Gail Aguiar
@gailatlarge
Canadian expat in Portugal
Forum posts
51
About me
Canadian
Lives in Porto
Speaks English
Registration: 13 January 2014
Opening a bank account by MarkWR
Greetings. I am currently living in the United Kingdom but am wishing to live in Portugal either for part of the year (3-6 months per year) or to relocate completely. Is it possible to open a Portuguese bank account while still living in the UK? I ...
As far as I'm aware, this is the only bank I know of in Portugal which lets you open the account overseas by video call: https://www.atlantico.eu/ I have no affiliation with this bank, my accounts are in other Portuguese banks, and I ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
I am happy to pay upfront six months rent , but is it possible to do that from my home country bank account- that is without opening a Portuguese bank account before I get my residence card. Will run into some issues with rent/landlord? If you do ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
As soon as you convert your NIF from foreign to resident with a Portuguese address, you are automatically a tax resident of Portugal from that day. You don't have a choice. Only residence permits under Golden Visa which have extremely short ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
1. You don't need a fiador to a) rent a place, or b) register it with Finan莽as. Almost no foreigner is able to get a fiador, they rent an apartment by offering more months upfront (real estate agents will ask for 6 rents, either 5 upfront ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
By the way, VFS Global just copy/pastes their website from one country to another. You aren't actually required to show a ticket for the D7 out of the USA. As you can see, it's not on their checklist at ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
Note that VFS Global is merely a document collector, they are not authorized to indicate whether you qualify or not. Most of their dealings are with Schengen visa applicants (who DO use tourist accommodation for their visa applications), while ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
1. SEF sends the card only to the address that you provide proof of residence for, OR you may pick it up in person at the SEF office but this is less of an option due to COVID. What we're seeing is that if the registered mail is not signed for ... Read More
Documents Required for D-7 Visa to Bring for Consulate Interview by dennislg
As I understand, there are several documents that one must bring to the interview which are listed in VFS Global's site https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/USA/residency-permit.html. Two of them are somewhat confusing. These are, - Transport ...
The D7 is a residence visa that is valid for 120 days. It is not a guarantee that it will convert to a residence permit. A visa is to enter, a permit is to stay. The visa application is scanned and sent to SEF in Portugal, which means SEF relies on ... Read More
Unfair Taxes in Portugal by AuMargaret
Hello to all on Expat.Com Why doesn't anybody complain here in Portugal? It seems that everyone just takes what is dished up by the Government without making comments or asking questions. For example, only the very large cities in Portugal ...
If someone doesn't understand what they're protesting, it doesn't matter where they're from. But to discourage anyone from political participation just because they're not a citizen doesn't make any sense if you're truly ... Read More
Unfair Taxes in Portugal by AuMargaret
Hello to all on Expat.Com Why doesn't anybody complain here in Portugal? It seems that everyone just takes what is dished up by the Government without making comments or asking questions. For example, only the very large cities in Portugal ...
This was the outcome of the protest about IVA on utilities: https://www.deco.proteste.pt/campanhas/bastam6/fechado My suggestion to expats about these issues (of which I am one) is to join a protest and become a citizen so you can actually vote on ... Read More
Unfair Taxes in Portugal by AuMargaret
Hello to all on Expat.Com Why doesn't anybody complain here in Portugal? It seems that everyone just takes what is dished up by the Government without making comments or asking questions. For example, only the very large cities in Portugal ...
Do you read Portuguese newspapers or watch Portuguese TV? There are protests all the time in Portuguese media, including by the various Portuguese political parties, on all social media channels as well as TV, podcasts, YouTube, and every social ... Read More
Need Help, US citizen moving to Portugal
I know someone who can help you. I'll send you a private message. Read More
information about Porto
Hi, are you still looking for information about Porto? I moved here from Canada in 2013 and can give tips on neighbourhoods, finding accommodation, getting a fiscal number, setting up a bank account, et cetera. You can send me questions by private ... Read More
IMI payments
I don't understand your second sentence: "despite not having paid anything for two years" which contradicts the first sentence which said you've been paying your IMI for two years? If you have not paid IMI on your home in Portugal ... Read More
Timing for obtaining a residency permit by Ngreen24
We are arriving in Porto in June with our residency visa. Wondering how long the process takes to get a residency permit once in country? Do you recommend getting an local advocate to help? Thanks for any suggestions. Nancy
You need to make an appointment RIGHT AWAY with SEF through their phone centre, as the appointments can be backed up in the major cities. If your appointment date is past the expiry of your visa, not to worry as you will still be legal in Portugal ... Read More
Estate Agent Referrals
Do you need more referrals? Let me know, I have two who I can vouch for, through recommendations from my clients who've dealt with them. Read More
Help!!!!! Proper Entry into Portugal past 90 days! Stuck need Help
1) yes, as a tourist in the Schengen zone 2) apply in the US at the Portuguese Consulate in San Francisco 3) anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months (it depends on your application, if your documents are in order and if you actually qualify and how far ... Read More
price for apartments/condos in Porto area by karmsun
When is the best time to look for a one bedroom (maybe two bedroom) for one year lease ? Also; how much does a nice clean place cost per month ? I understand there are all different prices like everywhere else but looking for an average price for ...
For cost of living information, see Numbeo: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Portugal I have a page on my website on which I've published a big list of real estate agencies, accommodation websites, classifieds, ... Read More
price for apartments/condos in Porto area by karmsun
When is the best time to look for a one bedroom (maybe two bedroom) for one year lease ? Also; how much does a nice clean place cost per month ? I understand there are all different prices like everywhere else but looking for an average price for ...
Euros. There's currency fluctuation and people from other countries are using this information. All listings are in euros. Read More
price for apartments/condos in Porto area by karmsun
When is the best time to look for a one bedroom (maybe two bedroom) for one year lease ? Also; how much does a nice clean place cost per month ? I understand there are all different prices like everywhere else but looking for an average price for ...
Once you get the Schengen (4-month) entry visa there will be other hurdles, but feel free to ask in the meantime. Note that changing addresses between the entry visa and the appointment at SEF for residency permit can be problematic and it's ... Read More
Family relocating in Porto by mariette18
Hello, I currently live in Cape Town, South Africa, since 9 years. I am married and have 3 children. We are moving to Porto in September 2018, it's a personal choice, to explore another part of the world, learn a new language, another ...
Private school or public school? Cost of living is highest in Lisbon and Porto, due to tight rental markets as the inventory is being eaten by tourism. See Numbeo.com for cost of living indices (user-contributed data). Health insurance must be ... Read More
Long Term House Letting Agents by The Gaskin
Hi Community, We (hubby & me) hope to be in Porto living by August; I am in Porto on the 9th & 10th of May to look for rental property (if anyone can help me PLEASE). Maximum 40 minutes from airport in any direction with minimum 3 beds or ...
I can't assume to know why your prospective landlords backed out, but I think you're confusing private rentals with public policy. The city doesn't own these rental units, these are private landlords. If a private landlord prefers to ... Read More
price for apartments/condos in Porto area by karmsun
When is the best time to look for a one bedroom (maybe two bedroom) for one year lease ? Also; how much does a nice clean place cost per month ? I understand there are all different prices like everywhere else but looking for an average price for ...
Avoid searching in August as it's the month Portuguese typically take their holidays. Nobody will answer the phone, and almost no-one uses voicemail. Many people don't use email, either, most business is conducted by phone, so if you ... Read More
Long Term House Letting Agents by The Gaskin
Hi Community, We (hubby & me) hope to be in Porto living by August; I am in Porto on the 9th & 10th of May to look for rental property (if anyone can help me PLEASE). Maximum 40 minutes from airport in any direction with minimum 3 beds or ...
Hi @ The Gaskin, There are financial (tax) and other reasons why landlords are turning to AirBnB rather than long-term rentals, which have historically favoured renters until deregulation in recent years. Unfortunately, the combination of the ... Read More
Porto - Gondomar
I really like the riverfront at Gondomar, there's a boardwalk from Pal谩cio de Freixo that looks like it was renovated in recent years and continues for about 3km upriver. The metro line ends at F芒nzares, on the north side (away from ... Read More
Confirming what I was told by the Portugese Consulate in Toronto by nnp7000
I'm a Canadian citizen married to a Hungarian woman. My wife and I are interested in living in Portugal for about 9-12 months. Yesterday, I called the Portugese Consulate in Toronto to learn about what it'd would take for me to live in ...
If you have Irish citizenship and your wife has Hungarian citizenship, then it's even easier for the two of you to establish residency in Portugal since you're both EU citizens. The process for authenticating a document in a non-Apostille ... Read More
Confirming what I was told by the Portugese Consulate in Toronto by nnp7000
I'm a Canadian citizen married to a Hungarian woman. My wife and I are interested in living in Portugal for about 9-12 months. Yesterday, I called the Portugese Consulate in Toronto to learn about what it'd would take for me to live in ...
I'm a Canadian married to an EU citizen (Portuguese), who moved to Portugal from Toronto in 2013, three months after we married in the Azores. This page from SEF (Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service) is in English and explains the ... Read More
Visiting Portugal on May 2018 - Questions... by Guestposter4510
My wife and I are visiting Portugal this May. Will be staying in Porto as well as in Cercal do Alentejo. Would love suggestions/ideas of things to do to experience the TRUE Portugal culture and people. Also, we are investigating Portugal as a ...
We own, but I wasn't part of the purchase process since my husband purchased before we met. But I can recommend some bilingual estate agents for Porto. For activities in the Algarve, have you looked into ocean kayaking? There's a company ... Read More
Family home
I can put you in touch with a few agents (3 different agencies) with properties in the neighbourhood (Foz near Serralves). Just know it's super-competitive for housing around there because there's a high concentration of schools and ... Read More
Visiting Portugal on May 2018 - Questions... by Guestposter4510
My wife and I are visiting Portugal this May. Will be staying in Porto as well as in Cercal do Alentejo. Would love suggestions/ideas of things to do to experience the TRUE Portugal culture and people. Also, we are investigating Portugal as a ...
Hi there, I live in Porto if you want to meet up and ask questions. I've been here nearly 4.5 years, moved from Toronto and also lived in the UK, USA, and Australia for comparison. May is typically a super-busy month (lots of flight deals bring ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
Hi Jurj3n, Your Brazilian partner -- by law -- cannot take on another nationality, but until recently Brazilians have not had their citizenship revoked after taking a second nationality. This article from April 2017 explains ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
Dina, See this page on the SEF website under Notes, 1c. http://www.imigrante.pt/PagesEN/DocumentosNecessarios/ConcessaoAR/16Art98N1.aspx "Minors adopted by an unmarried applicant, by a married applicant or by the spouse, following decision ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
Jurjen, De facto (common law) is treated the same as marriage, but you have to prove you've been living together in the same house for at least two years. It says here (see #7) that they will need both your birth ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
Hi Jurjen, I just realized that the links we're providing are flagging the forum system (they don't want advertising so I think all links get flagged for review)... so from just reading what you've quoted from the law articles, I would ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
The reference for subsistence funds for third-country nationals when applying for a Temporary Residence Permit, according to the SEF website: 1) Sufficient income level is set at 40 euros per day (plus 75 euros per ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
Dina: You need to visit the Imigrante.pt website for visa information. It's in English as well: http://www.imigrante.pt/PagesEN/Default.aspx Under 'DOCUMENTS REQUIRED', applying for a resident's ... Read More
Family Reunification by Jurj3n
Hi All, I am an EU Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands at this moment, but planning to move in 2019 to Portugal and live there together with my Brazilian partner (registered union). At this moment my Brazilian partner still lives in Brazil ...
It's all on the SEF website. http://www.sef.pt/portal/V10/EN/aspx/apoiocliente/detalheApoio.aspx?fromIndex=0&id_Linha=4351#CReg_EN Read More
Visa for US Citizen wishing to relocate to Portugal by Roberthood
Greetings! I need some help/advice! I am a retired individual planning to retire to Portugal. Since I need to present my documents and application in person to the Portuguese consulate in San Francisco, and I live 1000 miles away in Seattle, I ...
Bob, Portuguese law states that the tenants must honour 1/3rd of their rental contracts and the notice required for vacating a rental is also based on the length of the contract. In the cities (Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra) especially, the contracts are ... Read More
Visa for US Citizen wishing to relocate to Portugal by Roberthood
Greetings! I need some help/advice! I am a retired individual planning to retire to Portugal. Since I need to present my documents and application in person to the Portuguese consulate in San Francisco, and I live 1000 miles away in Seattle, I ...
Have you applied for the 4-month visa already? Because I've been informed that as of July 2017, applications can no longer be mailed to the SFO Consulate. Read More
Expat Hangouts
Weekly meetups here: meetup.com/Porto-Internationals/ There's also a corresponding Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/839960832723366/ Read More
How difficult is it to obtain Portuguese Residency and Citizenship? by AldoRamos
How difficult is it to obtain Portuguese Residency and Citizenship? Any information will be appreciated. Sincerely, Aldo from Minneapolis, MN - USA
Hi Aldo, As a previous poster mentioned, it all depends on the category you qualify for and if you are able to meet the requirements. If there are any mistakes in the paperwork or if it is incomplete will also make a difference. Processing times ... Read More
Retirement/Non-Lucrative Visa
It may not be an equivalent since I'm not familiar with the 'Retirement/Non-Lucrative Visa' but there is a Non Habitual Resident visa for Portugal for people who wish to reside in Portugal without working. It's good for 10 years and ... Read More
Police Clearance certificate
Since Malaysia is not an apostille country, you will need to read the article below for the procedure on how to authenticate the document: https://malaysiannotarypublic.wordpress.com/category/apostille/ I had to do the same procedure with my birth ... Read More
Making Friends
Tongeche, don't despair -- there are plenty of people in the same situation as you. It may be easier for you to start off making friends in this particular group (other expats), and then once you begin working with Portuguese and learn the ... Read More
It would be nice to meet people! by HeraBa
Hi everyone! My husband and I just moved to Portugal last week from Canada! (my hubby is originally from here). We are currently living in Almada, across from Lisbon bridge, and will see where we will settle. We are working on some projects and ...
Hi Hera, Fellow Canadian here, living in Porto for 2+ years. Give me shout when you're up this way. I write about Porto and Portugal on my website, .gailatlarge.com. Gail Read More
How to obtain residence permit for a person entered Portugal Illegally by Simplemen
Dear Expat's, I must admit after reading some of topics in this forum you guys are awesome. So i have decided to ask for some expat advice in my scenario. Really hope will get some good suggestion. I did come to one of the EU country and been ...
The short answer is not good news, I'm afraid: if you've entered the country illegally, there is no legal way for you to stay. It doesn't matter how welcoming the Portuguese community is or if you're offered a job, the immigration ... Read More
Anyone fancy meeting up in Braga/Porto area? by Em1239
Hi everyone! I have just moved to Portugal and don't know many people! It's quite hard settling in! I am living in Braga but am hoping to move to Porto in a couple of days so if anyone is in those areas and would like to meet up for a coffee or ...
I moved to Porto from Canada in late 2013, so if you have any questions about the integration process or just general questions about living here feel free to contact me. I've been an expat 4x in 3 continents, I feel this gives me some ... Read More