Moving To Portugal? Visas, Costs And A Citizenship Deadline You Need To Know

Susana Yang, founder and CEO of The Golden Portugal, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving to and retiring in Portugal. Originally from Hong Kong, Susana moved to Portugal in 2018 and founded her immigration agency after a frustrating experience with local legal services. She breaks down the three main visa routes — the D7 passive income visa for retirees, the D8 digital nomad visa and the D2 entrepreneurial visa — and explains the income and savings requirements, realistic cost of living, rental market challenges, healthcare access, and why buying property might be a simpler route for some.

Susana also dives into Portugal's Golden Visa programme, the step-by-step visa application timeline, and a looming citizenship law change that could double the residency requirement from five to 10 years. Her advice for anyone already in Portugal: apply for citizenship now, even if you haven't hit the five-year mark, because processing times mean the current rules may still apply to your case. If you're considering Portugal for retirement, remote work or simply a better quality of life, this episode is packed with practical guidance on what to expect.

#ExpatLife #MoveToPortugal #PortugalExpats #RetireInPortugal #D7Visa #GoldenVisa

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00:00 Portugal Retirement Boom

00:45 Founding The Golden Portugal

02:37 Service Culture Shock

03:38 Why Move to Portugal

04:23 Who Uses Which Visas

04:59 D7 D8 D2 Explained

06:17 D7 Income Requirements

07:39 Realistic Living Costs

09:44 Rent Pressures and Co-Living

11:12 Healthcare for Residents

12:43 Visa Steps and Timelines

15:03 DIY vs Using an Agency

17:13 D7 Permit Timeline

18:27 Citizenship Rule Changes

20:23 Apply Now Strategy

21:58 Renting Reality Check

23:26 Finding Rentals and Fees

25:44 Buying Property Instead

26:57 D7 Stay Requirements

29:37 Golden Visa Explained

31:53 Why Portugal and Wrap Up

🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/portugal/podcast/moving-to-portugal-visas-costs-and-a-citizenship-deadline-you-need-to-know

📝 Show Notes

The Golden Portugal – https://www.thegoldenportugal.com/

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