does anyone know of any disadvantages of taking residency in portugal for british pensioners?

Answer 1

There shouldn't be any if you go about things the right way.
Your DHSS office will have information on this. They will tell you if your pension can be paid there...which I think it can.
Portugal will be the same as any where else, it will be a risk to cross the road and anything else could happen to you.
If all paperwork can work out...GO

Answer 2

Loneliness. the ex-pat population in Portugal and Spain have huge drink problems stemming from isolation (the only perceived place to meet other ex-pats being "Brit-pubs").
However, I know several who've jumped into the local culture and embraced it who suffer less, so if that's what you want then you should be fine, but if you want a piece of Britain on the Algarve, you'll find yourself in a pub a lot.
Before you go, get a EU medicare card (the new version of the e111 form) from the EU offices (London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast) or maybe the local post office too, and check with your EU offices about you're pension rights too.

Answer 3

Have no idea, but I have a good friend who went to Portugal last April, went out to eat the first evening, spent the next 3 days with food poisoning, returned to Amsterdam 4 days sooner than he planned..said he was not interested in going back to Portugal..it is not high on my priority list to visit. Wouldn't Gibralter be a better choice since you are British?

Answer 4

I don't know about Portugal but although they have a health service in Spain which is quite good my son-in-law still maintains his registration with his GP in the UK so there must be some drawbacks health wise. Apart from that I would think language and isolation unless you are in a ex-pat clique

Answer 5

I would not consider it having met so many lonely ex-pats while on holiday. Besides you know what the weather is going to be there. I like a surprise in the morning, afternoon, evening and night

Answer 6

They have huge red ants, that walk in single file everywhere they go. It can take an `army` of them an hour to walk past your front door, don`t interrupt them, they will crawl all over you and they bite like hell.

Answer 7

Thereis a large population of immigrants from the former Portuguese colonies, and crime is much higher than it used to be.

Answer 8

You may find these sites useful...

http://www.barclays.co.uk/buyingabroad/portugal/settling/retiring.html

http://www.goldengapyears.com/living-abroad/portugal-sect/more-information-portugal

http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-portugal-retiring-pensions

Answer 9

The locals all speak Portuguese.

Answer 10

the biggest one being healthcare..

if its like spain, they don't recognise the contributions you have put into the nhs..