Many people are asking if Vilamoura is open for business.

The 60m Superyacht “Vive La Vie” built in 2008 and with a crew of 16 has joined us several times in the past.

The Swiss owner is reputedly worth $1.8 Billion, his other home is a castle in Switzerland…

UK Driving licence Portugal:  For many years if you became a resident in Portugal you had 2 choices regarding your driving license. You could exchange it for a Portuguese one or register your UK one with the IMT, the Portuguese version of the DVLA. This has changed post BREXIT.

Recently, between October and November, qualifying events for the next Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 took place in the Vilamoura equestrian complex

• Before Brexit it was very simple for Brits to become a legal resident in Portugal

Santa flew through Vilamoura and took this video of the Christmas Tree

Portugal is very happy for foreign citizen's to come and live here subject to a few minimum criteria.

For those from other EU member states it is a very simple process but of course after the 31st December 2020 Britain is no longer a member and the transition period expires.

Whilst we are confident that Portugal will want to continue to welcome Brits to Portugal the process may become a little more complicated and they are asking all those who are already here to get their paperwork in order before New Years Eve.

Portugal is happy for citizens of other EU member states to drive on their domestic license as long as you have registered it with the IMT, the equivalent of the UK DVLA.

However after 31st December 2020 Britain is no longer a member state and the agreed transition period expires.

This option therefore ceases to be on offer and your license should be exchanged for a Portuguese one.

Healthcare if you live and work in Portugal

Everyone who’s registered as a resident can also register to access the Portuguese national health service (SNS) on the same basis as a Portuguese citizen.

This is the same if you’re employed, self-employed or not working.

The UK Government website states:

“Mobile roaming: free roaming may end”

“From 1 January 2021, the guarantee of free mobile phone roaming throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will end.

Check with your phone operator to find out about any roaming charges you might get from 1 January 2021.