Portugal with a D7 visa

[Mr porky]

Advise please,
We travel most of the year in our motorhome and find the 90 in 180 day rule for europe is restricting our life.
January to March of this year we ended up travelling in Asia, it was nice but too expensive and we missed our motorhome.

We believe we can matriculate our morelo onto Portuguese plates and become a Portuguese resident via the D7 visa.
This will entail renting a flat so we have a Portuguese address.
Has anyone done this a using D7 visa or any other options.
Any pitfalls to look out for and do you have a company or agent you would recommend to get through the paperwork.
We would have preferred via spain but we do still need to work in the uk for 2 months of the year and I don't believe they have a visa that's suitable.
We are directors of our own company so we can adjust it to only get dividends not wages.
Thank you for your time.

 

[Dotplus6]

Advise please,
We travel most of the year in our motorhome and find the 90 in 180 day rule for europe is restricting our life.
January to March of this year we ended up travelling in Asia, it was nice but too expensive and we missed our motorhome.

We believe we can matriculate our morelo onto Portuguese plates and become a Portuguese resident via the D7 visa.
This will entail renting a flat so we have a Portuguese address.
Has anyone done this a using D7 visa or any other options.
Any pitfalls to look out for and do you have a company or agent you would recommend to get through the paperwork.
We would have preferred via spain but we do still need to work in the uk for 2 months of the year and I don't believe they have a visa that's suitable.
We are directors of our own company so we can adjust it to only get dividends not wages.
Thank you for your time.

I’ve never heard of D7 . Though I think because we live in NI & are dual nationality (British & Irish) it’s different for us. . Not that I want to spend more than 90 days in Europe.

 

[ORPP2]

Keep it simple.

Go for the 6-month, multi-entry French long stay visa, you can add your 90 days either before or after the visa dates.

We did just that. Went to France last September, left via Bilbao earlier this month.

Happy travels.

 

[OldCodger]

We believe we can matriculate our morelo onto Portuguese plates and become a Portuguese resident via the D7 visa.
This will entail renting a flat so we have a Portuguese address.
Has anyone done this a using D7 visa or any other options.

You can but it’s not a quick option and certainly not for the front hearted. Being a resident means you pay tax in Portugal on all income anywhere in the world.

We started the process in October last year. I’m on the last leg awaiting my residents card. Due to computer crash my wife still needs to attend an interview with the immigration service to apply fir her card.

Once you have residency you can apply to matriculate one vehicle per person without paying the horrendous import duties on vehicles. But that requires you to prove you have left the UK which will mean you loose access to the NHS!

You also need to be in Portugal for 16 months in the first 2 years.

Even as a Portuguese resident the 90 days in 180 also applies to being in another EU country - but as there’s no one checking and moving between countries resets the clock, it’s not a problem in practice.

If you want to know more PM me.

 

[OldCodger]

Keep it simple.

Go for the 6-month, multi-entry French long stay visa, you can add your 90 days either before or after the visa dates.

We did just that. Went to France last September, left via Bilbao earlier this month.

Happy travels.

How did you get on with entering France and leaving Spain a year later ? Did the Spanish understand the French visa “stopped the 90 day clock”

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[OldCodger]

The law changed recently in Portugal, I can keep my British licence until it runs out. You just have to register it in Portugal.

It did. Good luck trying to register it. Theres several bits of conflicting legislation that mean folks often fail to successfully register. Most just keep driving in their English licence.

 

[OldCodger]

I have a very good accountant and for a price he will list all the issues I could have with tax.
Including a recommendation for a tax adviser he can work with to ensure we don't fall foul of our tax requirements for each country.
The pound of flesh will always be required.

Get a tax specialist here, they are cheaper and the dual taxation agreement means you’ll only pay tax in one country. Income tax is higher here. Capital gains tax is astronomical on non pt assets.

 

[Nanniemate]

It's not the food in Asia it's the decent hotels that rack up the costs.

You mean you didn't stay in youth hostels and travel lodge type places

Class all they way with you guys nothing less

 

[OldCodger]

Would it be possible to purchase property in Portugal and therefore get a golden visa ? You could then let the house out as a short term let as and when required if you so wish. Also it can be a long term investment instead of paying rent?
I think Portugal and Greece are both on the lower side for golden Visa requirements , also it doesn’t need to be domestic real estate , it can also be a investment in business I believe, could be worth looking into? Good luck

Portuguese golden visa is to all intents dead. They’ve discontinued any property purchase options and most of the agents offering to help are conmen.

 

[Ridgeway]

If you want low taxes, central location and cheap flight connections then Schweiz isn‘t too bad. Amazing Morelo dealer in Langethal as well. You would be considered as a wealth refugee, there‘s a few around here

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[chaser]

It all seems very complicated just to do what Northernraider is already doing with no problem.

 

[Mr porky]

It all seems very complicated just to do what Northernraider is already doing with no problem.

Turkey is a no for us. As well as majority of the Eastern European country's not in schengen

 

[jongood]

I actually have a c+e licence the new term for a class 1 hgv licence, so I will be checking that's allowed as I need the hgv part for my business, I'm at the early stage of checking all the details on a transfer to another country. That's one of the reasons spains out for residency.

I'm of the belief that the Portugese will only give you a licence for something you have taken a test for so the issue here is that you would be ok but somebody with a C1 on grandfather rights wouldnt.

We've just returned from Portugal, its very nice with very freindly people, reasonable prices and yes a nicer climate than UK, but I think we would have issues with living there; its easy to fly to UK/Spain but its a long way from anywhere else, its usually windy, and the non motorway roads are crap - are amongst them.

There are several on this forum who have done the 6 months French visa, asfaik its actually 6 months + your 90 days and I dont think its that difficult, its certainly something we've thought about but havent needed it yet because we prefer overwintering in Morocco than Spain ( too busy and weather can be tricky in Feb Mar) and have been going to non Schengen places a bit more. We would love to see more of Turkey although our home commitments are making that a bit more difficult.

I also still wonder whether at some point common sense is going to prevail so that we get an allowance that matches what we give EU residents coming to UK or maybe thats what the French visa is meant to be?? ( to all the pokers - no I'm not relying on it)

 

[Carpmart]

Advise please,
We travel most of the year in our motorhome and find the 90 in 180 day rule for europe is restricting our life.
January to March of this year we ended up travelling in Asia, it was nice but too expensive and we missed our motorhome.

We believe we can matriculate our morelo onto Portuguese plates and become a Portuguese resident via the D7 visa.
This will entail renting a flat so we have a Portuguese address.
Has anyone done this a using D7 visa or any other options.
Any pitfalls to look out for and do you have a company or agent you would recommend to get through the paperwork.
We would have preferred via spain but we do still need to work in the uk for 2 months of the year and I don't believe they have a visa that's suitable.
We are directors of our own company so we can adjust it to only get dividends not wages.
Thank you for your time.

Have you both checked your ancestry for any Irish grandparents?

 

[Mr porky]

I'm of the belief that the Portugese will only give you a licence for something you have taken a test for so the issue here is that you would be ok but somebody with a C1 on grandfather rights wouldnt.

We've just returned from Portugal, its very nice with very freindly people, reasonable prices and yes a nicer climate than UK, but I think we would have issues with living there; its easy to fly to UK/Spain but its a long way from anywhere else, its usually windy, and the non motorway roads are crap - are amongst them.

There are several on this forum who have done the 6 months French visa, asfaik its actually 6 months + your 90 days and I dont think its that difficult, its certainly something we've thought about but havent needed it yet because we prefer overwintering in Morocco than Spain ( too busy and weather can be tricky in Feb Mar) and have been going to non Schengen places a bit more. We would love to see more of Turkey although our home commitments are making that a bit more difficult.

I also still wonder whether at some point common sense is going to prevail so that we get an allowance that matches what we give EU residents coming to UK or maybe thats what the French visa is meant to be?? ( to all the pokers - no I'm not relying on it)

The licence was the first thing I checked.
We are both covered as Phil took the test to drive up to 7.5t, mind I never let him drive anyway.
Yes Portugal isn't my first choice but it was my second but the French visa may be the better option. Definitely cheaper than getting an address in Portugal.
After seeing what it cost us to travel without the motorhome we are definitely wishing for a motorhome based solution.

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[Mr porky]

Have you both checked your ancestry for any Irish grandparents?

Not an option unfortunately.

 

[jongood]

Have you both checked your ancestry for any Irish grandparents?

What an ironic reversal it is when british people are trying to become Irish

Just demonstrates what a pigs ear politics can make of things

 

[Northernraider]

It all seems very complicated just to do what Northernraider is already doing with no problem.

I wouldn't say ( no problem) I too am tired of the shengen shuffle it's getting harder and harder to do , Turkey not my favourite country neither is morroco and there are now fewer options to go to extend 90 days.

I'm also thinking about other options

 

[OldCodger]

What an ironic reversal it is when british people are trying to become Irish

Just demonstrates what a pigs ear politics can make of things

This will help with pain

 

[Northernraider]

What an ironic reversal it is when british people are trying to become Irish

Just demonstrates what a pigs ear politics can make of things

The way it's going with every country complaining about tourists I can see us all being kept in our own cages soon .

Who would have guessed that travel would become such a hardship lol

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[jongood]

The way it's going with every country complaining about tourists I can see us all being kept in our own cages soon .

Who would have guessed that travel would become such a hardship lol

Ironically Turkey is one of the countries selling tourism hard. I'm sorry I would have like to have followed your turkish thread more but Ive been travelling etc and its very photo heavy so I havent kept up. What is it you didn't like?

 

[Northernraider]

The whole Portuguese residency thing confuses me as I've read so many times on here how complicated it is with regards to matriculation, driving UK registered vehicles, paying tax etc...yet on other platforms there are seemingly quite a lot of people getting around this , some of them are not hiding the fact either with their youtube channels etc.

So I'm well confused at what can be done and what can't.

I too would like to hope that common sense kicks in at somepoint and there's something sorted out between UK and eu regarding the 90 days

But let's be honest it's highly unlikely, especially with the current media hype about UK tourists throughout Europe

 

[jongood]

Long Stay French Visa - Our application and interview/appointment.

Warning this is a long one. But hopefully will help those seeking to do the same as us. After returning from our recent Spanish winter trip, we decided to apply for a long stay French Visa. As with most things motorhome related, we searched mhf first and found two helpful threads. The...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Northernraider]

Ironically Turkey is one of the countries selling tourism hard. I'm sorry I would have like to have followed your turkish thread more but Ive been travelling etc and its very photo heavy so I havent kept up. What is it you didn't like?

A lot of the culture, the vast amount of rubbish everywhere, the nice bits really are a big distance between each other , stray abandoned animals only beaten by morroco.

There were some parts I loved , some parts I hated , but most were indifferent and felt the main reason I was there was because I couldn't be somewhere else , which isn't how I like to travel. I want to be there because I like it not because I feel I've no option.

I think a month would have done me in Turkey and I wouldn't bother going as far east again as I did ...or with most of the north , black sea coast.

I will no doubt return , but not sure when.



I'm giving morroco a second chance this coming winter , but mostly because I want my old motorhome resprayed and I can get it done cheaper there. But there's a lot of morroco I will skip this time as its too hard to see.

 

[Northernraider]

Long Stay French Visa - Our application and interview/appointment.

Warning this is a long one. But hopefully will help those seeking to do the same as us. After returning from our recent Spanish winter trip, we decided to apply for a long stay French Visa. As with most things motorhome related, we searched mhf first and found two helpful threads. The...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

This is something I need to look in to I think. Thanks for that link

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[jongood]

A lot of the culture, the vast amount of rubbish everywhere, the nice bits really are a big distance between each other , stray abandoned animals only beaten by morroco.

There were some parts I loved , some parts I hated , but most were indifferent and felt the main reason I was there was because I couldn't be somewhere else , which isn't how I like to travel. I want to be there because I like it not because I feel I've no option.

I think a month would have done me in Turkey and I wouldn't bother going as far east again as I did ...or with most of the north , black sea coast.

I will no doubt return , but not sure when.



I'm giving morroco a second chance this coming winter , but mostly because I want my old motorhome resprayed and I can get it done cheaper there. But there's a lot of morroco I will skip this time as its too hard to see.

Careful with Moroccan resprays, there are good and bad, See a lot at Tafraoute, but some have clearly been outside in dust before they're dry.

As you're finding the problem with Motorhome holidays in the winter is the lack of places to go, Ive spokent to old timers who used to go to Jordan, Syria , Tunisia even Libya but none are an option these days and many have a different attitude to animal cruelty.

Like the OP we flew somewhere (India) last year but didnt really get on with it, a real pita to get around and very very grotty in places- far worse than Morocco and cost a lot lot more.

 

[Northernraider]

Careful with Moroccan resprays, there are good and bad, See a lot at Tafraoute, but some have clearly been outside in dust before they're dry.

As you're finding the problem with Motorhome holidays in the winter is the lack of places to go, Ive spokent to old timers who used to go to Jordan, Syria , Tunisia even Libya but none are an option these days and many have a different attitude to animal cruelty.

Like the OP we flew somewhere (India) last year but didnt really get on with it, a real pita to get around and very very grotty in places- far worse than Morocco and cost a lot lot more.

Yeah I saw a few good and bad in tafroute garage last year but a few friends from Instagram got there's done last winter and they said its a good Job. The one I plan to use now has a purpose built booth and oven.

 

[OldCodger]

The whole Portuguese residency thing confuses me as I've read so many times on here how complicated it is with regards to matriculation, driving UK registered vehicles, paying tax etc...yet on other platforms there are seemingly quite a lot of people getting around this , some of them are not hiding the fact either with their youtube channels etc.

So I'm well confused at what can be done and what can't.

I too would like to hope that common sense kicks in at somepoint and there's something sorted out between UK and eu regarding the 90 days

But let's be honest it's highly unlikely, especially with the current media hype about UK tourists throughout Europe

Is It the old adage “It’s only illegal if you get caught”

 

[Lenny HB]

Like the OP we flew somewhere (India) last year but didnt really get on with it, a real pita to get around and very very grotty in places- far worse than Morocco and cost a lot lot more.

Yes getting about on your own is a real challenge. We had the extreams as my wife has a second cousin in Bangalore, they own 3 private schools so upper cast after staying with them we flew to Delhi and got lost in Old Delhi at midnight, worked our own way around the Golden triangle. Wife loved it I don't think I want to go back.

 

[Northernraider]

Is It the old adage “It’s only illegal if you get caught”

Possibly , but I dunno ...I'd like to know how they're managing it

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[PaulW2]

The whole Portuguese residency thing confuses me as I've read so many times on here how complicated it is with regards to matriculation, driving UK registered vehicles, paying tax etc...yet on other platforms there are seemingly quite a lot of people getting around this , some of them are not hiding the fact either with their youtube channels etc.

So I'm well confused at what can be done and what can't.

I too would like to hope that common sense kicks in at somepoint and there's something sorted out between UK and eu regarding the 90 days

But let's be honest it's highly unlikely, especially with the current media hype about UK tourists throughout Europe

I think quite a lot of people just carry on with a 'catch me if you can' attitude.

I think some do get away with it undetected, at least for a while.

But when/if they do catch you they come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Not just Brits. A lot of Europeans from other countries also treat it a bit like the wild west. They build without planning permission, do illegal extensions, cut down protected trees, ignore fire regulations. Motorhomers that carry on like bears in the woods. Some of this really irritates the locals, but some of it is just par for the course.

The locals are for instance often quite fastidious about certain things - eg not using spark-generating power tools outdoors when it's forbidden. Foreigners seem to just blithely carry on. But under the same fire regulations land owners are meant to keep their land clear of undergrowth. Some do, some don't. (It costs money which they often don't have.) The fines for non-compliance are substantial.