Midgo

Thanks for all the answers
He's not going to set up a commune
Its just a very simple self converted 'camper' van that will be driven down and then parked there and then driven back after a stay
Sewage installation is not needed above a simple natural system, if at all.
He lived in a caravan in the UK for decades in our home town
No question of 'living' on the plot
If prices not too exorbitant he might be interested in an ongoing (in the Portuguese sense ) ruin renovation with habitation for future flexibility, perhaps

JeenaG

This sounds like a really nice option. In the context of having a bit more stability when needed, a place to park up and relax for example over the winter months and to simply resume the mobile adventure whenever it suits. Also, homesickness is easily remedied - just lock up the shed and head back to England for a couple of months. This is definitely worth a deeper look. Has anyone who posts on this website done anything like this?

NataHH

I assume he going to drive his campervan back every 90 days or does he intend to leave his motorhome on the plot and fly back and forth?

JeenaG

Yes, I understand there is that complication for non residents. As non-resident British passport holders we can only spend 90 out of every 180 days in the EU - is this correct? Assuming this is correct, is there no non-resident visa route that gets around it?

NataHH

The reason for my question is to ascertain if his campervan is UK registered and if he wants to leave it in Portugal while he flies back to the UK under the 90/180 rule?

JeenaG

Ah, okay.

Actually if that is what he chose to do, wouldn't it be problematic for renewing the MOT on the campervan? He would have to return to the UK at least once per year.

NataHH

Not only the MOT. Also a foreign registered car has to be matriculated after 183 days in other words the campervan has to leave with him.

liveaboard

Simple; buy a PT registered camper.
Or a trailer.

macliam

I was wondering why anyone would want the hassle of driving a camper-van to Portugal.
Leaving a UK-registered vehicle on-site is not going to work, driving backwards and forwards sounds an expensive option.

Buying something in Portugal and flying in seems far simpler........

NataHH

and what address do you put on the logbook and insurance certificate. What about NIF number and Road tax?!

JeenaG

This is good to know, thank you.

macliam

You are presuming this is a motor vehicle and requires all that..... I had a NIF long before having any property in Portugal.

andywally

IMO there is an easier / safer / legal alternative to this proposal.............. tow a caravan here then leave it here after your first lot of 90 days (or chunk of) leave it on a registered campsite for about 90euro a month when you are not here, then just pay per person plus elec when you are here............ that way you have electric on site, toilets, showers and importantly neighbours who keep an eye on your caravan when you are not here, then when you are not here family can use the van at their convenience.

No need to take it back to the UK for an MOT, no need for expensive ferries,road tolls and diesel travelling backwards and forwards, and you get a lot more for your money with a caravan as you are not buying a vehicle with an engine, no need to tax it either, no need to buy a chunk of land and potentially cheese off your neighbours, no need to sink a bore hole, no need to create a drain feild and install a septic tank............next time you want to come over fly in (my kid fly's in to see me for a tenner each way sometimes) usually the site will be within cycling distance from a supermarket, so no need to buy a PT registered car etc etc ........all for about 1200euro a year so basically £1k rent per year, plus the extras when you are here.................simples !!!.......at least I think so then again I may the only one that does think so who knows.

riv

If he purchases an acre ( or whatever ) of land, especially if it has a ruin with automatic permission ( because it has been lived in previously ) for residential restoration, then surely his plot of land will have an address and post code which can be used for Portuguese car registration formalities ?

RichardHenshall

I suspect that importing a caravan (which is what you're suggesting) is not without cost and (ongoing?) red tape. As with other vehicles buying a Portuguese registered caravan may be easier in the long term.