Mulling it over

@debbiebolt07

There are several helpful Facebook sites that give free help and advice, also they have many files within them with a guide on all aspects of moving to Portugal. My husband and are living our dream life here in the algarve as we arrived in March 24. If you want the sites I mentioned or have specific questions we are happy to help.

Hi @debbiebolt07, Welcome.

You have some support here:

Experience sharing about Visas to Portugal (D7 & others)

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

(Select UK)

Regards

@debbiebolt07

Hi and Welcome

I assume you both have UK passports, live in the UK and are pensioners on state pension.

D7 visa is a "passive income" visa so no working for money and your income has to be over a curtain amount - which the state pension is/was - this is the usual visa for retired people who don't intend to work.  Without a visa but with UK passport you are allowed in the EU for 3 month then you have to leave for 3 months, Assuming you do not know which area you wish to live in you can spend 3 months in Portugal checking out places/towns and collecting property information, looking at houses/flats and start the basic admin you will need re: Tax code (NIF), Portugese bank account etc. on UK address.   Also, as a tourist, you'd even be covered by UK Gov health insurance  (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-l … rance-card).  In reality quite easy to spend 3 months in EU then 3 months out of the EU for several years whilst deciding on the place and even owning property and having renovations you can still be a tourist and not have a visa as long as you don't over stay the 3 months.

@Jac g

I would be interested in getting information. I am concerned about medical coverage but do know there is one private insurance that would cover us as my husband is 78 and I will be 74.  My husband has some health conditions.  MGEN is te one we found but info all in Portuguese so can't understand costs or requirements.  We also would want to be able to have a residence in the US as well as have family there.  We are worried about the double taxation as have investments and social security and Medicare.  An additional piece is I do have  dual citizenship with Germany due to parents being German but have never lived or worked there.  Would definitely be interested in resources to get information from and am on Facebook.   Thank you and hope it is okay to post this on someone else's post.

@mozwoeld,

1. MGEN is the only insurance company in Portugal that has no age limit. You can see the insurance conditions in the PDF and make a price simulation (use your browser's translator).

PDF:

https://my.mgen.pt/reports/files/CG_2024.pdf

You can translate PDF/DOC formats into English using a Doctranslator, such as:

https://www.onlinedoctranslator.com

Simulator:

https://www.mgen.pt/

2. There is no double taxation because there is an agreement between the two countries to avoid it.

3. If you have dual citizenship, one of which is German, you don't need a visa as you are an EU citizen.

@Strontium

FYI you are 100% allowed to work, open a business, perform any commercial activity you want on a D7.

On the card it is written on the back under Observações/ Remarks:

"Permite o exercício de actividade profissional"

The passive income is required to get it though.

@Strontium
FYI you are 100% allowed to work, open a business, perform any commercial activity you want on a D7.
On the card it is written on the back under Observações/ Remarks:
"Permite o exercício de actividade profissional"

The passive income is required to get it though. - @Perpetual_traveler

I was just mainly talking about what you can achieve defore being granted an visa

@JohnnyPT

Wow thank you so much.

@JohnnyPT

Agreement between US AND Portugal or Germany and Portugal. 

@mozwoeld,

Both.

In the following link, select Alemanha (Germany) and Estados Unidos da América (USA).

In each PDF, you will find the agreement in portuguese (from beginning to middle) and german/english (from middle to end).

https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/p … ncoes.aspx

I have just signed up for MGEN private health insurance (OH is 79 and I am 67). I was fortunate enough to find a broker who translates everything into English, deals with their clients in English, and, in fact, the MGEN quote came out slightly cheaper than it was on the MGEN site. I don’t think I can give a link to the broker here. Feel free to PM me if you like. Incidentally, our monthly premium is €350.

@Wibble2024

I am curious how the coverage is for pre existing conditions and meds.  Husband in anti rejection drugs and has regular colonoscopies for crohns and on meds. 

@mozwoeld

MGEN does not have restrictions on age and disregards pre-existing conditions, I.e. it does not penalise you for pre-existing conditions. However, it does have a “grace period” - meaning, you won’t be covered for big procedures (large surgeries and the like), for the first year. After the first year, you are covered for everything with relatively small co-pays. I hasten to add that I have only just subscribed to them because my husband and I have reached an age where we may need urgent care and don’t want to be caught on state health waiting lists. I cannot yet vouch for their efficiency in dealing claims.

@Wibble2024
I am curious how the coverage is for pre existing conditions and meds. Husband in anti rejection drugs and has regular colonoscopies for crohns and on meds. - @mozwoeld

Well, whatever you do in the end, read the fine print. Even MGEN is a business that needs to make money.