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Moving To Portugal – What You Need To Know

Portugal Discovery Tours 2022

Enjoy a tailored tour with someone who knows the area inside out to help you decide the right location for you, who can assist you in planning your move and answer your questions.

The UK Tax Residence Test And Expatriates – Are You Sure You Have Escaped UK Taxation?

The UK statutory residence test determines whether or not individuals are resident in the UK for tax purposes. It can continue to impact British expatriates more than you realise, so it’s important to understand the rules and follow them carefully where necessary. Written by Jason Porter of Blevins Franks You may be settled in a…

10 Must-Ask Questions When Purchasing Property Overseas

Buying a property abroad might be a dream for many, but for some, it can quickly become a nightmare. With different buying processes to the UK, legal systems, languages and currencies there are lots of potential areas for things to go wrong. However, YourOverseasHome.com believe that potential problems can be avoided, as long as prospective…

What To Know When Buying A Second Property Abroad

Owning a second property abroad has become increasingly popular among UK residents, offering a blend of lifestyle enhancement and investment diversification. Whether you’re purchasing a holiday home, an investment property or somewhere you are looking to retire, purchasing real estate overseas requires careful consideration and thorough research. Here’s what you need to know before taking…

Retiring In Portugal: A Guide For Expats

Portugal is becoming a more and more well-liked retirement destination because of its gorgeous coastline, pleasant climate, and rich cultural legacy. Retiring in Portugal offers a laid-back lifestyle and lots of options to spend your senior years, whether your dreams include sipping wine by the Atlantic or touring historic villages. We’ll go over all you…

Real Estate Market Prospects In Portugal In 2024

The removal of property investment as an option when applying for a Golden Visa in Portugal and the closure of the Non Habitual Residence scheme is due to the Government’s belief that these have been driving unsustainable property price increases. So what are the real estate market prospects in Portugal in 2024? Bloomberg report that…

UK Overnight Stays In Portugal Up 39.5% In 10 Years

Figures from Portugal’s national statistics institute (INE) reveal that the number of overnight stays by UK visitors in Portugal has increased by 39.5% in 10 years, from 7,095,996 in 2013 to 9,901,272 in 2023. The huge increase shows how comprehensively Portugal is now on the radar of many UK tourists, as well as those from…

Keeping Your Home Number Abroad: An Expatriate’s Guide

Understand how VoIP lets you keep your country’s phone number anywhere worldwide. We will cover how VoIP transforms expatriate communication by enabling the retention of your home phone number anywhere in the world. This guide delves into VoIP’s main advantages, from global connectivity to always-on access to SMS messages, explaining what makes it an excellent…

Portugal’s Golden Visa – New Rules in 2024

Portugal’s Golden Visa programme has been a very successful scheme but new rules have removed the option to invest in real estate which has been the most popular option. The problem has been that the programme’s success is believed to have had a significant impact on property prices and so the option has been withdrawn. …

Non Habitual Resident Regime, Out With The Old And In With The New

The surprise announcement by the Portuguese prime minister that he saw no value for the Non Habitual Resident regime (NHR) and it would cease at the end of 2023 was swiftly followed by the surprise announcement that he would be resigning. The new rules regarding NHR were to be included in the budget so there…

6 Tips For Expats Looking To Ward Off The January Blues

Blue Monday was a term coined by psychologist Dr Cliff Arnal in 2004. He worked out a formula to show how the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year. It takes into account factors including the average time for New Year’s resolutions to fail, the bad weather, debt, the time since…

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.