Moving to Portugal as an American: This U.S Expat's Journey Will Inspire You

By Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA | | 7.18.25

In this episode of Passport To Wealth™, host Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, sits down with Vivian, founder of FTB Home and curator of intentional living spaces, for a conversation that goes far beyond furniture and floor plans. Vivian's path from New York City to Thailand to Vietnam and finally to Portugal is a reminder that a move abroad rarely follows a straight line, and that the groundwork you lay along the way, emotional and financial, matters just as much as the destination.

A Plane Ticket to Thailand and the Start of a New Life

Nine years ago, Vivian stood at the corner of Mulberry and Prince in New York City, tears in her eyes, knowing life was about to shift dramatically. With nothing more than a plane ticket to Thailand and a curiosity for what could be next, she launched herself into the unknown.

"I got on a plane the next day and started this brand new life."

What followed was a whirlwind of soul-searching, language classes, and unexpected detours, including a particularly rough stop in Cambodia that led to her booking the next $3 flight to Vietnam.

"I rented an apartment and within three weeks I had lost three sizes. I couldn't keep anything in my body... I was like, when's the next flight and where is it going?"

Building a Sense of Home, From Vietnam to Portugal

Vivian is no stranger to reinvention, not just personally, but professionally. Through her work with FTB Home, she helps people design homes that serve their life transitions and routines. It's fitting, given how much she's had to rebuild "home" from scratch, repeatedly.

One of her most moving insights is that Vietnam unexpectedly gave her a sense of belonging she hadn't anticipated.

"I found a group of people that I didn't have to explain my life choices to... we had all made those same decisions."

Still, the language barrier proved too much. Enter Portugal, a country she had visited multiple times and one that checked the boxes for lifestyle, weather, and residency requirements.

The D7 Visa, a Canceled Interview, and a Pandemic Curveball

Vivian's journey to settling in Portugal was anything but smooth. Applying for the D7 visa required an entire stack of documents, including her high school transcripts, only for her visa interview to be canceled due to the COVID shutdown.

"I was stuck in New York for six months... I thought this dream is over. I'm going to have to go back to work as a lawyer."

But just when it seemed like the dream might end, the consulate called. Within three days, she was on a flight back to Europe. Paperwork like this doesn't end once you land, either. Once you're a resident with foreign bank accounts, knowing how to file FBAR living abroad becomes part of the annual routine, right alongside your Portuguese residency renewals.

Settling Into Life in Portugal

Today, Vivian is firmly planted in Portugal, working toward B-level Portuguese fluency, taking government-sponsored classes, and building a life in alignment with her values.

When asked about cultural adjustments, her answer is surprisingly simple: it wasn't that hard.

"At heart, I may be Portuguese... a lot of their values mesh with where I am."

Still, there were moments, especially navigating bureaucracy, where she found the directness a little jarring.

"They just give you the meat. Here you go. Deal with it."

Vivian's Advice for Aspiring Expats

Vivian leaves us with two powerful tips for anyone considering life abroad.

Enroll in a language course right away. It gives you structure, social connection, and a foundation for success.

You don't need a perfect reason to go, just the courage to try. But make sure you're legal.

"There's a million reasons not to, and maybe no good reason to do it. But if you want to go, go."

If you want to follow more of Vivian's work helping others design homes around major life transitions, she shares regular insight through The Expat Diaries Newsletter and How to Stuff Your Home.

What Vivian's Story Teaches Us About Being Financially Ready to Move Abroad

Stories like Vivian's tend to focus on the emotional leap, and rightly so. But in my work as a cross-border financial planner, I see the other half of this story play out constantly: people who made the emotional decision beautifully and then found themselves financially unprepared once they landed.

A spontaneous move doesn't have to mean an unplanned one. Even if you're the type to book a $3 flight to Vietnam on a whim, there are a handful of financial questions worth answering before you go: What happens to your U.S. investment and retirement accounts once you're a tax resident somewhere else? How much of a cash cushion do you need to cover visa delays, like the six-month pandemic hold Vivian faced? And is this the kind of move where you actually need professional help, or can you manage it on your own?

That last question comes up in nearly every conversation I have with someone planning a move abroad. If you're asking yourself whether you need a financial advisor before moving abroad, the honest answer is that it depends far less on your net worth than most people assume, and far more on how many countries, currencies, and tax systems your life is about to touch. This is exactly why so many Americans in Vivian's position end up working with a dedicated financial advisor for Americans in Portugal, someone who can walk through how the D7 visa's income requirements interact with your U.S. tax filing obligations well before you ever board a flight.

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About the Author

Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, is a cross-border financial planner and the host of Passport To Wealth™, helping U.S. expats simplify their finances while building intentional, global lives. She brings firsthand experience navigating cross-border tax and relocation planning to every client conversation. Ready to build your own financial roadmap for life abroad? Visit Arielle's Advisor Profile to book time with her directly.