Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Maryam Siddiqui
Navigating change is never an easy part of life. But it brings unprecedented growth in individuals who make the bold decision to relocate completely! And that growth is what keeps people going. Join us today as we begin our first expat interview of Viv Europe’s series, “Cultural Crossroads” with Victor Queiroz.
This series wishes to reflect our deep passion for helping others experience life from an expat’s perspective.
Here at Viv Europe, we will continue to tell real-life stories to inspire and motivate others who wish to create the same life for themselves. We start off by asking our interviewees why they moved and the challenges they faced during the process. Followed by what they love about their current life and more.
We hope you love this series as much as we have loved working on it!
Guest Introduction
We are super excited to welcome Victor Queiroz as our first guest to talk about his experience of moving from Brazil to Portugal over 6 years ago. With professional qualifications in law and consultancy, Victor has created his own legacy.
He now co-founded a successful business in Portugal and helps others share the same reality. Living in Portugal wasn’t always a dream of his, but his current life surely feels surreal.
Let’s officially begin the expat interview and dive deeper into his personal journey as an expat in Portugal and how it feels like home!
Q. How long have you been an expat?
I’ve been living in Portugal for over 6 years. This period has been an incredible journey of adapting to a new culture and lifestyle while embracing Portugal’s beautiful landscapes and rich history.
Q. How did you choose where you wanted to live?
My wife’s career opportunity largely influenced the decision to move to Braga. She received a job offer from a company based in Braga, making our choice to relocate there straightforward. Braga’s appealing environment and vibrant community also played a role in our decision.
Q. What motivated you to move to another country?
I was highly motivated by the prospect of starting anew in a different country. The idea of embracing new challenges, learning about a different culture, and the opportunity for personal and professional growth were key drivers in my decision to become an expat.
Q. What was the planning process like?
The planning process for our relocation was relatively swift and efficient. It took us about a week to handle all the necessary documentation. At that time, the process of relocating to Portugal was somewhat simpler compared to now.
My organized nature and legal background significantly aided in managing the paperwork and understanding the legalities involved.
Q. What is your skill set and experience?
My professional background is in law, with a specialization in Brazilian law. I’ve worked as a lawyer in Brazil for nearly 15 years, dealing with various legal matters. This experience has equipped me with strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, which have been beneficial even outside my legal career.
Q. How many hours a day do you work on average?
My workdays are quite long, typically from 09 am to 09 pm. This rigorous schedule is a reflection of the dedication and hard work required in the early stages of developing a business.
However, I acknowledge the importance of work-life balance and am exploring ways to reduce these hours for a healthier lifestyle.
Q. What do you wish you had known before you became an expat?
Before becoming an expat, I wish I had delved deeper into the incentives available for expats in Portugal.
For instance, I missed the deadline to apply for the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax Regime, a beneficial scheme for expats, due to a lack of awareness about applying soon after relocating.
Q. What was the biggest challenge you had to face?
One of the most significant challenges I faced was adapting to work in unfamiliar fields like telemarketing and real estate. These roles were quite different from my legal career, and they were commission-based, meaning my income was directly tied to my performance and success in these new areas.
Q. Are there any specific apps you recommend for new expats?
As a new expat in Portugal, I’ve found several apps incredibly helpful. First, ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt are lifesavers, especially in bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto. They’re great when I’m unfamiliar with an area or still figuring out the public transport system.
Speaking of which, apps like ‘Moovit’ and ‘Google Maps’ have been indispensable for navigating buses and trains.
For groceries, I rely on ‘Continente Online’ and ‘Mercadão’ for convenient home deliveries. It’s a huge help when I can’t find local stores or when my Portuguese isn’t up to par for a shopping trip.
Also, ‘OLX Portugal’ is great for buying second-hand items or even finding rentals. It’s like the Craigslist of Portugal and has been useful for setting up my new home here.
Q. After living in Portugal, do you feel like you want to explore another country as an expat?
Living in Portugal has been a fantastic experience. The quality of life here, with its relaxed lifestyle, friendly locals, and beautiful scenery, is just incredible. I’ve found the cost of living to be reasonable, and the food, of course, is amazing.
However, the urge to explore is always there. While I’m extremely satisfied with life in Portugal, the thought of experiencing another culture and lifestyle is tempting. I think being an expat is partly about that curiosity and desire for new experiences.
So, yes, while I love living in Portugal, I am open to the idea of exploring another country as an expat in the future. But for now, Portugal feels very much like home.
Let’s Move to Europe
With Viv Europe your plans for Europe will come to a reality
And with that, we conclude our expat interview. We would like to extend our gratitude to Victor Queiroz for being a part of our series and sharing his story. Journeys like his keep us going and fuel our fire to change people’s lives!
If you’re an expat in Portugal or Spain and would like your story to be featured on Viv Europe’s website, please feel free to contact our team so they can reach out to you as soon as possible.
This expat interview might’ve piqued the interest of some readers, and we’ve got just what they need. Before we wind up this article, let’s briefly talk about how you can change your life just like Victor did. The question is: how can you become an expat in Portugal and relocate everything?
Here’s how!
How do you become an expat in Portugal?
This is your sign to work on those 2024 goals! To become an expat in Portugal, all you need to do is start off with the correct Visa that allows you to live and work here. To get the right Visa, you must know exactly what you want to do after relocating.
Do you wish to live off of a stable passive income? Or do you want to invest in the business landscape? Or are you looking to find work opportunities and live in a safe, humble abode?
Types of Visa for Expats in Portugal
Let’s start off by listing the different types of Visas for expats that Viv Europe helps with:
- D1 – Work Visa
- D2 – Business Visa
- D3 – Highly Qualified Worker
- D4 & D5 – Study Visa
- D6 – Family Reunification
- D7 – Passive Income Visa
- D8 – Digital Nomad Visa
- Golden Visa
There you have it; a complete list of all your options based on what you want to do.
Do you need Visa assistance?
While it was a fairly straightforward process for Victor Queiroz, it might not be the easiest to understand in 2024. Relocating to Portugal has gained massive popularity among expats from all over the world in the last five years.
Due to that, rules and regulations have changed and become stricter to maintain the level of security and safety. This is one reason why Portugal secured the position of being the 7th safest country in the world!
Experts at Viv Europe have helped hundreds of families make their dreams come true – you could be the next one. To start working on this goal, book a consultation with our immigration team and discuss your plans.
To hear more stories and get quick advice, join our Facebook Group – All About Portugal For Expats. We’ve built a community of Portugal enthusiasts who share their own journeys and help others with the same. See you soon!
*All photos of our guests are used with permission for this interview only. Unauthorized use of these photos is strictly prohibited.
