Make your adaptation in Portugal easy

How to organize your move to Portugal? Are you already starting to prepare? If the answer is yes, you should focus on the details, which you have to think about. Between customs, language and local knowledge, we will help you equip yourself with what you need, for leaving your homeland and joining this country to ensure that your dream does not turn into a nightmare. Follow these tips and learn how to prepare your adaptation in Portugal.

Few things

Before leaving, you can already follow a few tips, like those we mention here. For example, at this time you should already know your destination, and before you buy an apartment, you better visit and learn more about it. In this blog, we have talked about the different districts of the capital, it is important to discover the place,  before choosing if it fits your lifestyle best.
 
You should visit our web-site for the guides you need to help you become familiar with the new environment, transportation, places to visit, restaurants, some possible accommodation options in Lisbon, etc...

The currency in Portugal is euro. On the contrary, for Swiss, the case is different, however you can make conversion rapidly, since it oscillates around 1: 1 (from November 17, 2015, 1 CHF = 0.9276 Euro). Your adaptation to Portugal thus will be very fast.

The language

Learning Portuguese is not essential, but it is more beneficial if you do. Even in the capital, most Portuguese are familiar with the French language and you will always find someone to help you. Your adaptation to Portugal will be even easier if you make an effort to choose speaking the language of the country. It will be particularly appreciated by the Portuguese, who will support any level of your knowledge as that demonstrates your willingness to integrate.

Your friends who stayed in your home country

Moving to Portugal means leaving your home country, your past. And also, some members of your family and friends, most of who are comfortable with where they are.
 

Since Portugal has good air services, coming back to your motherland should be easy. On the other hand, it is likely that, given the cost of ownership it is much lower than in most other European countries, you can purchase a large accomodation, enough to receive your friends and family. It seems likely that they will want to come see you in Portugal from time to time and enjoy the sun, especially if the accommodation is free and the cost of living is cheaper. Some may even like the country to the point of also wanting to change their lifestyles and it will become your turn to help them adapt in Portugal.
 
Finally, with modern means of communication, you can stay in touch with those who are often away. The phones now work very well in international calls at no additional cost, and you can also send emails or use video chats like facetime or Skype.

Make friends in Portugal

In addition to the quality of living you will certainly make many new friends in Portugal. There are many foreigners living here, which will certainly help you in adapting to the country. There are also host associations for Francophones.
 
In any ways, if you have opted for the status of non-habitual resident, you only need to live in Portugal for 6 months and 1 day per year. You can always return to your country of origin on the other half of the year.