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Culture & Tradition, Tips
Marc Martin - Portugal
9 Things to Consider Before Buying Property in ...

Buying property in Portugal can be an exciting investment, but it’s essential to approach it with careful planning and awareness of the local market. From legal requirements to hidden costs, here are five key things to consider before buying property in Portugal. I’m Lisbob, the expat’s assistant, here to guide you through what to know so you can make an informed decision!

9 Things to Consider Before Buying Property in Portugal
Culture & Tradition, Tips
Marc Martin - Portugal
Expat vs. Migrant: What’s the Difference and ...

As someone who works closely with individuals moving to new countries, I often hear the terms expat and migrant used interchangeably. But are they really the same? Words matter, and choosing the right one can shape how we understand and discuss the experience of moving across borders. Let’s explore the distinctions between these terms, why I choose to use “expat,” and what it really means to live in a country that’s not your own.

Expat vs. Migrant: What’s the Difference and Which Term Should You Use?
Culture & Tradition, Tips
Marc Martin - Portugal
9 Things You Should Never Say to a Portuguese ...

Portugal is a welcoming and friendly country, but like anywhere, there are cultural sensitivities that it’s good to be aware of! Certain topics and phrases can be touchy, and it’s best to approach them with caution. Here are 9 things you should avoid saying to a Portuguese person if you want to keep the conversation friendly and respectful. I’m Lisbob, the expat’s assistant, here to help you navigate Portuguese culture with ease!

9 Things You Should Never Say to a Portuguese Person
Culture & Tradition, Tips
Marc Martin - Portugal
9 Things Expats Miss Most About Home After ...

Moving to Portugal is an incredible adventure, filled with new experiences, beautiful scenery, and a relaxed lifestyle. But even with all the perks, there are certain things expats often find themselves missing from home. From familiar foods to cultural traditions, here are 9 things expats commonly miss most after moving to Portugal. I’m Lisbob, the expat’s assistant, here to help you navigate the highs and lows of expat life!

9 Things Expats Miss Most About Home After Moving to Portugal
Culture & Tradition, Tips
Marc Martin - Portugal
9 Big Differences Between Northern and Southern ...

Thinking about making Porto your new home? With its stunning river views, historic charm, and vibrant culture, Porto has a lot to offer. But don’t let the postcard images fool you—living in Porto has its own quirks, surprises, and challenges that newcomers should know. Before you pack your bags and head to this beautiful city, here are 9 things you absolutely need to know. I’m Lisbob, the expat’s assistant, and I’m here to give you the real scoop on life in Porto!

9 Big Differences Between Northern and Southern Portugal

News

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List of speed radar controls in Portugal in February 2020

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List of speed radar controls in Portugal in February 2020

Here is the list of speed radar controls in Portugal for the month of February 2020. Maybe you didn’t know but when you live in Portugal you can know in advance where will be proceed speed controls. LisBob reminds you that this list is not exhaustive and that the Portuguese police can obviously proceed to surprise controls on any road. In addition, even without speed control, do not exceed the limits indicated on the road ! Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, shares the list of speed control with radar on the roads of Portugal for the month of February 2020. Let’s go !

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Huge strike in public services in Portugal for the revaluation of wages

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Huge strike in public services in Portugal for the revaluation of wages

With a proposed salary increase of 0.3% in 10 years, the Portuguese government has annoyed the public service. In fact, the employees of the public administration of Portugal are currently carrying out a national strike, the first of the current legislature of Antonio Costa, and are organizing a demonstration in Lisbon this Friday with the different trade union organizations of the CGTP and the UGT. They anticipate strong support for the demonstrations and indicate that the various public services, such as administrations and waste collection, are strongly impacted by the staff strike, which has been going on since midnight and which will officially end this evening at the same time. The big national demonstration will start at 2.30 p.m. from Place Marquês de Pombal and many public workers from across the country plan to go there. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the civil service strike in Portugal.

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Unemployment ends up in 2019 in Portugal with a rate of 6.9%

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Unemployment ends up in 2019 in Portugal with a rate of 6.9%

Unemployment ends up in 2019 in Portugal: the rate is 6.9% The unemployment rate in Portugal has known good figures for a few years. However, the year 2019 ends with an increase to 6.9%, a figure revealed by the INE (the National Institute of Statistics) from the monthly unemployment rate excluding seasonal variation. You have to go back to August 2018 to find a higher, higher unemployment rate. Should this be seen as a break or an aggravation of the employment situation in Portugal? Lisbob, the expats assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the new Portuguese unemployment figures.

A boat with 11 migrants intercepted in the Algarve

A boat with 11 migrants intercepted in the Algarve

A small boat with 11 migrants was intercepted by the maritime police in front of Barra do Lavajo, between the islands of Armona and Culatra in the Algarve, around 4.30 am on Tuesday. They had left the city of El Jadida, in Morocco and reached the coasts of Portugal after a journey of more than 400 kilometers. The Olhão maritime police intercepted the boat after being alerted, and the 11 Moroccan migrants were all taken care of by the INEM and then the SEF, Foreigners and Borders Services. They said he came on the advice of their friends, who had taken the same route a few months ago. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the crossing of Moroccan migrants to the Algarve.

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NHR status : Portuguese government decides to tax retirees at 10% IRS and abandons the minimum amount of 7,500 euros

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NHR status : Portuguese government decides to tax retirees at 10% IRS and abandons the minimum amount of 7,500 euros

Could this be the end of a long soap opera? In fact, the Portuguese Socialist Party has decided to go ahead with its ambition to reform the status of non-habitual resident, and this this year through the Portuguese state budget 2020. The bill indicates that future retirees benefiting from non-habitual resident status will no longer have the right to a total tax exemption and will have to pay a tax of 10% on foreign pensions. The idea of ​​applying a minimum amount of 7,500 euros was not retained. This proposal is likely to be adopted this year as the forces inciting a modification or even a cancellation of the NHR statute are strong. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the changes in NHR status.

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End of Golden Visas in Lisbon and Porto

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End of Golden Visas in Lisbon and Porto

Socialist Party decided to end the Golden Visas in Lisbon and Porto, limiting the benefit of this status to the interior regions and the autonomous regions. This is a blow to this fiscal instrument which has brought a lot of foreign investment to the big urban centers but has also helped to raise the price of real estate. Rather than completely remove this controversial status, the government of Antonio Costa has decided to limit the allocation of these golden visas to people investing in CMIs and autonomous regions in order to limit the pressure on property prices in Lisbon and Port. This decision to end the Golden Visas on the whole of Portuguese territory is not only happy, but is less worse than expected. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the Portuguese Socialist Party’s decision to end the Golden Visas in Lisbon and Porto.

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Coronavirus : 1st suspected case of infection in Portugal

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Coronavirus : 1st suspected case of infection in Portugal

Portugal would hold its first case of coronavirus patient? Today the Portuguese Directorate General for Health (DGS) confirmed the first suspected case of coronavirus in Portugal, with a patient under observation at the Curry Cabral Hospital in Lisbon. According to DGS, the "patient, who returned today [this Saturday] from China, where he has been in the city of Wuhan (Hubei province) for a few days, is already under observation at the Curry Cabral Hospital in Lisbon, a hospital of reference for these situations ”. The official press release from the Portuguese DGS is available by clicking here. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the global coronavirus epidemic.

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Coronavirus outbreak : Lisbon airport does not screen passengers from China

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Coronavirus outbreak : Lisbon airport does not screen passengers from China

The new coronavirus that has appeared in China has already infected more than 800 people and has killed 41 people (at the time of writing), leading to the quarantine of several Chinese cities. Tens of millions of people cannot get out of their cities, and some airports are cordoned off. The virus having already reached other countries including France, airport checks are necessary. Portugal, however, still has not implemented screening for passengers from China. This information is reported to us by the Bombeiros24 website.

Corruption : Portugal falls in corruption world rankings

Corruption : Portugal falls in corruption world rankings

As every year, the NGO Transparency International publishes its ranking of the corruption perception index (CPI), considered as the main global indicator of the level of corruption in the public sector. This year Portugal sees its ranking dropped both globally and at the European level. According to Transparency International, problems of conflicts of interest, the usurpation of state resources for electoral purposes, insufficient disclosure of the funding of political parties and campaigns and the lack of independence of the media remain common. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this global ranking of corruption.

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Definitive green light for the new Montijo-Lisbon airport ?

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Definitive green light for the new Montijo-Lisbon airport ?

The new Lisbon-Montijo airport will be done after receiving the final green light from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA). This new airport has been debated for a few years and after multiple twists in this file, the environmental impact study (DIA) gave a favorable opinion to the construction of Montijo airport in exchange for several environmental measures of a amount of 48 million euros. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the final green light given to the construction of the new Montijo airport.

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« It’s a crime against the country ! » : Changes to Golden Visas and NHR status scare off investors, explains APEMIP

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« It’s a crime against the country ! » : Changes to Golden Visas and NHR status scare off investors, explains APEMIP

Portuguese real estate sector is currently turned against the government and against the bad signals it sends to foreign investors. This is the consequence of the possible modification of the rules for awarding golden visas and NHR status. These tax incentives are under the radar of many European countries which see them as unfair competition. Today, Luis Lima, the president of APEMIP, the Association of Professionals and Real Estate Companies of Portugal, sounds the alarm and indicates that the planned changes are driving investors away. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant to Portugal, tells you all about Luis Lima’s statement.

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Storm Gloria : 4 districts under wind alert in Portugal, Coimbra devastated and 4 dead in Spain under maximum alert

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Storm Gloria : 4 districts under wind alert in Portugal, Coimbra devastated and 4 dead in Spain under maximum alert

Storm Gloria is hitting Spain and Portugal hard, and has already caused its first casualties. Portugal remains under yellow alert due to strong wind with gusts which will reach 110 km / h. IPMA points out that Storm Gloria is a rare Mediterranean episode for the month of January. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about Storm Gloria and the yellow alert in Portugal.

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First drop in rental prices in Lisbon since 2016

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First drop in rental prices in Lisbon since 2016

Is something happening in the Portuguese capital real estate market ? In fact, the residential income index recorded in the third quarter of 2019 the first negative variation since the third quarter of 2016, according to data from Confidencial Imobiliário. The mad increase in rental prices in Lisbon is coming to an end, after years of increases which have caused housing difficulties for locals. Some see it as a financial bubble burst, others as a simple adjustment. This 1.4% drop is the first for several years. At the national level, the increase was 0.2%, and 2.5% for Porto. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the falling rents in the Portuguese capital.

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Bloco de Esquerda insists on the end of NHR status and golden visas

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Bloco de Esquerda insists on the end of NHR status and golden visas

The Bloco de Esquerda (left-wing bloc) today presented two proposals, as part of the Portuguese state budget for 2020, to end the golden visas and eliminate the non-habitual resident regime. This is not the first time that the left party has put forward such a proposal with the aim of bringing more tax justice, but this year the bloco de esquerda intends to have its proposals adopted. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the Bloco de Esquerda's insistence on ending the RNH status as well as the golden visas.

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New NHR status for retirees : 10% tax and 7,500 euros minimum per year

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New NHR status for retirees : 10% tax and 7,500 euros minimum per year

Selling Portugal as a "fiscal Eldorado" or "Florida of Europe" will be more difficult. Foreign retirees who join the non-habitual resident regime (NHR) in the future should lose the tax exemption and double non-taxation and will have to pay a tax rate of 10% with a minimum tax of 7,500 € per year, according to sources close to the government. For several weeks, NHR status specialists have been agitating to find out whether the famous tax system will be abolished or modified for foreign retirees. The subject is advancing because today it is a clear proposal from the PS which will be debated as part of the 2020 State Budget. A tax rate of 10% with a minimum amount of € 7,500 in taxes to be paid per year : this is the PS's proposal for the 2020 State Budget. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the new NHR status.

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How to get refund of the overpaid IUC tax for a car imported into Portugal ?

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How to get refund of the overpaid IUC tax for a car imported into Portugal ?

The Portuguese tax authorities are preparing the automatic refund of the IUC of certain imported vehicles. Following the court ruling on the irregularity of the calculation of the IUC for cars dating before 2007 and imported into Portugal thereafter, the Portuguese fiscc opens a refund of the overpayment which potentially concerns 130,000 taxpayers. How to recover the IUC ? How do you know if you are affected by the reimbursement of this tax ? Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the reimbursement of the IUC.

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End of tax exemption for foreign pensioners in Portugal : Portuguese government will change the NHR status

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End of tax exemption for foreign pensioners in Portugal : Portuguese government will change the NHR status

Some will still say "fake news" but it is something that is approaching: the end of NHR status as we know it. Indeed, the Portuguese government has decided to go ahead and propose changes to the NHR tax regime which grants total tax exemption for 10 years to foreign retirees. It’s the Jornal de Negocios that headlines it today. They say the government is preparing a minimum tax rate on foreign pension income, but will not change the conditions for current beneficiaries. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, offers you the translation of this article from Jornal de Negocios.

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Sunday will be a "no pants day" in Lisbon's subway

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Sunday will be a "no pants day" in Lisbon's subway

Be careful this Sunday if you take the subway in Lisbon. In fact, you may be surprised, pleasantly or not, by slightly undressed travelers. This January 12th is the "No Pants Subway Ride Lisboa", which will once again challenge all the brave passengers of the Lisbon metro. The goal ? Traveling without pants. Yes, only in underwear ! The initiative comes from New York and will once again be present in the Portuguese capital. She promises to generate smiles and some chills. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this day in underwear in the Lisbon metro.

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Energy poverty : 20 % of Portuguese people doesn't have money to heat correctly during winter

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Energy poverty : 20 % of Portuguese people doesn't have money to heat correctly during winter

Portugal is the fifth country in the European Union where there are the most people struggling to heat their homes properly. The data come from the Eurostat study for the year 2018, which concludes that around one fifth of the Portuguese (19.4%) did not have the financial capacity to meet heating costs during the most difficult months. cold. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, offers you the translation of this article published on sol.sapo.pt.

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"Portuguese real estate market will cool down due to lack of supply in 2020" : the president of the association of professionals and real estate companies in Portugal takes stock

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"Portuguese real estate market will cool down due to lack of supply in 2020" : the president of the association of professionals and real estate companies in Portugal takes stock

After the boom, the Portuguese real estate market will cool down in 2020: the president of professionals in the real estate sector says so. He thinks it is necessary to adapt the offer to the needs of the market. Luís Lima, president of the Association of Professionals and Real Estate Companies of Portugal (APEMIP), gives this interview translated from the site dinehirovivo.pt