Feels like home: retiring in Portugal
Ann-Elise Smith: retiring on this sunny side of Europe
Get to know Ann-Elise's story:
Why she chose Portugal, how it feels like to live here in retirement,
and what her experience has been like so far.
Retired British judge makes the move to Portugal
Ann-Elise Smith loved spending her holidays in Portugal - and when retirement finally came, she knew the time had come to enjoy this country and live here full time.
"My family - my kids and grandkids - love coming to Portugal and I knew they would be visiting me here a lot. Besides, I have created a great deal of connections with both locals and other expats throughout the years I've been vacationing here - I also have many friends who have moved to Lagos, so I know there are people I can count on if I need anything."
Ann Elise Smith is a 70 year old retired judge, with an impressive career behind her in the UK. She had spent many of her holidays in Portugal and fell in love with the people, the culture and the amazing weather.
She knew she wanted to spend more time in a sunny seaside place whenever she retired, but she wasn't sure she would manage to move anywhere full time as she has family and friends she cares about deeply. But Portugal seemed right, and she thought she should give it a try.
Still, with Brexit, she had a lot of doubts regarding some aspects of moving to Portugal, and moviinn really helped her organize everything and ensure all the bureaucracy was well taken care of.
Discovering and Deciding
moviinn was very thorough and ensured everything was handled correctly and within a time frame I was comfortable with. I needed help selecting a property to invest in, and their Real Estate Tour was priceless - they really guided me and chose homes that fit me perfectly. They also managed to support me with getting my residency visa and my taxes in place here and I couldn't have done all of this without them.
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Ann-Elise's process
"I knew for years that I wanted to enjoy my retirement in a place like this. The sun, the culture, the history of this country - it really has everything you need to feel at home. And besides, it is so easy to make friends and connect, even if you're a bit older like me. I feel blessed to have taken this step - and my family loves visiting me here in Portugal."
Ann-Elise's Moving Timeline
After the first call, our relocation specialist suggested applying for a D7 (Own Income Visa).
Start of Services
moviinn helped Ann with organizing all the documents and sorting all the bureaucracy related to the application for the D7: Evidence of having sufficient financial means and long-term accommodation in Portugal, getting a NIF, among other key aspects.
Applying for a Visa
After all the bureaucracy was taken care of, and the application was finally approved, Ann could finally start her life in Lagos, where she had already chosen a home with moviinn's Real Estate team.
Arriving to Portugal
Since the D7 visa allows for 2 entries and 4 months staying in Portugal, and Ann was interested in a long term residency solution, moviinn helped her schedule an interview with SEF and get her 1 year residency permit. After 5 years, Ann is seriously considering applying for Portuguese citizenship.
Getting 1-Year Permit
Get to know other stories
Here are some of the stories we've collected from other moviinners, to inspire you on your journey to Portugal.
The Investor
Investment, citizenship, and life quality in Portugal
Discover Patrick and Claire's Journey
The Expert
Cybersecurity expert falls in love with Cascais
Discover Josh's Journey
The Millennial
A job opportunity awaits Oksana in Portugal: excitement, fears, and how moviinn helped
Discover Oksana's Journey
The Unstoppable duo
Starting a business together in a new country
Discover Peter and Christine's Journey
The Techpreneur
From Israel to Portugal: an entrepreneur plans to move to Porto with his family
Discover Dave's Journey
The Globetrotter
Settling down in Lisbon after years of wandering around the world.
Discover Lina's Journey
The Investor
Investment, citizenship, and life quality in Portugal
Discover Patrick and Claire's Journey
The Expert
Cybersecurity expert falls in love with Cascais
Discover Josh's Journey
The Millennial
A job opportunity awaits Oksana in Portugal: excitement, fears, and how moviinn helped
Discover Oksana's Journey
The Unstoppable duo
Starting a business together in a new country
Discover Peter and Christine's Journey
The Techpreneur
From Israel to Portugal: an entrepreneur plans to move to Porto with his family
Discover Dave's Journey
The Globetrotter
Settling down in Lisbon after years of wandering around the world.
Discover Lina's Journey
The Investor
Investment, citizenship, and life quality in Portugal
Discover Patrick and Claire's Journey
The Expert
Cybersecurity expert falls in love with Cascais
Discover Josh's Journey
The Millennial
A job opportunity awaits Oksana in Portugal: excitement, fears, and how moviinn helped
Discover Oksana's Journey
The Unstoppable duo
Starting a business together in a new country
Discover Peter and Christine's Journey
The Techpreneur
From Israel to Portugal: an entrepreneur plans to move to Porto with his family
Discover Dave's Journey
The Globetrotter
Settling down in Lisbon after years of wandering around the world.
Discover Lina's Journey
