Video by Our Rich Journey
Spain vs Portugal: Lived in Both, Retired in Portugal
Our Rich Journey lived in Spain for about two years on and off, then chose to retire early in Portugal. They say their D7 visa application went smoothly with documents in English. Under NHR status, their foreign dividends and interest were not taxed in Portugal. They judged the cost of living in the two countries to be about the same.
Their situation
- Where they lived in Spain
- Utrera for one year and Puerto de Santa Maria for another year ▶ 1:01
- Time in Portugal
- Over a year at the time of the video ▶ 1:01
- Visa
- D7 visa ▶ 7:45
- Tax status
- NHR (non-habitual resident) ▶ 7:45
- Health cover in Portugal
- Private insurance ▶ 9:46
- Housing
- Bought a house in Portugal ▶ 13:23
Questions this video answers
Was the visa process easier in Portugal than in Spain?
For them, yes. Our Rich Journey say their Portuguese visa went smoothly, with no follow-up questions and English documents that needed no translation. They say Spain requires official documents to be translated, and many people hire someone to help. ▶ 6:12
Can you get by in English in Portugal compared with Spain?
They say that even in rural Portugal you can always find someone who speaks English. In small, rural Spanish towns, they say, you are not going to find people speaking English. ▶ 4:05
How were they taxed as early retirees in Portugal?
They are on a D7 visa and were approved for NHR status. Under it, their foreign dividends, interest and rental income are not taxed in Portugal. Living off investments, they found this better than what Spain offered. ▶ 7:45
How did hospitals in Spain and Portugal compare for them?
In the Portuguese hospitals they used with private insurance, English was spoken throughout. In Spain there were visits when no one spoke English. So they felt more comfortable in Portugal, although Spain's system ranks higher. ▶ 9:46
Is Portugal cheaper to live in than Spain?
Having lived in both, Our Rich Journey say the cost of living is relatively the same. They give no figures in this video. ▶ 10:16
The moments, in order
Press ▶ to play the video from that second.
- ▶ 3:04
They spoke almost no Portuguese on arrival, but opening a bank account and setting up their life was simple because most of the information was available in English.
- ▶ 3:35
They found Spanish much easier to learn than Portuguese. After more than a year in Portugal they are still not fluent.
- ▶ 4:37
Before the move they could not find a European Portuguese class in the US and had to do all their learning online. Spanish classes, by contrast, are easy to find in the US.
- ▶ 6:42
Their Portuguese visa application went smoothly: no follow-up questions from the government, and all their documents were in English with no translation needed. They say Spain requires all official documents to be translated, and that many people hire someone to take them through the Spanish process.
as stated, November 2020
- ▶ 7:13
They believe people can do the Portuguese visa process themselves and encourage others to do so.
- ▶ 7:45
They are in Portugal on a D7 visa and were approved for NHR (non-habitual resident) tax status. Under it, their foreign dividends, interest and rental income are not taxed in Portugal. As early retirees living off investments, they found this better than Spain's offer.
as stated, November 2020
- ▶ 9:46
On hospital visits in Spain there were times when no one spoke English. In the Portuguese hospitals they have used with their private insurance, English was spoken throughout, so they felt more comfortable there even though Spain's system ranks higher.
- ▶ 10:16
Having lived in both countries, they judge the cost of living in Spain and Portugal to be about the same. They give no figures in this video.
- ▶ 12:20
They feel completely safe walking anywhere in Portugal. They say it is the safest they have ever felt, even compared with Japan, where they also lived.
- ▶ 13:23
They liked Portugal enough to buy a house there.
Worth knowing before you go
- ▶ 4:37
Before the move they could not find a European Portuguese class in the US and had to do all their learning online. Spanish classes, by contrast, are easy to find in the US.
- ▶ 6:42
Their Portuguese visa application went smoothly: no follow-up questions from the government, and all their documents were in English with no translation needed. They say Spain requires all official documents to be translated, and that many people hire someone to take them through the Spanish process.
as stated, November 2020
- ▶ 9:46
On hospital visits in Spain there were times when no one spoke English. In the Portuguese hospitals they have used with their private insurance, English was spoken throughout, so they felt more comfortable there even though Spain's system ranks higher.
This is their experience, retold in our words, and not medical, insurance or financial advice.