Migration comes with planning, whether for holiday or residency, you have to consider your plans to get it done. Do you need to move out of the U.S., or create an exit plan?
Portugal is densely populated compared to the rest of western Europe and the USA. It is coupled with a pleasing climate, historic old towns, miles of sandy beaches, and sincerely exceptional food and wine.
Moving to Portugal: Country specifics
Take some time to learn about Portugal before your relocation so that when you are set to move, you already know the right steps to take. This article is an excellent place to start. It takes you through the list of essential responsibilities to complete before and upon arrival.
1. Visas and work permit
Discover how to secure a Portuguese visa and work permit as a foreign citizen. The Portuguese visa application process takes place in the U.S., at the Portuguese embassy, diplomatic mission, or consular post.
There are diverse Portuguese visa categories—which one you get will depend on your purpose for being in the country. You can ask for a visa for work, investment, study, family reunion, among others. Most Portuguese visas cost around $88. Keep in mind that you must pay for your residence card, which is roughly the same amount. Investment visas are significantly costlier, at around $550, plus $5,800 for the residence card.
2. Opening A Bank Account in Portugal
Opening a bank account in Portugal is slightly related to opening a bank account anywhere in the world. Once you move to Portugal, you will need to set up a bank account as quickly as you probably can. This bank account is an essential part of your relocation, as you’ll require it for your wages and any payment.
3. Identify the Cost of Living
Before you move to Portugal, it is advisable to be aware of the cost of living. The cost of living will decide a lot of things, comprising how successful your relocation will be. You’ll be pleased to hear that cost of living in Portugal is significantly low, making foreigners more financially comfortable during and after the relocation. The prices of things in Portugal are relatively lower than in most major cities like London, Berlin, etc. If you're used to paying high rent/payments in the U.S., you could be in for a treat when you move to Portugal.
4. Consider House prices and rent
The relatively low cost of living in Portugal relates to housing as well – you’ll possibly find out, you spend less than half of your annual wage on rent and utilities. Usual rental costs for Lisbon are about $640 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. The average rental fees in the U.S. for similar properties are closer to $1040 monthly. Prices in Porto are around 30% economical, and you can quickly pay half as much as you would in Lisbon.
Purchasing property can work out as a considerable value option for extended stay foreigners. There are no restraints on foreigners owning property. The NHR (Non-Habitual Residents) and GRP (Golden Residence Permit) encourage non-Portuguese citizens to invest in the country’s real estate in return for residence incentives. Property is somewhat cheap, too, coming in at about 30% lower than similar properties in the USA. In Lisbon, you'd typically pay around $1920 per square meter, but properties are far cheaper outside the capital.
5. Health care and General wellbeing
It should also be your priority to determine how the healthcare system and health insurance in Portugal works. The Portuguese public healthcare system is free for resident taxpayers. It is high quality too, just a little slower. Expect waiting times for everything: registering to see family doctors, seeing specialists, elective surgery, and so on. Between visiting your family doctor, getting a medical exam request, receiving the results, and taking it back to your family doctor or specialist, you could wait several months to years, depending on the specialty. For that reason, most individuals choose to go for private health insurance in Portugal, which is somewhat cheap.
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