Historical villages in Portugal

If I was to buy a property in Portugal, be it for myself or as a rental option, my personal preference would be a house in one of the breathtakingly beautiful historical villages that dot the countryside. I have never seen such lovely towns, with such a wonderfully friendly and relaxing air, as I saw as I criss-crossed the country on my last visit. I think if I had to choose, top of my list would be Marvao, followed perhaps by the crusader influenced town of Tomar. But then there is Obidos and Sintra…and they are nearer the sea if I was considering renting the property out at all…not an easy choice!

What I thought I would do is discuss a few of these wonderful historical villages with you and, at the very least, you may like to plan your next holiday around them, take a look and perhaps make your choice that way.

Right: starting on the western side of the Serra da Estrela and in common with many of the fortified villages, the imposing towers of Linhares da Beira’s mighty castle can be seen from miles away. This was where the Lusitanians, the Iberian tribe from whom the Portuguese are descended, chose to live, followed by the Visigoths and later the Moors.

There is lots to see for visitors: be sure to visit the Igreja Matriz (parish church), which is of Romanesque origin. Inside there are three valuable paintings by the great Portuguese master Vasco Fernandes. And if it’s sport you are into, the altitude and climate make this historical village the ideal venue for paragliding too, with the Open Championship held here in August every year.

Another such village is that of Monsanto. In the second century BC the settlement is said to have resisted a Roman siege for seven years. This feat is still celebrated annually at the lovely Festival of the Crosses on May 3rd.

In the 12th century, D. Afonso Henriques gave the town (which had been captured from the Moors) to the Order of the Templars, whose Master in Portugal ordered the castle to be rebuilt. The village, which is spread over the hillside, boasts one of the loveliest landscapes in Portugal - those who feel energetic enough to make the climb up to the castle are rewarded with one of the most stunning views in the region.

However, perhaps the most important place in the village is Lucan’s Tower. Dating back to the 14th century, the tower is crowned with a silver cockerel, a trophy awarded to Monsanto in a competition in 1938 in which it was judged to be the most Portuguese village in Portugal – go figure!

Also crowned by a castle standing on a formidable rocky outcrop, the town of Sortelha preserves its medieval features in its rustic granite houses. Also the village castle used to be part of the important defensive line of frontier castles, mostly erected or rebuilt on ‘castro’ sites of the ancient Iberian civilisations.

The castle entrance is through a Gothic doorway, above which there is a balcony (Varanda de Pilatos) through which the medieval guards would hurl all kinds of missiles, such as boiling oil, at their attackers. I assure you that this is NOT the kind of welcome you can expect today! The charm of this village lies both in its medieval atmosphere and indeed its far friendlier welcome!

These are just a taste: I will continue my wanderings through some of the other villages of Portugal next week. In the meanwhile, have fun and please let me know if you are out there, just loving Portugal!

Carol Dunning
The Overseas Guides Company
Have you been to the main website yet? http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Driving in Portugal

I hope that you have found this series of articles useful and that you now have all the info you need to bring your car into Portugal on a permanent basis. Just to round up, here’s how to sort out bringing in a scooter or motorbike and how to get your new licence plates. Plus a few tips about the rules of the road…

The procedure for motorbikes and scooters is virtually the same as for cars and other light vehicles except that a test will be required on noise emissions. Present the following documents to the IMTT and Customs and Vehicle Registry as described previously.

• Fill out Form Model 9 and give it to the official representative of the vehicle producer in Portugal for certification (Homologacão)
  
• Take the motorbike or scooter to an IMTT approved test centre (IPO) for a roadworthiness test including noise inspection

You now have you car registered and the details of the vehicle's registration are recorded on the DUA (Documento Uníco Automóvel) or "All-in-One Card". This replaces the Vehicle Ownership Registration (Titulo de Registo de Propriedade) and Log Book (Livrete) card. You need your new licence plates before you get this as the number is required for the DUA.

DUAs and the registration of new or second hand vehicles can be done at a local civil registry office, the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e Notariado). Application for a change in licence plate is made through the IRN office. A new vehicle registration number or matrícula is issued, number plates are made and then fitted before your vehicle can be recorded on the DUA.

Vehicle registration documents must be carried in the car at all times, as I have mentioned before. I cannot stress this enough – there are severe penalties if they are not available when requested by officials such as the police.

Just a few pointers to driving in Portugal: it goes without saying that driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. Bear in mind that you can be fined more than €1,000 for passing a car on the right. As in most countries there is also a large fine for failing to stop at a stop sign.

You will need to give way to traffic from the right unless otherwise stated. Vehicles in roundabouts have priority over those about to enter. Should you break down and attempt to carry out repairs you are by law required to wear a reflective jacket to do so; it is also necessary to put out a warning triangle.

There is a €600 fine for anyone found to be using a mobile phone while driving, and a €300 fine for littering while driving. Remember by the way that fines can be collected on the spot!

It is also possible to lose your licence if you ignore a policeman, cross a white line or jump a red light.

It is mandatory to for all passengers to wear seatbelts in both the front and back seats. Children under the age of 12, or less than one and a half metres tall, are not allowed to sit in the front at all and must have baby or booster seats in the back.

And hopefully you will not need this at all, but the emergency service phone number is 112.

Portugal does not have a great road safety record so please have a care out there!

Carol Dunning
The Overseas Guides Company
Go to the main website at: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal Part 5

The following owner's documents are usually also required to import a car to Portugal:

• Driver's licence (Cartão de Condução)
• Proof of identity. This can be a passport or identity card (Bilhete de Identidade))
• Proof of residency (Cartão de Residência), evidence of application for residency, or proof of residence. This could include property title deeds, rental contract, utility bills or an insurance certificate
• Taxpayer's identification card (Cartão Fiscal de Impostos or Cartão de Contribuinte) and number plus three year's tax returns or a declaration from the tax office stating income earned (in Portugal or elsewhere) over the previous three years
• A certificate of cancellation of residence issued by the former country of residence or their Consulate in Portugal

Original documents and 1 copy of all must be supplied and the Customs authority may ask that you obtain official translations of all these documents.

Only one vehicle may be imported tax-free per person once every ten years.

Once the application has been submitted, customs may issue a limited-validity authorisation (Guia de Circulação) which means the vehicle may be used while the application is in process.

It is important to remember that a vehicle that has been imported in this way may not be sold, loaned, pledged or hired for a period of 12 months following the date on which the Portuguese registration number given to you. In addition, in order to maintain eligibility for tax-free importation, you have to reside in Portugal for a minimum period of 12 months.

If your application for tax-free importation is turned down, you will be notified by the Customs authority and have to declare to tell them within 30 days what you intend to do with the vehicle. If you fail to do this, they will consider that the vehicle has been brought into Portugal illegally.

I would so love to hear from you if you have done all this. Tales abound, with each person having a different story to tell. Some say it’s unbelievably easy to sort all this out - others have real horror stories…

Next time I will round up by talking about your new licence plates and give you a bit of info about importing motorbikes and scooters for those bikers amongst us! Take care until and…keep revving!

Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my main website at: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal: Part 4

Hello again.

Okay, let’s continue. You have the required paperwork for the car; just a few things you need to be aware of upfront.

Road Tax or Imposto Único de Circulação) is paid annually, during the month in which the vehicle was registered, on-line at your local tax office – the Loja do Cidadão. This tax is payable in respect of all vehicles, regardless of whether or not they are in use. Proof of payment is made by showing the receipt issued by the relevant authority.

The amount of tax paid is different for vehicles registered before and after July 2007. Owners of cars registered before July 2007 pay an amount of tax directly related to the age of the vehicle and its cubic capacity. The tax on vehicles registered after July 2007 will also take into account the vehicle's CO2 emissions and the power of the engine.

Insurance. All vehicles must have at least third party insurance cover. The insurance company will provide an insurance stamp for display in the lower right-hand corner of the vehicle’s windscreen, at the time the policy is issued.

These documents, as well as the driver’s ID and licence, should be carried at all times and shown to the authorities on request.

MOT Testing and Certificates
MOT testing is compulsory in Portugal for all vehicles over four years old. Cars aged between 4-7 years must be tested every two years and thereafter every year. The test (Insepecção Periódica Obrigatória – IPO) must be carried out at an approved garage. The garage is required to request the vehicle’s ownership documents (Titulo de Registo de Propriedade and Livrete or the more recent Certificado de Matrícula) and the owner’s taxpayer’s identification card (cartão de contribuinte) before carrying out the test.

A stamp confirming that the vehicle has passed the test should be displayed below the insurance stamp, in the lower right-hand corner of the vehicle’s windscreen.

Registration is recorded at both the local customs office and the IMTT. The Portuguese authorities may ask for documents other than those listed below. It's advisable to first check on forms and documents required. The application should be made to your nearest Customs office. This application should be submitted with:

• A fiscal certificate or tax clearance form issued by customs. In some instances, there are customs and tax charges payable – this will depend on the model, power, age and mileage of the vehicle
• Original receipt of purchase showing taxes paid
• A Certificate of Compliance (Form Model 9) issued by the IMTT confirming that the vehicle has undergone an inspection
• A certificate of Homologacão from the vehicle manufacturer or certified representative in Portugal to identify that the vehicle is of a recognised type in Portugal or the EU
• A Copy of the foreign vehicle registration certificate
• A Certificate of conformity, called a COC (Certificado de Conformidade)
• A certificate of roadworthiness
  

The technical inspection or Inspecção Periódica Obrigatória should be made at an IMTT approved garage. This checks vehicle identification, brakes, tyres, emissions, noise levels, lights, steering, windscreen and wipers, and chassis (inside and out) condition.

Believe it or not, there’s more. I’ll complete the document list next week…that way it doesn’t look so totally overwhelming! Bye until next time, all best wishes – and keep warm!

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal: Part 3

So…all ready to continue with taking that car with you to Portugal? As I write this I am wondering what the percentage of guys to gals would be that love their car so much that it just HAS to come too…

Please don’t think this is a patronising statement – I love far stranger things – like my African masks for just one example! Okay, on with the more serious business of getting your car permanently registered in Portugal.

Before you can do this you need to apply for a Residency Card (Cartão de Residência) from the Portuguese immigration authorities, SEF or Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteira.

As promised, here is a list of the documentation you will need to register your car. All vehicles in Portugal are required to have:

A Registration Certificate – the Certificado de Matrícula. This is issued by the Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres. The Certificado de Matrícula came into effect on 31 October 2005. For the time being, it is not compulsory to exchange existing vehicle documentation (Livrete and Título de Registo de Propriedade) as this remains valid.

OR (for vehicles registered before 31 October 2005)

An Ownership Registration Document – the Titulo de Registo de Propriedade. This is issued by the Conservatória do Registo Automóvel – the Vehicle Registration Office

AND

A Vehicle Registration Document – the Livrete. This is issued by the Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres.

To clarify, if your car was registered before 2005 you need an Ownership Registration Document (Titulo de Registo de Propriedad) plus a Vehicle Registration Document (Livrete) If registered after that date then you just need the Registration Certificate.

An imported car or bike must conform to the Portuguese road standards under what is termed "homologation" (Homologacão) before it can be registered. The complexity of the process can vary according to age, make and origin of the vehicle.

The process is different for classic and collectable vehicles. It is also different and more complicated for modified vehicles which must be examined at an authorised inspection centre to ensure the work was carried out correctly and adheres to EU safety standards.

Information is available from the directorate general for traffic, the IMTT or Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres I.P.

All clear? Whew…

More next time. I am breaking all this into bite-sized chunks so as not to completely blow your mind!

Next week then…have lots of fun and keep planning!

Carol
http://www.PortugalBuyingGuide.com

Importing a car into Portugal: Part 2

Hi there – all well with you?

Last week I discussed the temporary admission of motor vehicles into Portugal – I will now move on to the process of bringing your car into Portugal on a permanent basis.

Permanent Importation of Motor Vehicles
You may be able to import your motor vehicle tax-free if you are transferring your residence to Portugal from another EU member state or from a third country, provided that:

• You are over 18
• You have been resident in the country from where you are transferring for a minimum period of 12 months, consecutive or otherwise
• You have held a valid driver’s licence in that country for a minimum of 12 months
• You are transferring your normal place of residence to Portugal
• Your vehicle was purchased fully-tax paid in the country of your former residence and you can prove this
• You owned the vehicle in the country of your former residence for at least 12 months prior to transferring your residence to Portugal, from the date of issue of the vehicle registration document, or from the date on which the leasing contract was signed, as appropriate
  

If the above do not apply to you then you may well need to pay tax. This can be a very expensive business – be warned. The tax has gone up substantially in the past few years. There is a lot of pressure being applied to the Portuguese Government, including The EU itself, to stop the ISV tax but it seems that they are still charging it.

Having said that, remember that the regulations change all the time so you should always check with your local Portuguese Customs Office once the time draws near.

In order to import a vehicle and to register it in Portugal, you should submit an application within six months of the date on which you transfer your residence to Portugal.

Next time I am going to discuss where you go to register your car and what documents you will need – and there are plenty! There always are, aren’t there?

I have a busy little time ahead: that’s the sheer beauty of London! I am off to hear a talk with my son by the rather contentious author James Ellroy and I’m taking in The Apprentice at the Riverside Studios near my home – this with Sirallun…Sir Alan Sugar to those uninitiated! What makes you think I find difficult men interesting…at a distance I hasten to add?

We’ll talk next week – have loads of fun until then.

All the best,

Carol
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal

A question I am often asked is about the permanent registration of cars in Portugal. As you may know, new cars are very expensive there – ridiculously so many people think - so the idea of taking yours with you may be tempting if you are moving there permanently. What you do need to bear in mind is that there is a fair amount of hassle and paperwork to get through - I thought I would let you have some of the details about this over the next few weeks. Let’s start at the very beginning…

Temporary Admission of Motor Vehicles

An EU-registered motor vehicle (including light goods vehicles, trailers, caravans, motorised homes and motorcycles) may be kept in Portugal for 183 days, consecutive or otherwise, in any one period of 12 months, provided all of the following conditions are met:

• The vehicle has been registered in another EU member country
• The vehicle is registered in the name of a person who is not resident, employed or carrying out any type of paid activity in Portugal
• The vehicle is brought into Portugal by its registered owner

If you travel in and out then it is advisable to get proof of each entry/exit. If you have a holiday home in Portugal and only use your car for 2 weeks of the year but keep it in Portugal, then the car is classed as being used here and the rules apply. The 183 days do not need to be consecutive, if the authorities can show that you have had the car inside Portugal for this time then they will apply the law.

Vehicles brought into Portugal temporarily may only be driven by their owners, their owner’s spouse or common-law spouse, their owner’s parents or children or their registered keeper provided none of these individuals are resident, employed or carrying out paid activity in Portugal.

Under the temporary admission regime, foreign residents in Portugal may only use a foreign-registered vehicle if so authorised by the Customs authority. For the purpose of the legislation on the temporary admission of motor vehicles into Portugal, a resident is defined as spending a period of at least 183 days or more, consecutively or otherwise, in any one calendar year, in Portugal, or whose source of income from paid employment is inPortugal, or whose headquarters or established business activity is in Portugal.

If you are here on a specific term, temporary work contract or as a student or any other reason and you plan to take it back to your home country (even if longer than 183 days) you can avoid importing it. In this case you need to contact your local customs office as soon as you arrive in Portugal to register this intent.

If you fail to comply with the Portuguese law on foreign car use regulations and you are caught, then the Portuguese Customs Office has the power to impound your car. If this happens you will be directed not to use your car other than when you present yourself at your nearest customs office. You may be fined up to €15,000.00 and they will give you the following three options;

• You can start the registration process by paying the ISV
• You agree to a date when you will drive the car out of Portugal, they will give you written permission to drive it on that date only
• You give them the keys and they keep the car and destroy it – horrors!

Right, next week I am going to go ahead and describe the whys and wherefores of the permanent export procedures in more detail. In the meanwhile, have fun! Weather permitting I am off on an Art Deco walk tomorrow. The last walk – to the iconic Hammersmith Bridge – was cancelled due to rain so I hope the same thing doesn’t happen – cross fingers for me!

Smiles and waves,

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Moving Overseas - Am I making the right decision?

The idea to move abroad is born - and with it comes excitement, anticipation and a renewed sense of direction.

At first, there is just a small thought that sparks and we ask ourselves, “Could it be achievable?” Then a plethora of possibilities opens up. Not before long, we are enquiring about property prices, cost of living and employment. Our daydreams turn to visualisations of our possible new life overseas. We see ourselves smiling more - and enjoying life with increased vigour.

Most people have the idea and the spark, but soon lose their drive. They are the people who grow old and say, “If only.”

Then there are those who have the passion and desire to carry their plans to fruition. Regardless as to your resolve, however, there will always be times when you doubt yourself. Your excitement will allow you to make massive strides, but at some point you will stop to catch your breath and wonder if you are making the right decision.

Mrs Turner, new to the world of overseas living, explained “I spent all my spare time planning, preparing and ticking off endless lists. After a few months I felt overwhelmed – was I merely caught up in ‘living the dream’ or did I truly understand what was to come? And how could I make sure that I wasn’t making a big mistake?”

Unfortunately, there are quite a few people who return to the UK not long after an overseas move. Sometimes people repatriate due to health matters, missing family or simply missing their old way of life. Others move back because the dreams they floated on did not match the reality.

One way to ensure that you are making the right decision is to “play house” in your overseas location.

Try to make arrangements to stay in your desired location for as long as possible, be it a few weeks or a month. Then make plans to enjoy the location without being a tourist. This means rather than stay in a hotel, rent a villa or better yet, do a house swap. Instead of visiting the main attractions, check out all the things that locals do. Go grocery shopping, check out employment adverts and do everything you would normally do if you were moving from one town in the UK to another.

When Mrs Turner felt overwhelmed, she decided to book a two week trip to her future destination. Although she had spent several holidays there, she never spent the duration knowing that it would one day be called “home.”

Mrs Turner said, ‘It was the best decision I made. By spending two weeks in my future town I was able to better set my expectations. I went to the doctors, paid a visit to a community centre, made enquiries about a local art class and made sure to eat most of my meals at home. By the end of the two weeks, I realised that some of my expectations were a bit too high whereas others were too low. Overall, the holiday gave me the needed push to set me back on track.”

By giving yourself time to be a resident, rather than a tourist, you will get a more realistic idea of life in your desired location. As with Mrs Turner, time spent in your future destination may also give you even more reason to fulfil your plans.

As with all areas in the world, there will be pros and cons and without experiencing life as a local, it is very easy to make a move without knowing exactly what the negatives and positives are.

Spending time on holiday is very different from making a holiday destination a home.

During the process of playing “house”, you might want to test public transport to see how reliable it is, stroll through the area at different times of the day to listen out for noise, buy the type of groceries you normally purchase to determine if they are available and at what price - and definitely check out health services – how far away are they and will they cater to your needs?

The more you match your needs to your overseas destination, the less likely you will be to ask, “Am I making the right decision?”

Carol Dunning
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com