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Moving to Portugal Made Simple
The Updated Guide to Relocating, Retiring, or Starting a New Life in Portugal
Thinking about making the move to Portugal in 2025? You’re not alone.
Whether you're dreaming of sunny beaches, charming cobblestone towns, or simply want to get out of your current country, this newly updated edition of the bestselling 2021 guide gives you everything you need to turn that dream into a real plan.
Written by expat expert James Cave, this 2025 edition reflects all the latest changes in visas, residency paths, location insights, tax rules, and everyday life in Portugal.
🧭 Inside, you’ll get clear answers to the questions you're probably already Can I move to Portugal in 2025?
Which visa should I apply for?
Which part of Portugal is right for me?
Will I need private health insurance?
Will I have to pay taxes twice?
Can I get Portuguese citizenship—and how long does it take?
🛂 Includes an easy-to-follow breakdown of visa options, D7 Visa
The Digital Nomad Visa
The Golden Visa (and what’s changing in 2025)
The latest short- and long-term stay rules for both EU citizens
Whether you're retiring, working remotely, or looking for a fresh start abroad, Moving to Portugal Made Simple is your friendly, fact-filled guide to starting your new life with confidence.
📘 Ready to make the leap? Grab your copy today.
Thinking about making the move to Portugal in 2025? You’re not alone.
Whether you're dreaming of sunny beaches, charming cobblestone towns, or simply want to get out of your current country, this newly updated edition of the bestselling 2021 guide gives you everything you need to turn that dream into a real plan.
Written by expat expert James Cave, this 2025 edition reflects all the latest changes in visas, residency paths, location insights, tax rules, and everyday life in Portugal.
🧭 Inside, you’ll get clear answers to the questions you're probably already Can I move to Portugal in 2025?
Which visa should I apply for?
Which part of Portugal is right for me?
Will I need private health insurance?
Will I have to pay taxes twice?
Can I get Portuguese citizenship—and how long does it take?
🛂 Includes an easy-to-follow breakdown of visa options, D7 Visa
The Digital Nomad Visa
The Golden Visa (and what’s changing in 2025)
The latest short- and long-term stay rules for both EU citizens
Whether you're retiring, working remotely, or looking for a fresh start abroad, Moving to Portugal Made Simple is your friendly, fact-filled guide to starting your new life with confidence.
📘 Ready to make the leap? Grab your copy today.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2025
225 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
James Cave
4 books6 followersOriginally from Ireland, James is a writer who has spent time living in Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom. While living in Germany he broke nearly every single one of these rules, but writing a book about what not to do in Germany means he is able to put each cultural faux pas down to 'research'.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 4, 2023
“Made Simple” is an exaggeration, but…
As someone who has moved to Portugal twice— once in 1976 and again in 2006— and is now considering returning permanently, James Cave’s book is easily one of the best I’ve seen on the topic.
While making Portugal sound as wonderful as it actually is, it also lays out the problems that expats will have with language learning, housing, integrating into the culture, and, most especially, a burocracia portuguesa. [There’s no such thing as a good bureaucracy, but the Portuguese version is not for the faint hearted.]
Because of his target audience, Cave spends a great deal of time on property ownership in Portugal, something that I don’t care much about. I’ve owned a house once in my life, and won’t again; if my pipes burst or foundation cracks, I’d rather call the owner than be the owner. I recognize that I’m in the minority, and that Cave knows his audience.
Recommended.
As someone who has moved to Portugal twice— once in 1976 and again in 2006— and is now considering returning permanently, James Cave’s book is easily one of the best I’ve seen on the topic.
While making Portugal sound as wonderful as it actually is, it also lays out the problems that expats will have with language learning, housing, integrating into the culture, and, most especially, a burocracia portuguesa. [There’s no such thing as a good bureaucracy, but the Portuguese version is not for the faint hearted.]
Because of his target audience, Cave spends a great deal of time on property ownership in Portugal, something that I don’t care much about. I’ve owned a house once in my life, and won’t again; if my pipes burst or foundation cracks, I’d rather call the owner than be the owner. I recognize that I’m in the minority, and that Cave knows his audience.
Recommended.
November 9, 2021
Accurate advice for moving to Portugal
We have been a part-time, winter resident for a few years and as we consider becoming residents, this book provides a wealth of information. A helpful table of contents allows you to go to those items that are pertinent to your situation. Although I thought I was knowledgeable about most of these issues, I found new information that will certainly be beneficial.
We have been a part-time, winter resident for a few years and as we consider becoming residents, this book provides a wealth of information. A helpful table of contents allows you to go to those items that are pertinent to your situation. Although I thought I was knowledgeable about most of these issues, I found new information that will certainly be beneficial.
July 2, 2022
Good advice
Only 99 (short) chapters, covering everything from where to live in Portugal to renting and buying homes/apartments to pets to visas to Portuguese bureaucracy. And more. Packed with most of what you’ll need to know in a friendly, easy going manor. Cave is honest about things some potential expats may have difficulty dealing with (bureaucracy, older apartments- cold & noisy sometimes.
If you’re ever thinking of moving to Portugal, you need this book!
Only 99 (short) chapters, covering everything from where to live in Portugal to renting and buying homes/apartments to pets to visas to Portuguese bureaucracy. And more. Packed with most of what you’ll need to know in a friendly, easy going manor. Cave is honest about things some potential expats may have difficulty dealing with (bureaucracy, older apartments- cold & noisy sometimes.
If you’re ever thinking of moving to Portugal, you need this book!
May 28, 2023
an excellent practical introduction w/references to other helpful resources
Liked author’s coverage of technical/logistical and social/cultural issues involved in a move to Portugal. It covers bases in terms of house buying, necessary residency requirements, paper work & health insurance and medical options, with suggestions for further reading or research on specific questions or issues and boils down the often overwhelming process into more manageable steps.
Liked author’s coverage of technical/logistical and social/cultural issues involved in a move to Portugal. It covers bases in terms of house buying, necessary residency requirements, paper work & health insurance and medical options, with suggestions for further reading or research on specific questions or issues and boils down the often overwhelming process into more manageable steps.
May 12, 2022
Great overview
As someone who’s lived in two countries outside of my own home country, I can say that this book offers a great overview of things to consider when planning, even down to the level of detail needed for when it’s time to take action. I will be referencing this book over the course of the next year or so as I decide which country I may want to live in next.
As someone who’s lived in two countries outside of my own home country, I can say that this book offers a great overview of things to consider when planning, even down to the level of detail needed for when it’s time to take action. I will be referencing this book over the course of the next year or so as I decide which country I may want to live in next.
July 4, 2022
Wow. I feel like this really covers everything.
From a small breakdown of vibe of each town to start narrowing down our search, to unique situations for the golden visa, to schooling options. All of which we are looking at for the next 5 years.
From a small breakdown of vibe of each town to start narrowing down our search, to unique situations for the golden visa, to schooling options. All of which we are looking at for the next 5 years.
February 19, 2022
Appears yo provide some relevant reliable information for those considering the move to Portugal.
July 20, 2022
An informative read with excellent advice. Just the typos bothered me, perhaps the editor/reviser was skimped on...
August 8, 2022
This book has done a great job of touching on every topic one might need to know about when moving to Portugal.
October 21, 2024
Fantastic summary of steps & hurdles involved in move to Portugal, warts & all. We did it, and used this book as a guide.
November 29, 2024
informative!
Very informative for people who are considering a move to Portugal! Hits most of the high-level topics. Recommend for anyone considering a move to Portugal.
Very informative for people who are considering a move to Portugal! Hits most of the high-level topics. Recommend for anyone considering a move to Portugal.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews