Quartz 4

Move to Portugal

12 min read

What I Did

Research General Info

  • Safety
  • How difficult to become a resident
  • Internet availability
  • Started at Nomad List - Best Places to Live for Digital Nomads
    • Ranks cities based on suitability for digital nomads
    • Evaluates many factors
      • attitudes toward women & LGBTQ friendliness
      • internet speeds
      • safety
      • cost of living
    • includes user reviews
    • Confirmed many of these claims through other sources

Portugal came out as a clear front-runner for a good blend of quality of life, cost of living, and climate

Research Specific Cities

  • Cost of living
  • Ability to get by on English
  • Climate
  • Other personally desirable traits
    • Walkability
    • Population

I want a big, walkable city that I can easily integrate into as an English-speaker, so I identified Porto as a good fit. It’s significantly cheaper than Lisbon but with many of the same amenities.

Learning the Language

Although I want to live in a region where I can mostly get by with English, I would still like to better integrate with the locals. I ultimately want to speak the language.

I looked at several of the on-demand courses, but I ultimately decided that, due to the price of these and the ongoing nature of their billing (for most of them, at least), I think I would prefer to pay a little more and get a live tutor. On-demand courses are great, but nothing can replace having someone tell you what mistakes you in particular are making. Pre-recorded courses can only hope to guess at the most common mistakes and warn you against them. That can get you 90% of the way there, but we all have our own unique brand of goofing up.

Tried a session on Preply with a tutor. I was lost the whole time and left feeling I didn’t get much out of it. This tutor’s rate is 11/hour tutor to a 11. Of course, if I stay with the new tutor, I will pay $20/hour for the ongoing sessions.

Before the next session with my new tutor, I decided to try MemRise. So far, it has felt to do – I feel a feeling of satisfaction when completing my daily practice and the activities are fun – but I’m not sure how much I’m learning. I have to push beyond what the app gives me to commit the stuff to memory. Otherwise, the only thing I’m learning is how to get through the activities.

My new Preply tutor (Bruno J) is fantastic! The first lesson was very organic versus the very abstract first lesson I had with my previous tutor. (“Here are all sounds the vowels can make.“) He understands the way memory works: by connecting new concepts to concepts you’re already familiar with, and he does that throughout the lesson, connected to your native language, to history, and providing helpful pneumonic devices.

We started with greetings, which I’d already had some exposure to via MemRise, and that exposure was helpful. I’m confident Bruno could have started with me entirely from scratch, but the work I had done in MemRise allowed us to go a little faster and get a little further.

I have continued to use MemRize, and it is becoming helpful. The only thing about it is that choosing the lesson gives you a lot of context your brain can use to cheat (Greetings, Saying Where You’re From, etc.).

Update: I have since dropped MemRize, but I have added The Journey via Portuguese With Carla. MemRize was similar enough to what I’m doing with my tutor, while also covering words in a different order, that it was proving a bit distracting. I did feel a need to hear more of the language spoken naturally, and The Journey seemed like a great fit for that. It’s a movie with accompanying language lessons that was written specifically to help teach the language.

I had considered The Journey when I first started learning. I’m glad I didn’t because it really throws you in the deep end. I think I wouldn’t have liked it when I was first learning, but now that I’ve been learning for 4 months, I feel like I’m at a good place to incorporate it based on the first few lessons.

See Also

My notes from my language learning

Getting relocation assistance

I decided to set up a 75 euro consultation with Gail (mentioned below in my relocation assistance resources). I want to ask a few questions about my specific plan for relocation:

  • What level of savings should I have to move without a regular income? I’m considering leaving my job before I go, and I want to understand if this is possible and if it’s feasible for me.
  • How much savings do I need in my Portuguese account versus in my US account?
  • What are the steps I need to take, and when do I need to take them given my personal timeline for relocation?

I was surprised to find that, just a few days into June, she is already booked up for the month. I have set myself a reminder to check back in July when myself a reminder to check back in July when new slots open up.

I checked back July 1st and was able to secure a spot on July 12th at 9am.

What I learned from the relocation consultant

  • Can I move without income? If so, what should I have in savings?
    • High risk
    • Government wants to know you have money coming in every month since they can’t tax savings
    • Investments are not automated
    • If you fall into a coma, how will people take care of you
    • Need to have freelancing established (6 months of contracts and invoices)
      • Can switch from W2 to 1099 without having 6 months of history
      • Can ask for more money
      • Need a letter from them saying I am converting contingent on visa approval
      • Want you to set up your economic activity in Portugal before approval
      • Consultation with eurofinesco
        • Hire elsewhere because they don’t assign good accountant to freelancers
    • Want to see that reported on last tax return if you’ve been doing it for a while
    • Want to see entire trail from client to your bank account
    • 3x housing cost multiplier
  • Logistics of getting bank account and housing in order
    • Some banks don’t want non-residents
    • Up to the discretion of the banker
    • If you can go in person, it helps
    • Not impossible
    • Takes a lot longer due to money laundering/war in Ukraine
  • What do I need to do to get started?
  • Is there a definitive checklist somewhere that I should be following?
  • Where are the points I’m likely to have trouble?
    • Don’t know how to present the documents
    • Immigration doesn’t want people to game the system
  • Can you help me if I have trouble?
    • $450 + 22% tax
    • Email reply to her email address to start a relationship
    • Can do an office visit if I come to Porto
  • Each consular post has discretion to ask for documents they want
    • I have to go to appointment in San Francisco
    • First gatekeeper collects documents
    • Second gatekeeper goes to consulate in SF
      • verify documents are real
      • exist to help Portuguese people
      • second mandate is visas
    • Third gatekeeper is Portugal immigration
      • gets scans of documents
      • approves or not
      • SF will mail passport if approved
  • Visa recommendation
    • D7 is popular
    • Multiple ways to come in as a worker
    • Try digital nomad visa
      • Need to prove you can sustain yourself
      • Have to fly back and apply if I want residency
  • Encourage visits, even during the pandemic
  • eurofinesco.com

VFS Appointment

  • Certified copy of passport Certifications or Notarisations can be done at a local notary or with a local lawyer. In the US, banks and police departments also deliver this service. Turnaround: done at the spot.

  • Two passport photos, up-to-date and with enough quality to identify the applicant;

  • Valid travel insurance for 1y, allowing medical coverage, including medical emergencies and repatriation; minimum 30k euros of coverage. Suggestion: https://www.insubuy.com/travel-health-insurance/?aid=ussfoother Another suggestion: https://savesavvi.com/health-insurance/ Starting date: your date of arrival in Portugal in Feb/March, valid for 1 year. Turnaround 1 day.

  • Request for criminal record enquiry by the Immigration and Border Services (SEF); Could you let me know please your parent’s full names so we produce the document? I’ll send this ready for you so you just have to sign and get it notarised. Turnaround 1 week.

  • Criminal record certificate from the country of origin FBI criminal record - please see instructions on an email to follow. Turnaround 1 week.

  • Proof of means of subsistence as stipulated by law; This point refers to the documents we discussed on the meeting:

  • past 3 months of bank statements from your US account (please issue these on the first week of Feb 2023)

  • past 3 payslips (please issue these on the first week of Feb 2023)

  • proof of employment (work contract)

  • statement from your employer stating you may work remotely (recommended)

  • statement from your Portuguese bank account with 8.5k euros on it. (Please issue this doc on the week of the appointment) Turnaround 1 day.

  • Proof of accommodation As discussed, we’ll need to sort out this point for your visa application. A 1 year lease contract will be needed or, alternatively, a property deed here in Portugal. (Can be done anytime from now and the VFS appointment) What are your thoughts here?

  • Motivation Letter In this letter, you may introduce yourself and let the Embassy officials know why do you want to move to Portugal. (Can be done anytime from now and the VFS appointment)

Turnaround 1 day.

Visa approval and residency timeline

Portugal relocation visa approval and residency timeline

  • Visa will allow me to pursue residency after the fact
  • Visa will cover 4 months
    • 90 days to come after visa approved
    • between 3rd and 4th month, I convert to residency
    • If the visa expires before second interview, can’t leave between visa expiration and second appointment
  • Will get an email when the visa is approved
    • Consulate doesn’t want to be liable for keeping passport too long
    • They will tell me to send passport
      • Must be in the US to send
    • If they email 4/1, I mail to them from US, and turnaround is 5 days
    • 4 months to travel to Portugal
    • Stamp will tell me the exact date of residency appointment
  • Come to Portugal with stamped passport and show to immigration control
  • For second appointment, I will bring all my updated documentation to get the temporary residency certificate
    • Will get card within 2 weeks time
  • Silvia’s lease is valid
  • Will need lease agreement for residency application
  • If I come next month, don’t rent an apartment here
    • They want to rent next day or next month entry
    • Can use it just as a scouting trip
  • When I come back for residency appointment, I can look for permanent housing then
  • Hope that visa will be approved before Silvia’s agreement needs to be canceled on May 2nd. Can cancel once the visa is approved.
  • Residency is two years
    • Renew online
    • No need to submit anything. Just pay a fee.
    • Renew for three-year card to get to year 5 for permanent residency.
  • Be ready to offer more rent up-front (4-6 months)
Link to original

Financial

Ally

  • Spoke to Monique 2023-02-13 11:03am
  • Asked if I can list an overseas address on my account and maintain my account
  • She said she would research and placed me on hold
  • Yes, can definitely use a foreign address
  • Can’t use bill pay or zelle
  • Can call to open a new account or set up bank to bank transfer
  • May have trouble downloading the app while outside the country

Vanguard

  • Rodella Vega 2023-02-13 11:11am
  • 14 day hold on the account
    • Can’t redeem check
    • Can’t generate temporary password
    • Checkbook orders
    • Changing beneficiary
    • Enroll in voice verification
  • Still have online access
  • No other restrictions

ZipRent

  • Spoke to Brenda
  • Do not need to be present to start a listing

Portuguese taxes

US expat taxes in Portugal

Bruno Alfonso of Taxes in Portugal bruno@taxesinportugal.com

  • When it comes to social security contributions, social security is collected in the country of residence. Company is legally required to employ from Portugal (by registering in Portugal) or hire an employee of record to do Portuguese payroll.
  • For now, Portugal is not enforcing the law requiring social security to be paid in Portugal, but that may change. He has helped many people who work for US companies and pay social security only in the US.
  • Social security liability is on both the employee and employer.
  • NHR can give a flat tax rate of 20% for IT professions for 10 years
    • He thinks I will qualify
    • Get visa, get residency, send NIF number at which point I become a tax resident. Then I can apply for NHR.
  • Will need to register self-employed in Portugal to continue contracting
  • IRAs only subjected to tax in Portugal when you withdraw.
    • ROTH is not recognized by Portugal and is subject to tax on withdrawal in Portugal
    • While on NHR, 10% on withdrawals. After NHR, it will be normal progressive up to 48% at the moment
  • Different set of rules for self-employed
  • Rental income and sale proceed are exempt from tax in Portugal if on NHR
  • File annual tax return in Portugal
    • Filing starts in April and goes to end of June
    • File for extension in US, file in Portugal, after that is done, offset US taxes with taxes already paid in Portugal.
    • Self-employment requires regular monthly work
  • Contact Bruno when I have the SEF appointment to start NHR application process
  • Email any questions I think of to Bruno
Link to original

Research

Phone Service

Keeping US Number

  • Most people seem to port their number to Google Voice or Google Fi
  • Not sure I trust Google with my number
  • Could keep Ting but pay surcharges
    • Currently ¢25/MB of data, ¢30/minute of calling, ¢12 per outgoing text (incoming texts are free)
  • This might be a decent option if I turn off data on my Ting account
  • Most people will be contacting me through Signal

Resources

Covid info

Relocation Assistance

Miscellaneous

Amazon Prime

Soylent

  • Soylent does not ship to EU
  • Could get a shipping forwarding address in the US, but this would nerf the price benefit of Soylent
  • Alternatives are priced similarly, with a very small premium over Soylent’s per-meal pricing

Alternatives

Power

Portugal uses type F and type C power plugs. Mains are 220 volts at 50hz.

Type F

Type F plugs are grounded. The Type F socket can be connected to Type F or Type C plugs.

Type C

Type C plugs are not grounded a type C socket is compatible only with a Type C plug.

Resources

General

Language

Healthcare

Facebook Groups

Useful Threads

My thoughts

Graph View