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)
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..
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
@@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.
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.
@@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
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!
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
@@JP7onEarth 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
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.
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. 😂
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.
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!
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 …
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 !
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.
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
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.
Portuguese don't like Brazilians or Americans or anybody else because immigration made their housing prices insanely high while their incomes didn't go up to match and they're frequently outpriced (they like people going there to spend on tourism, but not to move there). I visited Portugal a year ago and even though some things like food, restaurants, fuel and utilities are cheaper than in The Netherlands, I felt affordable houses are too expensive with prices comparable to ours, unless you get something falling apart you need to gut and rebuild and that's far away in a small city. I think you have good health care there, but I didn't use much of it. Taxes are insanely high unless you fit very specific criteria for your income to not be taxed under the NHR. Portugal was a good deal before the pandemic. It was very cheap to live there and you could purchase a house there for a fraction of what you'd pay in a richer European country. With the current situation I don't feel it would be sensible to move there unless there's a war, as you're near the border of the continent and Portugal is unlikely to participate much in a conflict. Once you acquire an EU citizenship you might feel tempted to move north and it might be a good idea... I am a dual Portuguese Citizen but born and lived most of my life in Brazil. Didn't feel Portugal was the best deal for me yet, but I keep my eyes open and there's always the possibility. But only if it's considerably cheaper than living in a more developed European country. Sorry. 😬
Not really. In most cases, at least. Not only income but VAT is also higher in Portugal. There's some exceptions of course, depending on your situation or things like road tax and fuel/energy tax.@@zepedro6666
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.
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.
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.
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!
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."
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).
I've been here for two years at the end of this year. I have my B1 and and currently going for B2. I took an accelerated A1 & A2 course through IEFP. However, that was three days with six hours of class each day. Study time turned it into a full-time job for about three months. I do not recommend it. I took B1 and my current B2 course through FOR-MAR. They are a maritime school and there is one located in Matosinhos. Both IEFP and FOR-MAR offer official certified courses. So, I have my B1 certificate and should be my B2 in January or February. A typical course is 2 or 3 three hour classes per week. I recommend this method as it is generally simple to get A2 for those that have been in country for awhile. Also, Americans especially seem to have difficulty with oral comprehension or the ability to understand Portuguese speech and two-way conversations are on the exams and this issue is easier to manage in a classroom setting.
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!
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
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 ?
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. 😂
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. 😄
I took the class in Coimbra for A1/A2. I also did B1/B2 in Pombal. Both were run by Centro Qualifica. The first one, essentially all one had to do was turn up. One person failed that class and she literally could not count to five. I would have failed the majority. Most were objectively clueless. The second class had a much more serious vibe and the teacher was more dedicated. The crowd was different too. The A1/A2 class was full of asylum seekers and economic migrants on benefits. It was me (Ireland) and everybody else from Iran, sub-saharan Africa or a Stan country. There was also one Chinese woman, who spoke no English and no Portuguese. I speak Chinese and had to translate what the teacher said (in Portuguese) into Chinese for her, so she could at least vaguely understand. It was an ordeal in all senses. The B1/B2 class was full of workers. Mainly Ukrainians and Spanish speakers from Columbia, Venezuela etc. They all either worked in a garage or a supermarket. If you guys think you are going to go to class and meet people from the same background or social level, think again would be my advice. Also consider that these classes fall into 2 main types. Intensive daytime classes, where you go for 6 hours or so Monday to Friday, but the pain ends quickly OR night classes from 7/8pm until 10 or 11pm a couple of times a week. This is a different kind of drawn out torture. Take the CIPLE. Don't do what I did. I went to both classes thinking I would be meeting other expats with common background and interests. This was completely wrong. Later, I realized that the expats in Portugal with money can't be bothered learning Portuguese at all. Most have been cocooned here for a long time and speak basically none. When it is discovered that i do speak the language, they will congratulate me on the surface, but there is also the feeling that talking with the natives isn't exactly encouraged. It is however greatly appreciated by the locals.
You must be right. The 30% poverty rate and theocratic terrorist regime there just ooze culture. Oddly, for such a cultured place, so many of the residents want to get out and migrate to less cultured places. I wonder why that would be? Cultural overdose maybe? @user-nh8zt9wl3c
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.
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
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!
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
The cost of living increases in California are even worse. Buying the same items, my groceries went from $80 to $125 per week. I used this opportunity to go on a diet, and shop differently, so I got it back down to $80-ish. In Portugal, I see would spend less because the costlier variety isn’t there (as far as I saw). Most people I know, aren’t moving to Portugal to be fancy, but to have a nice life, integrated with the Portuguese community, and friendly, likeminded people in general. The anti foreigner chitter chatter is media inflammatory posts to get readers. Of course, people are concerned how migrants are changing their country, but from what I’ve seen, the Portuguese people aren’t over reacting, as a whole. But, they need to get on their government, when it comes to housing and the rotting buildings.
That’s funny that Kiswahili is #9 on the list of easiest languages for native English speakers to learn, as someone who has academically approached French, German and Kiswahili and less academically attempted to learn Mexican Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Portuguese I would say that Kiswahili is far easier to learn than Spanish, French, Portuguese or Dutch It was an oral language before colonization and when the Brits oppressed large parts of Kiswahili-speaking East Africa they developed the written version along pretty much purely phonetic lines, that plus it’s grammar and syntax make it very easy to learn
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.
My regular milk just practically doubled in 1 year, 0,48€ to 0,84€, toilet paper pack went from 3,49€ to 4,35€... But Portuguese food is still very affordable due to white label brands, I remember London where I worked for 1 year in 2011 and as soon as you divert to some fine cheese or cookies you find it prohibitive... Public transports monthly pass has stayed 30€ Lisbon and 40€ Big Lisbon for the last 5 years, no one pays 1 travel tickets (only missinformed Tourists), that is an absurd waste of money... There is also 3 day and 7 day pass
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.
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.
I have lived in PT for almost 10 years and I am patiently waiting for my citizenship to be approved. I took classes so I would not have to pass the test. What I did was hire a private PT teacher who worked at a school -but taught me privately in my home. Because it is Portugal it as affordable and worked with my schedule. She provided the tests in my home - and i got my certificate. It was super easy and no test anxiety! hope you sort it out!
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.
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
I have been here for 7 years and now those changes are starting to be stressful especially burcracy and as you said most of the laws and changes are all in portuguese, I am italian but had hard time to learn the portuguese language , my son needed to renew his residency permit that expired last year and we hardly could get an appointment and when we finally did and traveled to Aviero Sef from november we still WAITING!! The overall feeling in portugal has changed a lot and now it less pleasant for us to live here Thank you for talking about this with honest review
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
RENT RISE Is Overwhelming!!! I Can Barely Manage!😡 I Moved Cities & Just Ended Up Emptying My Savings Account For The Move! I Confess My Current Apartment Is Absolutely Gorgeous; Bigger & Brand New! However, Still Expensive Though Much Less Than My Previous City! OBRIGADA For This Video.💙
Spain is surprisingly better than Portugal in many ways. Weather is warmer, less windy and damp. People are happier and wealthier. Housing costs are much lower. More variety of culture, locations and lifestyle. Especially if you go inland. Andalucía is very affordable and friendly. It's also stunningly beautiful. I visited both countries before buying a beautiful house in Serón Spain in the Andalucían mountains.
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 😊
NHR is a game-changer. Our immigration attorney flagged it as a possibility six months ago, so it's not a complete surprise, but our (middle-class) tax burden would hit ~28%.
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.
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!
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.
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. 👍🏻
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.
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 😊
Portugal has been heavily promoted so these things make sense. Also, Portugal is relatively small compared to neighboring countries like Spain or even France so housing is getting expensive. Our costs in Italy are reasonable as Americans. What are utility costs like in Portugal?
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.
The fact these blogs exist encouraging americans to move abroad, its interesting because it will receive a backlash with cost of living increases with the influx. Certain americans do a horrible job integrating, and it rubs people the wrong way. All these blogs need to push a high culture of integration or expect backlash.
Inflation has affected every single country in the world. Prices have gone up a lot in the US and Canada too. So why would it be any different in Portugal?
We understand what you mean but it is a bit of hyperbole to say it's affecting every single country in the world. Check out this map. www.ft.com/content/088d3368-bb8b-4ff3-9df7-a7680d4d81b2 Also, Kalie said it's happening "everywhere" ;-) Check 01:33 for that. - Josh & Kalie
Things are changing including the expected 6.94% approved rent increase for 2024 which is very high compared to last year's approved rent increase of only 2%.
Thank you guys. It is a misunderstanding about American. I have living in USA for 40 years, but my Social Segurity is not enough in Miami. At this time, I am studying Portuguese and want to retiree in Coimbra. Don’t like big city anymore. Don’t need to work in Portugal. Really appreciate your clarification and feel much better. Thanks again. Love you guys😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤ You are
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.
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.
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.
To learn Portuguese, I would move to a Portuguese speaking country where nobody speaks English and I would be forced to speak PT for hours every day. The next best thing is forcing yourself to do the same in Portugal, e.g. when you meet new people who do not yet know that Portuguese is not your mother tongue. Class can help, but Duolingo etc. is sufficient if you ask me until you have reached the level of a sixth grader. Until then you gotta practice 8+ hours each day with normal people, no class will get you there.
As someone born and partially raised there, I can say that the place is constantly changing. I visited this year after nearly two decades and couldn't believe the amount of change since my twenties. The people, the culture, everything! .....the only constant is food - we love food 😂
My wife and I have been planning on moving to Porto in the next couple of years, but the elimination of NHR seems to make it impossible, since there's no way we can handle double-taxation of our passive income/Social Security/pension.
@jamesdavidwalley -- in case you don't know this, your income will not be double taxed. You may find your overall tax rate increases, but won't pay tax twice on the same income.
I've got a duplex-apartment (T+ 3-4, 2 balconies and 2 terrasses) in Alcochete, 25minutes from Lissabon away (on the other riverside and I enjoy Lissabonlights at night from the windows and terrasse), but I want to sell it as I prefer to stay in Africa. So... if you're interested, tell me and you may visit it cheaper as with "inmo-sellers".
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?
Reportedly, the great thing about France is that they don't raise the rent. However, learning fluent B3 French is difficult to impossible for many people.
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. :)
Thank you for your time and posting. Great video. I hope your daughter becomes bi/trilingual. After reading a lot of comments, it is interesting that nobody seems to blame themselves for not creating a better retirement income and not saving enough, but instead, blames the country's government for not being affordable. We all know that prices for everything will go up with time and this factor should be implemented before moving (ie: Let's say I make US$2600 a month, at this time that is borderline acceptable to live in the country I am looking into. But maybe not enough in 5 years. Equalling, I shouldn't move there). If Portugal becomes unaffordable it's not the government's fault but the fault of the person who now can't afford it. I've just started looking into Portugal. If I decide to move there, I will work hard on learning the language before moving. I tried Equador, but too much petty crime, smog, and graffiti, and the food was pretty dull. :) Thank you for your time and best of luck to everyone. Side Note: I do not work for the Portuguese government. :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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
@@JP7onEarth 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 😂
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 …
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.
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.
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!
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.
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,.
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.
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
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.
Portuguese don't like Brazilians or Americans or anybody else because immigration made their housing prices insanely high while their incomes didn't go up to match and they're frequently outpriced (they like people going there to spend on tourism, but not to move there). I visited Portugal a year ago and even though some things like food, restaurants, fuel and utilities are cheaper than in The Netherlands, I felt affordable houses are too expensive with prices comparable to ours, unless you get something falling apart you need to gut and rebuild and that's far away in a small city. I think you have good health care there, but I didn't use much of it. Taxes are insanely high unless you fit very specific criteria for your income to not be taxed under the NHR.
Portugal was a good deal before the pandemic. It was very cheap to live there and you could purchase a house there for a fraction of what you'd pay in a richer European country. With the current situation I don't feel it would be sensible to move there unless there's a war, as you're near the border of the continent and Portugal is unlikely to participate much in a conflict.
Once you acquire an EU citizenship you might feel tempted to move north and it might be a good idea...
I am a dual Portuguese Citizen but born and lived most of my life in Brazil.
Didn't feel Portugal was the best deal for me yet, but I keep my eyes open and there's always the possibility. But only if it's considerably cheaper than living in a more developed European country. Sorry. 😬
I thought taxes in Netherlands were worse. Not the case?
@@on2thenextthing Netherlands have higher taxes then Portugal
I thought so too, but it's not the case. Unless your situation gives you some sort of benefit, of course. #NotTaxAdvice LOL@@on2thenextthing
Not really. In most cases, at least. Not only income but VAT is also higher in Portugal. There's some exceptions of course, depending on your situation or things like road tax and fuel/energy tax.@@zepedro6666
Yes, but their care for the elderly is one of the best in the world
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.
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.
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.
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!
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).
I've been here for two years at the end of this year. I have my B1 and and currently going for B2. I took an accelerated A1 & A2 course through IEFP. However, that was three days with six hours of class each day. Study time turned it into a full-time job for about three months. I do not recommend it. I took B1 and my current B2 course through FOR-MAR. They are a maritime school and there is one located in Matosinhos. Both IEFP and FOR-MAR offer official certified courses. So, I have my B1 certificate and should be my B2 in January or February. A typical course is 2 or 3 three hour classes per week. I recommend this method as it is generally simple to get A2 for those that have been in country for awhile. Also, Americans especially seem to have difficulty with oral comprehension or the ability to understand Portuguese speech and two-way conversations are on the exams and this issue is easier to manage in a classroom setting.
Yeah, you are right Josh. Everything is changed in Portugal.
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
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.
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 ?
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. 😂
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. 😄
I took the class in Coimbra for A1/A2. I also did B1/B2 in Pombal. Both were run by Centro Qualifica. The first one, essentially all one had to do was turn up. One person failed that class and she literally could not count to five. I would have failed the majority. Most were objectively clueless. The second class had a much more serious vibe and the teacher was more dedicated. The crowd was different too. The A1/A2 class was full of asylum seekers and economic migrants on benefits. It was me (Ireland) and everybody else from Iran, sub-saharan Africa or a Stan country. There was also one Chinese woman, who spoke no English and no Portuguese. I speak Chinese and had to translate what the teacher said (in Portuguese) into Chinese for her, so she could at least vaguely understand. It was an ordeal in all senses. The B1/B2 class was full of workers. Mainly Ukrainians and Spanish speakers from Columbia, Venezuela etc. They all either worked in a garage or a supermarket. If you guys think you are going to go to class and meet people from the same background or social level, think again would be my advice. Also consider that these classes fall into 2 main types. Intensive daytime classes, where you go for 6 hours or so Monday to Friday, but the pain ends quickly OR night classes from 7/8pm until 10 or 11pm a couple of times a week. This is a different kind of drawn out torture. Take the CIPLE. Don't do what I did. I went to both classes thinking I would be meeting other expats with common background and interests. This was completely wrong. Later, I realized that the expats in Portugal with money can't be bothered learning Portuguese at all. Most have been cocooned here for a long time and speak basically none. When it is discovered that i do speak the language, they will congratulate me on the surface, but there is also the feeling that talking with the natives isn't exactly encouraged. It is however greatly appreciated by the locals.
You must be right. The 30% poverty rate and theocratic terrorist regime there just ooze culture. Oddly, for such a cultured place, so many of the residents want to get out and migrate to less cultured places. I wonder why that would be? Cultural overdose maybe? @user-nh8zt9wl3c
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.
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
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
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
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
The cost of living increases in California are even worse. Buying the same items, my groceries went from $80 to $125 per week. I used this opportunity to go on a diet, and shop differently, so I got it back down to $80-ish. In Portugal, I see would spend less because the costlier variety isn’t there (as far as I saw). Most people I know, aren’t moving to Portugal to be fancy, but to have a nice life, integrated with the Portuguese community, and friendly, likeminded people in general.
The anti foreigner chitter chatter is media inflammatory posts to get readers. Of course, people are concerned how migrants are changing their country, but from what I’ve seen, the Portuguese people aren’t over reacting, as a whole. But, they need to get on their government, when it comes to housing and the rotting buildings.
Same in Canada…
Agreed (re anti foreigner sentiment). Great job with the grocery haul. We've basically done the same to be fair. - Josh & Kalie
Totally awesome job with this video. I really enjoy how you guys balance each other and the frankness that’s transparent through this video.
With all of the policy changes recently, being 3-ish years away from retiring to Portugal is starting to look like a good thing. My FOMO is calmed.
Very true and things swing in roundabouts. - Josh & Kalie
Wish you all the best and every success for the future. Not easy anywhere in Europe atm. Hope Portugal stays nice for you.
Thank you. Portugal has been great so far! - Josh & Kalie
That’s funny that Kiswahili is #9 on the list of easiest languages for native English speakers to learn, as someone who has academically approached French, German and Kiswahili and less academically attempted to learn Mexican Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Portuguese I would say that Kiswahili is far easier to learn than Spanish, French, Portuguese or Dutch
It was an oral language before colonization and when the Brits oppressed large parts of Kiswahili-speaking East Africa they developed the written version along pretty much purely phonetic lines, that plus it’s grammar and syntax make it very easy to learn
You can take practice CIPLE tests online to see how hard it would be…
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.
My regular milk just practically doubled in 1 year, 0,48€ to 0,84€, toilet paper pack went from 3,49€ to 4,35€... But Portuguese food is still very affordable due to white label brands, I remember London where I worked for 1 year in 2011 and as soon as you divert to some fine cheese or cookies you find it prohibitive... Public transports monthly pass has stayed 30€ Lisbon and 40€ Big Lisbon for the last 5 years, no one pays 1 travel tickets (only missinformed Tourists), that is an absurd waste of money... There is also 3 day and 7 day pass
the new laws regarding gold visa do not affect the ones who already have the golden visa, also you got 10 years to use it anyways,
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.
Nice! As a Canadian thinking about retiring to Portugal in the future, your video is very valuable. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! We've actually got some more Canadian focused content coming forward both on the main channel and podcast. - Josh & Kalie
Good one guys, the junior team member is blossoming wonderfully. You must be doing something right. Cheers!
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.
I have lived in PT for almost 10 years and I am patiently waiting for my citizenship to be approved. I took classes so I would not have to pass the test. What I did was hire a private PT teacher who worked at a school -but taught me privately in my home. Because it is Portugal it as affordable and worked with my schedule. She provided the tests in my home - and i got my certificate. It was super easy and no test anxiety! hope you sort it out!
Hello, why are you waiting 10 years for a citizenship? Isn’t it around 5 years or am I mistaken?
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.
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
I have been here for 7 years and now those changes are starting to be stressful especially burcracy and as you said most of the laws and changes are all in portuguese, I am italian but had hard time to learn the portuguese language , my son needed to renew his residency permit that expired last year and we hardly could get an appointment and when we finally did and traveled to Aviero Sef from november we still WAITING!! The overall feeling in portugal has changed a lot and now it less pleasant for us to live here
Thank you for talking about this with honest review
Thank you for sharing. There’s been a recent shake up that’ll be a positive one for your son’s renewal case. - Josh & Kalie
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
RENT RISE Is Overwhelming!!! I Can Barely Manage!😡 I Moved Cities & Just Ended Up Emptying My Savings Account For The Move! I Confess My Current Apartment Is Absolutely Gorgeous; Bigger & Brand New! However, Still Expensive Though Much Less Than My Previous City! OBRIGADA For This Video.💙
Spain is surprisingly better than Portugal in many ways. Weather is warmer, less windy and damp. People are happier and wealthier. Housing costs are much lower. More variety of culture, locations and lifestyle. Especially if you go inland. Andalucía is very affordable and friendly. It's also stunningly beautiful. I visited both countries before buying a beautiful house in Serón Spain in the Andalucían mountains.
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
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
NHR is a game-changer. Our immigration attorney flagged it as a possibility six months ago, so it's not a complete surprise, but our (middle-class) tax burden would hit ~28%.
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 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
Informative video, Kalie and Josh. As always, honest and to the point! 😊👍
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.
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!
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.
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. 👍🏻
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 😊
Portugal has been heavily promoted so these things make sense. Also, Portugal is relatively small compared to neighboring countries like Spain or even France so housing is getting expensive. Our costs in Italy are reasonable as Americans. What are utility costs like in Portugal?
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.
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.
The fact these blogs exist encouraging americans to move abroad, its interesting because it will receive a backlash with cost of living increases with the influx.
Certain americans do a horrible job integrating, and it rubs people the wrong way. All these blogs need to push a high culture of integration or expect backlash.
Inflation has affected every single country in the world. Prices have gone up a lot in the US and Canada too. So why would it be any different in Portugal?
We understand what you mean but it is a bit of hyperbole to say it's affecting every single country in the world. Check out this map. www.ft.com/content/088d3368-bb8b-4ff3-9df7-a7680d4d81b2 Also, Kalie said it's happening "everywhere" ;-) Check 01:33 for that. - Josh & Kalie
Things are changing including the expected 6.94% approved rent increase for 2024 which is very high compared to last year's approved rent increase of only 2%.
Yeah, it feels like a lot. - Josh & Kalie
Thank you guys. It is a misunderstanding about American.
I have living in USA for 40 years, but my Social Segurity is not enough in Miami. At this time, I am studying Portuguese and want to retiree in Coimbra. Don’t like big city anymore. Don’t need to work in Portugal.
Really appreciate your clarification and feel much better. Thanks again. Love you guys😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤
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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.
Great video. Yes, we so take a class! Can’t wait!!!
Thanks, Kim. Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
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.
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.
To learn Portuguese, I would move to a Portuguese speaking country where nobody speaks English and I would be forced to speak PT for hours every day. The next best thing is forcing yourself to do the same in Portugal, e.g. when you meet new people who do not yet know that Portuguese is not your mother tongue. Class can help, but Duolingo etc. is sufficient if you ask me until you have reached the level of a sixth grader. Until then you gotta practice 8+ hours each day with normal people, no class will get you there.
As someone born and partially raised there, I can say that the place is constantly changing. I visited this year after nearly two decades and couldn't believe the amount of change since my twenties. The people, the culture, everything! .....the only constant is food - we love food 😂
🎉❤ so many amazing vegan places too. Even vegan analogue pork chops😅😅
@@diradeb Interesting, but I haven't had good experiences with replacements....."and for that reason, I'm out"
Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
My wife and I have been planning on moving to Porto in the next couple of years, but the elimination of NHR seems to make it impossible, since there's no way we can handle double-taxation of our passive income/Social Security/pension.
@jamesdavidwalley -- in case you don't know this, your income will not be double taxed. You may find your overall tax rate increases, but won't pay tax twice on the same income.
I've got a duplex-apartment (T+ 3-4, 2 balconies and 2 terrasses) in Alcochete, 25minutes from Lissabon away (on the other riverside and I enjoy Lissabonlights at night from the windows and terrasse), but I want to sell it as I prefer to stay in Africa. So... if you're interested, tell me and you may visit it cheaper as with "inmo-sellers".
Thank you for the video guys!
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?
Reportedly, the great thing about France is that they don't raise the rent. However, learning fluent B3 French is difficult to impossible for many people.
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. :)
Thank you for your time and posting. Great video. I hope your daughter becomes bi/trilingual. After reading a lot of comments, it is interesting that nobody seems to blame themselves for not creating a better retirement income and not saving enough, but instead, blames the country's government for not being affordable. We all know that prices for everything will go up with time and this factor should be implemented before moving (ie: Let's say I make US$2600 a month, at this time that is borderline acceptable to live in the country I am looking into. But maybe not enough in 5 years. Equalling, I shouldn't move there). If Portugal becomes unaffordable it's not the government's fault but the fault of the person who now can't afford it. I've just started looking into Portugal. If I decide to move there, I will work hard on learning the language before moving. I tried Equador, but too much petty crime, smog, and graffiti, and the food was pretty dull. :) Thank you for your time and best of luck to everyone.
Side Note: I do not work for the Portuguese government. :)