Life in Portugal Has Changed (Year 3)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Josh and Kalie from ExpatsEverywhere have lived in Portugal for three years now and have experienced a lot of changes. They share their thoughts, experiences, and opinions with you today. What have they seen change? What are some pros and cons to Portugal as we go into 2024? Is Portugal still worth living in? Come along with them as they talk about the past three years.
* 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!
There is so much change all over the world, all over. Changes in feelings, changes in money, changes in markets, changes in food. Just a lot of change everywhere.
the universe also continues to expand ... the sun continues to change h2o to helium on her way to die once in the future (dont panic, there is still some time left)
This earth is declining badly. Scaring. And countries repeating same mistakes that other countries made.
you people fucking don't understand what you talking about
Absolutely true. Wordlwide monetizing of passports. Be careful and do research..ongoing. I can speak as I still have 2 other valid residencies going..which are also shifting. Nomad Capitolist channel had the hard info!!
@@publicminx Silly, useless comment. Not all change is the same. There are changes that are happening now, such as the spread of right-wing extremism in Europe making it very uncomfortable to consider moving there, that are DIFFERENT, they are here and now, they affect life today, not billions of years from now, like the ones you toss out as reason not to be concerned anything here and now.
We've been living in Lisbon for the last 1.5 years, and next week, we're moving to Braga, after buying an apartment there. Cost of living, especially housing, has definitely gone up, but that seems to be true in so many other places (just ask Australians and Canadians, woof). The cost to maintain a home, though, does seem considerably lower than what I was used to in the States. Condo fees, property tax and home owner's insurance are a fraction of what we paid previously.
The fact that you can live car free is great. Cars can be wealth-killers, so having access to so many transportation options really helps the budget.
To me, it feels like there are more options and opportunities to keep costs down here in Portugal. Fresh food is less expensive than packaged/processed food. Public transportation is readily available in most areas. Cities and towns are built around people and not around cars, so walking is often the best way to get around. If a person moving from the US tries to recreate their US lifestyle, Portugal can actually be kinda expensive. But, the more one adapts, the easier it becomes to save money. As I learn my way around a Portuguese grocery store, I'm able to spend a lot less on groceries because I know what I'm doing. Just one example. If a person is willing to listen, learn and adapt, life here can be great.
I live in NYC and am researching moving to Portugal. I bought a gallon of milk and two dozen eggs this week in NYC for 25$… anywhere in the world that is cheaper than this I’m down to move to I don’t care if the cost is higher than a year ago. It’s not as high as what I’m currently paying. I have 5 kids. This life is totally unsustainable for us..
muricans...
@@alizacohen5472thats insane...25$ for just that? you should come, fast.
I would do the class because it would give you a chance to meet more people. The other thing is that you will never be able to appreciate or understand the culture fully until you understand the language fully. There is a saying that when you speak to someone in their language, you speak to their heart.
As English speakers, we tend to not learn or study other languages, which I think is a big mistake. It took me about 3 months to be able to speak Portuguese, and I'm not that smart.
If you love Portugal, show your appreciation by learning the language.
Boa sorte!
Guys, inflation is everywhere not just Portugal. Also the reason that property prices have risen so fast is that lots of people in the North of Europe and the USA and Canada want to "get out of Dodge"; their own Country's situation is much worse plus here in Portugal, you have great weather which lowers the overall cost of heating etc.
We know, Michael, but it's a thing that's changed. Just because it's everywhere doesn't mean that it's not a major change that can be or needs to be discussed. - Josh & Kalie
Another great post! Obrigado. Citizenship and the language requirement - we (Ross and Kathleen) are taking the government offered class for A1 and A2 certification offered at our local high school. And right, it is a commitment. 50 classes, each 3 hours long, twice a week, for 9 months. The goal is to not have to take the exam. Just present our certification. About cost of living. We continue to maintain a spreadsheet of everything we spend and we continue to average around 2000 euros per month since arriving in Porto in February of 2022. That's for everything. Fortunately our rent is extremely reasonable and will always be the major part of our montly expenses.
Thanks, Ross and Kathleen! And thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
where can I find information about this class?
Here you go: www.acm.gov.pt/-/como-posso-frequentar-um-curso-de-lingua-portuguesa-para-estrangeiros- @@BryanColterAstrology
Great video as always. We have been following you for 2 years now when Portugal came on our radar as a possible full time move. We did a 3 month stay in Cascais this past August, September & October. We went there with eyes wide open. We paid $6700 for the 3 months for a tiny studio apartment. I realize that we paid a premium due to the time of year & the fact that we had to book thru airbnb, but we were hard pressed to find anything that was less expensive. The place was just ok and our walk away was that the bar is very low for what passes as great accomodations in Portugal. We actually experienced that angst towards Americans while we were there. Let me say that I think it had less to do with being American & more to do with being a foreigner. The actions of our neighbor at the airbnb led us to draw conclusions that he wasn't to happy that the place was being used as an Airbnb. There is a weird dynamics going on in Portugal right now regarding housing. We spoke to many people about it & half of them blame the government & the other half said that the Portuguese people needed to look in the mirror, cause the people that own places chose to run them as Airbnb's instead of renting to locals. We found eating out was out of our budget, but I believe this is a worldwide issue right now post pandemic. Although we were not their long enough to see a rise in prices for groceries, we heard many, many locals complaining about it. Again I believe this to be a worldwide issue right now. We kept a spreadsheet of our spending for the 3 months while we were there. We live & vacation fairly frugaly & we were very surprised that the cost of living in Portugal was about the same for us in New Jersey (Union City, which is a 10 min commute to Manhattan) & a lot of it had to do with our accomodations. At the end of the day we decided to take a pass on the move to Portugal. Our top reasons why.....cost of living, language barrier especially with dealing with bureaucracy, everybody smokes & they smoke everywhere & this one really perplexed us, there was dog crap everywhere. Our search continues.
With the Golden Visa & the NHR Portugal moved to the front of the line for Expats. It would seem now most warmer countires are on a level playing field after these programs have been removed. To me the Housing & Rental issues are NOT the influx of outsiders, but AirBnB's. I get that it is popular and profitable for some but this program puts a strangle hold on affordable housing and it should be phased out.
That's how we see it too (re the Airbnb situation). We don't know many people that have moved on a GV. We could probably count the number on 2 hands vs the number of people we know that have moved here or want to move here. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhereit's the hateful socialist prime minister Antonio Costa that is talking badly against the Americans and other expats.
One of the big problems with the GV was (in my opinion) the fact that a GV holder didn't have to actually live in Portugal. I think this became a route for a lot of wealthy people in certain countries to hedge their bets with a path to residency and citizenship in a EU country. It also provided a way to park wealth outside their country. We're currently living in Parque das Nações Lisboa, and there are a LOT of unoccupied apartments here, many of which are very expensive (€1 million and up). Some of the more notable residential buildings here are owned by Chinese citizens, for example. While no where near as bad Londongrad, I do think the GV had encouraged a lot of foreign ownership of housing stock, with those owners perfectly content to leave these apartments empty, rather than deal with the issues of actually renting the spaces out. I've heard Canada is considering a vacancy tax, and I think that would really help in Lisbon and Porto, too.
Portuguese here - its both. I know its hard to take the blame but both factors are affecting the country. Just when we tought airbnb wa ssqueezing us, expats came to compete with us earning much more
Scotland is clamping down on Air BnB. You need a licence and won't get one for an apartment in a communal block. A housing emergency has now been declared in Edinburgh. Air BnB has definitely contributed to that but immigration too.
Thank you Josh and Kalie! This is so cool, and this is the kind of video that feels just so natural. You should do this more often. Great job
First off I must apologize for not commenting over a year ago. I have been following you since the beginning and keep wanting to thank you for the amazing content! Your approach to this multifaceted topic is perfect such great flow. We have been visiting Portugal for a very long and love it. We truly appreciate the detail and effort you guys put into every video. Our goal is to move there partially to start with .Watching your content certainly makes us understand the challenges and the benefits of living in PT. Thank you😊 Manny
I’m really appreciating the media mix going on in this video: the text is very helpful and the text boxes explaining what the NHR and the ALs are great and don’t distract in a bad way; the amount and type of b-roll; loving it! It’s very easy to follow and digest-thank you!
Wow I've been away from UA-cam for awhile and it's awesome to see how well you're doing, both with life in Portugal as well as your UA-cam channel! Probably been a year and a half since I last watched your videos...keep it up!
Prices on the private insurance is going up 50-60% for most of the ex-pats we associate with. This is a major issue for fixed income retirees.
Problem I’ve found with the language is I find it’s not that difficult to learn to read & write, but understanding a Portuguese person speak is certainly difficult. My problem is as soon as I hear a word I don’t know or understand, I immediately panic and my brain locks up. I’m getting better about asking them repeat and speak slower. That helps a lot here in Nazaré
I have the same issue. I lock onto a word or phrase and try and unwind it, while that happens they've moved along and I can't keep up. Also, out of context comprehension is really tough.
So true, Rick! You're not alone! - Josh & Kalie
Yup. I've started to just skip the word I missed keep listening and then make a mess of things or get the gist and keep up. About 5 minutes later after the conversation is over, my brain processes what was said and I get it. lol - Josh
@@ExpatsEverywhere That’s a good idea. I’ll try that next time.
Brazilian Portuguese is much easier. I am a native speaker and I have difficulties while in Portugal, specially below Lisbon. Thankfully I stayed in the north of the country (between Porto and Viana do Castelo most of the time), it's a bit easier there and people are also nicer. I had a nice time there, but then you drive to Vigo and you see how much more lively Spain is. Sorry for my impression. I'd likely live in Portugal (since I am a citizen and I speak the language) and travel to Spain for leisure.
Excellent video, You Two!! 😃😃😃I cant believe its been 3 years already! Wow! Cia just gets more and more beautiful every day (just like her Mom). Thank you for touching upon current changes and updates. i can understand some apprehension and anxiety for those coming in, however, where there's a Will there's ALWAYS a Way. Ducks align and everything ends up working out as it should. How grateful we were for the friends we made and Porto family we created during our time there. We appreciate you two so very much.
Informative video, Kalie and Josh. As always, honest and to the point! 😊👍
Totally awesome job with this video. I really enjoy how you guys balance each other and the frankness that’s transparent through this video.
We really liked this video since your experience closely aligns with ours. We haven't had any change impact our way of life in Portugal. We have been tracking every penny spent since arriving in Lisbon in December 2021. Shannon breaks down the cost of dining out versus dining in per person for instance and the cost of groceries per unit. Our costs haven't budged overall and that maybe due to our better understanding of shopping sales and dining at places we know are cheaper. We spent October back in the US and were floored by the cost increases of the staples we use to purchase back in 2021 compared to here in Portugal. Happy to be home in Lisbon!
Thank you for the video guys!
Good one guys, the junior team member is blossoming wonderfully. You must be doing something right. Cheers!
Thanks for your video. Very informative. I must say I have missed watching your videos and seeing you both again brings back some good memories. I think your videos were some of the fist videos we started watching when we started our planning of retiring and traveling the world. Our first long term stay was in Portugal down in the Algarve in Quarteira. Thanks again for your video and look forward to seeing whats next.
Great and honest video. Exactly what I would expect from you….we’ve met a couple of times. Thank you!
Thank you very much. We're glad that you liked it. It's a time capsule for us. - Josh & Kalie
You guys are great. I came a few months before you as a retiree to live in Porto - and your experiences/feelings match mine almost exactly.
Definitely planning on doing the class. I feel I learn better that way. But I do hope to take other lessons to support my path to learning the language. 👍🏻
Anti immigrant sentiment is in many countries due to the fact that people are moving around the world and there a lot more of us in 2023 versus 50 years ago. The pandemic accelerated this movement along with NHR, golden visas, digital nomads and such. We see the same thing in Vancouver, Canada as local people are pushed out of the rental and housing market by foreign investment, immigration, inflation, cost of living and so forth. It is however somewhat of a new reality though and is not exclusive to any particular country.
We totally agree. We see it (online). - Josh & Kalie
Ask your government and Trudeau/NDP supports why. Peace, order, good government 😂
@on2thenexxtthing: yep, this in combination with urbanization. people also complain about inner-country migration. the reality is that housing does NOT go up everywhere. usually not in shrinking towns/cities outside of the pulling successful metropolitan areas. interestingly most people who complain about housing costs and 'bad investors' etc. refuse to move to such regions - even if there is potentially still some work.
Thanks for another informative video. Karen and I are currently taking the class provided in Tomar. It is a time commitment for sure and follows the regular school schedule but we have a great teacher and a fun bunch of other expats learning with us. A few tests that your teachers want you to pass along with the extra benefit of meeting others to learn and practice with is a better option we think than trying to take some official test at the end. You still get all the usual break times that school has too. Hope you are surviving all this liquid sunshine latley.
I lived in Portugal for a year (Porto and Lisbon). The accommodation costs are too high, and bureaucracy is just beyond ridiculous. Porto is beautiful and will always be in my heart, but all over it was not for me.
Thanks for sharing! Where are you now? - Josh & Kalie
@@paulocorreia7942 Paulo, saijé bonzinho
@@ExpatsEverywhere I moved to Bulgaria. I live 5 minutes from the beach, and I love it here. I am still in a honeymoon period. We shall see how things will evolve.
I agree. I have unfortunately, had the experience of deposit money not being returned when I was moving from one place to another as well. That is something to look out for, even if there is a contract. Processes take extremely long to get to a result and it causes a lot of stress. For some people, I suppose it might be ok, but if you are used to efficiency it will create a lot of frustration.
Great video. Yes, we so take a class! Can’t wait!!!
Thanks, Kim. Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
This is an excellent video!!! Thank you so much. We are getting closer to starting our D7 applications for a move to Portugal hopefully in May next year when our lease in Cincinnati is up (we are near the Coffee Emporium that I know you guys tried when you were in Cincinnati once - you told us (Kevin and Kathleen) when we met with you in Porto in September 2022). Despite the changes, we are still planning on making the leap. I love how open you are on sharing your experiences with the changes that have happened (and continue to happen). I like your straightforward approach and without emotion on the changes, just very matter of fact, which I really appreciate. Our move is with the intention of it being forever but lately we have discussed the prospect that we may try it for awhile and decide whether it is forever or not. We are looking at the Vila do Conde area as we want to be on the Porto metro line but Kathleen didn't want to be right in Porto. We may make a trip over in January or February for in person home search. Thanks again for your great video.
rule nr.1 as expat - you dont fight ther landlord. you can ask them for a reconsideration and negotiate a better deal but if you start coming up with laws and rules then he will kick you out anyway. better to swallow a 10% increase (not 5.6%), than having a fight and losing the place and then go out to the market for 20-30% higher due to inflation. if they asking 20-30% more than you can leave and you will find something anyway for that price.
Hello Josh and Kalie, I have been watching you for a while and thank you for your content. Portugal has become one of my favourite countries, I visited Lisbon and Porto in 2017, and Madeira in 2018, 2022 and 2023, and I will be visiting the Azores and Madeira next year in the spring. So your videos about Portugal are of great interest to me. I know that housing has become a major issue in Portugal, along with other countries like Canada, where I live. So I am really interested in hearing your comments on housing, anti-foreigner sentiment and all the other trends you mentioned. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for your thoughts and great summary. Change is inevitable and adapting isn’t always easy. We just got both of our NIF’S approved and feel fortunate to call Portugal home. JP Porto
Hey JP, thank you. Change is always there. What do you mean you got your NIFs approved? NIFs take about one week to receive. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere ooops, meant NHR’S. Wife and me are now official for 10 years. When do you start demo? JP
@@JPinPortugal That makes more sense! Gotcha. When city hall allows us to block of the streets to bring in the big machinery. It's the last permit we're waiting on. Any time now. - Josh
Good luck and be brave 😂
So so so glad you mention connecting with the Portuguese people. Too many English-speakers-move-to-Portugal-videos seem to omit this part, which to my mind is the most important. I would tell anyone interested in moving to Portugal to do your research into the culture and history of the Portuguese people. Know the people you are going to live with and make every effort to integrate into their culture rather than trying to make their culture match where you came from. I believe this is one of the biggest negative traits of Americans traveling and living abroad and why one might be seeing or hearing more online negativity toward incoming Americans to Portugal. There is a lot of justifiable resentment toward Americans by Portuguese that we are only moving to their country to take advantage of them economically, that we get to keep and maintain our economic status, and that theirs does not change. It is evident that you two have made every effort to integrate. Kudos to you! Also, Kalie, you are looking quite 'portuguese' which is lovely to see!
A true statement.
Thank you. Always an informative listen. Tchau!
Great video! Like you mentioned, the various changes feel unsettling (we too have been grandfathered in on most things) so my heart goes out to those who are in the midst of/impacted by them. Re: the language test vs. class question, skill-wise my husband and I are the opposite of the 2 of you (but my Portuguese still needs a LOT of work) so I think I’m #teamtest v. classes. Time will tell 😊
Thank you! Agreed regarding the people in the midst of it that are impacted. Team test! Team test! Team test! :-) - Josh & Kalie
I'm moving there in early 2025 and my language process is to continue with some of these free language "learners" just to get a feel of things and not be totally in the dark upon arrival. Since I will be moving there as a retiree, I'm actually excited to take the government courses and get my certificate early while learning from locals, and getting to know people in my area. Unless I am reading things wrong, the government courses are basically free so win win.
Nice! Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
Just be sure the language app you use isn't teaching Brazilian Portuguese. For example, DuoLingo and the Google translate app only use Brazilian Portuguese which has some significant differences. While not free, Memrise is really good and offers European Portuguese. I would imagine quite a few of these online language teaching systems will have Black Friday deals this month, too.
Good video, great synopses of what is going on in Portugal at the moment. We have been in Portugal since January and our path getting here was significantly simpler since we have dual citizenship, US and EU. Never the less, I can tell you some "intersting" stories. Our settlement journey is still developing.
Do tell!! We recently got our dual citizenship and hope to live part time in the Azores in the relatively near future.
Great video! Thank you
It's almost five years in Costa Rica for me and my wife and we're seeing a lot of the same changes that you shared in this video.
Great video also thank you for helping me when i was out there. Never told yall we were beat out for the house in lisbon 😅 but i appreciate all the help 🙏
Thank you very much. Bummer on the house. We're glad to help. - Josh & Kalie
Very informative video. As a Portuguese-Canadian who now spends half the time in Portugal and someone who has lived the immigrant experience, I believe portuguese are very acomodating and appreciate the expats amongst them. The economic reality over the decades have seen many emigrate to other countries. Last year alone saw over 70 thousand young professionals leave portugal for better pastures. I for one hope expats continue to enrich our multicultural society in Portugal.
That's a very unhealthy no. To loose your young workers and professionals will impact badly. Where do the young Portuguese go to?
At present, most are destined to France, Germany, Belgium. Prior to Brexit many were going to the UK the US/Canada to name a few. The educated youth are leaving at an alarming rate. Given Portugal's population, this trend will most certainly be a major problem.
@@peterferreira1025I’m from Afghanistan and I didn’t know Portugal was this poor. I love this country that I even support the national football team. I hope this country rises and be strong economically , I hope the same as well for my country Afghanistan. I heard Portuguese people are social and kind . Cheers mate !
Multi cultural society is exact reason Portugal has been deteriorating for decades now. What a shame
THANK YOU FOR SAIYING INMIGRANT EXPERIENCE,.
Very informative video!
I took the class, 150 hours. Three times a week for 3 hours for 3 plus months. It was hard but, in the end, worth it. I am applying for citizenship at this time.
Congratulations, Nancy. - Josh & Kalie
where can I find info about this class?
@@BryanColterAstrology there are plenty of programs. Some are paid and others are free provided by the government. Information is kind of dependent on where you're living. You can email Kalie as she's starting to make a list of these classes. - Josh
Thank you for sharing about the changes. I like the video format. I agree with Kalie, the Portuguese language is hard (very difficult for me).
You're welcome. Thanks for watching! Also thank you for the feedback regarding the format. Keep at Portuguese, you'll get it. - Josh & Kalie
Hi Josh and Kaylee IN Porto it’s Patrick IN Lisbon. Nice to catch your video again. I was up in Porto just a few days ago and it was coming down cats and dogs! But it’s true. It’s such a gorgeous city and so dramatic and I’m seriously thinking that if I’m gonna settle down in Portugal, I may go north. regarding the basic fluency requirement for citizenship, I have been limping along with completely inadequate grasp of the language especially beyond present tense verbs that there’s no way I’m gonna pass that exam, so I’m going to go for the class starting in January. that’s my goal. I agree with Kaylee. It seems less anxiety provoking to just get to the classes, Do the homework, pass the tests, that feels like school. whereas to take the exam that’s only offered two or three times a year Feels a lot more like the bar exam. So that’s my choice. I think I’ve been here a little more than two years. It is a huge adjustment. I’m glad I did it. I don’t know if I’ll stay in Portugal. there have been some great things being here. And theres Been some really frustrating and not so great things, mostly to do with the government. But I did get the NHR application in on time, and I have my tax residency, and I am now five years a legal resident and I’m applying for citizenship! All the best to you too.
Great analysis from you both! We've now been in Lisbon for 7 months, and already things are changing. SEF is gone, replaced by 3 agencies, NHR most likely will be gone, and the cost of private healthcare is going through the roof. The first two changes we weren't affect by, but the increase in private healthcare was 60% for Allianz. We expect our rent to increase to the maximum allowable 6.94 % in 2024. But, since the announcement of NHR being cancelled, listings I've favorited on Idealista have seen some drops in price by 5-7%. As a result, we're waiting a few months before we decide to buy or continue renting. So keep up the great work sharing your experience and ideas! Sincerely, --Jamey, Dean & Bryant (woof!) formerly from San Francisco now Lisboans.
Love this video. Facts and details presented in clear, logical and engaging manner
Thanks for the love. We appreciate the feedback! - Josh & Kalie
Roughly the same situation in Spain. We were thinking a bit about moving to Panama but will wait and see how things develop, still cheap compared to other countries as it has become more expensive around the globe so it is not only here in Spain or Portugal the prices go up.
As always, I greatly appreciate & value your perspectives. As a prospective 2024 mover, we are considering all options. I also see the changes with some discomfort, but feel fortunate that we have another 10-12 months to see how things shake out. BTW, your NHR podcast episode also excellent and thought provoking. If we had an early 2024 date in mind, I would be putting on the brakes. We will spend a full 90 day tourist visa before applying anywhere. I realize not everyone has this option, but if you can afford to do this it’s much cheaper than an expensive course reversal after signing a 12 or 24 month lease.
KEEP up the content! Budgets for housing and food/gas/etc is going up ALL over the globe now. From a personal perspective, look at Denver in the United States rental rates over the past 3 years or so. Do not respond to the hate on folks that criticize your videos at all! We love your HONEST perspective!
Hey Josh and Kallie, Jen and I just bought a home outside of Anadia. We are so incredibly happy!😊
That is awesome! We're very happy to hear that! Congratulations. - Josh & Kalie
We actually used Raphael's services. He and his team are fantastic!@@ExpatsEverywhere
It's like this everywhere. It's just global inflation, not Portugal per se. My partner and I were in Germany for a year and just moved back to the U.S. and we're amazed at just how expensive things are in the U.S. now. A $12 meal is now a $17 dollar meal. Groceries that cost $80 are now $120.
Great video.
Yeah, you are right Josh. Everything is changed in Portugal.
Nice analysis Katie and Josh, we have been traveling to PT since 2018 and have seen prices of Grocery gone up significantly. The real estate prices have sky rocketed. Making local friends is difficult for us because we did not move permanently (at least not yet) and because of our age (my wife and I are retired). We love to be in Portugal though and looking forward to our next visit.
We've been all over Portugal and noticed changes on our recent visit. We were in Porto and Algarve and noticed an increase in prices and definitely noticed the "anti-American or anti-foreigner sentiiment."
We generally notice it down in Algarve. - Josh & Kalie
Really? I'm Portuguese and I have a wide network of friends, family and acquaintances, both Portuguese and foreigners. Up until now, I've not seen any 'anti-American' sentiment (not even a hint of that). But I must admit that there are always problematic people everywhere you go; problem is, those people tend to be much more vocal about their prejudices. But they are still a tiny minority, I believe. There's also a larger portion of Portuguese that are unhappy about people from Brazil coming to this country - but that's because some of them are a bit insensitive about our culture, on the one hand, and some (a tiny minority, again) are downright criminals (the largest criminal gang in South America - the PCC - which hails from Brazil, as already established a small base in Portugal over the last couple of years, according to our police and security forces).
You can take practice CIPLE tests online to see how hard it would be…
Heya guys! We visited Portugal again a few months ago, for a short visit to the Algarve (Faro and Lagos). It was the first time we've experienced anti-American or anti-foreigner sentiment (multiple times, sadly). We still had a great time.
Also the housing crisis has really hit here in the UK. When we were first looking to move there in early 2022 there were TONS of properties available for rent. As our actual move date approached, those properties dried up and we were very fortunate to find a place that met our needs. I get alerts every day on new properties, and in our 9 months here, only a handful have come up. Rent prices are through the roof! It's insane.
It seems many people are escaping from other countries because of the pressures and stress coming from the much rising cost of living and now the Portuguese are being overcrowded in their space…
Regarding becoming conversational in the Portuguese language, it takes a lot of practice, practice and practice 😅, but it’s rewarding …
Nice one. Regarding your question about language: I would probably take classes BUT before that I would try to fully immerse myself in the language for say 1, 2 months when arriving to have a basic knowledge.
Love this video. ❤
Thanks, Jacquie. We miss you! - Josh & Kalie
I used the bus system in the Algarve and was impressed. It was also super easy to get a ride to the neighboring Andalusia region of Spain. Portugal reminds me of Peru in that it's a small country with a lot to do. It's easy to have a variety of activities in one day, similar to California in the US.
Great video!
Thanks! - Josh & Kalie
I recently subscribed because I love your interviews of expats from around the globe. As of now, Portugal is my destination for retirement after having done extensive research. I feel that when you reach your fourth year in country, ask yourself how comfortable you are understanding Portuguese people speaking their language. If my understanding is correct, you listen to a conversation but the answer portion is written, so if you understand enough of what is being said, I don't feel that you would need classes. I could be way off base here and would appreciate any corrections. Love your channel. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for subscribing. We actually just talked to someone that took the exam 2 weeks ago. They said it was fairly challenging and they're into languages, however, they know they passed. The % that you need correct is actually quite low. The point in the language journey that we're at is that we don't want to just be A2. We want to know more and be better and certainly not just scrap by with 56% on the exam. We'll see what we'll have time to do in year 4. Thanks for following along the journey. We'll keep you updated. - Josh & Kalie
As always, great info and video. We took on-line Portuguese language class. 6 months, twice a week, 2-3 hours per class. We received A1/A2 certificate. It was intense, but Google Translate was really helpful. It is free through Employment Agency. We still don't speak Portuguese though :( . As many other people said, that course will not teach you to speak (unless you practice a few hours a day), but it will give you the certificate.
Thank you very much! Great points. Thanks for your input on the class vs test debate. - Josh & Kalie
Greetings can you provide a link or any information for the online class? Transportation is an issue for me to attend in person at the moment. Thank you and congratulations on getting your certification 😊
Thank you very much for very useful information. My family is currently going through the first renewal of Golden Visa and up to now everything is going smoothly. Our renewal was done through on-line process. One annoying thing is that all my family members have different expiration dates of Golden Visa card. So the renewals are being done one by one.
Thanks for your accurate video,
We lived in Porto from 2020 and remember seeing you two around Porto. Our rent was fixed for 3 years and knew it would go up. We returned to USA for family reasons but will always remember that beautiful city. I became proficient in survival Portuguese, specially useful in the small towns.
In your videos, please define the meaning of double taxation and how Portugal taxes your income, no complaints from us, but would be useful for those who look to you for answers.
Best of success in your Portugal adventure!
Thanks, Ed. We hope everything is well for you. We have two videos on tax specifically where tax professionals talk about it. - Josh & Kalie
The Portuguse government is pretty smart. They got all these foreign people to move to Portugal. Now that they got them there, they can tax them as much as they want. 😂
Not really. They've already said that people that have NHR status will keep it. - Josh & Kalie
They also got people from foreign countries in Europe, and further abroad to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to obtain a residential visa who have been stuck in the process for two years, having given their money over to the Portuguese government, but never receiving their residential visa. This is a nightmare for people who did this in good faith. a government who takes the money and I think does a bait and switch. It’s embarrassing for them. It’s shameful and it just reminds you of what a dilapidated place this is.
@@pbohearn"They", being politicians, can change the rules or do whatever they want.
isnt that normal tho
@@pbohearnyou didn't give the money to them, honestly.
A perspective from another country, Thailand, about #7 policy instability. It is interesting to hear your comments on this. I hear all the time that Thailand is constantly changing the rules. Often it is just it mistaking policy proposal talk with actual change which often doesn’t materialize. It is interesting to me to see that this type of thing is similar elsewhere and may just be inherent to expat living.
Thank you Josh and Kalie, this was a very well done video. My wife and I were not initially looking at Portugal as an expat destination, mainly because of the distance and figuring out the travel to and from Portugal and the US. Unfortunately, the top two places we are considering retiring in have had some pretty significant changes that have us re-thinking these options.
I know Josh said he thinks more of the issues with Portugal seem to be online and not as much in person. However, this video brings up the rising costs in Portugal that will have an impact on deciding to move there or not. The overall cost of living (rent, food, transportation, etc.) is increasing as more people qualify, and the newest "cost" I've read about is the NHR. An international newsletter I receive brought up what the cost increase would be when the NHR goes away next year, which will be well before my wife and I are able to obtain a residence or golden visa to be able to establish a tax residency.
We are currently researching a couple of areas of Greece, as we have a friend going through the process of obtaining Greek citizenship. He has let us know of one of the Greek islands he's looking at, and I'm reading about a couple more for comparison purposes.
You're welcome, Marc. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Let us know if you need any help along the way. Shoot Kalie an email (info@expatseverywhere.com). As far as the tax situation goes, it's really important for people to do pre-work when it comes to taxes to find out their situation. A lot of people are concerned about the NHR that actually won't or don't benefit from NHR. All the best with your decision. We're here for you. - Josh & Kalie
The uncertainty and changes in laws are frustrating but way less scary than the rapid changes and uncertainty we were experiencing in the US that caused us to move here so we are still happy with our choices. 😂
I visited Porto for the first time six years ago and everything was very affordable. I went back to Portugal twice over the last few months and I noticed that things were more expensive across the board.
Property prices are crazy . Anyone considering NHR are now looking at the Digital nomad visa in Spain as house prices are 40% cheaper like for like . Its hard to see retirees moving after nhr with tax at 47% !! 47!! How can a government take half your pension ?
Helpful vid, thanx! - I bought my apartment in Lisboa in 2021 with the plan to move this year. Of course now with the tax change I am suffering high anxiety - though I understand that as I can prove intent prior to the end of 2023 I am okay to apply this year. Other than that I'm studyiing Portuguese every day for a couple of hours and, like Josh, I don't really feel it is anywhere near as difficult as people think. It's more a matter of dedication and practice practice practice. That said, like Kalie, I get really bad test anxiety so would probably opt for a class prior to testing for citizenship - except of course that it's down the road and by then I hope to feel much more 'at home' in Portugal.
Hi, you've been very pragmatic and calm about the changes in Portugal. I've noticed a 30% jump in property prices and rents. That's if you can get them. Add to that living cost and the D7 change and it's pushed Portugal to a level which makes me reconsider it as a long-term option. Just across the border in Ayamonte Spain you can rent a T3 with a pool in the complex for the same price as a T1 in Portugal. The Portuguese government has shown a consistent lack in ability to forward plan and solve their socio economic and housing problems. It's a pity.
This is a phenomenal comment. Yes, we're quite pragmatic about it because we're seeing prices jumping in a lot of other countries that would be interesting to live in. To be honest about the shout out to Ayamonte, Spain. I'd literally have to Google Ayamonte, Spain to know where it is so I'd guess that if someone where to look at a town that lacks name recognition in Portugal that's on the border with Spain, you'd find low prices for a T3 with a pool. Thank you for the comment! Alright, I'm off to Google where Ayamonte is... - Josh
Okay I'm back. Ayamonte being right across from VRSA it does appear that VRSA has a massive lack of inventory and it's a couple hundred euro less for a like for like property. - Josh
Ayamonte watch out for the herds of English speaking "expats coming and destroying everything 😢
no government ever has solved the housing problem; the best one can hope from the government is not to destroy the market incentives; and not to create inflation by running deficits and covering them by money printing
@@bogdanpopescu1401 China is kind of showing a fix with them having more housing than they have population.
Thank you.
Thank you for watching. - Josh & Kalie
When we arrive we are looking at taking the classes.
Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
Really enjoying this informal update ... very helpful! We are retired and moving to Braga next year. We'd take the language class rather than the test, but we are planning to take the class anyway to more quickly become a part of the community, not for citizenship.
TAKE THE CLASS!!❤
Thanks for sharing! - Josh & Kalie
Friend took the class and got the A2 certificate; I chose to take weekly lessons, which fits better for my busy schedule. They have the certificate, but we both agree my spoken Portuguese skills are better, probably because they rested on their laurels. :)
I've given great thought to learning Portuguese phrases, but have realized I won't understand if they answer back! I can comprehend what I read in Portuguese and living in different regions over four years has helped with the different dialects and that the following words are universal; "Hey" "Okay" "Whoa" "No" and sign language helps too!
the differences is mostly pronunciation and some words, I don't know what's stopping you from learning
As someone who’s aiming for Portuguese citizenship I am very interested in the class over the test, as this was how I got my motorcycle license and much preferred it to how I got my main driving license with just individual practice and then the test
something to say about transports in portugal is that despire lisbon and porto, they preatty much are awful in the rest of the country, basiclly if you do not own a car in other regions you can't have a regulated and normal life style
I go there a lot from Ireland good information 😊
Great video Josh and Kalie.
It seems like the high probability of the ending of the NHR has sent folks into a tailspin. Our immediate reaction was to basically shrug it off.... We are not moving for a tax haven, while it would have been nice, our reasons go much deeper than the risk of paying nearly half our income in taxes. We are planning to arrive next summer, we are moving to Porto (for the mild summers), and we are well aware that the bureaucracy is awful, we are okay with a slower pace in life, and we are willing to accept things as they come for the opportunity we believe we will achieve by making Portugal our home. If half our income goes to taxes, we just need to make more money. If the NHR goes away, perhaps that will make our move a bit easier as there will be fewer people making the move.
As to the mention if anti-American sentiment... I too have seen an uptick in folks expressing negativity to Americans moving to PT. This baffles me given that Americans still make up about .01% of the overall population. And I would say that while it is true that the Americans tend to have more money, the majority of those moving to PT are far from wealthy by American standards.
As for learning the language... I am in my late 50's and I was just discussing with my partner that learning Portuguese will be one of my biggest challenges this late in life, but one that I whole heartedly intend to take very seriously. I hope to have some basics down before we arrive next summer, but we are planning to take the classes because we feel that while there is a large time commitment, it is because there is a large time commitment that we will be able to gain a solid grasp of the language, and the chance to use the classes to qualify for citizenship is all the better.
My husband and I moved here in March 2023 and we are enrolled in the year long class. I don’t do well in accelerated classes so that why I chose the year long. It is 3 days /week for 1 1/2 hrs. @ class. We started Sept. 19 and will finish, I think mid June. We will have 5 quizzes in total for the class. No one BIG test. I am taking the class not just for the A1/A2 certificate but to actually learn português. I intend to continue to B1/B2 classes once finished. Not sure that my husband is enthusiastic as I am 😅 but he is working through the class. I am having a ball. Oh, we are retired so not having to juggle work or other responsibilities.
Just visited Porto and Lisboa, beautiful cities and friendly people. Impressed. Found your channel and subscribed. So what are the programs available for new immigrants to Portugal as of now?
YES INSTABILITY. I was coming to buy a small farm this winter then they pulled the NHR. I was planning on buying a property in 2023/2024 then apply for Visa after I sell my US property end of 2024. With the pulling of the NHR it's just too inconsistent. I am still coming but for a shorter time. I am not sure what is happening right now. As of just today I see they are keeping NHR for another year. I don't know what that means. I don't like the feeling of pressure and then what is next. So I am backing off for about 6 months to see what happens. You guys inspired me to begin my own channel to share my process while I am over there this winter. Still a wait and see until middle of next year. Keep us up to date. Thanx for all of your information. Cheers. Gina in Upstate New York Working on an 1857 Renovation moving to Porutgal
check your contracts carefully. Our landlord was going to raise our rent from 925 to 1200. We spoke to an attorney, and she pointed out that we have an automatic renewal clause, and that they couldn't raise the rent beyond inflation (which was like 2%). So we told them that and they just agreed to raise the rent by inflation. This renewal is good for 2 years (so three years total). We feel incredibly fortunate to have locked in that price where we live. The apt across the hall was listed at 2400!!!. It was recently renovated, and t3 instead of t2, but the difference in price is stark.
Yes, I signed a three-year lease, which is what my landlord wanted, not me, but now I’m glad I did, because he can’t raise the rent except for that 2% for three years!
@@pbohearnthe 2% cap was a emergency measure valid only for this year, as the government didn't renew it. Landlords will be able to raise the rent by 6,9% in 2024 for contracts older than 1 year.
I think l would take the classes. l first visited Portugal in 2009, l did some self taught courses to give me the basics to get by with. I found it really useful. I need to build my vocab up but l might not know what they are saying to me 🤣🤣. I will keep learning. We even have a Meetup group that speak Portuguese and then they switch to English and share the languages. So both sides get to hear the others language. Brilliant.
I'm planning to retire in Portugal in about 2 years time on the D7 but I'm not sure how the taxation will affect my pensions. That's something I'll have to check out.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
Good intel!
Thank you. - Josh & Kalie
Josh, you feeling burden is not irrational, when the entire environment around you is being impacted, you will inevitably be impacted. You get that because men think ahead even if it's just instinctual. 😄
#7 is something I see in Germany a lot during the last two years and I agree with your perception of it.
Interest! What are you seeing? What changes have happened? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Mostly four things: There is great uncertainty on a coming substantial increase in property taxes. Starting 2024 there is a ban of installing (including replacement) of gas and oil heats that was introduced last minute with remaining uncertainty per county. Then we have a housing crisis due to uncontrolled immigration of refugees. Finally the energy taxes were increased like crazy and will be increased again 2024. The cost of life just skyrockets.
@@michaelhaardt5988 Thanks for sharing! - Josh
@@michaelhaardt5988It is terrible to watch how the German government works against their own citizens.
I was in Portugal in 2021 and was in love. Welcome and calm people, normal prices, feels safe.
As we moved, I saw more crimes, a lot of aggression on the road, and crazy house prices.
Is Portugal the safest country in the EU - not at all. My bike was stolen, and my car mirror was broken by an angry motorcycle.
Is Portugal the most calm and chill - not in Porto. A lot of angry people on the road. There are no rules, no cameras, total chaos.
NHR is not going away next year after all. But if it does, it will not be “cancelled” - just not available to those who come after the program ends.
I'm still not deterred and planning to land in Braga in 2 years. I think that the government will do something to replace the NHR. I don't think that they really want to lose the stream of cash that the retirees were adding to the economy. If so I'll work around it. Some will choose Greece or Italy at 7% taxes, that's what I've been seeing. For the short term property may get a bump down in price. I'm seeing that starting now too (Panic Sellers).Thank you for your video's you two are doing a great job! ****2025 Braga or Bust****
For for you, Larry! Wayta commit. :-) The problem with Greece and Italy is the locations you have to live are fixed, right? Thanks for the positive comment. - Josh & Kalie
Yep they restrict where you can live.
Interesting hearing your off-the-cuff impressions after three years...three years! três anos! Regarding the language, the biggest question is how is Cia's Portuguese? Kidding... I'm going for the certificate. I still get very anxious when in an oral setting -- my listening ability is (by far) my weakest and that part of the exam would be pretty stressful. We'll see where I am next summer.
Thank you. Thanks for sharing about you! We enjoyed making this one. Cia's Portuguese is behind a 3 year old Portuguese kid but she's doing really well in our book. She understand a lot more than she says and I'm not just talking about Kalie ;-) - Josh & Kalie
great video, and thanks for sharing your perspectives. another item to add to your list of government policy changes includes the need to obtain a Portuguese drivers license. If you are under 65 and have a valid license from specific countries, you do NOT need to exchange that license and are legally eligible to drive in Portugal. With the price of fuel so high, I can't imagine how the uber and lift folks make money!
I would take the class, more info would seem helpful to me.
We’re only 4 months in but we are getting with a financial planner to try to make good choices and the most of this lower cost of living as we come from southern Cali, but I have been told that everything is more expensive here than it once was, especially in Cascais.
Thank you for another informative video. I have watch your family flourish since 2020. One question though. We moved 2022 and lived in a rental. Now we have purchased our own property but do not seem to be able to get an appointment for changing the address on our SEF card. Have you encountered anyone else facing this problem? We are over the 90 days. Obrigada