Removals to Portugal

With White & Company, moving to Portugal is simple. Complete our online form for a free removals quotation

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    Moving to Portugal

    Are you considering moving to Portugal and need a reliable removals company to help you manage the move?

    White & Company have been providing a European removal, packing and storage service for over 151 years and are members of BAR, FIDI and OMNI.

    With vast experience servicing various European locations, White & Company are on hand to make your move smooth and stress-free.

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    Survey

    If you are looking for removals to Portugal, our surveyor will need to conduct either a home or virtual online survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped.

    This involves him/her walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on his electronic tablet.

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    Storage

    White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers.

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    Packing

    When the client has accepted the quoted price and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at residence.

    The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped in special breathable bubble wrap.

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    Shipping

    Upon arrival at your local depot, all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container.

    The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination.

    Moving to Portugal? Get A Quick Quote

    Why Move to Portugal?

    With 1,794 km of coastline showcasing some of the world’s most serene beaches. Portugal is fast becoming a popular destination for British expats.

    The country is nicely sandwiched on the Iberian Peninsula between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal boasts a warm but temperate Mediterranean climate all year round.

    The capital, Lisbon, records on average 2,800 hours of sunshine a year, making it Europe’s sunniest capital. Nearby, the Algarve is most popular among British expats, with its vast array of seafood restaurants and plush golf courses.

    A major motivation behind migration to Portugal is the relatively low cost of living compared with the UK. However, this comes with a word of warning: unemployment is on the rise and job opportunities are few and far between.

    Having said that, for those who can land work or are looking to retire, there are few better places to base yourself than Portugal. Those who make the move can expect a slower pace of life and picturesque scenery.

    Working and living in Portugal

    Now that the UK is out of the European Union it is still possible to move to Portugal, however, the process has changed.

    To relocate to Portugal, UK citizens can apply for one of four categories of Portuguese national visas.

    The sort of visa you apply for will be determined by how long you plan to stay in Portugal.

    Temporary Stay Visa: A Portugal Temporary Visa is aimed at tourists who intend to stay on either a tourist or work Visa.

    Residency Visa: Residency permits, or a non-immigrant visa allows tourists and immigrants to stay in Portugal for a fixed time. This is either one year or five years from when they moved to Portugal from UK.

    There are further detailed instructions on how to apply for visas and permits HERE

    Finding Work in Portugal

    Keep in mind that the majority of Portuguese companies expect employees to have a basic knowledge of the Portuguese language first.

    The cost of food, utilities, transportation, clothing, entertainment, and health care are much less than in other European countries.

    You can live comfortably in Portugal for about €35,000 (£30,500) a year.

    However, the Portuguese economy has stagnated of late, and jobs and wages are significantly lower than other Western European nations.

    Salaries in Portugal range from 700 EUR (£613) per month minimum, to 12,300 EUR (£10,772) per month maximum average salary.

    Obviously higher skilled and more qualified workers can command higher salaries.

    Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities to find work if you do not speak Portuguese.

    Your best bet is to either secure a job before you make the move or becoming self-employed and working online.

    Property

    Property prices in Portugal are among the most affordable in Western Europe, although this could all change with the increase of overseas investors.

    Tax and residency incentives from the government also invite foreign investment, making owning property in Portugal as a foreigner relatively easy and straightforward.

    Because there are still ‘undiscovered’ areas of the country, it is still possible to find bargain properties at very reasonable prices.

    In the little town of Santarém,Glória do Ribatejo you can purchase a small 2 bedroomed home for €39,000 (£34,000).

    In the more popular tourist town of Albufeira, you can currently expect to pay approximately €2300 (£2014) per square metre to buy an apartment in the city centre. Outside the centre the prices drop to €1848 (£1618).

    If you intend to rent a property until you settle, you can expect to pay approximately €1250 (£1094) per month for a three-bedroom apartment in larger towns. Outside of the centre is cheaper €926 (£810).

    The following site has a range of properties for sale:

    Education & Schools

    Once resident in Portugal you can send your child to school free of charge to one of Portugal’s many state schools.

    Children go to school between the ages of 6 and 16. The following site has a comprehensive list of schools: http://www.livinginportugal.com

    Lessons are generally taught in Portuguese, which may be problematic for older children and those who aren’t bilingual.

    There are also various private schools to choose from, although you may wish to consider sending your child to an international school depending on your length of stay in the country.

    Below is a selection of international schools in Portugal:

    Saint Dominic’s International School, Portugal
    Nobel International School Algarve
    Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

    Local Information & Healthcare

    The Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) is Portugal’s equivalent of the NHS.

    It is very well regarded by the World health Organization and most doctors will have a firm grasp of English.

    Although state-provided healthcare in Portugal is generally provided free of charge, there is a patient contribution.

    Expats have also reported being stung by prescription charges which, depending on what item is being requested, can be quite a bit pricier than in the UK. This is worth bearing in mind if you are planning on living in Portugal full-time.

    Depending on your circumstances, you make way to consider taking our comprehensive private health insurance coverage.

    Private medical centres and hospitals in Portugal work with international private medical insurance companies and have reciprocal agreements in place with many UK insurers.

    Transport

    All major cities, including Lisbon and Porto have international airports, servicing the UK daily and the flight time from London to Lisbon is just under 3 hours.

    A monthly transport pass for local buses and trams costs around €40 (£35) depending on your location.

    A monthly pass is only likely to be a good investment if you are living in one of the bigger cities, such as Lisbon or Porto.

    This is because the cities in Portugal are far smaller than the rest of Western Europe and so the demand for these services is often less.

    The rules for driving in Portugal are very similar to that in the UK, with two important differences. First, in Portugal you drive on the right-hand side of the road. Easy enough

    Second, Portugal has a series of toll roads, which are separate into two types: those you pay on entry, and those that you automatically incur a cost for passing through, known as SCUT or electronic tolls.

    The SCUT tolls can be paid for using your credit or debit card, but you can also buy a Tollcard, which can be pre-loaded with credit ready for use.

    Currency and Banking

    The official currency used in Portugal is the Euro (€). Most credit and debit cards are accepted in Portugal and ATMs can easily be found across the country.

    There is a good selection of local and international banks and opening a bank account is a simple and straightforward process.

    How much does it cost to Move to Portugal?

    When planning your move, we know the cost of your removals or storage is important too.

    When you are ready, feel free to fill in the White & Company extensive online estimate form for a quote.

    Or contact your local White & Company branch to arrange a no obligation home visit or virtual survey, during which we will explain the process and provide you with an itemised quote.

    Transporting My Effects to Portugal

    If you are considering a move to Portugal, it is essential to do your research so that you can avoid any unforeseen costly issues.

    Before you go ahead and make the move, you should make sure that you have:

    Researched your destination, and the local customs and laws
    Obtained independent legal advice
    Researched the tax regulations
    Made plans for your health cover

    Once you have taken the decision to relocate to Portugal, you will undoubtedly need to enlist the services of an international moving company to ship your goods overseas and to help manage your move.

    White & Company can provide a top- quality and efficient removal service to any international destination.

    Additionally, as founder members of BAR, FIDI & OMNI, you can rest assured your move will be in safe hands.

    Moving can be a very stressful experience but White & Company, with its 151 years of experience in the removal industry, can help make the whole process a lot less traumatic.

    We can arrange a free no obligation quotation, which is carried out by one of our qualified surveyors, who will be able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have.

    The surveyor will undertake a thorough survey either in person or via a virtual survey, to determine the volume of effects you wish to move.

    Following which you will receive a written quotation.

    As you can see, our branches stretch from the Channel Islands to Scotland.

    Plus, with a network of industry partners we are able to provide an exceptional packing, removal, storage and delivery service anywhere in the country.

    At each branch our team will have a wealth of local knowledge and can liaise with our other branches to make sure your move runs smoothly.

    As well as taking care of your house move, White & Company is able to offer a whole range of other services.

    White & Company Removal Services

    Our teams are able to pack your valuable, fragile and bulky furniture. We use a modern range of environmentally friendly, purpose-made packing materials and can pack everything for you prior to your move. Our bespoke services include:

    All china and glassware to be wrapped in special paper and then packed in double-thickness cartons.
    Furniture is wrapped in bubble blankets for extra protection.
    Items requiring specialist care, such as antiques, packed in made-to-measure wooden crates.

    We can also offer an unpacking service to unpack your belongings onto flat surfaces and dispose of all packing materials.

    You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions prior to moving home, or whilst you arrange for work to be carried out on your new home.

    We have 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers.

    All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873.

    White & Company

    International Removals since 1871

    We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.

    Popular Places to Relocate in Portugal

    Albufeira
    Aveiro
    Braga

    Coimbra
    Faro
    Lisbon

    Portimao
    Porto
    Setubal

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