Retire In Portugal

For decades, Portugal been one of the most popular retirement destinations. Especially for citizens of the U.K. and Northern Europe. As part of the European Union, it has much going for it:

• lovely weather year-round,
• a low cost of living,
• great infrastructure and amenities,
• and fantastic health care.

Now, more and more North Americans are looking to retire in Portugal.

People are looking harder at Portugal as a retirement destination. One of the main reasons is because of the recent introduction of legislation. It eliminates local taxes on foreign pensions and other retirement income.

Portugal has a new Non-Habitual Resident regime.

Anyone who has not been resident in Portugal for the previous five tax years receives pensions and foreign-source income. Both free from local taxes for 10 years. This if the applicant’s home country has a double-taxation treaty with Portugal.

The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom all have such treaties in place. So, you can sign up with a local tax office once you have acquired the regular residence permits.

To qualify for the NHR regime, an individual must:

• Live in Portugal 183 calendar days, either consecutive or not. This in the year of application and years after,
• Have permanent housing in Portugal by December 31st of the year they apply,
• And prove the intention of using it as their main home.

There are no special visa requirements for non-European Union retirees in Portugal. The process is the same whether you are 26 years old or 62 years old. You need to start the process in your home country and it might take some time.

Most applicants opt for a Type 1 Resident Visa to retire in Portugal. This is available from a Portuguese consulate abroad. But, you must get it within three months of moving to the country.

Once in-country, applicants have six months to apply for a Resident Permit. The permit is renewable every two years. And after five years you can convert it to a permanent residency permit.

Most importantly, citizens of the EU must apply for a residence permit at the local town hall. Or at an office of the immigration authorities. This is if you want to remain in Portugal for more than three months. And, you must do it within 30 days of arriving in the country.

The only requirement is proof that you can support yourself and a valid EU passport. The certificate is valid for five years.

The Golden Visa residency permit is available to non-EU citizens who:

• buy property worth half a million euros or more,
• invest 1 million euros in the country,
• or by start a local business that creates at least 10 jobs.

Applicants need only stay in the country 7 days during the first year. And 14 days in the following two years. Family members can tag along. The initial permit is valid for five years.

After this applicants can apply for permanent residence. After six years they can apply for full Portuguese citizenship. In short, a great opportunity for retirement in Portugal.

Read More: Portugal Visa And Residency Information

The vast majority of foreign retirees moving to Portugal settle in the Algarve.

Silves and Lagoa are particularly appealing to retire in Portugal. In these two spots, you can enjoy medieval towns and fishing villages. Or open-air markets… local wine and some of Europe’s best sandy beaches.

Southern Portugal enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world… with 3,300 hours of sunshine per year. In short, there are more sunny days each year in the Algarve than anywhere else in Europe.

This is why it is one of the top destinations on the continent for Europeans seeking summer sun. Or looking to escape the cold, dark days of winter up north.

Portugal has a strong historic and cultural links with England. This is why English is common in the country. And even more so in the Algarve. Retirees here are able to get by without speaking much Portuguese. But the experience is better if they make an effort to learn to communicate with the locals.

Read more: World’s Best Places To Retire

U.S. Medicare is not honored in Portugal. But the standards of health care are excellent in most parts of the country. The health care system ranks among the world’s top 20 in performance by the World Health Organization. And this is considered by many as a main reason to retire in Portugal.

The terms that apply to Portuguese citizens also apply to Portuguese residents. These residents must be citizens of EU countries, and they need to file an application. Non-EU residents that apply need medical insurance to retire in Portugal.

Above all, the cost of living in Portugal is among the lowest in Western Europe. On average 30 percent lower than in any other country of the region.

A retired couple could live here comfortably but modestly on a budget of US$1,500 per month. With a budget of US$2,000 per month or more, you could retire in Portugal… with an appointed lifestyle in the heart of the Old World.

Real Estate

Real estate in Portugal is undervalued and among the most affordable in Europe. It has one of the most favorable price-to-rent ratios (a measure of the profitability of owning a house). And most favorable price-to-income ratios (a measure of affordability) in the region.

In short, housing is cheaper to buy… and investors can make more money from rentals than in many other European countries.

When it came to an overseas retirement, Mandy and Peter knew what they were looking for…

“We wanted to retire somewhere where the weather is better, the pace of life is slower, and the quality of life is higher,” says Mandy. “We’d come to Portugal for years on vacation and the whole family loved it.”

The couple chose to settle in the interior of the Algarve. The closest city is Loulé. The Algarve is famous for its long coastline and super-sunny weather, so why would anyone relocate here and not choose to live by the sea?

Mandy explains, “We wanted to live here year-round, and we were very aware that the coast could be touristy with lots of holiday-goers. It’s packed out in July and August but empty in the winter.

“Some of the housing complexes are very quiet because people have gone away. We wanted to be somewhere we could live all year with a stable community nearby. Also, we wanted to embrace the Portuguese lifestyle and its people. Most importantlu, we wanted to be in authentic Portugal rather than on the coast, where you could be anywhere in Europe, really. For example, in July and August, when it’s very busy, you’ve got the option of going down there. But at the same time, even during the peak of tourist season, it’s quiet here. It’s bliss.”

“You can easily get around, too. And, we really like the people here,” Peter adds. “And it’s less expensive in this area…”

“We knew we wanted to be inland,” says Mandy. “We had been here before, as a friend retired early and introduced us to this area. It’s not too far from civilization… if you want it. In the nearest town there’s a post office, a doctor, supermarket, etc. It’s well-situated. We’re near enough to the motorway up to Lisbon, but not affected by all the traffic.

“We love the view here inland, the lifestyle is very relaxing, and it’s not expensive…

“The local people are wonderful and have embraced us. We’ve never had any issues. People couldn’t be more helpful and there are quite a few expats living near us. There are a lot of like-minded people. I think anywhere in Portugal you’ll find expats nearby, but that wasn’t why we chose to be here. It evolved.”

“We love the climate here,” adds Peter. “It’s peaceful, and we can be most places on the coast in 20 minutes.”

“What do you do in a typical day?” I ask. Peter chuckles, “I get asked that a lot. It varies quite a bit. We don’t set an alarm clock anymore. It’s all about relaxation. We’ve got the time to do things for ourselves now, and we can do things more thoroughly. We’ve got a garden, which we never had time for before. We go to northern Portugal and Spain, do a bit of traveling…

“We do quite a lot of walking. We spend time down at the marina. It’s nice; the best of both worlds. You’ve got the coast if you want it, and then, if you want a break, you go to the city.

“We work out, try to keep healthy. Everything is on our doorstep, here. And the great thing is, there aren’t many people or much traffic, and most of the roads have been improved.”

Mandy continues, “We can travel throughout Europe. We’ve just got so much to choose from. We’re enjoying not being up against it, time-wise… doing the things we never had time to do. Then we have the family. We have a lot of visitors. It’s quite busy, but a nice lifestyle.

“Life is so different over here. We spend more time outdoors. Many people play golf, go to the beach… there are so many options…”.