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We would like to move to the Eastern Algarve region

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fbloureiro

My name is Fernando, I am retired, and I live in California with my spouse.  We would like to move to Portugal, more specifically to the eastern Algarve area.  We have visited Portugal before and we really liked the Algarve.  I like to play golf.  We understand that it can be very busy during the summer, but quiet, pleasant, affordable and safe for the rest of the year.  We are looking for help in several areas.  We watched a video on YouTube of a group of lawyers.  The video information on the group was very tempting.  This past week I contacted them and I was very surprised how much they have changed in terms of price.  That being said, I am not contracting with them, they are not affordable for us.

We are looking for help in several areas:

  • How can we open a bank account from the US to satisfy the D7 visa requirements?
  • Can anybody recommend a good and trustworthy lawyer that can help me with the D7 visa?
  • Can anybody recommend a real estate agent in the eastern Algarve?
  • Can anybody recommend doctors, and dentists in the eastern Algarve?
  • We are also looking for tips on moving companies to move our stuff from California to Portugal.

Thank you!

Bhavna

Hello and welcome on board Fernando,


Please note that I have created this new thread from your post on the Portugal forum so that members can guide you.


I would suggest that you read the articles of the Living in Portugal guide for expats. They contain informative articles about visa, accommodation etc.


Some of your questions have also been discussed previously on the forum. Feel free to use the search function (top right) to find these threads with the help of keywords.


All the best

Bhavna

fbloureiro

Thanks, Bhavna!  I appreciate your helping on directing me to the articles.

donn25

Some of this you can do from the US.  Bordr.com will do NIF and bank account for example, for a price.


You should really consider coming to Portugal, though, to look at your accommodations options and just generally learning what you can about the area.  There's more to living here than playing golf.  (Luckily, because with the water situation the way it is in the Algarve, golf courses could get kind of scruffy.  The details are apparently not out, but I've read that they expect to somehow cut residential consumption by 15% to avoid a more desperate situation, and agriculture by 25%, and I can't imagine they would impose drastic remedies and let the golf courses irrigate at will.)


We have been hearing from someone back home who hired a lawyer and has been getting all kinds of bad D7 advice.  I personally think your odds are no better that way, than just doing it yourself, unless you have some unusual circumstances.  Not only are they often not as expert as they may portray themselves, the immigration service is in massive re-org here and what expertise they may have is likely to be outdated pretty soon.

JohnnyPT

Hi Fernando,


Many of these questions have already been answered here. You can use the keyword search function. Your name is of Portuguese origin, so don't you have any relatives in Portugal who could help you with this transfer?

Do you have Portuguese nationality? Do you need a visa?


Some support here:


Solicitors, Lawyers & Administrative division of Portugal:

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


Experience sharing about Visas to Portugal (D7 & others)

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


Regards

fbloureiro

@donn25

Thanks for your reply.  I have been to the Algarve a few times before and I really like it there.  Of course there is more about life than just playing golf.  Golf is a pasttime to me.  I have been living in California for 35 years and I know well what a drought means.

Your point about hiring a lawyers was very insightful, and reading your message made me think that I will be better off doing it myself.

fbloureiro

@JohnnyPT

Hi Johnny,


Thanks for your message.  Yes, my name is portuguese, but I was born in Brazil.  I do not have any relatives there.  My great grandfather and my grandfather were born in Portugal.  I have already spent money looking for my grandfather birth certificate but was not successful.

JohnnyPT

@Fernando,


There's some more support here. Take also a look at the US expat information sharing in my previous post. There's information on opening a bank account, and other issues.



Relocation/Moving Company Recommendations


https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=948195


https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1007223


---


Real State Agencies/Websites/Portals in Portugal

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=904388


Renting Management Companies (Short/Long-Term Rentals)

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=908693


    Real Estate Website Portals, post #4

    Large Real Estate Companies Websites, post #7


---


Request a birth certificate of your grandfather:

https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/servicos/pe … nascimento


Regards

fbloureiro

@JohnnyPT

Johnny,


Thanks for all the links.  They are very useful to me.

Fernando

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