Today, I’m writing to you from Portugal, Europe’s oldest nation state… home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites… a land geographically blessed with over 1,000 miles of coastline which boasts some of the best surfing spots on earth… where you’ll find the world’s oldest bookstore (Bertrand Bookstore in Lisbon’s Chiado district)… thriving expat communities, and, this week, scores of your fellow readers who have gathered here in Lisbon for this year’s sold-out Live And Invest Overseas Portugal Conference.
Proceedings got underway bright and early this morning when Portugal expat Joch Woodruff kicked off the conversation with his insights and tips into how best to start your new life in this Old World great.
For Joch, the dream of a Portugal retirement was sparked on a work trip back in 1979. Today, for Joch and his husband, Jeff, that dream is a reality—thanks in part to a Live And Invest In Portugal Conference which they attended back in 2019. A year later, pandemic be damned, they made their move.
They explored the Algarve, Porto, Lisbon, and beyond as they searched for their perfect place in Portugal. They found everything they were looking for in Braga, a culturally rich hidden gem in the north of the country. This week they got the exciting news that their citizenship application is moving forward and they should be proud Portugal passport holders in the not-too-distant future.
They’re in no rush, enjoying a laidback, fun-filled retirement, making inroads in learning the language, and enjoying all the travel opportunities a life in this part of the world can offer. Next month they’re off to Greece, Montenegro, and beyond…
Of course, dream retirements like theirs don’t become reality without some… let’s say “effort” because I can’t call the conversations, get-togethers, networking, cocktail hours, and sight-seeing that a Live And Invest Overseas Conference entails “work”…
But there are key practicalities you need to address and bureaucratic hoops you need to navigate in order to make a smooth move into expat life. Here in the room this week we’ll be hearing from key contacts who can help with all the necessary paperwork and free up your time to focus on the fun stuff.
Over the next couple days experts in residency, taxes, banking, real estate, relocation, health care, and more will be taking to the stage to share their know-how and answer any questions those in the room or watching from home may have…
Right now our trusted Portugal attorney is sharing his invaluable insights on how to navigate the financial requirements for visas… how a criminal record might impact your residency options… the various paths to a Portuguese passport… your best options for health insurance, banking, and more…
Sincerely,
Victoria Harmer
Editor, Overseas Opportunity Letter
