Why are the Americans flocking to Portugal?

22 May 2023 min de leitura

Why has Portugal become a hot spot for Americans?
One of the significant trends of the last few years has been the rise in Americans moving to Portugal. According to Global Citizen Solutions, the number of US expats living in Portugal rose by 45% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
For the last decade, Portugal has begun to appear on the American radar as more than just a tourist destination. Live and Invest Overseas has nominated Portugal (specifically the Algarve) as the #1 best place for Americans to live abroad for the last seven years running. Forbes consistently ranks Portugal in its top five places to retire based on criteria such as residency, housing, cost of living, health care, taxes, climate, governance and security.
American have been attracted to the capital, Lisbon, as well as the Algarve. It could be argued that Madonna led the charge. The global pop icon moved to Portugal in 2017 because her son David Banda was invited to join the youth academy at Benfica's soccer club. Madonna was also drawn to the country's culture, lifestyle, and music scene.

Why are Americans looking to move overseas?
You only need to watch the news to understand why many Americans are looking away from their home country to live a more peaceful life. The American dream has turned into the American nightmare. Recent stats show gun violence became the leading cause of death for children 19 and younger for the first time in 2020 and political unrest. The rise of the far right with changes in abortion laws and the erosion of LGBTQ rights has angered many on the left. Add to this the volatile political system in recent years, which has created unprecedented polarisation and severe social divides. But why are so many US citizens choosing Portugal to escape these issues?

Top 10 Reasons for Americans Moving to Portugal

Affordability (housing, food and healthcare)
Safety
Good education
Temperate climates
English-speaking population
A friendly and welcoming population
Healthy Living
Easy to obtain a residency visa and a treaty with the US that avoids double taxation
Beautiful landscapes and beaches
Relaxed Lifestyle

Retiring to Portugal
Two years ago, Forbes published a piece naming Portugal as the best retirement destination in the world for Americans. Paul and Morri Bookout wanted to invest in Europe as Paul is half-British. The couple have recently bought a property in Praia da Luz. “We certainly became more aware of Portugal in the media. It was being written about more and more as a great place to retire,” says Paul. “We never thought we would be spending time here, but when our friends bought in the Golden Triangle, we discovered the western Algarve and fell in love with it.”

Paul and Morri were able to apply successfully for a Golden Visa before this scheme was phased out in coastal areas. Although they currently spoilt their time between Tennessee, they would like to move more permanently to Portugal as they are becoming concerned by the gun crime and the volatile political situation.

Low Living Costs
In 2023, the dollar surged to its highest level in two decades, while the euro fell to a new five-year low. This currency differential has made European countries with low living costs incredibly attractive to Americans with cash in the bank.
Despite housing costs having risen dramatically, it seems affordable in comparison to Florida and California, which have a similar climate. Portugal is considered one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe and is, on average, 50 per cent cheaper than living in the United States.

Climate & Lifestyle
Portugal ranks 12th in Global Citizen Solutions' pioneering Quality of Life Index.
In the Algarve, Americans will feel particularly at home as it is so reminiscent of their own sunshine state of California. In fact, the new film studios in Loule have been used by US film companies as sets for movies meant to take place in California or Florida; such is the similarity of the landscape. Portugal also twins California with the number of days of sunshine. The difference is that Portugal has lower living costs, political security, almost zero-gun crime and cheaper housing prices. It's a no-brainer for many from across the Atlantic!
The enviable climate is also what attracts golfers to the region, with 31 courses in the Algarve, including Boavisa´s 18-hole course designed by Harold Swan. Boavista´s natural contours provide views over the Bay of Lagos and the Serra de Monchique hills to the North, attracting many expats to relocate for a more active lifestyle to be enjoyed in its warmer climes.

Safety
Reba Eaton Aguiar recently moved to Portugal with her husband and three children, “I can´t tell you how it affects you to deliver your child to school every day when pretty much every week there is a mass shooting. The children were constantly having to take part in gun drills at school and it is now normal to send your kids to school with a bulletproof rucksack. It´s just not how we want to bring up our children.”

The 2022 Global Peace Index ranked Portugal sixth, trailing only Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria, ranking it as one of the safest countries in the European Union. Despite this, Boavista still provides a 24-hour security patrol to ensure all their residents feel safe and secure.

Politics
Politics is currently dividing America and is the stick that is prodding many US citizens to leave, while Portugal is the very tempting carrot. American mum of three Reba says, “There is a lack of acceptance among the puritanical far right that is starting to affect our kids with an intolerance for the gay and transgender community. From kindergarten to the 12th grade, it is illegal to say the word ‘gay’. These are not values we wanted our children to share.”

Portugal is also very accepting of the GLBTQ community. Mario Marchiaro has recently retired in Portugal, “my husband and I chose Portugal also because it has full gay rights, among other positive qualities. We also know many gay couples that did the same.”

Many Americans feel more aligned with the values and politics of Europe and Portugal, which offers tolerance and stability.

Infrastructure
Many Americans cite the infrastructure as a big plus in Portugal. Paul Bookout has been impressed with the Wi-Fi. “Considering my small town in Tennessee only got fiber six months ago, we were very impressed that it was available in Praia da Luz.”

Boavista´s Bayview Village includes a fiber Wi-Fi service in its condominium charges, making it appealing to digital nomads who must stay connected at all times.

Many US websites also sight health care as being a big attraction. The National Health System (SNS) provides free medical care to residents, while private health appointments are comparatively cheap, costing between 50-80 €. Private medical insurance is also a fraction of the cost to the US.

Add to this a good road network with comparatively few traffic jams connecting to Lisbon international airport, making it easy to get around the country or fly out. A point of trivia is that Lisbon's Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge is based partly on two San Francisco Bay Area bridges, offering a familiar sight for Californians.

Easy Visas
Despite the fact that the Golden Visa has been phased out, this does not mean that there are no other visa options available. The D7 visa has become the most popular option for retirees or those with a regular income from outside Portugal. The D2 and D3 visas are available for highly qualified workers or entrepreneurs, while Lisbon's booming tech and startup scene could also be seen to mirror San Francisco's.

In fact, a digital nomad visa has now been made available, allowing recipients to work remotely from Portugal, its archipelagos and visa-free travel to over 180 countries.

A welcoming population
Portugal is famous for its hospitality and acceptance of migration patterns. Its own population has travelled abroad to find new horizons, with 10 million Portuguese citizens currently living abroad, meaning they are the first to accept other nationalities who do the same.
Becca Williams moved to Portugal from the US in 2022, "At the risk of being breathless about my new home, I'm deeply grateful for the warm and welcoming reception that I've received from the Portuguese people. It's a comfortable, kind and slower-paced environment that fits the life I envision myself living and I'm excited to be growing roots in this fair and compassionate culture."
English is widely spoken and makes the first few years before you learn the language a lot easier. Boavista´s bi-lingual hospitality, sales and property management staff make moving to the resort effortless for English speakers.

Why Boavista Attracts American Buyers
Many Americans might find that Boavisa looks familiar. This is because its parent company, The Emerson Group, has been operating in Orlando, Florida, for over 40 years. In fact, many of the designs for properties at Boavista come from the US, meaning that the resort is reminiscent of American residential resorts such as the Emerson Group Eagle´s Creek, which has almost 3,000 homes on a 2,000-acre site and includes a golf course and retail park.

The architect's team at Boavista aim to reach clients of many nationalities by using the international experience of the Emerson group in planning and construction, involving teams and methodologies from the United States and England.