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Keely Capel, 38, moved to Portugal in 2008 following in the footsteps of her parents who had made the move years three years before.
Starting a new life in Portugal was a lifelong dream for Keely’s parents, who had bought a ruin to build up as a home, and they even enrolled Keely in a local school when she was a young child – but they didn’t end up relocating until years later.
When they eventually made the move Keely was 21 and settled into London life, so she turned down an invite to join them. However, she soon regretted this decision and took the plunge to join her family overseas, in turn finding that Portugal was right up her street. She spoke to GB News about why she made the move – and why she’s “never looked back”.
Keely resides in the Algarve, where she works as a real estate agent. She told GB News: “Portuguese is a very difficult language to master, and jobs for English-speaking individuals – especially at the time I moved here – were quite limited.
“Jobs would typically be in the hospitality industry and real estate – and I’ve worked in both.”
‘I can take my kids to the beach on a Friday evening and we can sit, play and watch the sunset, that kind of thing’
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For those considering the move, learning Portuguese is advisable but you can probably get away with minimal proficiency.
Keely said: “I think it varies very much on where you want to be in the country. The further north you go, the more necessary it becomes to speak Portuguese.”
In places like the Algarve – where expat communities are plenty – English is quite widely spoken.
Keely added: “They teach English in the schools here from a very young age. My children are six and eight and they learn English as a second language.”
The expat has been able to meet people from all over the world living in the Algarve.
“There’s a big expatriate community here,” she said, “not just English but a whole mix of nationalities”. “There are German expats, Dutch, and lots of Americans recently moving here, so English tends to be the go-to language that other nationalities will use if they don’t speak Portuguese.”
However, Keely provided a word of warning to those moving to Portugal. While many residents are English speakers, navigating the healthcare, education and tax systems can be tricky. She explained: “These typically stick to Portuguese and usually expect you to be able to speak it.”
The expat added: “I guess it comes down to who you deal with, because sometimes you’ll talk to somebody and they’ll be very open to speaking English with you, and other times they won’t. So it’s not a total necessity.
“And there is always somebody around – if you ask enough people, you’ll find somebody who could come and help you to translate and stuff. But it definitely helps.”
Keely advised that expats try their best to learn Portuguese though – at least a few key phrases: “If you attempt to start the conversation in Portuguese, they respect that a lot.”
After 17 years in Portugal, part of which she was married to a Portuguese man, Keely can speak the language and gets by comfortably.
According to Keely, the best way to learn Portuguese is by enrolling in a free language course for adults that runs in the country. This will focus on European Portuguese rather than Brazilian Portuguese, as this is what is spoken in Portugal.
Speaking about the “best thing” about living in the European country, Keely revealed that the near-constant “sunshine” is an amazing perk.
She said: “We get something like 300 days of sunshine a year and it doesn’t matter whether it’s winter or summer, I can take my kids to the beach on a Friday evening and we can sit, play and watch the sunset, that kind of thing.
“There’s a lot more of an outdoor lifestyle. You know, we sit outside, we eat outside, we cook outside. Even in the winter we’re outside walking. If we’re not on the beaches, we’re walking through the trails in the forests and the hillsides.”
The quality of life is also excellent in Portugal, and wonderful for those who have little ones. Keely said: “I have two young children who are British-Portuguese, and I wouldn’t ever think of bringing them back to the UK now.”
She claimed that life in Portugal is safer: “I see the news and I see things that go on and I just think, ‘I don’t want to raise my children in England’. They will experience and understand their heritage, but I feel like they have a better quality of life here.”
Keely also loves the welcoming nature of the Portuguese people, claiming that they are “the friendliest people you will ever meet”.
“They are very hospitable – and they love feeding you,” the Briton continued. “If you go anywhere and there’s food on the table, they will bring you in, sit you down and give you a plate. And every time that plate’s empty, they’ll fill it up again.
“My neighbours and I chat across the fence. They helped me look for my cat when she went missing. What I love here that I think England misses now is the sense of community.”
The expat revealed that the Portuguese love a party, and will host one at any opportunity. Get-togethers are incredibly popular on bank holidays – there are 13 mandatory ones in Portugal – and even more local holidays.
“Drinking is part of the social fabric,” Keely said, “and it’s typical to enjoy a glass of wine”. But the expat revealed that there isn’t a culture of “going out on a Friday and Saturday night and drinking as much as you can”.
As for the less than favourable aspects of Portugal living, Keely revealed that it can get incredibly busy in the summer months due to tourism.
She said: “It can be a little bit frustrating when you live in the area where everybody just descends and takes over for the summer.
“Going to the supermarket is a bit stressful when it’s August and you’re trying to work and cook a dinner and you’ve got everybody on holiday who have got all the time in the world to buy their shopping.”
The “worst thing” about living in Portugal, according to Keely, is the bureaucracy. She said: “I’ve noticed that post-Covid there have been improvements, but they still love a piece of paper and they love a ticket. You can take a ticket at 8am and still be waiting to be seen at 4pm.
“There’s definitely a slower pace here. I love it – there’s not so much stress – but when you are trying to do things like more than one thing in a day, it can be very stressful.”
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Expect blue skies and beautiful waters
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Asked which places in Portugal she’d recommend for British expats, Keely recommended Lisbon for a taste of home. She said: “Lisbon is amazing. It reminds me of London in many ways, and there’s so much to do – I generally go up to Lisbon to watch musicians and concerts.
“Porto is beautiful as well, but it’s a lot cooler and probably more like an English climate. Make sure you take an umbrella out with you even in August, because it can rain.
“As for the Algarve, May through to October, it’s warm, sunny and hot. Faro – the capital of the region – is vibrant and there’s a university there, so there’s always a lot of life. And then you go to Vila Real de Santo António and it feels like real old, authentic Portugal.”
While she is far from retiring age, she “100 per cent” believes that Portugal would be a great place to live out this next stage of her life.
Praising the healthcare system and reasonable cost of living, she recommended it for those in their 50s, 60s and beyond – “plus you won’t have to heat your house so much”.
Offering advice to Britons thinking of making the move, she warned them to “adjust their mindset”.
She said: “I’ve been here 17 years and still I have to check myself sometimes because of my ‘let’s get it done, let’s go, I’ve got a million things to do’ attitude.
“I can get very stressed when things aren’t happening as I think they should, but stress doesn’t exist here, and getting stressed will get you no further forward.
“If you can learn that if you achieve one thing in a day, you’ve had a success, that’s great.
“Everything still happens – it just doesn’t all happen like that minute. But it will still all get done. And everybody’s a lot calmer and a lot less stressed.”
She also provided a warning for foodies in Portugal. She said: “The food is beautiful, and the bread is dangerous, so if you want to keep your waistline, limit your bread consumption.”
Moving to Portugal
What you need to know
Portugal is a beautiful choice for expats and is popular among Britons looking to relocate. For those considering the move, it’s important to be aware of a few things regarding visa and residency information, how to find accommodation and driving in Portugal.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has provided essential guidance for Britons considering the move.
On GOV.UK, the Government office said: “You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.”
Britons must check the entry requirements for Portugal. They must read the Portuguese government’s general entry requirements for Portugal, information about visas on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Page, and the Portuguese Immigration authority’s website for information on residence, working and studying in Portugal (in Portuguese).
Get Golden Visa provides a definitive guide on Portugal’s Golden Visa in 2024, including eligibility and requirements.
The Government also has detailed guidance on buying property abroad. Britons were warned: “If you’re considering buying a property overseas you’ll need to bear in mind that the legal system and steps to follow may be very different from those you have experienced in the UK.”
The FCDO offered some key points Britons should be aware of when purchasing property in Portugal.
The Government said: “If you are buying property in Portugal, consider taking advice from a lawyer who is experienced in land law and property transactions. Make sure that they are registered with the law society, Ordem dos Advogados (in Portuguese).
“Some notaries, who are trained lawyers in Portugal, offer an independent property purchasing service known as Casa Simples, Casa Segura (in Portuguese).
“If you are thinking of buying a coastal, river or lakeside property, ensure it’s not affected by the 2005 water resources law (in Portuguese).
“If you buy rural property, make sure you comply with the law on preventing forest fires.”
A recent agreement means that driving in Portugal is very straightforward for Britons. The FDCO explained: “A new bilateral agreement between the UK and Portugal on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences entered into force on December 31, 2023.
“This means that if you are a resident in Portugal and hold a full and valid driving licence issued in the UK or Gibraltar, you can drive in Portugal on your current licence until it expires, provided you have registered your licence with IMT, or exchange your licence for a Portuguese one without needing to take a test (see exception below).”
Best places for retirees
- The Silver Coast
- The Algarve
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Madeira
- Coimbra
Why Britons choose to live in Portugal
- Warm climate
- Affordable (depending on where you decide to live)
- Safe
- Incredible landscapes
- Excellent healthcare
- English is widely spoken (although more so in major cities than in smaller towns)
- Slower pace of life – may suit expats who have relocated for their retirement
- Sociable and fun – perfect for those who love a party
- Community is important
Possible pitfalls
- Language barrier (officials in government offices will likely not speak English)
- Some places operate on a cash-only basis so you will need to remember to carry change
- Bureaucracy can be laborious
- Slower pace of life means that things may not get done as quickly as you might like
- Homes can get cold at night as many do not come with a radiator – you may need to purchase your own heater
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