Gathered through a survey of nearly 1,000 attendees at the most recent Moving to Portugal Shows and Seminars the data show that 33.6 percent of those attending the show planned to move to Portugal within 12 months, while 36.4 percent were working to a timescale of 12-24 months. The final 22.7 percent were two or more years away from their planned move. The data also showed that the speed which people are seeking to make their move has increased since the pandemic, with families keen to relocated as swiftly as possible.

“We have seen over many years of delivering Moving to Portugal shows just how much planning and forethought goes into relocating from the UK to Portugal. Our attendees are making long-term plans for a better life in the sunshine and want to build up a detailed understanding of that new life before they commit to move,” said Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

In budgetary terms, according to the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, 27.79 percent had their sights set on properties costing more than €500,000, which would mean Golden Visa eligibility for those buying outside of coastal areas and major cities.

Popular locations

The Moving to Portugal Show data also highlighted the draw of both Greater Lisbon and the Algarve, which far outranked other areas of Portugal when it came to Britons’ desired locations. Attendees were able to express interest in multiple areas of Portugal, resulting in 56.08 percent expressing interest in life in Greater Lisbon and 54.04 percent in the Algarve. Other areas of interest were Porto and Northern Portugal (28.43 percent), Central Portugal (21.79 percent), the Alentejo (13.83 percent), and Madeira and The Azores (6.31 percent).

Attendees also shared their reasons for attending the Moving to Portugal Show. This revealed the breadth of research that families were undertaking as part of their emigration plans. Key topics of interest included visas and residency, house prices, mortgages, properties for sale, tax, and pensions, legal matters, the moving process, setting up a business in Portugal, investment opportunities, and currency exchange.

Information on all of these topics and more will be available at the next Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars, which will take place at London’s Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel on 23 March 2023.

For more information, please contact the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK: www.portuguese-chamber.org.uk or www.movingtoportugal.org.uk