Sunseeker1st

It was hubby's birthday (72) last month (August). He used Gracy for Driving License Renewal and received his plastic card last week.

m2m2012

Thanks, good info. Is this type of service available all over Portugal or only in places where many expats live?

Alan PT

There is an ever increasing amount which can be done online, but for things which really need to be there in person you'll probably have more luck around Algarve or the bigger cities. In Lisbon, I had some support from this company and found them helpful: https://www.newway.pt/en/ My new employer put me in touch and paid for some things, but we also paid for a couple of things ourselves and they were pretty reasonable costs

You could also try this (newish) service, which is an interesting combination of info articles and (I think) a kind of advertising/introduction service for assistance. I haven't used them myself, but their articles are pretty good: https://www.lisbob.net/

Lelandy

At the risk of being shouted down, I have to say I've never needed the services of a gestor or agency. Perhaps we have been divinely spared the experiences of many who find the day to day processes so onerous and insurmountable.

A lot of research, translation, and patience seems to have worked thus far without recourse to paid assistance. Admittedly we didn't attempt to matriculate a car, preferring to buy new at a price very comparable to UK main dealerships.

SgtTroy

Same with us so far, although I'm not dusputing anyone's negative experiences.

Any impasse with a government institution could eventually (and quite promptly) be resoved through SolvIt, but that option is no longer available for British passport holders.

https://ec.europa.eu/solvit/index_pt.htm

Sunseeker1st

I fully appreciate what you say. Guess we are lazy retired folk. We get by in Portuguese but choose not to get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Faro and queue. I have had health/mobility issues for eight years now which have not helped. In coming here for 37 years, owning for 33 years and living permanently for 17 years we choose to have a easy life when it comes to bureaucracy and would rather pay a professional SHOULD a problem arise. It doesn't cost that much (maybe 60 Euros) especially when you take into account one's time and transport expenses.

We have only had one "bad" experience in all these years and it was when Worten had a photo developing center in AlgarveShopping. Otherwise, easy sailing living here, adore the Portuguese and all their foibles.

PS I would like to add we are thankful we were here for my five major ops and Hubby's one and all the follow ups still ongoing rather than in he UK.

m2m2012

Well I've just concluded a 5 week stay in Portugal with a week in Beja and the rest spent in Albufeira. Overall it was good trip; the weather was great and I liked the people and the cities I stayed in. Of course, a 5 week trip doesn't really give you much of an insight as to what it would be like living somewhere permanently.

Notable incidents during my stay:

-On my 2nd or 3rd night in Albufeira at around 5am I heard two loud explosions then shouting. Turns out the police raided the apartment opposite mine and I believe used explosives to take out the front door and/or used flash grenades when they entered. Good to see police going after possible "bad guys". A lot of stories on the internet that say Portuguese police are hopeless and corrupt...on that night at least they were doing what you expect police to do.

-I entered Portugal unvaccinated and the first thing I did after receiving a local sim card was register online as a foreigner for the jab. In theory everyone living in Portugal including undocumented migrants can receive a vaccination. I never received and email and call as the website said I would. Anyway, one day I noticed that next to a large supermarket was a vaccination center in a large hall. Despite me not being a resident or having any ties whatsoever to Portugal they gave me the 1st dose of Pfizer there and then after I showed my ID and filled out some forms. Everyone there spoke English including the security guard at the entrance. So there you go; others who are residents of Portugal with all the correct paperwork have gone through hell on earth to get vaccinated, while I turn up unannounced and receive it no questions asked. See:
Covid questions

-I had to visit the emergency department of a public hospital on two different occasions late at night. On both occasions got to see a triage nurse within 5m of arriving then a doctor about 5-10m after that. Everyone there spoke at least okay English, and the facilities there seemed okay too. With no type of health card I had to pay out of my pocket. Cost for each visit was about 70 euros. On my second visit I spent many hours there and had various tests and treatments...such a visit in the USA would have costs a least 10x more.

-Long distance buses were new, comfortable and cheap

-Cost of going to a cafe for a duplo coffee, bola de berlim, or 50grms of local spirits etc, is very cheap.

Anyway, it was a good 1st trip there. To make a clear eyed decision about moving there I think I need to spend more time there and get more information relevant to my particular circumstances.

Sunseeker1st

nigel.b

My own personal favourite Portuguese bureaucracy tale…

I moved to Portugal from the Far East, so having my belongings sent to Portugal was complicated. It involved drawing up an inventory of my belongings – quite reasonably. But when I took it to the Consulate the man I was dealing with picked it up with fastidious distaste. It was only three pages of double-sided A4. He produced some other inventories as examples: fat folders of 10 or 15 pages.

I was sent away to fatten my inventory, which I did by widening margins, enlarging fonts, using single-sided. Also instead of putting “about 100 books” I listed dozens of titles.

This time it was accepted. He was not hostile or unsympathetic – in fact he gave me his business card. He had a PhD from Coimbra University (the Portuguese Oxbridge).

He was of the older generation, and as others have said that mind-set is slipping out of the system.

m2m2012

Turned away because your inventory was too short! I wonder if he considered a short inventory a sign the you are cheating in some way or at the very least cutting corners ?