Bureaucratic aspects of living in Portugal

The number of Brazilians in the country continues to grow, but what does it take to live in Portugal? There are many bureaucracies that can be requested and every citizen must take into account their needs and purposes for the correct procedures.

This is the fear or lack of attention of many: the bureaucratic aspects. It may seem like a big challenge, even more so if it’s done from a distance, but being aware of the subject is advice that makes the immigration process much easier.

In the case of real estate, for example, assuming that the citizen is leaving a house in Brazil to rent out or even decides to sell it once they have settled in Portugal, for both cases it will be essential to have left a power of attorney so that someone they trust can represent them and it won’t be necessary to go to the country in person. Or even more basic issues that need to be addressed before departure, such as the change of address for letters and bills, informing the services that you want to receive everything digitally.

Many people are also frightened by the term “power of attorney”, which requires formalities such as being notarized, and the powers contained in the document will be imposed by each individual. In addition to the property, another issue that should be analyzed in advance is the power of attorney for banking matters.

Another example is in relation to health care: Portuguese doctors will be having the first contact with the citizen without knowing their history. In these circumstances, it is advisable to go for a check-up in Brazil and get all the tests together.

When it comes to academic and professional matters, you’ll need to provide proof of your academic record or letters of recommendation and, under certain conditions, you’ll need to have these documents notarized, which requires a certain priority before you move.

And finally, financially, you have to declare your income tax. If you’re not in the period, you’ll need to update your last declaration before the mandatory month to arrive on European soil with the document in hand.

Thinking beyond bureaucracy, emotional aspects are also extremely important and often overlooked. Addressing its relevance, Moreira & Perfeito presents this and other topics in its Workshop.

This content is part of the eBook: All about living, studying, investing and working in Portugal .