When moving, bring keepsakes and buy the rest; a second degree has its own entry route; abroad, pay in local currency
What to bring when moving to Portugal: Reddit says bring keepsakes and hard-to-find things, and buy the rest here
Someone on r/PortugalExpats who is moving to Portugal from Australia and selling their belongings asked what is worth bringing from home and what is easier to buy locally. They plan to rent a furnished flat with kitchenware, so for now they are thinking of bringing only a rice cooker.
Most of those who replied advise bringing as little as possible. A shipping container, they say, costs more than buying everything again at IKEA and local shops, and the shipment can be stuck in customs for a long time, with import charges to pay on top. They advise comparing the cost of shipping an item with the cost of buying it here. Many got by with two suitcases: clothes and a computer.
“Buying everything here is much cheaper than paying for a container. Think of it as a chance to replace your things and support the local economy too. The less you bring, the simpler life is. You can't take much on a plane, and any shipment will be stuck in customs for a long time, and you'll most likely have to pay crazy money in import charges.”
r/PortugalExpats06.11.2026
“Only bring what fits in two suitcases! Paying for a container and import duties isn't worth it. After many moves between continents, my advice is one or two suitcases, and leave a couple of things in storage at home. When you go back to visit, you can bring more once you know what you'll actually need. Besides, in a couple of years you might move back, who knows.”
r/PortugalExpats06.11.2026
What is worth bringing is what cannot be replaced: keepsakes, paintings, and good knives and pans if you cook a lot. On the practical side, people mention a keyboard with your own layout, adapters for your plugs, thermal underwear, wool socks and hiking clothes. Some find the goods sold here poorer in quality, and large shoe sizes are hard to find, so they advise bringing shoes, bed linen and tools as well.
“Spare keyboards if you work at a computer: every country has its own layout. And plug adapters — you can't find decent Australian ones here. If I were moving from Australia again, I'd definitely bring a multi-socket extension lead. All your shoes, boots and socks if you're a woman with feet bigger than a size eight. Thermal underwear, everything merino. Wool socks. All your hiking and outdoor clothes.”
r/PortugalExpats06.11.2026
“In my opinion, most things here are poor quality. Even the same brand, Skechers trainers for example, isn't the same quality. Clothes are cut oddly, and with large or wide feet it's hard to find shoes. Bring all your kitchen utensils and small appliances if they're 220 volts, your work and DIY tools, bed linen, towels and electronics.”
r/PortugalExpats06.11.2026
Appliances are worth bringing only if they are made for 220–240 volts: sockets in Portugal supply 230 volts. And the rice cooker, people say, is worth taking — a good one is hard to find here.
Graduates have a special entry route to a second degree, but there are usually only one or two places per course
Someone on r/portugal with a bachelor's and a master's in pre-school and primary education does not want to work in that field: their dream is to study design. They are struggling to work out how to get onto a second bachelor's degree (licenciatura). The entry route for over-23s is closed to them because they already have a master's; re-entry (reingresso) is only possible at their own university; and the route for graduates of vocational and technical courses does not apply either. Do they really have to sit the exams again, as school leavers do?
The replies pointed to a special entry route for those who already have a degree (Concurso Especial para Titulares de Outros Cursos Superiores). The Higher Education Institute's page says that holders of a bachelor's, licenciado, master's or doctoral degree can apply if they meet the conditions of the chosen university. Each university sets the number of places on each course itself and, people say, there are usually one or two, so they advise asking the admissions office directly about deadlines and conditions.
“Lots of people are discussing whether it's a good idea, but nobody is answering the actual question. The answer is: the special entry route for those who already have a degree (Concurso Especial de acesso à Titulares de Outros Cursos Superiores). Each university runs it and decides how many places to open. There are usually few, one or two per course. Ask the universities you're interested in directly how this route works and when the deadlines are.”
Translated from Portugueser/portugal06.11.2026
Applicants with international student status (estudante internacional) cannot use the special entry route, according to the institute's page.
The other option is the general national admissions competition: take the exam the university requires and apply with your school average. People advise applying through both routes at once. Many, however, try to talk the author out of design: there is less and less work in it, they say, and graduates end up teaching.
“For a course in another field there are places for graduates, but they may not open any at all, and there are very few. It's best to find out which exam you need and apply through both routes, if there are graduate places. In the national competition you apply with your school grade, and you'll most likely have to sit the exam the university requires. I don't want to put you off, but many who trained as designers leave the profession to teach.”
Translated from Portugueser/portugal06.11.2026
Paying with a Caixa card in Switzerland and Poland cost little: choose the local currency on the terminal, not euros
In a chat about Portuguese banks, someone asked whether anyone had paid with a Caixa Geral de Depósitos card in European countries outside the eurozone, such as Sweden. Is the exchange rate fair, and is there a conversion fee?
One member who paid in francs in Switzerland and in zlotys in Poland said the rate was fair and the conversion fee small.
“Paid in Switzerland (francs there) and Poland (zlotys there): the rate was fine, and they charged a small conversion fee”
Translated from Russianbanksdeportugal08.11.2026
When the terminal asks whether to charge in the local currency or in euros, choose the local currency: Caixa then does the conversion itself, at almost the best rate.
“Just choose krona rather than euro on the payment terminal… That way Caixa does the conversion itself at an almost perfect rate”
Translated from Russianbanksdeportugal08.11.2026
Another suggests getting a Wise or Revolut card for trips like these.
“IMHO, better to get Wise/Revolut for that”
Translated from Russianbanksdeportugal08.11.2026
On Reddit, some say sell an inherited flat and buy index funds, others say keep it and invest the rent
A twenty-year-old student has inherited a flat. It is let for €525 a month, but after tax and costs that comes to about 2% of its value a year. It needs about €20,000 of renovation work, which the student cannot afford, and they do not plan to live in that area. Their question on r/literaciafinanceira, a Portuguese personal finance community: should they sell the flat (about €200,000 in hand) and put the money into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the whole world or the US S&P 500?
Some would sell: the flat is already a hassle, and if the tenant moves out or stops paying, there will be no income at all. One person did just that about five years ago and says the funds have earned more than property prices in that area have risen. Another suggests splitting the money like this: €20,000 as a rainy-day fund, €150,000 in a world fund for the long term, and the rest for studies, work and housing.
“A flat has big swings too. As you say yourself, it needs renovating. If the tenant moves out, there's no income for a while. If they start arguing or stop paying, there are more unexpected losses. From what you describe, I understand the interest in ETFs. They're much less hassle, that's true.”
Translated from Portugueser/literaciafinanceira06.11.2026
“It makes sense to get rid of the flat and keep more cash available while you're young. Put some into money market funds now that rates have gone up — say, 20 thousand as a rainy-day fund. The other 150 thousand into a world ETF for the long term is a great idea and a big step towards financial independence. The remaining 30 thousand to finish your studies, find a job and somewhere to live, and pay off debts.”
Translated from Portugueser/literaciafinanceira06.11.2026
Others would keep the flat: housing in Portugal keeps getting more expensive, and the rent can be invested in a fund. They also warn about the stock market: could you calmly watch €200,000 lose 10% in a day and not sell in a panic? And they advise against choosing the S&P 500 just because it has grown faster in recent years: Japan outpaced the rest of the world in the 1970s and 1980s, then lagged behind for a long time.
“Going by the numbers, it might make sense, but since housing in Portugal is getting so expensive, I'd keep the flat and invest the rent in ETFs. And another question: if you put 200 thousand into ETFs, will you have the nerve to watch them go into the red?”
Translated from Portugueser/literaciafinanceira06.11.2026
“If you're thinking of the S&P 500 because in recent years it has done better than a world ETF like IWDA or VWCE, that doesn't mean it will carry on that way: that's the rear-view mirror mistake. Look at Japan: in the 70s and 80s it outpaced the whole world, and it has lagged behind ever since. Don't blindly believe the US will be different.”
Translated from Portugueser/literaciafinanceira06.11.2026
Bugs found in a shop-bought packet: Reddit identified the rice weevil and advises storing grains in airtight containers
On r/portugal, someone posted a photo of a packet with bugs crawling inside and warned others to check what they buy.
Commenters identified it as the rice weevil (gorgulho), which gets into grains and pasta. It chews through plastic easily, so they advise checking the rest of the food in the cupboard too. Another person said they had seen dog food with bugs in it at an Intermarché supermarket a few days earlier.
“That's a weevil. Check it hasn't moved on to your other food. They chew through plastic easily.”
Translated from Portugueser/portugal07.11.2026
To stop bugs spreading through the cupboard, some keep grains and pasta in large airtight containers: if the bugs do get in, they spoil only the contents of one container.
“That's why I keep everything in my pantry in large airtight containers. That way, at worst, only what's in one of them gets spoiled.”
Translated from Portugueser/portugal07.11.2026
