Portugal: Why this southern European country is a hot place to move

(CNN) — With “work to live” rather than “live to work” as the unofficial lifestyle mantra, more than 1,100 miles of coastline to explore and delicious pastéis de nata all over the place, putting down roots in Portugal sounds pretty appealing.

And for anyone who dreams of packing up their life (or putting their house on the market, along with everything inside it) for sunnier shores, jetting off to live in Portugal may be more of a possibility than you realize.

The country has long been one of Europe’s most accessible options when it comes to seeking residency, thanks to several visa programs offered to foreigners who are non-EU citizens (and also not from the European Economic Area, called the EEA, and Switzerland). And with a new temporary-stay visa geared toward digital nomads, remote workers are more welcome in the country than ever.

Some Americans who’ve made the leap say they’re seeking more affordable healthcare and a haven from gun violence in addition to the lifestyle perks of the southern European country, including a slower pace, mild weather and tempting travel options throughout Europe.

The city of Coimbra and its surrounding area are drawing transplants from other countries.

rh2010/Adobe Stock

One way in: The D7 visa

Grace Veach, who teaches virtually at a Florida university from her new home outside the riverfront city of Coimbra in central Portugal, says she first became serious about leaving the United States after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012.

“I knew I wanted to live somewhere that gun violence wasn’t a daily threat,” says Veach, 59.

But making the move happen took some time due to life circumstances. Together with her husband, her now 27-year-old son and the family dog, Veach moved to Portugal in 2021.

Nobody in the family had ever stepped foot in the country before they arrived, she says, with scouting trips they’d planned canceled during the pandemic.

The family applied for Portugal’s D7 visa together, Veach says. It’s a visa option popular with retirees since passive income sources can be used to meet the required earnings — 705 euros per month (about $705) for first adult applicants plus lesser amounts for additional family members. Applicants can also benefit from the same health care benefits as Portuguese residents and citizens through the country’s National Health Service.

The D7 visa, which must be converted to a residency application within four months after it’s issued and once you’ve arrived in Portugal, requires holders spend 16 months out of the first 24 months in Portugal, with some conditions. This process paves the way to working in the country.

They can also apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years. The D7 visa application process usually takes roughly six months.

Grace Veach and her family moved to the village of Sao Martinho de Árvore outside of Coimbra.

Grace Veach

Other ways to live in Portugal

The D7 is just one of just several visa options that can facilitate a move to Portugal right now.