Expat in Portugal shares mistake to avoid when moving to another country - 'you have to be careful'

Joric McLean said individuals constantly underestimate how long it takes to move.

He said: "I cannot tell you how many times I've talked to people who underestimate the immigration timeline. It became difficult for them because they were moving to Portugal and they did not manage their expectations."

Not considering the time it takes to immigrate could lead to a mix-up with housing.

Joric said: "You have to try to figure out when you put your house up for sale. Try to time that so hopefully you do not spend too much time living out of a hotel room."

Aside from selling your property at home, securing a place in Portugal can be more difficult than anticipated.

The expat said: "People often underestimate the timeline it takes to secure an apartment or a lease in Portugal."

Picking out the correct property often takes longer than people expect. Joric explained: "What you want versus what you want to pay are usually two completely different numbers.

"If you want all of the amenities that you're coming from, that maybe a little more challenging to find. Living in Lisbon taught me that finding the place you want at the price you want is almost impossible.

"People have made four or five scouting trips and have taken up to two years to find property. Be flexible with it because the immigration timeline is like an accordion and you have to be careful."

Individuals need to be patient when securing a property and try not to rush the process.

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Another pair of expats said they felt incredibly welcomed in Portugal and instantly felt part of the neighbourhood.

They said: "We were just blown away by the kindness of these people. What's nice is the authenticity and just this willingness to help.

"To this day, we just still can't believe that some of these people just did what they did for us and they don't want anything from you."

The British expats said that they took a punt when moving to Portugal, but it was one of the best decisions that they had made.