A Simple Guide and Steps to Plan Your Move Abroad trip to Portugal from the UK
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Embarking on the journey to move abroad is a big decision that comes with both excitement and anxiety.
Portugal has grown to be one of the most sought-after locations in Southern Europe for expats to relocate to because of its pleasant climate, relaxed way of life, and affordability—at least that’s one of the primary reasons attracting most people here.
Lately, you may have probably seen a social media trend where a few UK nationals and residents (ourselves included) are planning or considering moving abroad.
Now, there could be many reasons (good or bad) why anyone would want to move abroad regardless of where they’re moving from.
But for the majority of us in the UK, the high cost of living and poor quality of life are the main reasons why people are leaving the country in quest of a better future.
To be honest, I think this is quite sad because it used to be the other way around ten to twenty years ago.
So, if you want to move abroad or are thinking about it, you have come to the right place.
But before you start a new life abroad, what if you could take a scouting trip first?
And see if you’ll love living in the ideal place. I’m serious!
This is what Alex and I did a few months ago, and at the time of this writing (end of 2024), we’re on an exploratory trip in Portugal.
So, this post is kind of personal and unusual from my regular travel guides.
I’ll share with you some important tips (based on experience so far) and steps to help you have a well-planned scouting trip to ensure a smooth relocation and set realistic expectations.
Let's begin!
STEPS TO PLAN YOUR SCOUTING PORTUGAL TRIP AS A UK RESIDENT
Before I share with you the steps and give you some tips for your move-abroad scouting trip to Portugal, I want to make it clear that the steps are mostly for people living in the UK.
However, the tips in this post can help anyone who wants to move to Portugal or anywhere else.
Of course, moving abroad will differ for everybody, depending on circumstances and priorities.
Now that it is clear, this guide to scouting Portugal is for people (particularly couples without children yet) who want to permanently make Portugal their new home.
And I’m not referring to those who want to move here only for “profit” and at the expense of exploiting the locals.
If that’s you, then this is not the right guide for you.
3 Crucial Questions Before You Move Abroad or Scout Portgual
Quick note: perhaps some of you might be asking yourself, “What the heck do you mean by scouting Portugal, Jane?” Well, a scouting trip is a trip people (who can afford it) take to a country they want to move to and see if it’s the right fit before moving there.
So, before you even start researching anything, I want you to be realistic and honest with yourself and ask these three questions.
Answering these questions will give you a clear idea of what you’re aiming to achieve and how you will do it realistically.
Question 1: How exactly do you plan to move abroad?
Thanks to Instagram and YouTube life update posts like “I moved abroad” and “we left the UK and moved abroad,” it appears like everyone is moving to Portugal or somewhere else these days.
Many of these posts explain the reasons for the shift, which is understandable given the high cost of living in the UK (I’d bet it’s practically everywhere; we’re living in hard times, aren’t we, friends?)
But there aren’t enough practical details about the “move abroad” process. I’m not sure if this is just me, but some of the questions that keep coming to me are:
- What kind of job do you do, or can you work abroad?
- What do you or did you do with your stuff at home?
- Do you have the financial means to afford a scouting trip mid- to long-term?
Whether you’re thinking about moving to Portugal or anywhere else, these are some of the questions you should start asking yourself beforehand.
Things might not go as planned on your scouting trip, but can you still go back home (in this case in the UK) and start over?
If you can’t answer the questions above for sure, then I would advise you not to continue with your plan to move abroad.
Question 2: Can you work abroad without restrictions?
The next question relates to how you will finance your life abroad. I take it that you will need to have saved money from your job to even have a budget to move abroad.
Of course, you can’t just up and leave for a scouting trip or move abroad without any money. And no, I’m not talking about having “Elon Musk” kind of money.
Simply put, money is essential for any kind of trip!
Unless, of course, you have wealthy parents, friends, or family who can give you a loan that you don’t have to worry about paying back anytime soon, your experience of moving abroad will be very different.
You want to make sure that your work is flexible. Now, I am well aware that the vast majority of people who live in the UK do not have jobs that they can do from abroad.
If this sounds like you. You’ll probably have to work for a few years—depending on your circumstances—it could be less or more to save enough money to start your journey to move abroad.
And this is if you’re lucky enough to have any money left over after paying all your bills every month.
Financial planning for your Move Abroad trip
And for those of us who are lucky enough to have the freedom to work from abroad.
Alex and I are grateful for this every day because it helped us make realistic plans for our Portugal scouting trip, including how much it would cost to travel, rent a property, and pay for everyday costs.
As far as working overseas goes, I know that some UK citizens and residents have hybrid jobs that let them work from home or maybe spend a month or so in Europe.
However, there are now so many limitations on what UK citizens and residents can do in the European Union (EU) due to Brexit that it can be difficult for some UK citizens to even consider relocating within the EU.
That’s why I also think you should find out about visa and residency requirements ahead of time.
In addition, Portugal has new rules about visas and residency, which makes the whole moving process even longer.
For example, it could take up to three months to get an appointment with a lawyer at a government office to discuss visa and residency concerns.
For this reason, if you want to move to Portugal, for example, having a job that lets you work from anywhere is helpful.
Question 3: What do you do with your stuff at home?
Assuming that you’re all set with the above questions, it is time to now start planning your move abroad scouting trip to Portugal.
At this point, you’ll start feeling excited and may even tell a few friends and family that you’re planning to scout Portugal and see if it’s the perfect place you could relocate to.
Amazing! Until someone asks you, what are you going to do with your stuff?
Confused and anxious feelings suddenly arise (guilty), and you are likely not feeling particularly enthusiastic, right? I know the feeling.
That’s why it’s essential to begin planning your overseas relocation well in advance.
Planning to move abroad or scout isn’t Sabbatical—but you could use your sabbatical leave as an option to plan a scouting trip.
Anyway, let’s stay on topic, shall we?
Forget about what you see on social media (the big, successful “I am moving abroad or I moved abroad” post). I wish it was easier, as they make it seem on Instagram, honestly.
So, what then do you do with your stuff?
Well, here are a few of my tips!
1. Decide how long you will keep your current lease
As I mentioned earlier, preparation is crucial. Of course, ignore this tip if you’re a landlord (I’ll give you advice on that soon).
The thought of relocating overseas occurred to us almost a year ago, but at that time, it was challenging to plan a scouting trip since;
(A.) We had a long-term lease; (B.) we didn’t know where we wanted to scout (we only knew it was in Europe); and (C.) it was impossible from a work standpoint.
Plan what you’ll do when your lease is up, if you have one. In the UK, you only have two choices: either continue your lease for at least one more year, or you end it.
This is why renting might be a better option if you want to move abroad. Let’s say you want to leave your flat.
What do you do with your belongings in your home or flat, then? It’s straightforward in the UK: leave your belongings in a self-storage facility.
Don’t worry about how much stuff you have; they’ve got you covered! You can find many with different rates all over the country.
Also, this is far cheaper than paying double the rent in Portugal and the UK while you scout.
2. What options do you have for your property as a landlord?
It could be a little challenging to plan to relocate abroad as a normal landlord in the UK.
You might not have many favourable options for what to do with your property if you want to move to another country, either temporarily or permanently.
Sadly, the UK is one of those countries that makes it difficult for resident homeowners to rent out their homes while they’re away.
Say, for instance, that you and your partner own a flat that you bought to live in. Then you choose to spend, say, six months or a year abroad.
If you think of yourself as the landlord, you might say, “Well, let us rent it out and let the mortgage pay off.” Right? Spoiler: In the UK, it doesn’t work quite like that.
There are different laws about buying property that depend on what kind of scheme you use to buy it.
For example, you can’t live in your home if it’s part of the “buy to rent” scheme.
To sum up, if you want to move abroad but still own a home in the UK, you should look over your mortgage terms and any other important taxes that come with renting out your home in the UK while you’re abroad and then adjust your plans.
The 5 Steps to Plan Your Move Abroad to Portugal from the UK
To be more specific, we began planning your move abroad or scout trip to Portugal way back when we chose to answer the three important questions you just read.
To put it simply, everything we have done so far has been an essential element of the initial steps of planning your scout trip.
We can now begin the actual planning for our scouting trip to Portugal, as we have a general understanding of what the process of moving abroad would entail and what we’ll need to do.
Step 1. Start Researching
Although it may seem obvious, start with the most fundamental yet important things, such as visa requirements. Especially for UK residents without British or EU passports.
Also, keep in mind that even if you’re a British citizen, you still have to follow EU rules about how long you can stay in an EU country post-Brexit.
Please do a lot of research on this and keep updated on how things work now.
Step 2. Plan your move-abroad trip carefully and set Set Priorities
Before you even book flight tickets to Portugal, arm yourself with a clear blueprint of what you’re seeking.
Reflect on your non-negotiables—be it cost of living, proximity to the coast, or access to bustling urban centres like Lisbon and Porto.
To learn more about Portuguese lives, explore neighbourhoods online (using Google Maps and YouTube videos) and read blogs and expat forums.
For example, we discovered through expat blogs and videos that when planning a scouting trip to Portugal, you should choose to book accommodations in areas where locals reside rather than in touristy areas.
This is because it might be difficult to experience Portuguese life if you simply go about your holiday as usual.
And based on our observations, I’m pleased we discovered this before embarking on our scout trip to Portugal.
This will help you focus your scouting trip and save you time when you get there.
Step 3. Map Out a Scouting Itinerary
A well-thought-out and efficient plan is key to an enjoyable scouting trip.
Make it a priority to visit several areas in order to experience Portugal’s varied landscapes, which range from the tranquil Douro Valley in Porto to the lively Algarve coastal.
Plan trips to look at possible possibilities for housing in different areas.
Set up meetings with real estate agents to talk about practical issues like property rules, visas, and essential renting or buying property laws.
Make sure you leave time in your plan to explore and take in the culture and atmosphere of the area.
Step 4. Taking a look at the infrastructure and amenities
Portugal’s infrastructure is just as appealing as its scenery. Examine basic utilities like internet access, public transportation, and healthcare.
Check out supermarkets, hospitals, and clinics to see how excellent the medical care is. Try out the public transport system to see how simple and cheap it is to use.
Visit shops, restaurants, and leisure areas to get an idea of how much daily life costs and what kinds of activities are available.
When compared to the ridiculous fares in the UK, public transport in Portugal is cheap.
For instance, in Porto, you could buy an Andante card (which is like the Oyster card in London) that lets you use all public transport for a month for €40.
Step 5. Engage with local cultures and communities
Being a part of the local society can give you a unique view of Portuguese life.
Start talks with both locals (of course, if you can speak a few Portuguese phrases and vice versa) and expats.
Their first-hand experiences can give you a wonderful idea of what to expect.
You can find out how well you might fit in by going to community events or neighbourhood meetups.
Even though we haven’t been to many events yet, we plan to do so after the festivities are over.
Knowing the basics of the language and the culture will help you feel more at home in the country you want to move to.
Bonus step: Start learning some Portuguese.
In any place where English is not the main language, this is the standard way to plan a trip.
In other words, if you want to move to Portugal for a long time, you should start learning Portuguese right now.
I’m using Duolingo to learn Portuguese for free right now.
Making small talk in extreme local stores, like an alteration shop, for instance, has been really beneficial to me so far.
Duolingo’s only flaw is that it only teaches “Brazilian Portuguese.”
However, you will quickly pick up the small difference between the two languages as you talk to native Portuguese people in real life.
But for the time being, I don’t mind using the Duolingo free plan.
We will decide to take paid Portuguese lessons only after we make up our minds. I would advise you to try doing the same.
Final tips for your plan to move abroad to Portugal
In general, moving abroad is an overwhelming journey of aspirations, choices, and surprises.
You can turn anxiety into clarity and gain the confidence to embrace this life-changing experience if you give yourself a chance first to plan your scouting trip to Portugal with a practical plan.
I hope this guide has given you some insights into the initial process of moving abroad.
Let me know in the comments below what your thoughts are about moving abroad and if you’ve got any questions about scouting Portugal.
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