Portugal
The default Gen X expat pick: mild coastal weather, a dedicated passive-income visa (D7), good healthcare, and one of Western Europe's lowest costs of living.
D7 passive-income visa is tailor-made for retirees; digital-nomad visa too. Path to permanent residency at 5 years, citizenship possible after.
Foreigners buy freely, same rights as locals. Golden-visa-by-property ended, but ownership itself is unrestricted.
Public SNS covers residents; private insurance is inexpensive (~€50–100/mo) and widely used by expats.
Widespread fiber, cheap gigabit in cities.
Very high proficiency in Lisbon, Porto, Algarve; thinner in the rural interior.
Couple lives well outside Lisbon on ~$2.5k/mo; Lisbon itself has gotten pricey.
Consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world.
Modern highways, good trains, reliable utilities; rural interior thinner.
Lisbon/Porto metros + trams, decent intercity trains; car-free works in the cities, rural needs wheels.
Good highways (tolled), calm drivers; old-town streets are for donkeys.
UTC+0: ~5h of a 9–5 Pacific workday falls in local waking hours.
EU standard: microchip, rabies shot, health cert — no quarantine.
Stable EU democracy; sleepy politics in the best way.
Renewables leader; strong coastal protection.
Lisbon/Porto punch above their weight; fado to street art.
Great Portuguese food; Lisbon's international scene is young but growing.
Interior and small-city bargains remain; Lisbon/Porto/Algarve have surged.
Nonstops from East Coast hubs; one stop from the West Coast.
EU passport possible after 5 years' residency with A2 Portuguese — the best deal in Europe.
Huge, organized American community (Lisbon, Cascais, Algarve, Madeira).
Progressive: same-sex marriage since 2010, high LGBTQ+ acceptance, live-and-let-live culture.
Wildfire risk inland summers; historic Lisbon seismic zone but low frequency.
All personal drug possession decriminalized since 2001; sale remains illegal. Medical cannabis is legal.
NHR regime was replaced (IFICI is narrower); US retirees should model Portuguese tax on pensions/IRA withdrawals before committing.
Upsides
- +Large, welcoming expat community 50+
- +EU residency path leading to an EU passport
- +Great food and wine at half the US price
- +Walkable cities, decent trains
Downsides
- –Bureaucracy is slow (AIMA appointment backlogs are real)
- –Housing costs in Lisbon/Porto have surged
- –Damp, unheated homes in winter surprise people
- –Wages/economy weak if you plan to work locally
Before you go
- !D7 requires provable passive income (~€920+/mo single in 2026, more for couples)
- !Learn basic Portuguese — it unlocks the country and is required for citizenship (A2)
- !US-Portugal tax treaty helps but file in both countries
Plan your scouting trip
Check what Portugal requires for a long stay and apply online.
Health cover that travels with you — scouting trips and after the move.
An eSIM with data in Portugal the minute you land.
Book a month in Portugal for the scouting trip before you commit.
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Making the move to Portugal?
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