What is advantageous about moving to Portugal under the D7 visa?
Posted by TrackFit7886@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I'm looking into moving to Portugal on a D7 visa and would like to hear from people who have actually done it.
What have been the biggest benefits for you? Better quality of life, lower living costs, healthcare, safety, travel around Europe, or something else?
Has anything been better than you expected, and is there anything you wish you knew before making the move?
ewMichelle18@reddit
We did it.
First, where are you coming from? Because everything will be relative to that.
We came from the US in a HCOL city and we are now in porto. If you come here thinking that, overall, youre going to save money, you’re going to be disappointed. Housing is just as expensive and the wages are much lower. Food is a little cheaper. Healthcare is much cheaper. Cars are WAY more expensive. So, consider cost of living a wash if you’re coming from an HCOL area. If you’re coming from LCOL, well, it’s going to be more expensive.
As for quality of life, much higher. The people are nice and they’re not so concerned with what the G7 countries are doing. It’s not to say they’re disconnected, it’s just not dominating life here.
Safety, forget it. It is amazing being able to drop my kid off at school or go to the grocery store and not worry about what could happen.
I really enjoy life here. It is far from utopia but it’s a better fit for us know. Key piece of advice though; if you do choose to start the process of emigrating to Portugal, get some patience, because the bureaucracy is insane and it comes for everyone, including citizens.
3l3v8@reddit
You are saying that housing in Porto is just as expensive as a US HCOL city??
TrackFit7886@reddit (OP)
Thanks for sharing. Safety is one of the main reasons I'm considering Portugal.
BrilliantUnlucky4592@reddit
Portugal is not cheap. Get that out of your head. The quality of life may or may not be better for you. It is what you make of it. Public Healthcare is horrible, Private Healthcare is good. Portugal is one of the countries with a rising anti immigration feeling amongst those that live there and the D7 requirements go up yearly.
If you want cheap and more immigration expat friendly look at Albania, Montenegro, and Georgia . I lived in Portugal for 3 years, and Germany for 3 years before that and live in Albania now. It is much more friendly and affordable than other places, and probably even more beautiful. In Portugal and in Germany I was paying €1000 -1200 month in rent, here it is €450.
TrackFit7886@reddit (OP)
Besides the lower cost of living, what made Albania a better fit for you?
BrilliantUnlucky4592@reddit
Friendly people and better social life and nightlife. In Portugal I lived in Lagos which is a great town but it is small and after 3 years of going to the same restaurants and bars it got tiring. It was also hard to make friends there. I'm in Tirana which is a larger city with never ending things to do or go. While not a factor for me it is safer here. You can leave your phone or wallet on a table and go to the bathroom and when you come back they would still be there. That wouldn't happen in Portugal.
If the beach scene is for you the water in nicer here being crystal clear and the beach cities are actually cheaper to live at being that it is so seasonal.
I would suggest that before moving to any country that you make scouting trips of at least a month in a country during the worst time of year in that country to visit.
Watched YouTube videos of the different countries to get a better idea of each place.
SameWatch9225@reddit
The pace of life felt slower than what I was used to, and I wasn't constantly rushing everywhere. Being able to travel around Europe easily was a nice bonus, but day to day life was what made the biggest difference.
The biggest surprise was that some things aren't as cheap as people online make them sound, especially housing in popular areas. I came in expecting huge savings and found that it depends a lot on your lifestyle and location.
pookiepiebabygirl1@reddit
Moved to Lisbon on the D7 two years ago mainly because I was exhausted by the cost and stress of managing Type 1 diabetes in the US. Changed my quality of life significantly. Other pros for me are also the general feeling of stability since there's lower day to day costs and being able to travel easily around Europe.
With regard to my primary reason for moving here though, I have to admit getting set up in the Portuguese healthcare system was confusing at first, especially finding English-speaking endocrinologists, understanding private vs public coverage, and figuring out how insulin prescriptions, CGM, and other T1D supplies worked here. But since moving I've been able to gather resources that made me more organized when it comes to finding clinics, pharmacies, and generally just being on top of the healthcare I need. Happy to share the steps I took to sort everything out and make the move less stressful.
ElSuroGato247@reddit
My uncle and aunt did it because they couldn’t afford life insurance the US anymore. They’re not wealthy and by all intents and purposes, not even middle class in the US. They moved to a small town in rural Portugal, so with the average Portuguese they’re not a burden.
However, there has been rising anti-immigrant sentiment particularly against those from the U.S., not just those on the D7 visa but other Portugal visa holders that go there with a lot of money seeking to find refuge from the U.S. These folks are the ones who are doing the most damage to the average Portuguese and have been moving in swarms, to the point that life is not affordable for locals anymore.
ewMichelle18@reddit
This hasn’t been my experience at all. I have yet to experience any anti-American sentiment. I have seen and heard anti-immigrant rhetoric targeted at other groups though. Portugal isn’t immune to racism or nationalistic beliefs, but it is definitely the exception.
goldenvisa6387@reddit
People focus a lot on the residency aspect of the Portugal D7, but honestly the biggest advantage for me was the lifestyle shift. The slower pace, walkable cities, safety, access to healthcare, and being able to travel around Europe easily made a bigger difference than I expected. I also found people generally more relaxed and family-oriented compared to a lot of other countries. Cost of living used to be a major advantage, although Lisbon and Porto have become much more expensive recently. Outside the main cities though, it can still be very reasonable. A few things that were better than expected: Public safety Fresh food quality Weather and work-life balance Ability to build residency without massive investment requirements Things I wish I knew beforehand: Portuguese bureaucracy can move very slowly Housing competition in popular areas is real Banking and paperwork often require patience Learning basic Portuguese helps a LOT, even in expat-heavy areas Overall, if your income is stable remotely or passive, the D7 can be one of the more balanced ways to relocate to Europe without needing huge capital upfront If you need a more specific breakdown for your situation, feel free to check my profile
pouldycheed@reddit
The healthcare genuinely surprised me. Paid like €80 for a specialist visit that wouldve cost me hundreds back home. The slow pace of life is real too and it takes some getting used to but honestly it becomes the thing you love most about it.
What I wish I knew is that bureaucracy here is painfully slow so get your NIF and bank account sorted way before you land. Also Lisbon and Porto are getting expensive fast so if budget matters look at Braga or the Alentejo region instead. Schengen access alone makes it worth it for the travel freedom.