Relocating to the Algarve

Hi Carol, Welcome.

NIF is required for everything. I suggest you start by looking for a solicitor or lawyer in Portugal. He/she will help you with the NIF and the bank account. You'll also need him/her to be your tax representative (only as long as you don't have a residence permit).

Experience sharing about Visas to Portugal (D7 & others)

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=971460

Residence Rights in Portugal for UK citizens after BREXIT

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=908742

Solicitors, Lawyers in Portugal:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=941009

Regards

@JohnnyPT thank you for all the information 😁

@JohnnyPT

Hi Johnny,

I got my D7 visa sticker on my passport and had the SEF interview in Coimbra in mid April 2023.  As of now, I have not received the RP card.  I am back in the USA and waiting for the card.  I also tried calling and emailing SEF, without success.

Should I return to Portugal and wait for the card, or should I continue staying in the USA till I receive the RP card?

Thanks much in advance for any advise.

Hi @vijir,

I'm not the right person to help you with that. But after the interview, you were informed that your residence permit had been approved. You should have paid a fee at SEF, received a piece of paper with this approval, and I think you should always carry this proof with you when you travel to Portugal.

Everything is OK with the address you gave SEF, right?

What to expect at your first portuguese D7 residency Visa appointment in the SEF office

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 42#5388099

(Post #23)

Regards

@JohnnyPT

Thanks much Johnny.

Yes, I did receive a receipt for the payment (Euro 170.50) I made at the end of interview.  However, they said that I was missing one document, i.e. rental lease in my name.  They gave me 10 days to submit this document, which I did.  I never received an acknowledge for the Lease Agreement, but I checked my account at SEF online and they have updated my address, based on the lease agreement I mailed to them. 

Thanks much again.  I also heard that a new agency will take over in November 2023, so hoping that I will receive my RP card.  Unfortunately, I cannot afford to run two condos, i.e. one in USA and another in Portugal, hence my returning to the USA.

Thanks much!

@vijir,

Take a screenshot of that information at SEF website. SEF is being transferred to a new agency in November. Things should be on standby due to that ....

@JohnnyPT

Will take a screenshot of my personal area in SEF website.

Thanks much!