AliceCaroline

I'm really not sure if you need them Diddion. We haven't done ours yet as we've only been here for 6 weeks.

Red Eric

You don't need photos for the initial residence registration certificate.

The (non-compulsory) permanent card after 5 years, yes - but then it also serves as id.

Diddion

Thanks, AliceCaroline and Red Eric (and others!). I'll bear that in mind! How are you finding things, AliceCaroline?

AliceCaroline

We were very busy the first few weeks. Unpacking; buying things like a fridge and oven, then waiting for delivery & connection; setting up internet; buying a car, doing little bits of DIY; buying fishing licences; changing our address at Finances ect.

For now everything is sorted and we are just relaxing. We love it here.

Next jobs will be sorting the residency & driving licences then trying to register with the health service.

Loafing Along

No photo needed for initial document

Diddion

I've heard so many stories of inconsistent requirements that I feel I will have to enter each office followed by a team of Sherpas carrying every element of my life. And I will also need to ensure I am equipped with evidence of my shoe size and collar size. Or am I going too far?

Loafing Along

No idea where the stories came from, we took about 15 minutes to do the form, showed passports and had a copy of our rental contract ( which was not asked for ), went to a different window to pay our fee and then 24 hrs later went back and collected our residence certificate.
Few processes could be any simpler.

Ukkram

I also went to a different office to pay and then went back and showed them the slip and was handed over the A4 size Residencia document. Done and dusted in 20 minutes.

Diddion

Glad to hear all of this!

AliceCaroline

Getting the 5 year residency isn't the upcoming job that worries me, it's getting registered with the National Health Service as we are both early retirees.

Diddion

AliceCaroline.......

Lucky people! I am a late retiree!

Ukkram

So were we and it was no problem at all. Forget about the S1 and EHIC thing and just do it.
I don't even know what S1 or EHIC is. Not got that but got my SNS.

Red Eric

Sure - so have lots of people, going back long before the 2 years you say it wasn't possible until it "became law". I don't have any knowledge of this alleged change in the law by the way, just an issuing of guidelines about the correct current application of the previously existing regulations, which were open to interpretation with regard to economically inactive UK citizens for various reasons.

It doesn't mean people aren't still encountering problems when presenting themselves for registration, even if, by one or another of our experiences or readings of what's published, there shouldn't be any.

I've certainly read tales from those who have had difficulties getting registered within the past 2 years.

And I suspect - but wait on the outcome of the OP's experience to find out for sure - that the PT authorities might not be completely overjoyed about someone with an entitlement to a pension from another member state - and therefore to enrolment in the PT system via the S1 route and the concommitant reciprocal charging - not using that option before enrolling here.

Diddion

Our plan, all going well, is to arrive in Portugal on about 22 May, and become Portuguese residents. With NHR we will be entitled to pension income free of UK (and of course Portuguese) tax. We will also ensure that we are not UK tax payers, by taking care with both the Automatic UK and sufficient ties statutary residence tests. I had intended further pension deferment until my tax position was confirmed, but maybe you would feel it better to put it in place beforehand, whilst in the UK? I am, after all, looking for a life with the minimum of complexities!

Jonny22

Maybe different in different places. In Tavira 2 passport photos needed and €15 here not €12. Better take just in case.