U C HOMES

  Today Portugal celebrates the Restoration of Independence , the glorious moment in 1640 when the Portuguese collectively looked at the Spanish crown and said something roughly equivalent to: “Thanks for the 60-year Airbnb stay, but check-out time has arrived.” A group of nobles known as the Forty Conspirators (because “a bunch of very annoyed aristocrats” didn’t sound heroic enough) stormed the Royal Palace in Lisbon, tossed out the Spanish-appointed officials — literally tossed , in one case — and declared the Duke of Braganza as King João IV . Spain, naturally, was not amused. But Portugal stood firm, fought a 28-year-long war, and ultimately restored its independence. (Portugal: 1. Imperial Overreach: 0.) 🥂 Why This Matters for Expats Today Portugal’s Restoration Day is not just a history lesson — it’s a national reminder that: Identity matters. Culture matters. And sometimes you really do need to reclaim your house keys from the neighbour and/or occupiers...

 🇵🇹 Mercado de Luxo em Portugal — Quem Compra, Quem Vende e Porque Estão a Surgir Mais Imóveis Premium no Mercado Portugal está a viver uma fase muito particular no segmento de luxo. Enquanto o mercado generalista desacelerou, o segmento prime não só se manteve firme como continua a crescer — em preço, em procura e em qualidade arquitetónica. Moradias contemporâneas com piscina, grandes áreas, acabamentos de autor e localização estratégica — como a moradia que apresento agora em Creixomil, Guimarães — começam a surgir com maior frequência no mercado. Mas porque é que este fenómeno está a acontecer? Quem são afinal os compradores deste tipo de imóvel? E porque é que mais casas de luxo estão a chegar ao mercado? Vamos por partes. 1. O mercado de luxo está a crescer — e a afastar-se do mercado tradicional O segmento de luxo é hoje um mercado quase autónomo dentro do imobiliário português. Não depende da classe média, não depende da banca tradicional e não responde da mesma forma às...

A história de Lilian Kopke e o aviso 'abafado' que Portugal enviou ao mundo por Ulisses Carvalho, U C Homes – Extraordinary Houses Transparency • Integrity • Local Expertise • Human Touch 🇵🇹 VERSÃO PORTUGUESA 🇬🇧 ENGLISH VERSION Vivemos um tempo estranho em Portugal. Um tempo em que as palavras “acolhimento” e “integração” soam bem, mas já não se traduzem, na prática, em garantias. O país que, durante anos, se habituou a abrir portas com um sorriso — a brasileiros, americanos, europeus — começa agora a mostrar a rigidez de um Estado ansioso, sobrecarregado e politicamente dividido. We live in strange times in Portugal. A time when the words “welcoming” and “integration” sound good, but no longer translate, in practice, into guarantees. The country that for years opened its doors with a smile — to Brazilians, Americans, Europeans — is now revealing the rigidity of an anxious, overloaded, and politically divided State. O caso de Lilian Kopke , pianista brasileira radicada...

From energy savings to consequences for our health and lifestyle. The practice of changing clocks twice a year — Daylight Saving Time (DST) / Standard Time — may seem like a relic of the industrial era, yet it persists in Europe, including in Portugal. In this post we’ll explore what lies behind this measure, what studies say about its effects, and why it matters for those living in Portugal (and for expats). 1. Origin and historical motive The clock changes gained prominence during wars (e.g., World War I) with the official goal of saving fuel (coal, lighting). Diário de Notícias +3 Wikipédia +3 euronews +3 In Portugal the first adjustment of clocks occurred in 1916. Diário de Notícias +1 Within the EU, the directive regulating the biannual clock change was introduced to harmonize markets, transport and avoid divergent timekeeping across member states. euronews +1 2. Official reasons vs. actual outcomes Officially: more daylight in the evening → less artificial light...

A double-edged reform Portugal’s fast-moving immigration overhaul has two very different consequences that matter: it pushes vulnerable migrants toward precariousness and it erodes the confidence of high-net-worth expats who sustain quality demand in the mid-to-upper property market. What changed — and why it matters Parliament has approved a revised foreigners’ law after constitutional revision. The government now demands tighter entry, pre-screening abroad, narrower family reunification, and ends the in-country “manifestação de interesse” process. Critics say the humanistic Portuguese approach is giving way to administrative control. “Portugal abdicates the humanist model that once distinguished it in Europe,” — Expresso , 23 Oct 2025 Meanwhile, the Lisbon Administrative Court holds more than 133,000 pending immigration cases against AIMA, signalling severe institutional congestion. Even AIMA’s own data admit that roughly 15 % of daily appointments end as no-shows due...

What Expats Need to Know (October 2025 Update) The Portuguese government has officially ended the automatic validity extension of expired residence permits and visas that had been in place since the pandemic period. This marks a significant change for non-EU residents living in Portugal. 🔍 What Changed For several years, residence permits that had expired during or after the pandemic were still considered valid under Decree-Law 10-A/2020 , later extended by Decree-Law 41-A/2024 and most recently by Decree-Law 85-B/2025 . Those decrees automatically extended the validity of residence documents until 15 October 2025 . After that date, however, expired documents will no longer be accepted as valid by Portuguese or European authorities. From now on, holders of expired documents must either: renew their residence permit through AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) ; or prove they have already started the renewal process by presenting the payment receipt , wh...

  Portugal’s Parliament has just approved a proposal originally introduced by Chega and supported by the governing AD coalition (PSD + CDS) — a measure requiring immigrants to contribute to the Portuguese Social Security system for five full years before they can access any form of social support. At first glance, this may seem like a technical reform. In truth, it’s a profound breach of the constitutional principle of equality and an attack on the very idea of a social state. ⚖️ Two classes of residents — one set of taxes Under this law, two parallel realities will emerge: Portuguese citizens and long-term residents who pay taxes and enjoy protection; Immigrants who pay exactly the same taxes — income, VAT, contributions — yet are denied equal rights to social assistance. In plain terms: “contribution without protection.” It undermines decades of progress and solidarity in Portuguese social policy, creating an underclass of workers and residents with limited...