Why Expats Are Leaving Portugal

It seems there is an exodus of epats. leaving Portugal... but why? Here's my take! Let's check it out!

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[theportugeeza]

1.) No offence to Americans, some of my most beloved friends are from 'The Land of the Free!'... 2.) If you're thinking of leaving Portugal, why?

[wallywal]

A very realistic take on things in Portugal. We're in the process of making the final move to central Portugal from the US. The locals have been beyond friendly and if it wasn't for our good friends from the UK, it would be much more difficult. Dreams require hard work and reality requires adjustment and compromise.

[nunorican]

I'm not an expat but as a local I can't argue with your reasoning. It's like you've been living in PT all your life, spot on.
Just want to comment on the recurrent weather topic; Portugal is a small country but it has a lot of diversity due to it's North-South/Ocean-Mountains configuration. That means that some areas are drier/warmer than others. Azores and Madeira archipelagos are also part of Portugal and also contribute to the diversity. Porto Santo island is probably the closest thing to the 300-day sunshine postcard that is sold to foreigners, so there is some truth to that. ;)

[marcussharpley]

This video has it all . . . informative, funny, and realistic. Great job.

[garetteasdale]

definatly not an expat, im an immigrant, I am currently the only english student on the local B2 portuguese free language course reason is english speakers seemingly think they are somehow exempt from language learning, weather, heating is needed here, insulation also, most days this last winter, as the sun went down, my pellet boiler went on. much cheaper bill than my welsh bills was,

[martacancela]

Some thoughts on this video from FB comments (excerpts).
a) "Wouldn't the language be a barrier anywhere else too? When people move from Portugal to other countries they need to learn the language to navigate the system. I find this business of expats expecting everyone in Portugal to satisfy their needs and wants very inconsiderate. Also people choose to live in Portugal so that they can take advantage of what the country offers. So I guess it goes both ways. As well, why should they cater to foreigners? You chose to live there. You should not expect them to cater to you because you are a foreigner. In the UK and in the US no-one does anything to please immigrants - in fact it's the other way around... Expats in Portugal have the expectation that the country should change for them, instead of them accepting the norms of the country. I see comments in other groups that people in Portugal should speak English. Portuguese language is the official language. If some people speak English that is a bonus. I think the question is whether Portuguese people want to lose their traditions and language. If you want to move to any country, you have to accept their language and norms. I've seen restaurants selling fish and chips, instead of the traditional grilled fish. They were running a restaurant yet they only spoke English, and only to serve brits!"

b) "Sometimes we, PT, feel that either foreigners don't have these issues in their own countries or they didn't do their homework or prepared themselves for the "unknown" or - worse - don't have the adaptational ability to accept things or just move, when the cons weigh more than the pros. Either way, I'm glad that many of you do not listen to (or plainly understand) our own ranting about our own country... Sometimes wanting to change things for the better is real, but fighting the system and the people that are in charge who only see their profits and favor only some friends/family is hard. That is why many of us, PT, try to find happiness in all the things that you, foreigners, come here to find... Not bureaucracy, not corruption, not favors, not injustice, not hardship..."

And in Portuguese, plain and simple: a) "Quem está mal, muda-se." or b) "A porta da rua é a serventia da casa." (Just as an example of the PT mindset about these issues. I’ll leave the fun of translating to you.)
We know very well that 70% (our estimate) of all expats/immigrants (whatever you name them) will leave in 3 to 5 years, if not less. It's ok. It's life.We don’t care.

And now:
1 - The little things: adapt, accept... or just... move on.
2 - The weather: 300 days of sunshine? The year has 365 days, what do you expect for the remaining 65 days?
3 - Bureacracy, inneficiency: try immigrating "the other way round". You don't speak English and you want to go to the US, to Canada, to the UK, ... Oh, sure, you have all the paperwork easy peasy, it's a piece of cake. There they welcome you with a red carpet - especially if you come from "undesired" countries. LOL
Or move to a country with a funny, grammatically easy language to learn and to navigate in: to Sweden, to Poland, to Hungary, to Switzerland (4 official languages...), etc. Oh, it's surely a piece of cake. Come on! Spoiled first world brats!
4 - Political climate: thank you for explaining the "moderation" attitude. Politics? We don't care, they are all the same when they get elected and "taste" power.
5 - Friendly locals? - What about the arrogance from foreigners? Condescension and self-importance from those who come and "know best"? Criticize all, show disdain and contempt for PT traditions? Behave with snobbery and sense of superiority, judging all they see without knowing what it means or how it works? Not understanding that some "old ways to do things" have centuries of knowledge behind them, and we do not follow blindly ignorant internet trends and fashions like sheep.
And I'm not even going to talk about the arrogance of those who have money (no culture or brains), plain sad, ignorant tippers...
6 - The internet world? - Without critical sense, only primary stupidity prevails.

Great video. Excellent text. Wonderful writing.

[gee]

Shout out to Portugeezea for how well this script/content is crafted, informative, tongue in cheek and realistic, perfect. I see tons of reasons here to leave the Uk in my book. I've done cold countries so wet winters will be a relief.

[fsilva]

In my opinion one of your best videos yet. Really spoke to me, moved here from Canada a few months ago.

[fzotjmz]

Loved this one Portugezza! Along with the "stoic" one my favourite! Spot on....keep 'em coming. Regards from theSerpins and Gois area.

[Solrac-Siul]

I migrated almost 19 years ago. It is an western european country not a tropical africa, people expecting summer time all year around need to restudy geography . As for bureaucracy it is a pain, but I come from a country - USA- where 80% of the time the government does nothing or very little to effectively help it's citizens and regulations are.... not really regulations to the point where we now have doors falling from passenger aircraft.
Finally the NHR. Never had it and paid my fair taxes over the years. I see a lot of complaints about the end of the NHR yet if you look around, that is not just happening in Portugal as the European Union is pushing for the end of those kind of exemptions, and to an extent that is fair, as many things such as healthcare, education and so on are operational due to a life of taxes and contributions from the locals. Is it fair that someone that drops down here can access public healthcare or schools from almost day 1 without any type of past contributions?ps I have reread my own comment. I am not against people having access to healthcare or education, I just think there should be an entry fee, let's say a 1 time payment of 2500 or 3000 or 4000 euros fully reverting to funding of Healthcare and Education.

[cyo]

Sadly, sometimes people are not prepared for the reality of moving to a different country. People do underestimate what everything costs and how difficult things are to achieve sometimes and sometimes people are just unrealistic about life in general. But admitting something is not working for you and moving on can be a good thing too. I do worry about people who move with insufficient resources to change their situations if it is not working for them.

[josevicentemartins]

In Portugal is: `` Love it, or leave it ´´. Feel free...

[franciscoarroyo]

Always an interesting subject, I believe language is the biggest barrier and second reality vs expectations.

[TheMountainBeyondTheWoods]

I'm a Portuguese living in the US and making plans to eventually go back because I miss it so much and because I can't take the US much longer. Just like anywhere else in the world, Portugal has some pros and many cons. No place is perfect, Portugal certainly isn't and there are many things that annoy and drive me crazy about that place, but despite its many flaws Portugal is still a great place to live, if you can afford it.

[tdynrescue]

We have lived here for 6 years and love it here so much. There are so many positives it would be impossible to list them all. UK is done, especially our hometown London.

[livingworkingoutsidebox]

Well done.

Not thinking of leaving. Was thinking of moving to Portugal until the NHR program ended.

No need to pay taxes on income that's not taxed in the States.

I'm finding it easier and more cost effective to do the Shengen shuffle 90 days in 90 out. Slow traveling Southern & Eastern Europe.😮😊

With the understandable drop in interest about moving and living in Portugal, have you seen a drop in views?

Some other channels are pivoting their content strategies. Have you thought about pivoting? 🤔🌞💡

[lus]

Language barrier: when all portuguese learn to speak Viseu like you do there's no more barrier. You are spot on on that word.

[stephenboyd]

Sounds like NZ climate wet & cold in the winter but rubby hot in summer & the houses generally don't have insulation or double glazing

[nickob]

Virtually the same story in Bulgaria, I think the winters catch a lot of people out. Quite a few bail out.

[siweiss]

Older man. I was in Portugal before it was expensive. Lisbon was OK. I got a bad case of food poisoning. Algarve was good. Spain was more exciting. Ended up in Greece. Suited me more!