Moving abroad to Portugal – Practical planning
Portugal is a stunning sun-kissed European nation to which millions of visitors flock each year in search of sun, sea, lifestyle and golf…
Many of these tourists promise to one day return and settle in Portugal, and indeed, of all the European nations, Portugal is an all-time favorite among expats from around the world, as well as retirees looking for a warm nation. , safe and low cost. in which to retire.
If you are thinking of moving abroad to live in Portugal, you need to engage in some practical planning because while moving is considered one of the most stressful things one can do, moving abroad is doubly so unless you have everything in place and understood. before you leave.
This article is a guide to the practical planning you need to do before moving abroad to live in Portugal to make your relocation as smooth and successful as possible.
The first thing to master is the language: Portuguese is a notoriously difficult language to master, and as a result, many who move to live in Portugal settle in areas such as the Algarve, where there is a strong international community where English is spoken. it is widely spoken and understood.
Try taking Portuguese lessons before you move to Portugal and consider settling in an area where English is used – look at the major cities like Lisbon and Faro or check out the Algarve region as mentioned above. Once you have mastered the language enough to be able to communicate and make friends and associates, you can look around the nation and see if an alternative part of Portugal appeals to you more.
If you have children, you need to take some time to think about how you are going to choose to educate them. There are a number of international schools in Portugal; again, these are located in the Algarve or in the main cities. If your children are over 7 years old, you really should educate them in an international school through their mother tongue or else you risk harmonizing their educational development.
If on the other hand the cost of educating your children privately is prohibitive (and can be expensive in Portugal), or if your children are very young, you have the option of sending them to the local public school which is free. Public schools naturally teach through Portuguese.
Whichever option you decide to take, make sure you find out about the availability of places for your children in nursery or school before you move to Portugal… Nursery places are particularly difficult to obtain in certain areas of the country, for example, and you need to register early for a space.
The next most important consideration is employment and money. If you need to work to support your family, you should find a job before you go and find out if your experience and qualifications translate to Portugal. Many British expats decide to move to the Algarve and think that even though they can’t speak the language, they can work as pool cleaners or something; Naturally, the competition for that job is high, and again and again you read stories. from expats struggling to get ahead financially in forums about living in Portugal.
The number one reason foreign relocations fail is financial: get a job or fix your financial situation before you commit to moving to Portugal and be very realistic about your chances of finding continued secure employment.
Finally, you need to find a place to live! Even if you have vacationed many times in a particular part of Portugal, you should consider renting a property before committing to a property purchase. This is because once on the ground and living day to day in Portugal, you will be more aware of the opportunities to buy a property and you will be surprised how much lower local prices are than tourist prices. Plus, you’ll learn more about the areas of the country that appeal to you, your family, your lifestyle, and your budget.