What I Wish I Knew BEFORE Moving to Portugal
Before we moved to Portugal, we thought we had it all figured out. We were wrong. We breakdown some things that expats Josh and Kalie from ExpatsEverywhere recently spoke to and wish someone had told us before moving to Portugal that would’ve saved time, money, and friendships.
Bureaucracy in Portugal is Always Changing
The infamous Portuguese bureaucracy is very real and affects everyone. When Josh and Kalie first moved to Portugal in 2020, the rules for the non-habitual tax regime (NHR) allowed retired expats to pay 0% tax on their pension income for the first ten years living here. Then, in 2021, the Portuguese government changed the tax rate to 10%. Fast forward to 2024, and the entire NHR scheme was completely removed, replaced by a new, revised tax regime following much uncertainty for expats.
More recently, in July 2025, Portugal’s parliament proposed changes to its naturalization laws, increasing the residency requirement for citizenship from five to 10 years. There was also the notorious switch from SEF to AIMA, which is the governing body processing non-EU immigrants. From delays, major backlogs, and extensions, the frustration is still being felt and impacting many.
2. Getting Basic Things Done Can Be Difficult
Accomplishing necessary tasks like getting a NIF number or opening a bank account can be time-consuming and confusing. Luckily, now there are companies like Bordr you can use to help with this (get $10 off here) but back when Josh and Kalie moved here, it took some serious legwork.
We thought we could just walk into a bank and open an account. Nope! Josh and Kalie faced issues, too. The first bank they walked into rejected Josh, but accepted his wife, Kalie. However, they wanted a joint bank account, and walked out empty-handed. When we finally got a bank account, we had to provide multiple documents proving our identity and income, and it still took several days of processing.
3. Housing and Rent Prices Keep Rising
One thing people have been greatly underestimating is the housing market. Waiting for rent and housing prices to calm down is a gamble, as we’ve seen prices steadily rising. When Josh and Kalie first arrived here in 2020, there were some serious deals to be had. I’m talking about prices like €700 to €1200 per square meter for something livable, but not fully renovated, in Porto. Pricing for updated and new builds was around €2,000 to €2,500 per square meter. Now, the norm for new builds in the city center of Porto costs €4,000 to €6,000 per square meter. Let’s not even talk about housing costs in Lisbon.
Costs have doubled in just a few years. And rent has not gotten much better, either. People who had lived in Porto for a while used to scoff at landlords offering T2 apartments for €650 to €900 per month. Now? You would jump at that opportunity… or seriously wonder what is wrong with the place. Realistically, you’re now going to spend at least €900 to €1,500 per month for the same type of apartment.
The expats initially waited to buy, hoping the market would cool down. But Josh and Kalie finally pulled the trigger and purchased property in 2023 after searching for a solid 18 months. And they’re so glad they did! Prices have just gone up from then and many people have been priced out of the market, especially locals.
4. Making Portuguese Friends Takes Time
If you’re expecting to move to Portugal and immediately integrate with the locals, think again. I’m not saying don’t try - but, I will warn you that although the Portuguese people are very warm, their social circles are tight. Language can still be a barrier, especially in places outside of Porto, Lisbon, and Algarve, where speaking English isn’t the norm.
You are more likely to build meaningful connections with people who share your interests or are within your community somehow, such as through your child’s school. For example, Josh and Kalie are huge Arsenal fans and there’s an Arsenal supporters group in Portugal. They’ve been able to make some Portuguese friends that way and are getting closer to them over time.
5. You’ll Meet Other Americans and Expats Fast . . . But Don’t Get Stuck in The “Bubble”
Here’s the thing - you’ll make other American and expat friends quickly. But staying in that expat bubble is a choice that I recommend you avoid. Because, otherwise, you’re just going to recreate your American life with different weather. If you want to integrate and make Portuguese friends, you have to make those meaningful connections.
We’ve grown so much since moving to Portugal. But if we had known many of these things, we could’ve saved ourselves from a lot of stress. Portugal has been amazing, but it is real life. And if you’re prepared for that, it can be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
Expats abroad – or aspiring to be expats in Portugal – do you want to save yourself from headaches and wasted time? Watch the full ExpatsEverywhere video on what I wish I knew before moving to Portugal here.
Thinking of moving to Portugal?
Kalie is available for one-on-one consultations, or you can bundle a course and a consult.
