Media “Lies” About Portugal

I’ve been preparing for my upcoming seminar, Portugal’s Next Chapter.

I and in-country experts (including Jeff) will be presenting on residency and investment options in this beautiful country.

As I put the finishing touches on my program, one thing that strikes me is how badly the international migration press has been covering recent developments in Portugal.

Based on headlines from various websites, you’d think that Portugal had sealed its borders and blocked all incoming migration.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

There are three points of misinformation—three “myths” about Portugal right now—that I want to call out…

• Portugal’s “Golden Visa” has changed—it has not ended, like many media are reporting.

• Portugal has not shut its borders to foreigners—far from it. Indeed, thanks to recent visa changes, the red carpet is being rolled out for retirees and remote workers…

• Some in the investment migration media are saying the end of a particular tax regime in Portugal (known as the “NHR”) means there are no longer any advantages for expats living there. But the truth is: You can still save a lot of money living in Portugal vs. the US.

Like I’ve said, there have been some major recent changes in Portuguese immigration rules, including the “Golden Visa” rules.

But as you’ll learn in my upcoming seminar… there are still many ways to become a resident of Portugal—and most of them are excellent value.

In fact, there’s a relatively new, highly favorable visa scheme specifically designed to attract remote workers.

Plus, Portugal has the lowest-cost “independent means” visa in Europe. With pension, dividend, or Social Security income of less than $1,000 a month—you could qualify.

So, why so much doom and gloom about the opportunities in Portugal right now in the press?

Well, many consultants, accountants, and attorneys built lucrative businesses around the parts of the Portuguese immigration code that have now changed.

They can’t make as much money from the remaining pathways to Portuguese residency and citizenship… So, they make it seem as though all is lost.

That, as we say here in South Africa, is rubbish.

The fact is that Portugal continues to offer one of the best pathways to long-term residency in the European Union—even citizenship in as little as five years.

A lot of recent media coverage has focused on changing tax rules which mean that more expats might owe tax in Portugal…

But the fact is: The overall cost of living in Portugal—including taxes—is still one of the lowest in Europe.

After a careful review of Portuguese taxes and living costs, I’ve concluded what everyone else who’s settled there will tell you.

Your cost of living will fall dramatically when you move to Portugal (prices are typically 55% less than in the States)… even if you end up owing taxes in Portugal.

Plus, your quality of life will be far higher.

And there are some tips and tricks you can learn to minimize your tax bill, too…

We’ll be talking about all of this in my upcoming Portugal seminar.

The key lesson here is how important it is to consider the source of the information you’re getting.

So much of what you find on the internet is worded in a way to cause maximum shock—or to milk as much money out of you as possible…

But my goal is to bring you the real information… to help you achieve your dreams of international diversification in the most efficient way possible…

So, rather than wading through dozens of contradictory and ill-informed websites… accept my invitation to sign up for Portugal’s Next Chapter on 14 May—and get the real story about the wealth of opportunities in Portugal.