Are you scratching your head on whether Portugal immigration from USA is a wise decision or not? Well, it can turn out to be the best decision ever of your life. In this blog, we explore the benefits of moving to Portugal from the USA.
Stick around and find out how Portugal immigration from USA can be the best decision ever. Let us dive in deeper and find out the pros of shifting to Portugal.
How to Get Portugal Residence as a US Citizen?
If you are currently a citizen of the US, you can visit Portugal without a visa and enjoy your stay there for 90 days. However, if you are seeking permanent residency in Portugal, you will have to apply for a Portuguese residence permit.
There are several residency visa types that you can rely on to get a permit for permanent residency in Portugal. Each of these types is suitable for people with the specific purpose of moving to Portugal. Here we list down some of the residency options that you get in Portugal as a former US citizen:
- Those who are looking for investment opportunities can go with the Portugal Golden Visa program.
- If you are financially independent and have a passive income source, you can apply for a D7 residency visa in Portugal.
- In addition to this, if you are an expat looking for business opportunities in Portugal’s lucrative market, a startup visa is your way to go.
- For students who are enrolled in any of the educational institute of Portugal for their higher studies can apply for Student Visa.
- However, if your employer is based in Portugal and you need to move to Portugal, you can apply for a D1 visa.
One can also apply for a Golden Visa or a D7 visa when they have a good source of income.
Reasons Why Americans Are Moving to Portugal?
Recently, numerous Americans have moved to and settled in Portugal. The data from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) reveals that Americans make up the number of Portuguese Golden Visa residents. It was the top nation with the highest number of Portuguese Golden Visas in 2022.
Don’t these numbers compel you to think about why Americans move to Portugal? Well, this immigration trend did make us think of the reasons why Americans immigrate to Portugal, and here we have listed down the reasons after an extensive round of research:
Climate
Portugal fosters a mild and pleasant weather which never touches the extreme temprature ranges. The subtropical climate is one of the most popular attraction factor for the expats moving to Portugal.
The northern part of Portugal has a maritime climate, which is mostly dominated by the Gulf Streams. You get enough sunshine and a warm climate in Portugal during the summer. The country witnesses 300 days of sunshine every year, which makes the country most comfortable in terms of weather conditions.
While the summers are dry and hot, the winters are cool, with temperatures ranging between 4 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius.
Best Destination for Expats
Apart from being safe and the pleasant climate, Portugal has also proven to be the best destination point for expats with its exquisite landscapes, vintage parks and low cost of living.
Portugal’s immigration from the USA has been trending in recent years, and Portugal is ranked 10th in the world’s most favorite destination for expats, according to the Expat Insider 2023 survey.
How Much Does Portugal Immigration from USA Cost?
The cost of Portugal immigration from USA has several variables that can range from flight tickets to medical insurance. The expanses that one is liable to when moving from the USA to Portugal may include the following:
- Flight tickets
- Long-term visa fees
- Rents
- Medical Insurance
Portugal immigration from USA is cheaper when you are moving alone however, if you have your partner or a whole family with you shifting to Portugal, it can prove to be a little hard on your budget. For instance, if you are settling in Portugal with your partner, you may require €10,000 to cover all the above-mentioned expenses.
Cost and Quality of Life in Portugal
To your surprise, Portugal is the only European country ranked among the ten best destination countries for expats. In addition to this, Portugal is also one of the cheapest countries in the EU.
For instance, the consumer prices in Portugal are substantially low compared to the consumer prices of the US. However, the price rates can also vary within the country; for example, the prices in Lisbon are higher than in Porto.
Here is the comparison of utility bills and other monthly expanses in Portugal and United States:
| Restaurants | United States | Portugal | Difference |
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 20.00 $
(18.49 €) |
10.82 $
(10.00 €) |
-45.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 75.00 $
(69.33 €) |
43.27 $
(40.00 €) |
-42.3 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 10.50 $
(9.71 €) |
8.65 $
(8.00 €) |
-17.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 6.00 $
(5.55 €) |
2.70 $
(2.50 €) |
-54.9 % |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 7.00 $
(6.47 €) |
3.25 $
(3.00 €) |
-53.6 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 5.09 $
(4.70 €) |
1.91 $
(1.77 €) |
-62.5 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | 2.48 $
(2.29 €) |
1.69 $
(1.56 €) |
-31.8 % |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | 2.04 $
(1.89 €) |
1.19 $
(1.10 €) |
-41.5 % |
| Markets | United States | Portugal | |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 1.06 $
(0.98 €) |
1.00 $
(0.92 €) |
-5.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 3.56 $
(3.29 €) |
1.47 $
(1.36 €) |
-58.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 4.56 $
(4.21 €) |
1.46 $
(1.35 €) |
-67.9 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 3.73 $
(3.45 €) |
2.97 $
(2.74 €) |
-20.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 12.84 $
(11.87 €) |
10.66 $
(9.85 €) |
-17.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | 12.17 $
(11.25 €) |
7.36 $
(6.80 €) |
-39.5 % |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 15.99 $
(14.78 €) |
12.65 $
(11.69 €) |
-20.9 % |
| Apples (1kg) | 5.31 $
(4.91 €) |
2.13 $
(1.97 €) |
-59.8 % |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.68 $
(1.55 €) |
1.36 $
(1.26 €) |
-18.7 % |
| Oranges (1kg) | 4.49 $
(4.15 €) |
1.72 $
(1.59 €) |
-61.7 % |
| Tomato (1kg) | 4.91 $
(4.54 €) |
2.39 $
(2.21 €) |
-51.2 % |
| Potato (1kg) | 3.02 $
(2.79 €) |
1.56 $
(1.45 €) |
-48.2 % |
| Onion (1kg) | 3.04 $
(2.81 €) |
1.85 $
(1.71 €) |
-39.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.15 $
(1.99 €) |
1.49 $
(1.37 €) |
-31.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 2.18 $
(2.01 €) |
0.74 $
(0.68 €) |
-66.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 $
(13.87 €) |
5.40 $
(4.99 €) |
-64.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 1.75 $
(1.62 €) |
1.19 $
(1.10 €) |
-32.2 % |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 3.54 $
(3.28 €) |
2.21 $
(2.04 €) |
-37.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 10.00 $
(9.24 €) |
5.73 $
(5.30 €) |
-42.7 % |
| Transportation | United States | Portugal | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.50 $
(2.31 €) |
2.16 $
(2.00 €) |
-13.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 72.00 $
(66.56 €) |
43.27 $
(40.00 €) |
-39.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 3.75 $
(3.47 €) |
3.79 $
(3.50 €) |
+1.0 % |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | 1.74 $
(1.61 €) |
0.86 $
(0.80 €) |
-50.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 30.00 $
(27.73 €) |
16.23 $
(15.00 €) |
-45.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 0.96 $
(0.89 €) |
1.94 $
(1.79 €) |
+101.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 33,000.00 $
(30,507.02 €) |
32,209.25 $
(29,776.00 €) |
-2.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 26,064.34 $
(24,095.31 €) |
36,492.96 $
(33,736.10 €) |
+40.0 % |
| Utilities (Monthly) | United States | Portugal | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | 206.04 $
(190.47 €) |
120.57 $
(111.46 €) |
-41.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | 51.68 $
(47.78 €) |
20.75 $
(19.18 €) |
-59.9 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 70.91 $
(65.55 €) |
39.94 $
(36.92 €) |
-43.7 % |
| Sports And Leisure | United States | Portugal | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 47.78 $
(44.17 €) |
39.24 $
(36.28 €) |
-17.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 22.59 $
(20.89 €) |
13.84 $
(12.80 €) |
-38.7 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 14.00 $
(12.94 €) |
8.11 $
(7.50 €) |
-42.1 % |
| Childcare | United States | Portugal | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 1,378.05 $
(1,273.95 €) |
429.12 $
(396.71 €) |
-68.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 23,082.13 $
(21,338.39 €) |
10,053.08 $
(9,293.62 €) |
-56.4 % |
| Clothing And Shoes | United States | Portugal | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 52.41 $
(48.45 €) |
79.48 $
(73.48 €) |
+51.7 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) | 43.50 $
(40.21 €) |
34.00 $
(31.43 €) |
-21.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 88.64 $
(81.94 €) |
78.31 $
(72.39 €) |
-11.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 114.75 $
(106.08 €) |
88.54 $
(81.85 €) |
-22.8 % |
| Rent Per Month | United States | Portugal | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,770.94 $
(1,637.15 €) |
1,016.44 $
(939.65 €) |
-42.6 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,454.55 $
(1,344.66 €) |
787.18 $
(727.71 €) |
-45.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 2,963.18 $
(2,739.33 €) |
1,840.63 $
(1,701.58 €) |
-37.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 2,406.67 $
(2,224.86 €) |
1,328.99 $
(1,228.59 €) |
-44.8 |
Educational System
The education system in Portugal is internationally recognized, especially secondary education, which reputable institutes globally recognize. Portugal has universities that are internationally recognized and schools that provide quality education.
Healthcare System
According to the World Health Organization’s records, Portugal’s healthcare system is ranked 12th globally. The World Population Review revealed that the life expectancy in Portugal is as high as 82 years. The life expectancy in Portugal is high, which signifies the quality of healthcare in Portugal.
The Portugal immigration from USA also serves you with full coverage insurance under the Golden Visa residency program. The Portuguese healthcare system pays most of the treatment expenses of legal residents of Portugal.
In addition to this, former residents of the US who have recently immigrated to Portugal can also benefit from an agreement signed between the governments of the two countries. That way, you will be able to avoid Social Security taxes in the USA and Portugal for a single earning.
Portugal Immigration from USA
The easiest way to get permanent residency in Portugal from the USA is to get a Golden Visa Program. When you apply for residency by investment, you are not required to understand or speak the local language and present your professional qualifications or education.
It will take a few months for you to get the Portugal golden visa after the Portugal immigration from USA. You will need these few months to prepare the required documents, invest in the economy of Portugal and pass the diligence check.
You can get the Golden Visa residency by investing in Portugal’s economy. Here are some of the investment options that you can go with:
- Invest €250,000 in the Portuguese culture, arts, or conservation of the Portuguese culture.
- You can get a Portugal Golden Residency visa by investing your €500,000 in investment fund shares.
- Furthermore, you can also invest €500,000 in a business, which will make you eligible for the Portuguese Golden Visa Residency program only if you create five job opportunities for the locals.
- In addition to this, to get a Golden Residency Visa, you can invest €500,000 in any educational or research program.
- You also get a residency visa by creating ten job opportunities for the locals.
That way, one can get Portugal immigration from USA and settle there for rest of their lives.
FAQs
Q: How can I live in Portugal if I have US Citizenship?
Those who have US citizenship can live in Portugal for 90 days without even having a visa. In case you want to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days with American citizenship, you must apply for Portuguese residentship.
Q: What is the Easiest Way to Get Residency in Portugal?
The easiest way to apply for residency in Portugal is through investment. When you invest in the economy of Portugal, you can get the residency quickly.
Q: How Long Can a US Citizen Stay in Portugal?
A US citizen can live in Portugal for 90 days without even a visa for business and tourism. However, for the stay, your passport should be valid for three months after the departure date from Portugal.
