Holiday planning
A 3 to 9 stop itinerary, plus the pre-travel consult that saves real money before you arrive.
- Rental car and deposit tricks
- Card, POS and transfer fees
- Tours, dining and day trips
Your friend abroad in Portugal.
Expat Pal helps you plan the perfect holiday, or settle and flourish if you are staying. Real people who already made the move, and who know who to call.
19countries our Pals migrated from
5continents on the team
12+languages spoken
Book a call with a Pal
Tell us what you need. A Pal replies within one working day.
Vendors we have usedDocumented services, languages and fair pricing — not a paid directory.
We did this ourselvesThe Harpers moved here first and made every mistake in the guide.
Negotiated in PortuguesePrices change when the conversation happens in the local language.
One Pal, start to finishThe same person through banking, AIMA, housing and the rest.
Three ways we help
Pick the one that sounds like you
Every Pal covers all three. Most people start in one and drift into the next.
Relocation
The paperwork chain in the right order, from fiscal number and address to AIMA, banking and health cover.
- Three levels, from basic to comprehensive
- Before and after your residency card
- Portuguese classes and citizenship prep
Concierge
For the weeks when you have no bandwidth left: the house, the kids, the pets, the car, the errands.
- House and pet sitting
- Childcare and EU nannies
- Transport and lifestyle bookings
Why we exist
Our first year here was a wonderful train wreck
Even with an attorney and a professional relocation specialist, there were a million little things nobody told us. The internet says get a relocation specialist. Common sense says hire an attorney. Life experience says you will really need a trusted friend.
Our consultants are the Pals we wish we had once our attorney and relocation specialist decided their job was finished.
We created Expat Pal to be the friend you will invariably need in a moment's notice — to translate, to navigate, and to help.
The Pal
Start with what nobody tells you
Our newsletter and guide to living here. Free, and honest about the parts that are hard.
Why Portugal — what is not in the brochure
Cards, customer service and car rentals all work differently here, and the difference is measured in hundreds of euros.
Money and admin6 min read
Things they don't tell you in the brochure, Pt. 11
Mold, heating, healthcare, deliveries and prices — the adjustments nobody warns North Americans about.
Settling in9 min read
Housing
Imposto de Selo, unpaid utility arrears, what furnished really means, and the deposits foreigners get quoted.
Housing7 min read
Trusted Vendors
The list we built so nobody else gets fleeced
Accountants, mechanics, movers, vets, contractors and more — businesses our Pals have actually used, with the languages they speak and the date we last checked them.
Expat Pal’s research was top notch and they were an invaluable resource in assisting me with changing my medical insurance. I switched to a different company that gave me much better coverage for less than half of what I was paying. … Expat Pal explained the policies better than the company representatives and is thorough in the details. I wish I had used their services sooner!
Questions people ask first
Before you get in touch
Do I have to be moving to Portugal to use Expat Pal?
No. Holiday planning and concierge services are for visitors as much as residents. Many people start with a trip, then come back to the relocation packages later.
Are you lawyers, accountants or a relocation agency?
No. Expat Pal performs some tasks directly, assists you with others, and refers you to licensed professionals where the law requires one. Every relocation service on this site is labelled with which of the three applies. Classification draft — confirm before launch
What does a Pal actually do on a virtual visit?
Twenty focused minutes on whatever is blocking you — a form, an appointment, a phone call you need translated, a price you are being quoted. Packages include two or three of these; more can be added.
Which parts of Portugal do you cover?
Our Pals are concentrated in the Algarve, with people in Lisbon and Porto. Destination guides cover the Algarve, Lisbon and Seville in depth; the Porto and Douro guide is still being written.
Can you help in a language other than English?
Our Pals migrated from 19 countries and speak more than a dozen languages between them. Tell us which you prefer when you get in touch and we will match you.
How much does it cost?
Travel and relocation packages are tiered, and the published material does not yet include prices for every tier. Ask for a quote and we will confirm what your situation needs. Pricing to be supplied
Still weighing it up?
Twenty minutes with someone who has already done it is usually worth more than another week of forum threads.