panecott

Vicky, there are a number of Facebook groups on this topic. One in particular, "Living in Italy", is especially helpful because its members have all been through the process and they can advise you on housing, taxes, health care, visas, and so much more. There are also several other groups. If you're not on FB, maybe you can join just to check out these groups. As a retiree, it will be easier for you to move there than if you wanted to work and there is a special Visa that you can get if you're not eligible for citizenship.

Good luck with your search.

Sassafrass

At least three of my cats lived to be 19 and 20 years old, in good health until just a few days before they died, and friend’s cats even longer. I would not put a cat in cargo or hold, but you can sometimes take a cat right on the plane with you. So, if your move ends up happening sooner than you thought, you could take her with you.
Good luck to you in this endeavor. I hope it works out wonderfully. I so much wish we had done it when we first retired and could have. Go while you can. IMHO, Italy has been a gift to the world.

KTtravel

Oh, I love this idea and wish we could do it. It won't work for us for health and family reasons but please keep posting about your progress so I can live vicariously. I sure am feeling like an alien in this country lately and have always felt more "at home" in Europe.

I don't have any good advice but wish you buona fortuna!

Diamantina

You might find this article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times on May 22, 2022, "Welcome to Portugal, the new expat haven. Californians, please go home"
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation...ocation-lisbon

It mentioned, "As of this year, the nation’s popular 'golden visa' program, which offers residency to foreigners who buy homes priced at 500,000 euros or more — Americans dominate the program — is no longer taking applications in the biggest cities. That includes Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, the southern coastal region long popular with retirees and lovers of surf culture."
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mlgb

Retirement Visa is not the same as Golden Visa. Portugal still is the easiest in Europe for retirees if you have a defined benefit pension.

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Traveler_Nick

You first need to collect everything. A rental contract for your lodging plus all the other requirements. Then you need to get an appointment.

Some one above mentioned coming for a long stay first. I agree but I'd suggest coming off season. In much of the country the period January to March can be the toughest. Weather is gray. Less people around in general. If you don't change your mind during the winter you're likely fine but plenty of people end up deciding the dream was better than the reality.

Heimdall

One point I didn’t see mentioned above, is that Medicare doesn’t pay for treatment overseas, so make sure your health insurance does. Even when it does, you are likely to be asked for payment upfront from doctors and hospitals, pay with your credit card, and claim from the health insurance company after the fact. I am a US citizen with permanent residence in the UK, and am eligible for treatment through the NHS.

Traveler_Nick

The OP will need health insurance when they apply for the visa but afterwards they can buy into the national health service in Italy.

criseldahengel8684

This is a very exciting and serious step, I wish you to find a nice place in Portugal. It's never too late to start life over with a clean slate and to find more working solutions for more funny life. Good luck,Vicky !

Travel_Nerd

FYI: Vicky is not planning on moving to Portugal but Italy.

On another note, Vicky, absolutely, please keep us updated on your progress. I am considering the same. But, unfortunately, I am NOT retired but no longer wish to live in constant chaos. I still have 25-some years of working, too. Dangit.

Vicky

I am considering Portugal. Wherever I choose it will be easier to travel around Europe.
I own a house so this will take planning. But I am good at executing.

Travel_Nerd

I stand corrected. My apologies to the other poster on my previous reply.

KTtravel

Please do some research and decide which countries/places appeal to you. When you have narrowed down your plans, people on this site will be happy to offer advice. (This is in reference to Muhammad's question above, not Vicky's.)

Muhammad, please start your own message thread as commenters here will be referring to the Original Poster's question.

suze

I’m not asking Where to go, but how to start the planning process.

You need to find out what it takes for a US citizen to stay in Italy... a tourist visa, then what it takes to make it longer, then make it permanent. That is very straight forward research you can figure out. That's the first step.

Things like a beach, renting, car/no car come way later in the process. I agree for a single woman with no transportation you'll want a decent sized town or small city with good train connetions and maybe even an airport.

suze

Since you are retired can you take some trips to Italy sometime soon? Spend a month in each of the places you think you would like to live. Dreaming about this is one thing, the reality of living in Italy is another.

Do you speak Italian? That would be a super useful next step, start learning the language if you are not already fluent.

Vicky

Suze , I’ve been to italy 8 times. Have not been to Portugal. . I do plan to start by spending a month or two in different places. I’ve been researching resident visas which are easier to get for retirees with pensions (still involve copious paperwork tho).

The idea isn’t to live cheaply (I do just fine here) but rather a better lifestyle, within my means and ability to get to the places I love easily via train or short flight.

Traveler_Nick

The normal Schengen visas are all more or less the same.

What differs are the special cases like golden visas

But if you can manage the requirements for the golden visas you normally should have no trouble getting the €30k annual income level for a normal visa.

mlgb

Important to understand that the 90-day tourist visa is different than applying for one of the long-term resident visas, whether they are the Golden ones or OTHER long-term retiree visas types (which require a certain level of monthly income and prohibit working in country). It sounds like Vicky is smart enough to realize that you DON'T start the retiree visa when in Portugal under a tourist visa. Paperwork needs to begin BEFORE you leave the US, and that includes proof of health insurance.

For sure do visit Portugal as a tourist if you've never been. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of spoken English among younger people and those who work in the tourism industry. (Unlike France, they don't mind speaking English with tourists). I liked Portugal more than Spain or France, on a par with Italy and Greece. Lisbon is served by many of the cheapo European Airlines. There is also a good suburban train system, so one isn't limited to living in urban Lisbon. Uber works in Lisbon. I don't believe a car would be needed. Before your first tourist trip make contact with an expat group for suggestions on possible locations for a long-term apartment and perhaps arrange to attend an expat meetup. There are a lot of converted apartments on Airbnb in Lisbon, a legacy of the 2008 Recession.

The weather is nice in the fall but prices and crowds start to drop in November when the weather turns. There are some helpful experts over in the Portugal forums, including one who lives in Portugal I believe.

Good luck.