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Expatriating to Portugal

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Cultural Differences Between France and Portugal in Everyday Life

France and Portugal share a long common history built on respect and friendship. But living between the two countries means discovering how much small habits, ways of speaking, or daily routines differ. These cultural nuances, sometimes amusing, sometimes surprising, reveal a lot about the character of both peoples. Between lifestyle, communication, cuisine, family, or work, this is a journey into the heart of the French-Portuguese differences that make this relationship so rich.

Buy or Rent in Portugal: Which Housing Choice?

Portugal continues to attract: mild climate, vibrant culture, sunny gastronomy, and a relaxed pace of life. But when the time comes to settle or invest, one big question arises: should you buy or rent? The choice of housing, often emotional, becomes here a truly strategic decision. This guide helps you understand the differences, weigh the advantages, and choose the solution that best suits your project.

Truly Integrating into Portugal: Understanding the Local Mentality

There are countries where you arrive, unpack your bags, learn three words of the language, and think, “I’m integrated.” Portugal isn’t that kind of country. Here, integration isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s a slow conquest, a story of listening, of observation, of small gestures, and above all, of humility.

The Cost of Living in Portugal in 2025: Between Reality and Myth

For years, Portugal had that image of a small sunny paradise, where life cost almost nothing, where you could live like a king on a modest salary, and where retirees from Northern Europe came to settle down to “enjoy life.”

Mistakes to avoid when moving to Portugal

It’s a common mistake: imagining that moving to Portugal means leaving all modern life’s problems behind. The country may be welcoming, stable and warm, but it’s still a European nation with its own challenges.

Living in Portugal without speaking Portuguese myth or reality

Portugal is one of those rare countries where you can arrive without feeling completely lost. Young people speak English fluently, waiters switch easily between several languages, and even in public offices there’s almost always someone ready to help in French or Spanish. It’s not a myth: the Portuguese have a real talent for languages and, above all, they never make you feel bad for not speaking theirs.

The Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Lisbon and Porto

Moving to Portugal has become, in recent years, a true social phenomenon. Between quality of life, mild climate, and warm hospitality, more and more expats are choosing Lisbon or Porto as their new home. But beyond clichés and postcards, each neighborhood has its own personality, atmosphere, and secrets. Let’s explore together the places most beloved by expats, where Portuguese authenticity meets modern comfort and a cosmopolitan spirit.

Payment Methods in Portugal Cards, MB Way, and Cash

Portugal attracts millions of visitors every year, as well as a growing population of expatriates from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. For newcomers, understanding how payment methods work in the country is essential for managing a budget, making everyday purchases, and avoiding unpleasant surprises.

Portuguese Schools and Universities: Choosing the Right One for Your Children

Settling in Portugal is often a dream of sunshine, culture, and quality of life. But for families, another challenge quickly arises: schooling. Whether for young children or teenagers, choosing the right school or university is an essential step toward successful integration. Portugal offers a dynamic, modernized, and globally oriented education system, standing at the crossroads of Latin tradition and European innovation. Here’s a full overview to help you make the right choices.

Starting your business in Portugal when you come from abroad

In recent years, Portugal has established itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic countries for foreign entrepreneurs. It’s a subtle balance: a mild climate, relatively favorable taxation, a bureaucracy that’s modernizing, and above all, a mindset open to ideas from elsewhere.

Moving to Lisbon vs Porto: Pros & Cons

You’ve probably already closed your eyes imagining your new life in Portugal: a terrace under the sun, a pastel de nata (or maybe a glass of vinho verde in hand), the sun setting over the Atlantic. But here’s the thing: choosing between Lisbon and Porto isn’t just about “which café has the better view ?”. It’s more like picking between two pairs of sneakers, both stylish, but depending on what you want to do… one might just fit better.

Working in Portugal : the sectors hiring in 2025

You’ve thought about it “what if I moved somewhere sunny, worked from a terrace, and forgot about traffic jams for good ?” (Let’s be honest, that thought has crossed everyone’s mind at least once !) Well, good news : Portugal’s job market is buzzing this year ! If you’re thinking about moving here or simply fancy a change of scenery, here’s a look at the sectors hiring in 2025 and where you might need to grab your laptop (or your safety boots, your call).

The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) status, explained simply

We’re going to talk about a very serious topic (taxes) but I promise I’ll do it without putting you to sleep ! Because if you already live in Portugal, or if you’re seriously thinking about moving here in “new life in the sun + smart tax planning” mode, you’ve definitely heard this acronym : NHR. In full : Non-Habitual Resident. Or, in Portuguese (if you prefer) : Residente Não Habitual. So : what exactly was this famous NHR status ? Why was everyone talking about it ? Why did it attract so many people to Portugal ? And most importantly… what changed in 2025 ? Let’s break it down calmly, coffee in hand (and pastel de nata on the side).

The Essential Steps to Settle in Portugal

Over the past decade, Portugal has attracted a growing number of new residents. Retirees in search of quality of life, families looking for a safe and peaceful environment, entrepreneurs motivated by favorable taxation, freelancers drawn by the climate, and digital nomads seeking a southern European base — all find in Portugal a rare sense of balance.

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