Americans require a residency permit for moving to Portugal, however they are allowed to enter the country for up to 90 days without a visa. Everything you need to know as an American before relocating to Portugal is included in this book. We’ll talk about the necessary paperwork, applying for a visa, the expense of living in Portugal, healthcare, education, retirement, and more. Have fun reading!
US to Portugal: What You Need to Know Before the Move
You can enter Portugal as an American and remain for up to 90 days without a visa.
You must compile the required paperwork and apply for the appropriate sort of residency permit if you intend to stay longer. The D2, D7, D8, and Portugal Golden Visas are the most widely used visas for Portugal.
Portuguese citizenship can also be acquired by naturalization, marriage, and descent.
Depending on your needs, moving to Portugal can cost anywhere from $9,000 to $13,000.
Education, healthcare, work-life balance, the low cost of living in comparison to the US, and tax exemptions are just a few of the advantages of living in Portugal.
Top Motivations Behind Americans Relocating Overseas
One of our most recent papers, “The Great American Exodus Re-visit,” examines this subject by looking at the increase of Americans looking to become citizens or establish a second home.
The following are the reasons why Americans are relocating overseas, per the report:
Retirement Planning: A lot of retirees look for places with cheaper living expenses and a safer, pension-friendly way of life.
High Living Expenses: People relocate to more affordable nations due to the growing cost of housing, healthcare, and daily necessities.
The main causes of social and political unrest include growing polarization, instability, and dissatisfaction with internal problems.
Healthcare Costs: People are drawn to nations with universal or more reasonably priced healthcare due to the high expense of healthcare in the US.
Dissatisfaction with US Work Culture: In pursuit of a better work-life balance, many professionals are eschewing the “hustle culture.”
Work-Life Balance and Digital Nomadism: Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers frequently select nations that promote flexible lives and higher standards of living.
Purchasing a Vacation house: To obtain residency and enjoy a second house, several Americans make real estate investments overseas.
Investment Goals: International portfolio diversification is becoming more and more popular among funds and cryptocurrency investors.
Tax Benefits: People looking to maximize their financial planning are drawn to tax-friendly jurisdictions.
Additionally, the number of Americans who formally renounced their citizenship increased from over 30,000 in the previous ten years to over 1,300 in the first half of 2024. In the face of societal change and economic instability, Americans’ desire for financial stability and an enhanced quality of life is reflected in this tendency.
How To Move to Portugal From the USA
In theory, Americans can enter Portugal without a visa. For up to 90 days, anyone holding an American passport is permitted entry for travel or business. However, you will need to obtain the proper residency permission if you intend to relocate from the United States to Portugal.
The Portuguese government provides a variety of visas, including employment, family reunification, and resident visas.
If you are an American and intend to stay in Portugal for more than three months, you must obtain a Portuguese residency visa. You can apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency after living in Portugal for five years with the appropriate residency permit.
