r/PortugalExpats

And where'd you move to Portugal from?

Hi everyone,

I’m posting on behalf of a close friend who is in a really difficult and time-sensitive situation, and we’re trying to understand what options she might still have.

She is originally from Brazil and has been living in Portugal for the past few years. She recently finished high school and had been trying to find a job to save money before applying to university.

On April 7th, she received an email saying her request to renew her ID/residence was rejected due to lack of documentation. The main reason given was that she is no longer in school and does not have a job, so they “don’t know how to define” her status.

She was given 20 days to return to her home country or go to another place where she can stay legally.

What makes this situation especially difficult is that she is the only one in her immediate family facing this issue:

• Her stepfather is a European citizen
• Her younger brother (her stepfather’s son) is also a European citizen
• Her mother has recently received her residence/ID in Portugal
• Her grandmother (who is disabled) is under her mother’s care

Everyone else in her family is legally staying in Portugal, and she is the only one being asked to leave.

She has been actively applying for jobs but hasn’t secured one yet.

She also went to a legal consultancy today and was sent to two different places, but both said they couldn’t help because her case is “too specific.”

We’re trying to understand:

• Is there any way to appeal this decision or extend the deadline?
• If she manages to get a job quickly, can she switch to a work-based residence permit from within Portugal?
• Does her family situation give her any legal basis to stay so she isn’t separated from them?

I can try to get more specific details from her if that would help clarify anything.

Hi I’ve been wanting to move out of the us with my wife and daughter. I honestly do know where to start. I unfortunately don’t have any special skills and my work history is retail/fast food. I don’t speak the language but I’m trying.

I’d love to move to Portugal some day, probably as a retiree. I am an American of half Portuguese descent — I don’t look it but my last name is very Portuguese and I speak a little Portuguese.

I’m wondering if there are a lot of expats to Portugal of Portuguese descent — people who reversed the immigration story of their ancestors.

How do the Portuguese view you? What‘s it like there for you? Do you think your experience is any different from those who don't have Portuguese roots?

Just a note to urge anyone who is close to making application, go to your AIMA office and request a "Contagem do Tempo." I and my immigration advisor were not sure if I was able to submit early or wait until the date on my residence card... turns out in my case they have my residence date beginning at the start of my D7 residence visa. This is what I'd hoped for... I thought it would be the date I arrived (one day later) but for me this is good news. You may also receive good news if you take this step.

Anecdotally, I've heard that the AIMA stores where you can request a time measurement are the AIMA locations in Alverca and Setúbal. I have no idea if these are the only 2 locations.

I'm not sure how to find the form online, but arrive with it filled out and you'll be in good shape.

View Poll

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand the correct way to formally ask for a rental deposit back in Portugal when the landlord stops replying after move-out.

Situation:

- apartment was handed back

- landlord did not return the caução

- messages are being ignored

I prepared a simple Portuguese letter template for this situation for my own use, but before sending it I’d like to ask:

1. Is a formal written notice the right first step?

2. Is registered mail the best option?

3. If there is still no reply, is Julgado de Paz usually the next practical step?

If useful, I can share the exact Portuguese wording I’m using.

Thanks.

Does he sign ? Or send to the court?

Hello,

We applied for our permanent resident cards in Lisbon about four months ago, but we never received the original cards in the mail.

Our local post office told us they don’t keep records of certified letters that are returned to AIMA as undelivered, so we’re not able to track what happened.

Does anyone have advice on what we should do next?

Is there a specific AIMA office in Lisbon where we can go in person to collect the permanent resident cards?

We’ve already emailed AIMA’s geral email address, called (and called) their helpline, and tried submitting a request through AIMA’s online contact form, but we haven’t received any response yet.

Any guidance or experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

As the title says. Scoping out portugal before my potiential move. I ll mostly be visiting porto but will also spend some time in lisbon. Any thing in particular i should see/ visit to get a real feel of portugal? Not looking for touristy stuff.

I have a USA passport. My temporary 3 month Portugal Visa is expiring in a few weeks and my immigration appointment isn't until August (I know that's normal these days). I have a mandatory work trip coming up outside the EU that I'm attending and I know from all the stories and prior posts that I should reenter the EU directly through Portugal, but does this include Schengen countries as well (Switzerland)? I have a connection through Zurich, which will be my first point of entry into the region, and before I change my itinerary I'm wondering if anyone has transited through Switzerland with an expired Visa/residency card and had issues?

I was viewing a flat the other day and the landlords mentioned something like "we don't do the receipts, it's better for you, it's better for us". I didn't ask, but I'm guessing that would mean they're not planning to register the contract in AT? What could the consequences be for me as a tenant if that happens?

I was born in 1980 in the US and grew up in middle/upper middle class educated areas. As such, I was obviously inundated with health messages about how smoking was the worst thing you could do for your body.

Beyond that though, smoking was seen as a complete degenerate, loser activity. You'd kind of associate it with people from the absolute dregs of society. Like someone who smoked probably had a crack addiction and liked tuning up their wife on a Saturday night.

I think mostly based on this cultural view of smoking (more so than health), it really went out favor in the US and you see very few smokers now.

What happened in Portugal and much of Europe in general? Did they not get similar messaging in the 80s and 90s? How are there so many more smokers here? Is it not seen as much of a loser activity among middle class and above people?

I am trying to find a place and I found a landlord for a rental in Lisbon on Facebook. I just wanted to know if anyone can give advice on how I can tell this landlord is not scamming me. I asked for certain documentation like the tax ID and registration of the property through Financas, but she stated that there was sensitive information on there. I can't look up the property in the database because I am not a U.S. citizen, and it's quite a process to add myself as a non-EU citizen. I got the lease she sent me, and I can send it to anyone who can take a look at it to see if it is legitimate. I appreciate any advice anyone can give.

Guys need your reccos for good quality & good price online shop to buy asian condiments & food please. Can be from Spain too.

Muito obrigado.

April 25th falls on a Saturday this year and I was wondering if banks, offices, and businesses will be closed on Friday the 24th to observe the holiday? Or would it be Monday the 27th? I googled it but couldn’t find a clear answer.

Hello everyone, this is my 2nd time in wonderful, sunny Portugal ☀️🇵🇹. I absolutely love the food and locals, it’s very sunny but I’d like to know are there any hidden gems? On my last trip, I’ve already been to silver, alte and have done a mountain tour with honey and fire water tasting which covered quite a few places but are there any more I can go see? Obrigardo

I applied for Portuguese Citizenship through descent at the Portuguese Consulate in NYC one year ago and have not received confirmation of receipt from the Portugal Office. I will be moving to another state next month. How do I change my address on this application if there is no way to check on my status if I applied at a consulate in the US?

Good afternoon!

I was wondering if there are any musicians on this subreddit who have played or sung music specifically outside of the Vasco Da Gama mall.

After 8 years of living in Portugal, I've seen quite a few people perform there and, as a musician myself, was wandering whether I'd need to obtain some sort of permission (and what's the process behind that) or if I can just roll in and start the show.