1 Year Purchase or Lease

  If you want to become a Portuguese resident then you have to go through the Portuguese  system to become a resident. The choice is yours, no-one is forcing you to go through their system. There is a section of the expat community who endlessly complain about the administration (tax, paperwork, visas etc) here but in reality they are the adults who made their choice.   In British English I think there's an expression "knows the price of everything and the value of nothing" which may apply (or may not).  Have a nice day. 

@Strontium

Personally, I like to hear about other's concerns. It increases my knowledge, helps me to make better decisions, and also in the case of the gentleman who may have received a scammy contract for the genuino sesmarias gardens investment - then it helps me realise that these bad events don't just happen to me.

I don't know why there is an emphasis of "only state the positive" on this forum

clearly the gentleman starting this thread is facing huge obstacles to his move and wanted to share - maybe we can help him, maybe we cannot

I am still researching as I don't plan to relocate to Portugal until 2025 IF it's good for me tax-wise.

The 12-month lease/purchase, I agree, puts a damper on a lot of people wishing to move there.  Not only does it add costs but also gives you more stress because you have to time it well enough with your VFS appointment.  Let's say you're able to get a lease from Jan 2024-Dec 2024 but your VFS appt in your home country is not until Mar 2024 (at the earliest)...you're bound to pay rent for the place (in addition to rent you're paying in your home country, like me!).

Anyway...unless we deep dive into the policies when it was required years (decades?) ago...it is what it is. 

I surmised it's a way for Portugal to make sure one is FULLY COMMITTED to relocating.

What does a 1 year purchase mean? I do not understand that part of the question. Thanks. Either way you have to make the commitment to live there.  We purchased and are thrilled!  It is a great rental investment for people who need to rent for a year. Or go and live there, either way I believe you cannot lose.

I’ve been in a situation before where I was applying for residency but wasn’t exactly sure when I’d move (depending on when our properties sold, as I didn’t want to go back and forth multiple times). In that situation I considered renting the cheapest possible studio flat anywhere and with a break clause to cancel it for getting the main home.

@vincefandel,

If you want to live in Portugal as a tourist for up to 3 months out of every 180 days, you don't need a visa and, as such, you don't need to take out a 1 year rental contract or buy a house. Nobody is forcing you to do that.

If you want to live in Portugal and become a resident, you have to have a visa, and one of the requirements is to have proof of accommodation...

@dhloggins22

There is no 1 year purchase. Either you buy a property or you need a 12 month rental contract.

@sfaznpinoy

Correct. The requirement is making sure you commit with the country and also so Portuguese landlords don't skip taxes.

Paying rents in advance is already common practice for everyone, specially if you don't have a guarantor, and unfortunately is the only way to secure a rental in this scarse and very competitive market.

If you need help feel free to reach out.

@vincefandel     I don't plan on staying in 1 place for more than 1 year.

I have offered to rent from those who are waiting in the US for their visa, and while having an empty apartment in PT. I am a nurse, flight attendant, and AIMA approved my visa, so I have had many background checks. Let me know if you are interested in anything like this. I am willing to do an interview with you. You can message me in facebook. Mary Brozik

Mary, I'd like to discuss this a bit but would prefer to do that using a personal email.  I'll pass mine along if that is something you're open to.  Thanks

@JohnnyPT

      I'm not sure that's completely true! I believe one is required to obtain a Schengen short term visa now. Where in the past with a US passport no visa was required.

@bobinportugal22

US citizens are not required a Schengen visa.

The ETIAS travel authorisation is coming which most US Citizens will need to enter the EU. Implemetation has been pushed back until mid 2025.