Living in Portugal
 

Where is a great place to live for night life, rent a two-bed, close to the water and close to the city center?

Portugal is a big country, which "city" are you talking about? Do you mean the Algarve region or Lisbon area?

Algarve region - Albufeira
Lisbon region - Estoril/Cascais

What's your nationality? If you aren't an EU citizen, you will require a visa to live in Portugal, which may not be easily granted depending on your circumstances.

Lobo - not Lisbon proper? What about the Parque das Nacaos area? (Although it did look a bit run down when I was there in December.)

<<Portugal is a big country>>

Compared to what, Liechtenstein?

Better yet: looking to live in Europe requires an ability to do so - visa, job, proof of financial means (if you're not an EU citizen). Squatters not welcome.

According to wikipedia Portugal ranks 111th out of 249 countries in area. It is bigger than, for instance, Austria, the Czech Republic or the Republic of Ireland. Not to mention Switzerland. It is 83rd in population.

Oh, and Liechtenstein is 219th, so a very poor comparison.

Thursdaysd, it depends on which "water" the OP is referring to. Lisbon (Parque das Nações) is more city centered, but the access to aquatic sports is limited. Cascais is one train ride from Lisbon, but with a better access to surfing (Guincho beach, Ericeira) and nigh life (Estoril casino). Difficult choice, without more insight on Jason's motivations is difficult to elaborate much more.

1. I'm retired and only 41:) I have looked into getting a visa and meet all requirements as a non-EU. Financial stability and all of the other cool things that are required for a visa (I do have some basic questions about visa's, and non-US money....best ways to go about a visa and best way to take my US dollars and convert them)
2. I have been to Europe before, but didn't find the coldness of Germany to my liking. I currently live in Phoenix, AZ with my son and as he gets older, I want to find more time for myself, around the water, but not on it. I like the city life and love the idea of Europe, especially in an area that has a good pub, lots of character, and plenty of night life (I am retired and still young:)
3. I want to rent a two bed. My current payment on my house I own is around $1,300 US, so below that would be great, considering I want to have fun and not live to pay a rent payment.
4. I picked Portugal as I hear that more people speak English then most European countries (I am learning Portuguese, but we all know that until you practice it daily, its hard!), and my son plans to go to college overseas, so a bigger city is terrific in that he can go to school and I can finally go have a life:)

Concerns:

1. Safe place to live where its also economical to live there.
2. Walking or public transportation is a must. I hate driving and only want to on trips.
3. I was in the military so I really don't have an idea on true expats, just the negative stuff. I would like to live in an area where locals are a majority, expats that aren't my parents age (60's), and not a bunch of kids. I love kids, and I love old people, but I have raised a kid by myself since diapers, and old people go to bed too early.

lol I hope this helps to clarify things. Just to get started in a fresh direction.

Being 41 and retired don't go together. You are simply non-working, living perhaps on savings and military pension? This will complicate things for getting your visa, without which any dream of living in Europe will be out of the question, as an American you can only stay in the whole of Schengen for 90-in-180 days. They won't give you retirement visa as they suspect you will try to work illegally. I suppose if you are very rich, with disposable income in millions, they may give you a long-stay visa in exchange for a serious investment in their economy (like buying a million dollar villa), but otherwise your only hope is marrying an EU citizen or some kind of work visa. The latter will be very difficult, as Portugal like many other European countries have serious unemployment and don't want foreigners taking jobs from locals, just as Europeans face serious problems trying to work in US.

I assure you that I am really retired. Like full time retired. Like don't work at all retired. Like financially stable retired. Like not a millionaire, but with retirement income that is permanent, with paperwork, no less, retired! Topic is: Where is a great place to live for night life, rent a two-bed, close to the water and close to the city center? I would like to discuss the topic, if that's ok?

Can I suggest you go and spend your 90 days visa free in Portugal. Spend time in different parts of it. Go now, in winter and see if you really like it enough to up sticks and move there permanently.
Make sure you have healthcare insurance.
While there you can look at places to live, find out about schools, healthcare, taxes etc.
Remember that as a US citizens you will still pay tax in the U.S..

Even if you are fully retired, and have sufficient income, at your age few countries will issue you with a long-stay visa, least of all Portugal. They already have a large number of other EU citizens who don't require a visa. So without being able to get a visa, your plan is a non-starter.

Actually, as long as OP is not planning on working, I think Portugal is one of those countries which does offer longer term residence visas to foreigners with money. What I would be cautious about, though, is your son's status. I suspect he might not be able to move with you; if he's going to study he should be able to get a student visa but may not have the right to work later on - you'll need to to check that out.

You would probably get more effective advice from an expat forum than a travel one.

Another thing you'll need to consider is tax: http://www.expatforum.com/portugal/e...this-year.html

>><i>I assure you that I am really retired. Like full time retired. Like don't work at all retired. Like financially stable retired. Like not a millionaire, but with retirement income that is permanent, with paperwork, no less, retired! </i><<

We get it.

But you need to read (and absorb) alec's two posts. They are not likely to issue you a long stay visa based on being retired @ 41.

Plan on going for 3 months because that is how long you'll be able to stay.

>><i>I think Portugal is one of those countries which does offer longer term residence visas to foreigners with money.</i><<

Read the OP's 2nd post. Retired but not wealthy. The chance of getting a long stay visa -- slim in the extreme.

Guessing your son is young-ish age? You expect him to move with you now? Or do you expect him to graduate from US high school and then move in with you and go to university? Is he learning Portugese too? Do you legal right to take him?

I know, Iknow, "what city" is all you want to know but....

Lisboa is a wonderful city. And meets the requirements you mention. :-)

The poster may know better than anyone here.

But the only kind of visa I can find Portugal offering non-EU citizens, apart from the normal short-term permission to stay for holidays or business, is an investment visa.

This requires a minimum investment of €500,000, OR €1,000,000 in cash OR a real business plan to hire ten people in a bona fide business.

It's immaterial whether a foreigner intends working or not - just as it's immaterial whether a foreigner wants to work in the US.

Rich countries, by and large, just don't want non-productive immigrants unless they're dependants of current residents or have real evidence of persecution at home.

There are exceptions for students and for people filling job vacancies that can't be filled by a European. And there ARE countries offering retirement visas for some foreigners. I can't find any evidence Portugal is one of them.

We may all be ill-advised: immigration law often changes. But JasonDClark really ought to find some convincing evidence we are wring before he wastes any time, energy or money investigating how he likes Portugal. Right now it really does look as if Portugal simply doesn't want him on his current plans.

Right. The OP might do better to look at Central or South America. Or, I believe Malaysia has a good deal for retirees.

There is a growing population of non-EU immigrants in Portugal (present company included :-) ), here legally and long term on an elective basis, who either didn't receive or weren't dissuaded by such well-meaning advice and opinions as offered above.

Immigration policy of most EU countries, esp the older EU members in Western Europe, runs something like this. First, they must conform to EU regulations about unfettered freedom of movement for EEA and Swiss citizens, and their immediate family members. Then they often have favourable treatment for those sharing their national or ethnic origin, like Iberoamericans for Spain and Brazilians and Mozambicans for Portugal (and to a lesser extent Commonwealth citizens for UK). Then there are others, non-EEA migrants including US citizens. The have their domestic rules for the immediate family members of their citizens, such as their spouse/partner and children, with varying conditions, such as minimum income levels, learning their language and restriction on what they can do like working. They are willing to allow foreign workforce needed by their industry, through work permits and sponsorship (perhaps the greatest portion of US migrants), without affecting the job prospects for their citizens. Those willing to invest significant capital into the country, like investors and entrepreneurs. And students for language learning or higher education, partly for the altruistic ground of helping the developing world but also for future investment and trade benefits. As signatories to UN charter, they will consider giving a safe haven for those fleeing genuine persecution. But everyone else they will rather not have, who won't make much of a contribution to local economy and will gain from free public services like policing, state education, roads and security. They are having to absorb unlimited number from within EU, and they certain don't want to encourage more from outside.

"There is a growing population of non-EU immigrants in Portugal (present company included), here legally and long term on an elective basis, who either didn't receive or weren't dissuaded by such well-meaning advice and opinions as offered above."

Then tell the poster how.

Because there simply isn't a visa programme on record that would allow JasonDClark to migrate to Portugal with just a foreign pension.

" I picked Portugal as I hear that more people speak English then most European countries"

Well apart from UK, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, where far more English is spoken

Some good tax avoiding ops in Portugal

lmbo. I really think that some of you need to read reason's to obtain a Type I residency visa in Portugal. Here is the website. http://www.embassyportugal-us.org/Em...ency_Visa.html
I'm sure it might "baffle" some of you how I am 41 and retired at 35, and it might be an "uphill" battle to get a Type I residency visa from a foreign country, but its not unheard of. At no point has anyone really answered my question, thus the reason for laughing my butt off! I would expect this from blogger's of some lesser known sites, but fodors? Really? I like children, I really do, just didn't think that asking a simple question about Portugal would bring them all out of the woodwork! P.s. None of those English speaking countries fit the original question at all. If I were interested in some cold weather places, I would have said "Living in UK, Ireland, or anywhere else", just not Portugal. Feel free to look up forums for those countries and post USEFUL INFO there! Please, if you have USEFUL INFO, like Lisbon is terrific, there is a great little neighborhood, aka NAME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, and it has ........ That might be info that I would LOVE to hear. Not, hey, Ireland people speak English. OR I couldn't get a residency visa so you can't get one OR I always wanted to go to Asia so let me suggest that! lol Why is it so hard for bloggers to stick to topic? Simple pitch and catch people. Should not be so blatantly moronic!

And thanks for the couple of actual topic related comments. I do read them and appreciate them. Like to hear about your experiences luz_de_lisboa.

Hi JasonDClark85295,

I'm retired military (retired at 45), and I live in Germany. Yes, it can be a matter of jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get a retirement visa, and, yes, it can certainly be done.

However, I think your biggest hurdle might be health insurance -- unless you are retired military. You say you were in the military, but you don't say if that's where you're receiving your retirement from. If so, then I guess you do have health insurance.

When I got my visa in Germany, I needed to show proof of my income and proof of my health insurance. The first visa was for one year, the second and third visas were for two years, and last year I got my five-year visa.

Good luck!

s

The fact Portugal offer Type 1 residency visa doesn't mean it's easy to get or you qualify for it. Portugal, and Spain, only offer long-stay non-working visa to the genuine retired (above state retirement age, currently 65) or those with considerable assets (Portugal and Spain's golden visa requires buying a property worth at least 500,000 euro or 1 million euro deposited in a local bank account). Each Schengen country has its own rules and schemes, and some countries like France and Italy have fairly liberal rules but not Spain or Portugal.

I still think, assuming you can get a visa, that before committing to the move, especially based on other peoples experience, you should take yourself over to Portugal and experience a winter there. Decide whether you can live with the weather in winter, and look at different areas for yourself, only you can decide whether Lisbon appeals more than say the Algarve, which incidentally is the area you are most likely to find English spoken due to the tourists and retired Europeans living there.

You can say you are retired all you want. The authorities in Portugal won't consider a 41 yo man 'retired'.