagam um ano de seguro em Portugal pelo preço de um mês de seguro na América.
Very true... in Portugal, any heath issue, any, any person will be treated 100% free in the public health system, here you don't need to decide witch finger you will need to cut because you don't have money to cure your disease, we will cure all of them for you for free, so please respect. Even treatments that cost millions of dollars you will get here for free... we pay with our taxes.
Every country has its quirks and every country has certain constraints/conditions that only apply to non-citizens. That's just the system. Get over it and enjoy trying to fit in. Treat it all as a new and interesting experience.
Your statement isn’t helpful. It doesn’t explain things to an American trying to adapt, or if they’re trying to adapt.
@Nubianette You get it. We see you. - Josh & Kalie
With taxes are we double taxed or something? What if we are coming from America and our business is set up in America and income is from US dollars? As an American, we are taxed no matter where we live in the world. So our tax obligations for a US based business is to the US government. So why would I pay tax to the Portuguese government if i already paid tax on my earnings to the US government? Doesn't seem legal to be double taxed when my income is not derived or have anything to do with Portugal?
Countries like Portugal and the US have a double taxation treaty to cover what you're talking about here. Everyone's tax situation is different, which is why it's really important to plan for your specific situation pre-move. If you'd like some recommendations of people that we know, feel free to email Kalie at info@expatseverywhere.com - Josh
@ExpatsEverywhere Thank you I will email her. I already spent time in Portgual as well as many other countries in Europe. Portugal I fell in love with immediately my only concern is I will be a very high income earner there at least $20-50k a month. I'm ok with paying taxes as long as I'm not double taxed.
@@sofiamaslanova5758 Hi again. I've just asked Kalie to look out for your email. She hasn't received anything yet but she'll get to you pretty quickly to help out. - Josh
Real estate speculation by foreigners is making impossible for locals to buy or rent a house
Could you share data on that? - Josh & Kalie
Search for the article "Qual o impacto real do investimento estrangeiro na habitação?" in Expresso newspaper online. Use the translator.
Also why move to a country and home school your child? Portugal is safe and it has good schools, you should want your daughter to learn more than one language, you still act like you are living in the US.
Hi Rita, our daughter is in a local school. We know several families that have wanted to home school to keep their kids on American, British, or Canadian curriculum, which is valid, and they find it really difficult. - Josh & Kalie
It's completely true, public schools here in Portugal are, in general, very inclusive and very good.i wonder the reasons why someone would want his children to have home school instead of integrating his children into the society. Maybe those people should stay in their home country instead.
Well sorry I couldn’t find the balance in your last presentation! I’m moved to Portugal from Vancouver Canada and when I will get enough of Portugal I will buy my plane ticket to Canada, that simple ! We are coming from a culture that respects people choices and helps them to overcome obstacles but I think you become too Portuguese now😅
It's okay, we understand. Do you think you'd go back to Canada or try out somewhere else. When we first started abroad, we had a 5 year "plan" and now it's year 15 HAHA. We didn't move back but moved on. - Josh & Kalie
Great attitude! I’m fine here for now just that the way you tell people not to come to Portugal “if …” is discouraging! They can decide for them self! You mentioned the Portuguese bureaucracy aspect and I believe doesn’t reflect the reality. I got my DL in 3 weeks while my friend has to wait 6 months, my husband had his SEF appointment in one month and the rezident card a week later. It all depends on the location, local administration, people attitude and so on. Anyway we all choose our journey depends on us how far we go! Good luck
@@dorinaruiz9853 That's just it. It's unpredictable and all over the place. Golden Visas taking 18-24 months after people have made their investment. Family reunifications taking ages too. Husbands and wives applying for the same thing at the same time with IMT and receiving them at drastically different times. That is the reality as you've just stated.
As for people deciding for themselves, of course they can and should. The thing is, it's nice to hear something different or a juxtaposition to what most are saying. I will say this, Dorina, and I'll leave it there. We've received quite a few messages either in emails or in the comment section about how people appreciate this video for the balance it gives and a few people moved here and moved away and they said they wished they saw this video back before they moved.
So all that to say, it could be discouraging, but it could also allow people to pause their excitement, take stock, and it could potentially save people from months of work or wasted time getting a visa and thousands of dollars (euros or pounds) moving to a country that doesn't fit them, when there's another one out there that does.
Take care. Thanks for the dialogue. - Josh
The tax issue is not that straightforward as shown in the video. It has a lot details, like the place where you get your earnings, the tax retention (which is not really a tax but an upfront payment that will be taken into consideration at the end of the tax year - you present your tax declaration from April until, i think, the end of June - and you might get a refund or pay a lower value because the Government already has part of that money), the nature of your earnings (work product, investment or interest collected), and so on. You can easily fit into a 43,5% of tax rate but with all the deductions you can have an effective tax rate of 28%. Yes, they are high but there is something more to it. Regarding the food, I think you should take into consideration that portuguese people don't eat traditional portuguese food every day. Also, depending on what you call portuguese food, you can find in every restaurant steaks with fries; or fish cooked in a number of ways; there is also a great variety of processed food in every supermarket (and you can find these in every city in the country). Italian food restaurants we have plenty of them. Chinese restaurants. Japanese restaurants. We have plenty of that too. Fast food chains we don't have as many as you have in the US but BK and McDonalds are everywhere. Even KFC. With you guys being american, what would you say you miss the most regarding american food?
Chickfila is the fast food we miss the most. Second, Mexican food, which is generally echoed by the Americans we know in Europe. - Josh & Kalie
Portugal is kind of done for now. Too unstable, too many problems, even for descendants who were thinking of returning, not any more they aren’t.
Tax makes Portugal an impossible no-go. Montenegro seems a much better option.
Belgium has English as an official language????
Apparently. - Josh & Kalie
Weird we know but also, United States of American doesn't so... - Josh & Kalie
Fact - started D7 in Jan 2023 completed due diligence by June 4 month Visa for Sef app expired new replacement Amia hasn't operated at all for.the last 3 months so currently trapped in Portugal as if we leave no guarantee we will get back in , Portugal seems to "Ace Kindergarten politics why close SEF immigration B4 making sure new website is operational .....incompetent and embarrassing for the nation .
Bureaucracy rules in Portugal, sadly. It needs to improve. It holds the country back!
Thanks for sharing, Barry. - Josh & Kalie
After looking at our specific situation, we realized how expensive it was to retire in Portugal. The beer may be cheap. But the taxes come at you from every direction.
Thanks for sharing. Super Bock is worth it though. ;-) - Josh & Kalie
i know its not aimed at me but if youre person who cant adjust to other countries and need to continue with doing things as is expected in your own country- like for American it may mean keep communicating exclusively in English and eating generic mix of international cuisines for your every meal( like in almost every other country they eat most like 90% of time their own traditional dishes and they like it that way and think its weird to be proud, like Americans, of forgetting ones own typical cuisine for some foreign fast food), you shouldnt ever even just think of moving abroad period.
Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
I would take the sardines any day over any kind of food. Too bad now the taxes are so high. No way I will move there.
Thanks for sharing, Abbey! - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Hopefully there will a change in the taxes!
Sounds like living in a small town in western Massachusetts.😂
Well there you go. :-) - Josh & Kalie
I lived in Portugal for 12 months this video is all truth. This why we left.
Thanks for sharing, Brandon. It's fascinating you say that because 2 hours later @norbertoencarnacao7756 said "I don't agree many things you said."
Seriously though, we would love to hear more if you'd like to join our podcast or even be on video. Where are you now? Email us if you'd like to chat (contact@expatseverywhere.com) - Josh & Kalie
Yes I would love to come on. We lived on the sliver coast for 12 months and moved back to Canada for ever single reason why you said in the video & so did our friends. Now we have been back in Canada for 12 months and we are thinking about moving back to Portugal but doing it different . This Video literally was our entire story from the food, to homeschool, to everything you said. I'd love to share my experience on your channel. Thank you for this video
@@ExpatsEverywhere
I am Portuguese and I can tell you one thing - no one ever gets used to the bureaucracy. It can be a nightmare even for the Portuguese. Personally, I hate it with a passion. It holds the whole country back.
Thanks for sharing. We've heard this from basically every single Portuguese friend we have. It is what it is and we get that. People that can't handle it, simply shouldn't come. Thanks for the comment. We're managing with the bureaucracy. :-) - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere It is a cancer and nobody knows how to solve this problem, although we all know how it came to be.
Best of luck with your channel and life here in Portugal (or even elsewhere).
After going through your video, I think that the problem is not problem. The problem is just you guys that have no idea what being an immigrant is :D
LOL, we didn't say these were our problems. These are problems of people that we know that have left. We're staying. Nice try with the "burn" though. - Josh
Romania is another county in Europe with low taxes compared to other west European countries
Yes, we just listed a few and not all but yes, add Romania for sure. - Josh & Kalie
This is for anyone considering moving to Portugal who believes the grass is greener. The food here sucks. Flat out. It's boring at best in fact. Portugal has many virtues, but it is a 2nd-world country and does not meet 1st-world criteria. I'll mention two important examples that will give you insight into the culture and life in Portugal. #1 - ADA Communication issue. This one gets top priority billing in the U.S., but not here. When you order Cell/WiFi/TV Programming through NOS, you'll find that all native-speaking Portuguese TV channels DO NOT HAVE SUB-TITLES IN PORTUGUÊS. Every single one isn't supported. Foreign-speaking channels do, but not native Portuguese speaking channels. None. You can hear the Portuguese language, but you can't read what anyone is saying. Did NOS ever have sub-title support? Yes. When did it stop or go out? Last October, 2023. Why hasn't it been repaired/fixed? The answer I got from NOS = "Welcome to Portugal," (Jan. 16, 2024). If I had an Euro for every time I've heard that line, . . . Oh yeah. For all the Hearing-impaired AND Português as a 2nd language learners, that is a NEED, not a want. #2 Every time someone tells you - It's a "slower" lifestyle or pace of life = whateverrrrrrrrrrr in Portugal, they're lying. That is a Bald-assed lie or inaccurate statement. More accurately, life in Portugal is moving at the same pace as any other country, but the Portuguese culture is in the (bad) habit of doing things lessssssssssssssssssssssss efficiently. Get it? Everything takes longer to accomplish here and the Portuguese add more steps, more words, more letters to everything every day. Every employee takes a 1.5 to 2.0 hour lunch every day here. You read that right. Nothing that takes effort here will ever get accomplished until you leave blood every step of the way too. Get ready for that Folks = one step forward and two steps back with broken pieces left all along the journey. No matter what you choose to accomplish, Portugal is human resource poor, and it's people are not obligated to learn your language. Not a single Portuguese person who works in the labor trades (Plumber/Electrician/Painter/Carpenter/Construction worker of any kind, speaks a single word of English or any other language. Unless you're moving to a Condo with HOA fees, you're going to need to hire someone to help you fix things. If you don't speak portuguese, plan to pay more. Last - This is important and you can look this up - Nearly 50% of all working-age Portuguese adults (between the ages of 25 and 64) have never completed High School = they don't have High School Diploma's. A high percentage of the culture doesn't value education. Therefore, many, many issues are left chronically broken and not fixed. How can you fix something if you've never learned how to fix things? B4 you Buy a home, drive around the neighborhood and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Things that are common in 1st-world countries that ARE NOT COMMON HERE are ie: home insulation, A/C and Central air, Screens on windows and doors, Exhaust-style home laundry dryers (nearly 85%+ people on the island of Madeira line-dry their clothes outside in 90% humidity day after day). So, sour towels and Jeans are the norm here. Safe Postal delivery services don't exist either. An abnormally high percentage of packages are delivered smashed. Check this link yourself www.theportugalnews.com/news/50-of-portuguese-between-25-and-64-did-not-complete-secondary-school/53517. You've been warned.
taxes = better infrastructures and respect for society
Lots of people complaining about taxes.
It pays for you FREE medical.maternity and other leaves.great infostructure and pension.
Alll the things that makes Amerrica a slum
I love love Portugal, my only complaint is the food. I'm vegetarian and my ideal dish is like very spicy, vegetarian Asian food. What can I do? The country's still amazing. I love the breakfast acai bowls!
Thanks for sharing! - Josh & Kalie
I don't understand you guys. You want to live in my country but you don't want to pay the same taxes i do...
My brain 🧠 hurts trying to understand Americans 😫 and I used to live in the U.S.
I no longer try to under them, so I left that place .. But now they're coming here with complaints 😏 I don't know how to escape this .
@@bbpersonalpage1613 Americans quantify everything. They only think about money. And life is not money.
We think Portuguese are paying too high taxes. You guys should not be paying these high taxes. We’re not against paying taxes.
Allow me to ask it in a different way...Antonio, are you happy paying such high taxes for the benefits you receive? Is the money being used well? We're not sharing our opinions per se, we're sharing the realities people face here. Most of the Portuguese people we know don't want to pay as much in taxes as they are. Are you the contrary? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere The problem is. Education, Helth and Justice for all cost a lot. If we complain about the service nowadays and stop taxes. Society will break. Misery will rise.
The world is changing anywhere you go...
It's a matter of adaptation or not be able to do it.
Portugal was a very peaceful country decades ago...
Now is full of criminals....
Drug addicts, drug dealers, assalts..car break in..etc etc.
Very similar to the beautiful city of San Francisco...which was the city by the Bay....15.000 cars break in in a period of 9 months... confirmed by authorities...
Society is losing themselves.
This modern mania of foreigners to "judge" and "approve" the countries they move in (they've just arrived and they already know everything about the country and they give advice about it! Amazing!), is simply arrogant, disrespectful and pointless. Each country it is as it is. Portugal is Portugal, not a hybrid thing like the best of USofA combined with the best of Portugal. (Thank God by the way!).
Agree with you 100%. America has a habit of going into countries and change their political system to a Democratic rule. It doesnt work when people are happy the way it is. Has been proven time and time again. The same way the new comers from America want Portugal to change and expect it to be like theirs. it just wont work.
So people can't talk about it? People can't talk about setting right expectations? That seems weird. - Josh & Kalie
It is completely ***human*** for people to compare their current location to their past location. We're from Florida with a ton of foreigners moving there. They "analyze and assess" living there compared to their home country EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
It's hardly "arrogant, disrespectful, and pointless".
@@lokimikko3516 "Others do it, we do it" kind of attitude. You could stay there and make your comments there.
@@bluetooth2000 How very altruistic of you to be beyond normal human nature. I think I'll do the opposite and stay here while making comments because that's the human experience to express your views....? You do you 🤙
😂🎉😢
Why don’t you just let the people decide what is good for them! Seems like your intention is to put fear on people who wants to explore and find a better place for them to live. Very negative and discouraging presentation by you 2 smart people !
That's one way to look at it. If you see some of the other comments here, you'll see that plenty of people understand that we're giving balance to a lot of other videos produced by us and others that makes Portugal seem like the perfect place. The purpose isn't for fear but for awareness, for preparation. - Josh & Kalie
Smh sounds like you want to stop people from moving over there
No, not all. People can make up their minds for themselves but ideally, we'd like to help people better understand if Portugal is right or wrong for them and give the reasons why people that are currently living here are struggling or why people have already come and moved away. - Josh & Kalie
Philippines:
Taxes 👍
Language 👍
Food👎 (native dishes) -quality - health IMO one of the worst in the world
Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
Portugal can be the right place for you until you start to pay taxes :) you need to know how to navigate in this tax system, all the rest is peanuts... burocracy? Just chill out, it may take a bit of time but all will be resolved. Try to integrate into society, and you will be very welcome.
Não sabes que grande parte está cá apenas para fugir aos impostos.. impostos que eu e tu pagaremos...