Moving to Porto

Steve, while you're waiting for replies from firsthand experience, these might be a good places to start collecting info:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/portugal/how-to-get-temporary-residency-in-portugal

https://www.facebook.com/groups/americansandfriendsPT/

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/portugal/golden-visa-to-immigrate-to-portugal

https://expatra.com/guides/portugal/living-in-portugal-the-expats-guide/

Hopefully some of the RS community's residents of Portugal can offer good help but I've a hunch that shipping your dog will be a smaller challenge compared to some of the others you'll likely need to navigate (language, red tape; taxes, healthcare as a non-citizen, etc.) If you are planning on relocating alone, there's also the issue of family being far away should you experience a health crisis requiring support. Some Americans (I'm guessing you are a U.S. citizen?) have obviously made the move successfully, however, so hope you find the help you need! :O)

There are special forums, books, online classes and even You Tube videos about what is involved in relocating to Portugal or another country.

You mention that your January trip is to do more research. That sounds like a good idea! I would contact some property companies in advance and ask for referrals to relocation specialists. I would contact the Portuguese embassy here in the states with visa questions.

How’s long will your January trip be? Will you have a chance to “live like a local” in your target area for a time, at least a few weeks, to get a feel for what living there might be like?

I think there are special income/asset rules associated with long term visas. I would not count on being able to work. You will definitely need to do more research.

I'd ask at a different forum. The reddit expat board would help you more.

R/expats

are you aware that you still will have to file taxes in the US, as well as in Portugal?

This is definitely not the forum to get these type answers.

Your best resource for pretty much all your questions is the Facebook group Americans and Friends in Portugal. It’s based here is Cascais but has members throughout Portugal. The main reason for the site is to help people move to Portugal. There is an extensive files section with step by step instructions for obtaining your Schengen Visa, moving and getting your residency once here. After five years, 12,000 people have obtained residency with the help of this group.

Even if you are not a fan of Facebook, make an exception for this group. They is also a couple of women in the Lisbon area who offer paid webinars to help with the process. You would likely see their info posted on the AFIP pages.

Steve,
I do not mean to come across as snarky, but have you ever been to Portugal?

Respectfully,
Dennis

Actually Portugal just added a new "Digital Nomad Visa" starting Oct 30 2022 for people who like to stay in Portugal and work remotely. See details below:

https://www.atlys.com/country/portugal/digital-nomad-visa

Any updates

Dennis

No posts since the first
I wonder if he ever went?

Post from 4/27/23 @8:27 p.m. reported for review.

What does that mean?

Dennis

Dennis, there was a spammer who posted a link which takes people who knows where, it was sent to the webmaster for review and its absence now means it was removed. Evidence of the reporting remains.

thanks

Dennis