A pioneer of the great discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal is a destination that has always fascinated lovers of a change of scenery. The country is certainly a dream destination for holidays, but why the hell should a Frenchman move there? What interest is there for a resident of France to move to Portugal and what advantages can he derive from it? It is to this set of questions that we will attempt to answer in the following lines.
People are socially protected in the country. Those who already have a specialty can be trained for specific skills, if needed. At the same time, the state not only pays for training, but also provides cash assistance to learners. In each city there are organizations for the protection of low-income people. Every day, these people are fed. Once a week they receive food and once a month they are given clothes. The medical service is completely free for pregnant women, children under 16, workers and pensioners.
In each city, organizations help people who want to move to Portugal. Here you can get information on housing issues in the country. They will help you understand and resolve any legislative issues. In the country there are many schools that teach Portuguese. These courses are free and participants only have to pay a registration fee of around 100-150 euros, which is not bad. There are good opportunities to build a commercial project. Portugal has a positive attitude towards entrepreneurs and contributes strongly to business development. For example, the first year, there are generally no taxes to pay.
Membership of the euro zone is a considerable advantage for French people who want to move to Portugal, because they can maintain ties with their relatives and alternate their place of residence according to their wishes. Lisbon is less than 2 hours flight from most metropolitan areas and many flights are available. The rates are also very affordable, especially with the many low cost companies (Transavia, Ryannair, easyjet, etc.).
There is nothing more efficient to improve your purchasing power than to move to Portugal. Indeed, the cost of living is lower there than in France. Firstly, property is more affordable there than in France. Secondly, the cost of living is on average 30% to 40% cheaper. Paradoxically, this situation is accompanied by a very high level of infrastructure, with a multitude of roads, airports, railways, etc. The country was also ranked 11th out of 189 countries by the World Economic Forum in its analysis “Global Competitiveness 2013-2014”. It is also ranked 5th among OECD countries in terms of very high speed broadband penetration percentage. Indeed, 15.2% of connections are made by fiber optic cable. More than 90% of public services are accessible online
Therefore, even with a modest pension, your overall standard of living will be higher in this country, while you will also benefit from quality infrastructure. Portugal also stands out for its high level of security. It also has one of the lowest crime rates in the old continent.
A tax agreement has been concluded between France and Portugal with regard to pensioners. This tax agreement and the resulting status of “non-habitual resident” allow French pensioners to be exempted from paying tax on income of French origin for a period of 10 years. Retired workers can benefit from it, insofar as they have not been domiciled in Portugal during the 5 years preceding their retirement.
A country of Latin origin with a deeply rooted Catholic tradition and a Mediterranean culture, Portugal has many similarities with France. You will feel at home there. The two nations have long maintained very close relations. Moreover, the Portuguese community settled in France is, with 700,000 people, the first foreign community in France. You won’t have to smash against a language barrier, as more than half of the population speaks a second language, particularly French and English.
The weather is one of the reasons why many retirees want to move to Portugal. Official reports confirm that Portugal is one of the hottest European countries with an average continental temperature hovering around 13°C throughout the year. Annual rainfall in Portugal ranges from 3000 mm in the northern mountains to less than 300 mm per year in some areas.
The Portuguese coastline is incredibly beautiful. Its proximity to the Atlantic and the many winter storms have led to the creation of formidable rock formations and magnificent cliffs on the coast. In the summer, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches along the nation’s western coast, just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Away from the coast, Portugal is home to mountains and plains, national parks, lakes, olive groves and rivers. It is a fabulous and geographically diverse country.
Portugal offers an unprecedented cultural richness, through religious festivals, architectural heritage and sporting events. In Portugal, you can never get bored. There are so many things to do and so many places to visit! The country has 14 UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are sites such as the cultural landscape of Sintra, the historic center of Porto, the Louis 1st bridge and the Serra do Pilar monasteries, not to mention the famous Belém tower and the statue of Christ the King in Lisbon.