expat network

Getting Connected in Portugal

How to get telephone and internet connections in Portugal. Telephone The main provider of telephone lines in Portugal is the formerly government-owned Portugal Telecom. Most other providers of telephone and internet services run their service through Portugal Telecom’s lines. Portugal Telecom will provide a telephone line or if one is already in place you will...

Portuguese mortgages

Portuguese Mortgages – Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Portuguese mortgages follow different rules to those you may be used to in the UK or in the US. Here Mortgage Direct, a leading mortgage broker in Portugal, provide answers to the frequently asked questions from expats looking to take out a Portuguese mortgage. Written for Expat Network by Mortgage Direct ...

Kyero Highlights French Overseas Property Market As ‘One To Watch’

New data from overseas property portal Kyero.com has outlined the latest changes in the European overseas property market during Q2 2021, as the company highlights growing potential in France. Kyero’s European Overseas Property Market Tracker for Q2 2021 shows that: The south of France is particularly in demand with Alpes-Maritimes,...

Schengen visa

When And How Do I Apply For A Schengen Visa?

Non-EU citizens who have not been granted residence in an EU country, who are planning to enter the EU (and other member countries) for a short visit will need a Schengen Visa. What are the options available and how do you apply? A Schengen visa allows you to enter any of...

house prices

Portugal’s House Prices Increase Whilst Rental Prices Decrease

In their annual report on house purchase and rental prices in Portugal Imovirtual have seen increases in the price of buying property in many areas but a reduction in rental prices. Here they set out the results for each area. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Imovirtual House Prices in Portugal House prices in...

property in portugal

3 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Property In Portugal For Retirement

How does your perfect day in retirement look? What about a morning spent exploring the local market, a lazy afternoon in the sun at the beach – just a short walk from home – and then sitting out in the balmy evening temperatures with good food and wine? For Brits who retire to Portugal, every...

EU Rights

Post-Brexit Solutions To Retention Of EU Rights

As the Brexit debate in the UK continues to rage, with little clarity as to the practical implications of the country’s departure from the EU, many people simply want to understand what this means in terms of the everyday aspects of their lives. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Luis da Silva, Managing Director of...

personal finance

Personal Finance In Portugal

There are many financial issues that face those who are looking to move to Portugal. Many of these issues can be dealt with easily, provided you take advice from an expert in both Portuguese tax and tax law in your home country. Something that can save you tax in at home can have the opposite...

villages portugal

Five Pretty Villages In Portugal

Monsanto. A small, fortified village previously named the ‘most Portuguese village in Portugal’. Houses and streets in Monsanto are packed tightly and carved from the cliffs and boulders that surround the town. The castle overlooking Monsanto provides an excellent panorama of the plains and nearby mountains of the Serra de Estrela. Monsaraz. This village still...

climate in portugal

The Climate In Portugal

Given the close proximity of northern Africa to the Portuguese mainland, approximately 200km across the eastern Atlantic, it is not surprising that Portugal has one of the warmest climates in Europe, with summer temperatures in the south of the country averaging around 28C (18C annually) and 20C in the north (15C annually). Portugal has a...

pensions

Pension Planning In Portugal

What are today’s options for expats with UK pensions moving to Portugal? When it comes to pensions, your long-term financial security is at stake, so you should take extreme care to do what is right for you and your family. Expats also need to consider the tax rules and implications in Portugal or your country...

property market in portugal

The Property Market In Portugal – Is It Time To Buy?

The property market in Portugal experienced a turnaround in 2015 after several years of recession, which saw property prices fall by 30% on average in the Algarve. Spurred on by property prices that are still around 13% below their 2006/07 peak, British buyers – who have long been the keenest of overseas buyers – were...